First Foods Festival
The First Foods Festival is an annual event, hosted by Whitman College Native American Outreach, to celebrate the cultural heritage and history of the tribes of the Walla Walla Valley. The festival takes place the second Saturday of November at Cordiner Hall.
2024 First Foods Festival Schedule
All First Foods Festival activities are open to the public unless noted otherwise.
-
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dogbane Presentation and Cordage Workshop led by Brosnan Spencer (CTUIR), Co-Director of Naknuwiłama Tiiča̓mna - Caretakers of the Land.
Naknuwiłama Tiiča̓mna - Caretakers of the Land is an Indigenous-led organization serving to steward and strengthen the symbiotic life ways and habitats of the Blue Mountain bio-region through seasonal immersion camps and ecosystem restoration.-
This session is for Whitman students only. Space is limited and online pre-registration is required.
-
- 12–1 p.m. Lunch Break (on your own)
- 1–2:20 p.m. “Fish War” Film Screening
When Washington state made it illegal for tribes to fish for salmon in their usual and accustomed places, it was a declaration of war. “Fish War” follows the tribes' fight to exercise their treaty-reserved fishing rights. A landmark court case in 1974 would affirm the tribes’ treaty rights and establish them as co-managers of the resource, but the fate of salmon in the Pacific Northwest still hangs in the balance. Watch the trailer. - 2:20–3 p.m. Fish, Water and Treaty Rights Panel
Panelists will discuss “Fish War” and the ways their careers and advocacy activities intersect the film's topics, followed by an audience Q&A. Panelists include:
- Henry Roller ’25, Whitman College student (panel moderator)
- Penelope Gavin-Harvey, CTUIR Youth Leadership Council member
- Judith Johnson, Kooskooskie Commons Executive Director
- Michael Ray Johnson, CTUIR General Council Vice Chairman
- Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky ’26, Whitman College student and CTUIR Youth Council advisor
- Steven Patten, Milton-Freewater (OR) Public Works Engineering Technician
-
3–4 p.m. CTUIR First Foods Policy Program Presentation: “Nixyáawii, Awkú Čáwpam Áḱaatta!”
“Nixyáawii, Awkú Čáwpam Áḱaatta!” or “Nixyáawii, Don’t Throw it Away!” is a pilot project using an anerobic digester to improve waste management and food waste diversion from CTUIR facilities while engaging the tribal community on food waste management issues. -
4– 5 p.m. First Foods Hors d’oeuvres Sampling by Bon Appetit
The Five First Foods
There are five types of food traditionally called "First Foods" by the Walúulapam (Walla Walla), Weyíiletpuu (Cayuse) and Imatalamłáma (Umatilla) people. These are water, wild game, berries, roots and fish. Historically, the tribes traveled on a yearly food-gathering cycle visiting hunting camps, fishing spots, gathering areas and trading camps throughout northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, although their travels stretched eastward into Montana, north into Canada, west to the Pacific Coast and as far south as Nevada.
In addition to celebrating the First Foods at the annual festival, Bon Appétit hosts a First Foods station monthly in Cleveland Commons.
