Celebrate the official naming of the Salish Sea

On July 15, 2010, Coast Salish leaders welcomed Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation George Abbott to the Songhees waterfront for the official naming of the Salish Sea. The Coast Salish people have traversed this waterway for thousands of years and to celebrate the naming of the Salish Sea, Coast Salish chiefs, elders and dancers gave the name "Salish Sea" to a canoe that was hand-carved and painted by the Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and master-carver KwaGulth Hereditary Chief Tony Hunt.

"The designation of the name Salish Sea is an historic acknowledgement of our Peoples¹ connection to our lands and waterways since time immemorial," said Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob on behalf of the member tribes of the Coast Salish of British Columbia."The naming of the Salish Sea is a timely response to the need for the governing bodies of the region to recognize their common responsibility for protecting the health of this precious ecosystem," said Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby on behalf of the member
tribes of the Coast Salish of Western Washington.

The Salish Sea encompasses inland waterways stretching from the south end of Puget Sound in Washington State to Desolation Sound at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia in B.C., including the Juan de Fuca Strait. Similar to the Great Lakes, adding Salish Sea as the umbrella-name for the larger body of water will not change names already in place.

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