Perry Ridge Water Users Association invites you to celebrate the beautiful Slocan and Little Slocan Rivers and to engage in free presentations and activities during the Slocan Valley Rivers Day Celebration on Sunday, September 25th.  Rivers Day has been celebrated annually in BC for over 30 years, and for over 6 years across the rest of the world (inspired by the success of the BC event!)

Come celebrate the many values that these local rivers provide, including clean water, fish, travel routes, Sinixt cultural sites, and recreational opportunities.  Learn more about where the river water comes from, where it goes, and the contemporary and historical use of the rivers. This will also include threats to the river drainages and the importance of the waters of the Upper Columbia River Basin. Featuring engaging speakers, multi media displays, displays of river photos and artwork, a local lunch, and an excursion of a section of the Slocan River.

Nathan Goodale PhD, Professor and Principal Investigator from Hamilton College in his report “ 2009 Archaeological Investigations at the Slocan Narrows Pithouse Village, (DkQi 1, 2, and 17), Southeastern British Columbia states that,

“Ethnographically the Sinixt diet was supplemented by a significant amount of fish (Bouchard and Kennedy 2000). Major fishing locales could be found in the northern parts of their territory at the Arrow Lakes, Trout Lake, Slocan River, Slocan Lake, and the mouth of the Kootenay River, and in the southern portion of the territory at Kettle Falls (Bouchard and Kennedy 2000). Dr. Goodale further states, “William Kittson noted the presence of a Sinixt weir at the mouth of the Slocan River in 1826 (Bouchard and Kennedy 2000).”

Marilyn Burgoon, President of Perry Ridge Water Users Association states, “The Perry Ridge Water Users Association appreciates the contribution from Columbia Basin Trust Community Development Fund that has enabled our Association to hire a youth to coordinate the BC Rivers Day Event and help to bring awareness and education to the public about key issues by providing useful, credible and accessible information.  This will help plan a future where the river will help sustain the local economy, the local fish and wildlife populations, as well as enhance real estate values and protect Sinixt cultural sites.”

Community members are invited to email  photos and memories of the river to riversdaycelebration@gmail.com for inclusion in the Rivers Day Celebration. There will also be the draw for the Perry Ridge raffle. The raffle tickets and items, a hand beaded Frog picture by Marilyn James, Appointed Spokesperson for Sinixt and a beautiful hand woven rug by Diane Carter, will be at the Friday Markets in New Denver.

For more information, and to volunteer, please contact riversdaycelebration@gmail.com