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Samish Libraries

Samish Indian Nation has three libraries!

Summit Park (Physical) Library

We have a physical library located at the Summit Park campus with over 4,600 titles! It is a resource for Samish citizens and the local Fidalgo community who wish to learn more about native culture, language, history, and other aspects of native life. While our collection here focuses on Northwest Coast (including First Nations), we also have books on Plains, Southwest, and Woodlands tribes. We have books on native plants and their uses, famous native artists, native crafts (including how-to books), and local history. We even have large children's and young adult sections and a wide selection of DVDs!

Libby (Digital) Library

In 2023, we started a digital library through the Libby app! We have a rapidly growing selection of e-books and audiobooks, and you can find our book club selections through Libby.

Sní7new7 (Living) Library

Debuted in 2024, we call our third library Sní7new7. It's a living library only accessible to Samish citizens, a place to ask questions to elders about Samish culture and traditional lifeways. Answers will be documented for the next seven generations.

Our hands go up to Samish citizen Jan Flagg who started the physical library and nurtured it for 20 years. Jan had an amazing talent for recognizing and purchasing books that enhance our collection.

We now have free e-books and audiobooks available! Click here to learn about the Libby app.

Samish Book Club

Did you know we have a book club at Samish? We meet virtually once a month to discuss books available in our library! Previous books include Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, One Story, One Song by Richard Wagamese, Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, and The Language Warrior's Manifesto by Anton Teuer.

Our upcoming books are Jestinel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders by Children of the Setting Sun Productions on November 12 and Haboo: Native American Stories from Puget Sound by Vi taqʷšəblu Hilbert on December 10. To join us, please email RSVP@samishtribe.nsn.us for the link!

readers window

Summer 2022

Aug 31, 2022, 16:32 by Cheryl Chatt, Samish Library Assistant

Hello, again, everyone, welcome to our fall edition of Reader’s Window!

I cannot believe how fast this summer is flying (has flown?) by!  I hope that your summer has been as fun and as busy as ours has.

Speaking of busy…good things continue to come our way in Samish Library. In addition to the grants that were mentioned in the last newsletter, we have also received a $500.00 grant from the National Science Foundation to purchase books pertaining to climate change and other environmental topics. These titles have arrived, and they are a great selection for all ages of readers. They will be hitting the shelves very soon.

In other exciting news, the month of July saw two large donations of books to enrich our library collection. One was from Jack Curtright, a retired tribal art dealer from Olympia, Washington. Mr. Curtright’s book collection contained several Bureau of American Ethnology volumes (published by the Smithsonian) dating from around the 1870s to the early 1900s. These will be an invaluable addition to our reference collection. In addition, Mr. Curtright donated some truly exceptional books on Native art and culture, including a very nice selection of books on Native basketry. Our hands go up to Jack Curtright, hóy7sxwq’e!

The second donation of books we received from the Orcas Island Friends of the Library. We were contacted by Robert Demarest, a Friends of the Library member. He offered a collection of books that they had received as a bequest. The topics of these books are all northwest coast Native art and culture. We now have these books in our library as well. Our library is very fortunate to have received some truly exceptional works to add to our collection. Many, many thanks (hóy7sxwq’e) to the Orcas Island Friends of the Library for these amazing additions to our collection.

Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Slam the Scam


Samish Elders will learn about fraud awareness and prevention.

Dates: 06 – 06 Mar, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 13 – 13 Mar, 2025

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Samish Elders Virtual & In-Person Spring Gathering


Join us for an afternoon of great conversation, culture talk and bingo.

Dates: 21 – 21 Mar, 2025

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Ribbon Skirt Class (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn to sew a ribbon skirt.

Dates: 22 – 22 Mar, 2025

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FULL - Quarter Bags Class (online)


Learn to weave a quarter bag, taught by Emily Blackinton Baker.

Dates: 25 – 25 Mar, 2025

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Community Dinner (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 27 – 27 Mar, 2025

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Drumming Group (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 27 – 27 Mar, 2025

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History Talk: Lopez Island (online + Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Join Tribal Chairman Tom Wooten to learn the Samish history of Sx’wálech (Lopez Island).

Dates: 08 – 08 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Spring Fitness Challenge


Samish Elders will learn about increasing their daily movement activity.

Dates: 10 – 10 Apr, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 10 – 10 Apr, 2025

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Wool Skirt Class (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn to loom weave a Coast Salish wool skirt, taught by Leslie Eastwood.

Dates: 12 – 12 Apr, 2025

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Samish Youthfest

Anacortes, WA

Samish is excited to host its first Youth Fair on April 19, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Fidalgo Bay Event Center!

Dates: 19 – 19 Apr, 2025

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Community Dinner (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 24 – 24 Apr, 2025

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Drumming Group (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 24 – 24 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Virtual & In-Person Bingo Fun!


Samish Elders are invited to Bingo Fun!

Dates: 25 – 25 Apr, 2025

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Samish Elders Chat & Learn - Grief and Self-care


Samish Elders will learn about grief support resources and how to practice self-care.

Dates: 08 – 08 May, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 08 – 08 May, 2025

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Community Dinner (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Come to gather over a shared community dinner.

Dates: 22 – 22 May, 2025

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Drumming Group (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Learn Coast Salish singing and drumming, taught by Chairman Tom Wooten.

Dates: 22 – 22 May, 2025

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Annual Elders Luncheon


Samish Elders and intertribal Elders are invited!

Dates: 27 – 27 Jun, 2025

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June Culture Day (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Join us at Samish’s Summit Park campus for craft classes, carving, cultural activities, and more.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Camp Samish (Samish Island)

Bow, WA

Save the date for Camp Samish 2025!

Dates: 29 Aug – 01 Sep, 2025

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Fall Cultural Gathering (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Fall Cultural Gathering at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 20 – 20 Sep, 2025

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Harvest Fest (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Harvest Fest at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 01 – 01 Nov, 2025

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Christmas Party (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Christmas Party at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 06 – 06 Dec, 2025

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Virtual Christmas Party (online)


Save the date for the annual Virtual Samish Christmas Party.

Dates: 12 – 12 Dec, 2025

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