This last week our reservation celebrated the annual First Salmon Ceremony and Blessing of the Fleet. It is a way for us to come together with the surrounding community to celebrate the seafood we are given by the Creator and also a time for us collectively to pray for our fishermen as the salmon season begins.
It’s May and our fishermen are fishing this month for King Salmon. Our community luncheon included crab, prawns, and King Salmon. The salmon is cooked traditionally over wood and this salmon was so fresh – I wish you could have smelled and tasted this.
After lunch we all walked down to the water to participate in The Blessing of the Fleet. Four fishermen have baskets of seafood on cedar boughs. Local religious leaders (from our traditional Shaker Church, Catholic Church, and Assemblies of God church) spoke great words and prayers. The fishermen then take their offering to the four corners – North, South, East, and West.
It’s a great day to celebrate with my extended community here on my reservation. There is so much great fellowship and the left over food is always a hit. We took home four pieces of traditional BBQ salmon and fried bread to enjoy for dinner. Would you like to know what I did with my piece? I decided to make a yummy salmon spread!
Salmon Spread Ingredients:
- 6-8 oz of BBQ salmon
- 8 oz package of softened cream cheese
- 2 T green onions, chopped
- 2 t fresh dill chopped
- half lemon
- 6 drops of Sriracha sauce (optional)
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together. Squeeze the lemon for juice. Sriracha is optional of course. You can omit it or you can add more to make it a bit spicier. Place the salmon spread on great crackers and enjoy!
I made this after our huge lunch at the Blessing of the Fleet. It was a perfect light dinner for my husband and I and a great snack for the kids. The entire family loves this easy salmon spread. One batch almost was not enough. I know to double it for next time, so we can have leftovers. I used Breton Gluten-free Herb & Garlic crackers with this spread. Seriously, amazing crackers!
Gluten free with the tender-crisp texture and wholesome taste of the original Breton. Bursting with herb and garlic flavor, it can be savored on its own, or with delicious toppings, for a nutritious snack your family will love.
You can eat these crackers at home with the family, at a dinner party, for a church potluck, and even a reception. This week we had my daughter’s first concert for school. After the concert we had a reception. I was asked to bring cheese and crackers. Breton crackers were the perfect choice! Gluten-free and great flavor – it’s a win!
What is your favorite spread for crackers?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Wow, this looks delicious. Having grown up in the PNw I love salmon and enjoy eating it as often as possible. Thanks for sharing this part of your life and culture!
Thanks Bianca! Glad you stopped by and left this comment. Have a great holiday weekend! Please come back by the blog anytime!
Very cool lavonne what you did here…your father always reminds us of the very first ceremony it is a great feeling knowing my great grandpa morris dan helped start the first huge blessing and I did not know that till Brian shared that recently with the community…them crackers look delicious I will definetly have to try them and the salmon spread is a nice quick snack thanks for sharing
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. That makes me so happy – you’ve made my day! Come back by anytime. You’re always welcome and I love comments. And thank you for the history lesson about Morris Dan – I am so glad he started this awesome ceremony!
sriracha is not optional! LOL. Looks like a great event with wonderful food.
This sounds interesting. I recently tasted hummus with salmon and really liked it, so I might try this myself.
This looks deliscous. Wouldn’t mind trying it.
This looks like it would be a great appetizer at a picnic or get together. I will be using your recipe to have this delicious treat at my next party.
I love salmon and haven’t been very creative with it. I love this spread and would like to try it. What a great tradition.