C'WAAM Ceremony
The C'waam Ceremony is an annual ritual held by Klamath Tribes, especially for the purpose of honoring and giving thanks for the C'waam endangered sucker. In Klamath tribal beliefs, their Creator made the C'waam from the body of a giant snake that was threatening the people which provided them with a vital food source. The Creator instructed the Klamath to celebrate and show gratitude for this gift. The ceremony is held when the C'waam return to the Sprague River to spawn, and involves prayers, singing, drumming, and dancing to express appreciation for the fish and reaffirm the sacred relationship between the fish and the people.
First Foods Ceremonies
First foods ceremonies like the C'waam Ceremony are common among indigenous cultures worldwide. These rituals honor the traditional food staples that have sustained communities for generations. More than just food sources, first foods are often revered as sacred gifts and relatives, playing central roles in the people's cultural identity, spiritual beliefs, and way of life. First foods ceremonies keep the associated creation stories, cultural values, and traditional ecological knowledge alive, passing them on to future generations. In this way, they help maintain the community's connection to their ancestral heritage and the natural world, even as the environment changes. As such, first foods ceremonies are a crucial part of the living folklore and cultural continuity of many indigenous peoples.
C'WAAM
The C'waam, also known as the Lost River sucker fish, is a species endemic to the Klamath Basin of Oregon. The C'waam has been a vital first food of the Klamath Tribes since ancient times. Historically abundant, the fish would serve as a reliable and nutritious food source that could be dried and stored to eat in the winter. The C'waam are also sacred to Klamath identity and spirituality. This is due to their health being linked to human health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the C'waam have become critically endangered due to poor water quality and fish passage, mainly from the Klamath Hydroelectric Project. For the Klamath, the loss of the C'waam represents an existential threat to their cultural survival that many refer to as "cultural genocide".
C'WAAM First Foods Ceremony
The C'waam Ceremony itself is a powerful ritual enactment of the Klamath people's sacred relationship with the fish. Held annually in the spring when the suckers return to spawn, the ceremony begins with the ceremonial catching of the first fish. This first catch is celebrated with great reverence and joy, as it represents the renewal of the Creator's ancient gift. Over the following days, the community gathers to pray, sing, drum, and dance in honor of the C'waam. Elders share the C'waam creation story and traditional teachings, which reiterates the people's responsibility to respect and care for the fish. The ceremony finishes with a feat, or powwow, including the freshly caught C'waam. This ritual allows the Klamath to express their gratitude, show faith towards their Creator, and pray for future C'waam abundance. The C'waam have declined in population, making it difficult for tribes to perform this ceremony. Gaps in ceremonial knowledge are supplemented through incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in education.