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The Annual Duwamish Tribe Gala Dinner & Art Auction took place Saturday night, June 30, at the Duwamish Longhouse Museum in West Seattle. A silent auction was followed by a live auction (after a salmon dinner) which included a cedar chest handmade by John (Jack) Kvarnstrom, a Duwamish Tribe member. It went for a $900 bid. A traditional wooden flute brought $500. That item was sweetened when professional flute instructor and player, Peter A. Ali, performed, and then offered a free lesson to the highest bidder.

West Seattle's iconic Cal Bannon, 91, & his lady friend, Flora Belle Key, bid highest for an evening rental of the Longhouse dining room facility in October. Ms. Key promptly stood and invited everyone present to the party she plans to throw there.

Bidders also "Raised A Paddle" with $100 donations toward the annual Duwamish Youth Canoe Journey. Young people celebrate the Native American tradition with what some consider a right of passage, a canoe journey. The Duwamish participants will use their newly painted black and red canoe, the Raven. This year, the journey, Paddle to Squaxin 2012is sponsored by the Squaxin Island Tribe and lands at the port of Olympia July 29. Participants put their canoes in at landing sites near their home. The Duwamish begin on Alki a few days ahead of time, while some tribes have already begun their journey from 100 miles north of Vancouver Island in Canada. The Quinault must paddle from Washington's west coast. Some years of course, host tribes are quite a few days away by canoe from Alki.