Submitted by Community Rights San Juan Islands

For the second year, Community Rights San Juan Islands hosts a music and dance celebration for the sea surrounding us all this Saturday, Sept. 28, 7-10 p.m., at the Lopez Community Center for the Arts. Symbiant, a new, Lopez-based band (Jaime Cordova, Colin Doherty, Carsen Miller, Brian Rick) that wants to “raise consciousness about our times” with original dance tunes will perform. Additional music by Kenny Ferrugiaro, a music video about orca by Sorrel North, and a special guest appearance round out the bill.

The all-volunteer CRSJI group will have information available about the campaign to educate and mobilize the larger San Juan Islands community to take the lead in protecting the health and well-being of the Salish Sea. CRSJI advocates for community rights as self-defense against corporate exploitation and environmental degradation, and for the Rights of Salish Sea at the county level.

So, what is the Salish Sea? It’s the single, trans-national marine and estuarine ecosystem that stretches from South Puget Sound near Olympia to the northernmost reaches of the Straits of Georgia in British Columbia — 5,500 square miles of inland water, 419 islands and home to more than eight million people. The value of a common name was first recognized in the 1970s when concerns were raised about the cross-boundary impacts of major oil spills in its waters. In recognition of the Coast Salish peoples who have inhabited these bountiful shorelines for thousands of years, the name was formalized just a decade ago, when Canada and U.S. geography maps began to identify the “Salish Sea”. Today, the name suggests regional identity for many and a rallying cry for some.

Entry is suggested donation of $10, with snacks and wine for sale. See you there!