80th ANNUAL LUMMI STOMMISH WATER FESTIVAL

Held on the homelands of the Lummi Nation, the Stommish Water Festival is an annual celebration of culture community and warriors of past and present. Now in it's 79th year, Stommish was first held in 1946 to welcome home Lummi veterans returning home from WWII. This festival will be four days from June 18 – June 21, 2026.

What began as a homecoming has grown into a vibrant, multi-day event honoring all who have served. The festival features war canoe races, traditional song and dance, Sla-Hal (stick games), veteran's parade, Salmon BBQ, vendors and more.

Stommish is a time to gather, honor our veterans, uplift our youth, and carry forward the spirit of the people. 

HISTORY

Stommish began in 1946, when our people came together to welcome home our warriors returning from World War II. Our relatives Edith and Victor Jones wanted a way to honor their sons and all Lhaq’temish veterans who served with pride. They called the celebration “Stommish,” a word that means “warrior” in our language. That first gathering lit a fire that still burns strong today.

What started as a simple homecoming grew into one of our most important yearly traditions. Families traveled from all over to take part—bringing their canoes, their songs, and their stories. Soon, the Jones family donated land along Hales Passage so we would have a permanent place to host the festival, surrounded by the saltwater and forest that have always held us.

Stommish isn’t just a celebration—it’s a time of remembrance, healing, and unity. We honor our veterans with a parade, we race our canoes in the traditional way, and we gather for salmon, songs, Sla-hal, and good medicine. We open our arms to relatives from near and far, because this is more than a Lummi event—it’s a gathering of Nations.

Every year, Stommish reminds us who we are and where we come from. It carries the strength of our ancestors and the hope we hold for our future generations.

See the Agenda

https://www.lummistommish.com/general-5