Ceremony at Yukon River seeks salmon’s return

Water healing ceremony on bank of Yukon River, early morning Aug. 7 (Lawrie Crawford/Yukon News)

It was at about 5:20 on Aug. 7 when 24 slightly groggy people assembled on the banks of the Yukon River to participate in a water healing ceremony. Sunrise is an especially powerful time for ceremony. The invitation had been passed only by word of mouth, in keeping with the old ways.