Lummi Island

Lummi Island, one of the San Juan Islands, lies at the southwest corner of Whatcom County, Washington, USA, between the mainland part of the county and offshore San Juan County. The Lummi Indian Reservation is situated on a peninsula north of the island, but does not include Lummi Island. The island has a land area of 23.97 km² (9.255 sq mi) and had a population of 822 as of the 2000 census.

The island was originally called "Sa nam a o" ("High Mountain")Island Vacation Rentals: [http://www.lummi-holidays.com/history/ Lummi Island History] ] and "Skallaham" by the native Indians. In 1792 Spanish explorers dubbed it "Isla de Pacheco", and it was later known as McLoughlin Island. In 1853, the U.S. National Geodetic Survey charted the island as "Lummi", naming it after the tribe. It is believed the name comes from "luminara", referring to the bonfires the Spanish saw upon arrival and whence the tribe also took their name, [Friends of Island Library: [http://www.lummi-island.com/history.htm A Very Brief History of Lummi Island and the Islanders] , 1998] though there are also theories that it is derived from a native word or phrase.

Events

The island is home to the Lummi Island Goat Show, and to the Lummi Island Parade and Fair which happens every September.

Lummi Island is also home to a large number of artists who, on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the first weekend of December, conduct studio tours.

References

* [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CHECK_SEARCH_RESULTS=N&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_P001&-tree_id=4001&-transpose=N&-all_geo_types=N&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=06000US5307391744&-search_results=14000US53033027702&-format=&-fully_or_partially=N&-_lang=en&-show_geoid=Y Lummi Island CCD, Whatcom County, Washington] United States Census Bureau
* [http://www.lummi-holidays.com/history/fishing.htm Reef-netting on Lummi Island] For many years salmon were also caught with gillnets. But since the institution of government fishing limits, only a few gillnet operations exist today.
* [http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/commregs/reefnet.htm Commercial Fishing] A fishing method practiced by the Indians of Puget Sound.