The Yurok Tribe invites the community to the 57th Annual Klamath Salmon Festival. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Yurok Tribe, the largest tribe in California, their culture and the Klamath River. More →

There is simply no place quite like California’s iconic North Coast, home to Redwood National and State Parks, breathtaking ocean views, the tallest trees on Earth, the tranquil Klamath river, and the state’s largest Native American tribe.  Yurok Country is within easy driving distance of the more than 200 miles of trails that meander along the beaches and through the old-growth forests, forests where some trees approach over 350 feet in height and 2,000 years of age.

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August Brings the Annual Salmon Festival, Traditional Story Telling, Gambling Games and More to Yurok Country

The Yurok Country Visitor Center & Amphitheater continues to celebrate our grand opening by hosting a series of Native American cultural events this month you won’t want to miss.  These enriching events are a not only free and open to the public, they are a great opportunity to learn more about the fascinating Yurok history and traditions of the largest tribe in the state of California.

Story Telling with James Gensaw

Yurok Language & Cultural Specialist, James Gensaw, shares his passion and knowledge of  Yurok traditions in a series of storytelling and educational events the whole family will enjoy.  Mr. Gensaw is a renowned Yurok Language & Cultural Specialist, Teacher, Storyteller and Native Artist who has been featured in The New York Times, The LA Times, Smithsonian Magazine and again in this 2015 The New York Times article. As a young man, Gensaw developed a love for the Yurok language and culture from his grandfather who taught him the Yurok words for dogs, birds and other animals.  Today, he works to preserve the Yurok language and traditions by sharing them through teaching and storytelling.

Red Breast Robin Story

Wednesdays in August: 8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Don’t miss the classic tale, Red Breast Robin Story as told by James Gensaw each Wednesday in August at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. The story will be followed by a tour of the brand new Yurok Village Discovery Park, directly across the street from the visitor center. This self-guided park features a simulated traditional Yurok village and has been constructed using traditional materials such as redwood planks and Douglas fir poles.

The Story of Yurok People and the Redwoods

Fridays in August: 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Yurok Tribe Member and storyteller James Gensaw shares the story of the connection between the Yurok people and the Redwood Tree that dates back hundreds of years. This special presentation is followed by a tour Yurok Village Discovery Park, directly across the street from the visitor center.

Traditional Gambling Games & Storytelling Friday, August 21, 2015

A Traditional Yurok Gambling Game

Two Sessions on Friday, August 21, 2015 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Please join us at the Yurok Country Visitor Center Amphitheater on Friday, August 21, 2015 when as Yurok Tribe members present a very special enrichment session about the traditional gambling game, a guessing game played in Northern California by the Yurok, Hupa, Karuk, Wiyot and Tolowa people. The event includes traditional storytelling and gambling demonstrations.

Gambling Tournament Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

Join the fun as the Yurok Tribe hosts a competitive Gambling Tournament at the Yurok Country Visitor Center Amphitheater as part of the 53rd Annual Klamath Salmon Festival Saturday, August 22nd, 2015. Team sign ups are between 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. with the games starting at 11 a.m. There will be a $25 team sign up fee with proceeds going to the champions.

53rd Annual Klamath Salmon Festival Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

The Yurok Tribe invites the community to the 53rd Annual Klamath Salmon Festival, Saturday August 22, 2015.  This family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. The festivities kick off with a Veteran’s breakfast (free for veterans), held at the Klamath Community Center on Salmon Blvd, at 8:00am along with the 4th Annual Ney’ Puey 5K Run begins (sign up for the run begins at 7:00am). Visitors will also enjoy a Yurok Tribe, Cultural Demonstration, Stick Game Competition, Indian Card Games, Traditional Salmon BBQ, Vendor Booths, Children’s Activities, Food booths, LIVE MUSIC, Watermelon Eating Contest, Softball Tournament, Cribbage Tournament, Classic Car Show and more!

For up-to-date information and to sign up for events visit www.yuroktribe.org/salmonfestival.htm.  You can also follow our Facebook Page updates by clicking here.

Yurok Country Visitor Center & Amphitheater
The 3,500 square foot center features interactive exhibits teach visitors about the Yurok culture and history along with one of the redwood region’s largest retail displays of local Native-made jewelry and crafts. Hands on adventure guides are also available to help our guests learn more about the beautiful geographical attractions in the Klamath area and the Redwood National & State Parks. The Yurok Country Visitor Center & Amphitheater is conveniently located in Downtown Klamath, California- across from the Redwood Hotel Casino and Yurok Discovery Village.

“The Yurok Country Visitor Center will educate visitors about the traditions and culture of the tribe and about life along the Klamath River and the Redwood Coast” – Thomas P. O’Rourke Sr., Chairman of the Yurok Tribe

This summer, plan a visit to the brand new Yurok Country Visitor Center & Amphitheater, conveniently located in Downtown Klamath, California- across from the Redwood Hotel Casino and Yurok Discovery Village.

The 3,500 square foot center features interactive exhibits teach visitors about the Yurok culture and history along with one of the redwood region’s largest retail displays of local Native-made jewelry and crafts. Hands on adventure guides are also available to help our guests learn more about the beautiful geographical attractions in the Klamath area and the Redwood National & State Parks.

These events are free and open to the public.

Story Telling with James Gensaw

Red Breast Robin Story

July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Don’t miss the classic tale, Red Breast Robin Story as told by Yurok Language Specialist and Tribe Member, James Gensaw each Wednesday in July at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. The story will be followed by a tour of the brand new Yurok Village Discovery Park, directly across the street from the visitor center. This self-guided park features a simulated traditional Yurok village and has been constructed using traditional materials such as redwood planks and Douglas fir poles.

The Story of Yurok People and the Redwoods

July 17th, July 24th, and July 31st 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Yurok Tribe Member and storyteller James Gensaw shares the story of the connection between the Yurok people and the Redwood Tree that dates back hundreds of years. This special presentation is followed by a tour Yurok Village Discovery Park, directly across the street from the visitor center.

Native Craft Fair

July 24th & 25th
The first ever Native Craft Fair will be held at the Yurok Country Visitor Center on July 24th and 25th. Vendors need to contact Madison Green at the Yurok Country Visitor Center (707) 482-1555 mgreen@redwoodhotelcasino.com.

The Yurok Tribe’s Klamath Salmon Festival

Saturday, August 22nd, 2015
The Yurok Tribe invites the community to the 53rd Annual Klamath Salmon Festival, Saturday August 22, 2015.  This family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. The festivities kick off with a Veteran’s breakfast (free for veterans), held at the Klamath Community Center on Salmon Blvd, at 8:00am along with the 4th Annual Ney’ Puey 5K Run begins (sign up for the run begins at 7:00am). Visitors will also enjoy a Yurok Tribe, Cultural Demonstration, Stick Game Competition, Indian Card Games, Traditional Salmon BBQ, Vendor Booths, Children’s Activities, Food booths, LIVE MUSIC, Watermelon Eating Contest, Softball Tournament, Cribbage Tournament, Classic Car Show and more!

For up-to-date information and to sign up for events visit www.yuroktribe.org/salmonfestival.htm.  You can also follow our Facebook Page updates by clicking here.

After months of hard work and anticipation, the brand new 3,500 square‐foot Yurok Country Visitor Center & Amphitheater officially opened its doors to the public Thursday, June 18, 2015 with a special ribbon cutting ceremony. The new facility is part of a multi‐million dollar economic development initiative to improve Downtown Klamath.

In addition to revitalizing the area, this new facility will offer tourists and locals a place to learn about Yurok history while giving Klamath an economic boost. The new visitor’s center will highlight geographical attractions in the Klamath area and the Redwood National & State Parks.

“The Yurok Country Visitor Center will educate visitors about the traditions and culture of the tribe and about life along the Klamath River and the redwood coast,” said Thomas P. O’Rourke Sr., Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “This beautiful new facility will become a hub for tourist information and local businesses.”

Yurok Tribe said its new visitor’s center is one of the tribe’s latest job-creating ventures; supporting tribal artisans by offering one of the redwood region’s largest retail displays of local Native-made jewelry and crafts. It will also promote area businesses and educate visitors about the history of the tribe.

“We hope by investing in the town’s infrastructure and facilities we can help existing local businesses and attract new ones to our area. This will create long‐term prosperity for all,” O’Rourke Sr. continued.

The center along with a reconstructed Yurok village was paid for by federal funding from the National Scenic Byways Program.

Click here to see more photos from the June 18th opening celebration.

The visitors center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
101 Klamath Blvd
Klamath, CA 95548
(707) 482-1555
info@visityurokcountry.com

The Yurok Tribe invites the community to the 53rd Annual Klamath Salmon Festival, Saturday August 22, 2015. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Yurok Tribe, the largest tribe in California, their culture and the Klamath River.

This family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. The festivities kick off with a Veteran’s breakfast (free for veterans), held at the Klamath Community Center on Salmon Blvd, at 8:00am along with the 4th Annual Ney’ Puey 5K Run begins (sign up for the run begins at 7:00am).

Visitors will also enjoy aYurok Tribe, Cultural Demonstration, Stick Game Competition, Indian Card Games, Traditional Salmon BBQ, Vendor Booths, Children’s Activities, Food booths, LIVE MUSIC, Watermelon Eating Contest, Softball Tournament, Cribbage Tournament, Classic Car Show and more!

For up-to-date information and to sign up for events visit www.yuroktribe.org/salmonfestival.htm.

The much anticipated opening of the Yurok Country Visitor Center is finally here! The facility, opening to the public June 18th, will be the hub for tourist information and local businesses while educating visitors about the Yurok Tribe’s Heritage and culture. Come and learn about the ancestral lands of the Yuork people, including much of the coastline near present day Klamath, extending up the Klamath River for over 40 miles.

The Yurok Tribal Council and Yurok Visitor Center are hosting an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday June 17th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. which will include a cultural talk in the amphitheater, cake and light refreshments.

The approximately 3,500 square-foot Yurok Country Visitor Center is located in Downtown Klamath on the corner of Klamath Blvd and Klamath Circle and is within walking distance from Redwood Hotel Casino. The location is also in the heart of Redwood National and State Parks, home to some of the last remaining old-growth redwoods on the planet.

In keeping with traditional Yurok design and building practices, the new facility incorporates green building design and materials with renewable energy resources including solar, wind, and geothermal heating.  The already lush area is beautifully landscaped with local native plants and interpretive signage indicating the native Yurok use of the plants.

Visitors will also be welcome to explore the brand new Yurok Village Discovery Park, directly across the street from the visitor center. This self-guided park features a simulated traditional Yurok village and fish cooking pit for private events. The village has been constructed using traditional materials such as redwood planks and Douglas fir poles.

The Park also includes an outdoor gathering circle (amphitheater), walking trails, canoe carving area, handicapped accessible restrooms, outdoor lighting, paved parking areas and access roadways. The cultural park will provide a space for Tribal families to provide for an interchange of Yurok culture and history to current and future generations.