Clams and other foods from our area waters are eaten at every opportunity in my home.

These Butter Clams were dug by Ben James, who is also known as “Ben Jammin” or “Ben be Jammin” as in “clam jamming”, or digging clams.

What a perfect nickname, to be associated with one of the traditional foods of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

They say, “when the tide is out, the table is set.” My husband tells the family story that his step-grandfather, Alfred Sampson, Sr., would walk through the woods from the East side of Fidalgo Island, where most tribal members live.

There still are walking path...