The smell of traditional baked salmon filled the air at the Central Oregon Community College Madras campus last Saturday as the college hosted its annual Salmon Bake — a beloved regional tradition now in its 26th year.

The event, held on Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., was hosted by COCC's Native American program and the First Nations Student Union Club. It was the first Salmon Bake held at the newly expanded Madras campus, which has grown its facilities in recent years to better serve Central Oregon's rural student population.

Free, Community-Centered Event

The Salmon Bake is a free community event — open to everyone — with traditional baked salmon served starting at noon. The day also featured:

  • Music and cultural performances
  • Vendor booths
  • A silent auction

Entertainment kicked off at 11:30 a.m. with performances by flutist James Edmund Greeley, the Warm Springs K-8 drum and dance group, and Grupo Folklórico el Sol, who performed traditional folkloric dances representing the Latino community's deep roots in Jefferson County.

Benefiting Native Students

All donations collected and proceeds from the silent auction go directly to the COCC First Nations Student Union scholarship program, which supports Native American and Alaska Native students pursuing college education in Central Oregon.

That student population is meaningful in context: nearly 4% of COCC's current student body identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native — a significant share that reflects the college's role serving Madras, the Warm Springs Reservation, and surrounding tribal communities.

A Growing Campus

The expanded Madras campus has become an increasingly important hub for higher education in Jefferson County, offering degree programs, professional certifications, and community events that would otherwise require a long drive to Bend. The Salmon Bake's move to the expanded facility is a fitting symbol of that growth — a 25-year-old community tradition rooted in Native culture now anchored at a campus built to serve the full county.

COCC's Madras campus can be reached at (541) 475-4734 for information about upcoming programs and events.