Day Ten:

We talked to Pula Twa'le Swan whom is apart of the Willpinit tribe and is the main host of a radio talk show called Inner Tribal Beat. They have a talk show because the cellphone service doesn't work very well so they update each other that way, Paula is also the air quality manager, she monitors indoor air quality by providing free in-home test  of mold assessments for asthma she started in 2011. She explained to us how crucial the trains full of coal are to the rivers because when the trains pass by they leave residue and that residue falls on the river which its dangerous to the fish, plants and the people. She talked about the Outreach and Education program which is a day the communit comes together to educate themselves on what is happening in their community. I really enjoyed talking to her.

After that we met Paul Juran whom brought all 16 of us weightier's which are overalls for water. After everyone was done putting on their weighter's we went down to the lake and started fish shocking. it was super scary because I thought we were going to kill the fish but it turns out they only knock out a couple of seconds then they wake. it eased me up a little bit but then I realized that I was on the water while the shocker was in the water, I thought I was going to get shocked but I didn't, I lived to see another day. When we started to actually shock the fish we were catching them with nets and putting them in buckets so that she would be able to identify them. We caught about 25 fish which was really cool and it was a really hot day so the water was nice.

When everyone was finished putting their weighters away we headed to Two Rivers, when we got there some swam others relaxed under the shade. We only had 40 minutes to swim because we had to draw afterwards so I took advantage of the minutes we had in the water. when Jessica called us back to draw I was swimming back when out of a sudden Mat pikes me up and throws me in the water, I swallowed water from both my mouth and nose it was horrible. When I finally got to grounds immediately ran to the van because I didn't want Mat picking me up and throwing me in the water again. In the van I grabbed my drawing pad and pencils and started drawing the trees that were in sight. I found out that drawing is a way to let your emotions flow in a paper and its also very relaxing.

We arrived at camp and Warren comes and asks us to join him in a ceremonial gathering we said yes and he comes to me and asks if I would be able to start the prayer, I was feeling nervous because in my house I never pray so I don't really know how too. when we arrived to the short house everyone joined hands and I began the prayer, I thanked Warren for having us there and Chrissy for teaching me how to speak Sahampton after I was done we all sat down and started acknowledging the better moments in our life and the negatives, when were done Warren washed us with smoke because that will release us from all the negativity in out life's. It was such a beautiful moment I really felt the love and I am going to carry that memory for the rest of my life.

Day Nine:

We went back to Wilpinit High School and talked to Warren about the fishes they have in their river and informed us the importance they have and how much impact they in the native culture such as the native fish which are Kokanee, Rainbow, Sturgeon, Suckers, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike Minnow. Warrant couldn't stress enough how endangered the native fish are but the predators whom are Carp, Burbot, Small Mouth Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike. The fish are really important to native culture because that's their food and source of connecting to their ancestors. We also learned the water resources that Wilpinit has, they have special restoration projects that monitors the community drinking system. He also taught us about Spa Coordination which is Spokane tribe monitors issues related to Spokane and Columbia Rivers and their goal is to assist in regional dialogue and coordinate on river issues. One thing that stood out to me was when Warren told us the meaning of Spokane which is children of the sun and that to me meant bright and welcoming and that's exactly what the people from Wilpinit are.

After Warren spoke to us the members from the Dawn Mining Coe came to talk to us about the Mine and the danger it brings due to the radiation. they made us sign a paper saying we wouldn't sue them which kind of scared me because they had a part on the agreements paper that radiating could have a big affect on unborn children and when Paula Swan asked about more detail on it and Michelle Beranas whom is the Administrator said "I've been working in the mine for 10 years and nothing has happened to me" and that gave me no comfort at all. They started taking about the background radiation sources which are cosmic radiation from outer space also terrestrial radiation from radionuclides in the earth's crust and finally internal radiation from our own bodies. 

When we arrived at the mine we took a tour of the plant and looked at the way they clean the water. and I learned that they use sulfuric acid to drop the uranium level to .7 after we toured the mine we went to see the uranium lake which is a beautiful blue, I asked Lue what would happen to me if I were to swim in that water and all he said was "you wouldn't die" but I know that when animals drink that water... they do die so I know not to trust them.

Day Eight:


 I learned that I had a hidden talent that day,  I never knew I could draw and I owe it to Gorge Hill and mother nature because something about drawing a tree or a flower makes me come in peace with myself. I drew two drawings and everyone was shocked on how my drawing skills popped out. One thing that really stood out to me was when Gorge said "sometimes its not the painting itself that is art its peoples reaction, the emotion an individual goes through by looking at your peace. that's art." he also taught me some tips which are crosshatching, restatement, critique, and value. I am forever thankful to George for helping me find my hidden talent.

 

 

 

 

After Gorge gave us all his tricks Warren took us kayaking and canoeing at the river, we had the option to either ride a canoe or a kayak and there was only two kayaks so I chose the kayak because it's more dangerous and fun. we also had to chose a partner to ride the kayak with and I chose Chrissy, because she also wanted to ride the kayak. once me and her got in Ken whom is Warrens soon pushed us in the water, Chrissy and I started to paddle when we realized water was entering the kayak so we started to freak out because the back as being consumed of water and all of a sudden the kayak sinks. Chrissy and I didn't even make it to the middle of the rivers so we decided to try it again. we pulled it back to shore and got in it once more, we started pedaling and we were catching up with the rest of the group when Chrissy yells "STOP!! water is coming in again!!" so we just jump off the kayak and start pulling it back to shore which was very difficult. Monet and Ibeth come close ad ask if we're ok and offered to pull the kayal with their canoe back to shore. when they finalny were able to Chrissy and I decided to swim since the kayak hated us. overall I had a wonderful time. I got me feet wet so I was good.

 

 

 

Once we arrived at camp and dried off, Warran took us to the tower that is all the way on top of the mountain which was nice because we got to see where we were camping and we watched the sunset go down. it was breathtaking both the walk up there and the sunset. it was a good scene to end the day with.

                                    

Day Seven:

We stayed at Koa, I was a happy camper because I finally took a real shower and I used a flushing toilet. when Monet, Ibeth and I were setting up camp the boys camped in with us so now it is 5 people in Monet tent. When the sun came down and the moon was high up on the sky everyone went in their tents except Chrissy and I, she showed me the grass dance and the meaning of the amount of feathers on a women's head, I learned that two feathers on the head means they are married and I learned that "mish' means what. Chrissy also taught me some storied the one I really enjoyed was the one about the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon fighting for the Creators attention and so he just set jobs for each. it was really nice, it was getting to dark and too scary so we decided to call it a night. We started heading to Wellpinit and it got so hot that we just decided to set up camp and eat a sandwich so that we could head to Turtle Lake, once we got to the lake the first one to dive in the river surprisingly was Alden the quiet, shy one of the group and after him everyone started to dive. When I threw myself in all I felt was this cold sensation over come my head but it felt very good. all the kids from the White Swan High School taught me about the war call, everyone was doing their war call and my mind just blew away it was so beautiful.

Day Six:

 We visited Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and s nice park ranger named Valerie gave us an introduction, it was nice in there, I haven't gone to a historical museum in 11 years so it felt nice to suck in important facts from years before my time and to see them made it even better especially the part where we entered the first part of the museum where the large Columbia Mammoth was located  I learned that unlike wooly mammoths, the Columbian mammoths lived in milder climate zones and has only a thin covering of hair similar to elephants today. Clovis people hunted these mammoths, likely contributing to their demise between 10,000 and 11,000 years ago. Both male and female mammoths and mastodons had huge curving ivory tusk which helped with foraging and defense against predators. the tusk grew spirally with mammoth tusk reaching 11 to 12 feet (3.5 m/) and mastodon tusk exceeding 8 feet (2.5 m). tusk have annual growth rings, similar to tree rings. when a mammoth is stress the growth rings are thin and pregnancy can be readily observable in the ring too, Dick Caldwell found a tusk fifteen miles from Discover Center. The mammoth bones have been found along the Kotzebue coastline of northwest Alaska. I learned about a mammoths tusk and jawbone, mammoths were herbivores, grazing on grasses which were ground between their massive upper and lower molars. The molars developed in the rear of the jaw and moved forward to replace worn-down teeth in the front, which would be expelled. Only six sets of teeth were produced during a mature mammoth's lifetime. Each set had four teeth, two upper jaw, and two in the lower. If the mammoth survived long enough to use up all his  teeth, it would be unable to eat and would succumb to starvation.

 I also got to learn about the Dier Wolf who co-existed throughout North-America with the gray wolf, coyote, jackal, fox, and domestic dog until about 9,000 years ago.  it was the largest canid to have lived, reaching as much as 150 pounds with powerful bone-cracking jaws and teeth.

Giant Short-faced Bear was one of the creatures in the museum who fascinated me the most  because it had a shirt body in relation to their long legs. unlike pigeon -toed modern bears, they walked with their feet pointing forward. they were built lighter than brown or grizzly bears, but were bigger overall, reaching a standing height taller than a polar bear. These giant bears were highly carnivorous and likely used their size to overpower smaller predators, such as wolves, scimitar cats, and American lions, to take their carrion. A board snout enhanced their sense of smell and long legs made them adept at ranging over large areas in search of food. a short faced added powerful jaw leverage. suitable for crushing bone and ripping meat apart. After that, two lady's showed us three birds: Red Tail Hawk, what surprised me about her species was that is takes a 120 mph dive I also learned that females are a lot larger than the males in the raptor world. American Castrol are related to pargoton falcon, and the Great Horn Owl is called horn owl because of its horn like ears. I had a fun experience because it felt like I went back in time, it was great.
 

When we were finished touring the museum we went and looked at the petroglyphs and the one that amazed me was She Who Watches because it was on the rock for 300 years and the story behind it was a lady who promised she would for ever watch over the river and the rock now is literally facing the river. it was amazing looking at 300 year old drawings, my curiosity keeps deepening.  

Day Five:

We visited Celilo Falls and we were lucky enough to stay at the long house where the tribe celebrate their Sunday service. Paul Lumlui whom is the executive director since 2009 talked to us about the promise the government gave to the Celilo Falls people which was if they were to allow the government to put up a Dam they would receive more Salmon but they lied there were actually less Salmon, the Dam reduces it by 50% the Dam also contaminated the water which used to be so clean the Celilo people would just drink right from it but know they have to be careful, its also contaminating the fish which is killing the fish. Now that the Celilo people know that the government lied to them they have been trying to take the Dam down or either have them clean the Columbia River, 14 members of the Yakama Nation filed a suit against Oregon and it went to the Supreme Court, when the Yakama Nation finally won the government they rebuilt their homes with garages for their boats and a new community center including a long house which were all built ten years ago.
In 1969 Judge Belloni, in Sohappy v. Smith/U.S v. Oregon (Belloni decision), ruled that the tribes were entitled to a "fair share" of the fish runs and the state is limited in its powers to regulate treaty Indian fisheries. the state may only regulate when "reasonable and necessary for conversation". further, state conversations regulations must not discriminate against the Indians and must utilized the least restrictive means necessary and I also never knew that Natives did not have to get a fishing license, they were already born with their right to fish, mainly Salmon because it is on their top 7 foods that the Creator supplied them with.

The tribe has its own law enforcement commissions from each of the four member tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to commemorate the occasion, a special intertribal oath emphasizing tribal sovereignty and service to the tribes was administered to all officers. I learned that the nation is looking for more native interns/employees because most of them are white and they want them to be more of their people and its called Work Force Development. when I heard Jeremy Garcia's story I was touched because he really didn't believe in himself or in his future and look at him now, he wants to major in psychology and motivate kids especially native kids to go to college and become something  I think that's beautiful.

Day Four:

We visited Karnopp Petersen Law Firm and talked to Howard G. Arnett whom practices Indian Law, Water Law, Natural Resources, and had experience in civil litigation and appellate practice. He explained to us how Celilo Falls was the biggest indigent fishery in the world. He explained to us that in 1855 the treaty right attached to Deschutes river and to on-reservation locations. He also taught us a ton about the project site on the Deschutes river and how it has been recognized as an idea hydropower location. He also talked about the Dams such as the first Dam that was built in 1957, and in 1964 round Butte Dam was created he explained that the Dams were creating problems for the fish and the tribes were livid, who wouldn't be they moved Celilo Village the home of the Celilo tribe on a different location because the government created the dam which is now killing their fish. The global settlement results of a two year long collaborative process that led to 22 organizations, including the co-licenses and federal and state agencies, singing a relicensing agreement on July 13, 2004  and in their deal the tribe had an option to purchase additional interest up to 50.1% as early as 2029. The talk that we had with Howie was amazing because he's protecting the forest and the fish and the native peoples rights.

Day Three:

We visited the Newberry National Volcanic Monument where the lead forest ranger Christina introduced herself and talked to us about what a national monument is and I learned that Newbery was created in the 1990's and it has different features than a national park because it has historic importance. Newberry is a volcano and that it's self makes it a historical monument it also has a lot of monuments around them such as:
- Lava Butte which rises 500 feet above its 9 square-mile lava flow. It erupted 7,000 years ago and is one of Newberry's many cinder cones.
- Lava Cast Forest which was formed when a lava flow overtook and old-growth forest and cooled to form casts of the trees that once stood there.
- Newberry Caldera which contains the crystal-clear East lake and Paulina Lake, several lava flows, and lots of opportunity for adventure.
- Big Obsidian Flow which formed just 1,300 years ago making it Oregon's youngest lava flow.
- Paulina Peak whish crowns Newberry Caldera at it's highest point of 7,984 ft.
- Paulina Falls which spills over the lowest point of Newberry Caldera, plummeting 80 ft in a twin waterfall.
I also learned that the most recent eruption occurred 13,000 years ago and I wonder when it will blow up!?

After the long walk we visited the Lava River Cave which is a mile long lava tube formed from one of Newberry Volcano's massive eruptions about 80,000 years ago. it was nice and fresh and well needed because of that long walk on the volcano.

 

 

 

Day Two:

 We met up with two fuel technicians at Deschutes National Forest whom names are Nicholas E Swagger and Robert Newey. They taught us about logistic which means having the right material at the right time and taught us about fuels which are what fired consume to to become a larger fire for example pine needles, pine cones, shrubs, and sticks. We also learned increments of fuels such as a 1 hour fuel which are 0 to a quarter inch, 10 hour fuels which are a quarter to one inch, 100 hours are one to three inches and 1,000 hours are three inches greatest but they're usually 10 inches greater.
I also learned what B.I.A (Bureau of Indian Affairs) stands for and what NEPA which is National Environment Policy Act which was established in 1969. I also became a logger that day because I learned which trees to cut down and the different types of trees such as a dominant tree: the tallest most healthiest treesCo dominant:  which are usually next to the dominant trees but it's not getting it's full nutrition.
The most interesting fact I took from visiting the site was that the ponderosa pine tree which usually has 3 long pine needles which smell like butter scotch.
We also visited U.S National Forest Service Department of Agriculture and took a tour of the Seed Extractory which is a non private organization and we talked to two very sweet lady's whom names are Kayla Hurman and Sarah Garvin, they explained to us how sometimes they're seeds within seeds and how they get over 20-60 unnamed seeds and there are over 1,500 different species. Too keep track of so many seeds is difficult so I respect them.
After we met with them we went and had barbecue with a group that had different types of jobs.  We met Tom who is a fish biologist, Robin who works in architecture, Bill who works in land  surveyed, Lorine Turner who is a biologists, Sharmine who is a botanist, Gina who is a public affairs specialist. Gina told me about other fields beyond theirs and those are: Rangeland Management Specialist, Forester, Forest Engineer, Silviculturist, Trail Specialist, Recreation Specialist, Hydrologist, Road and Facilities Maintenance, Contracting Specialist, Visitor Services and Interpretive  Specialist, Timber Product and Contracting Officer, Geologist, Forest Health/Entomologist and Safety Specialist. I was amazed how much field there are and how many people get together and protect the forest.

Day One:

When I arrived at Heritage I was nervous, I mean I was going to sleep in a tent with a stranger. when everyone started unloading their cars and carrying their suit cases I came across four individuals named Alden, Monet, Ibeth and Mat. I in my head I was thinking "oh these are the people I will be hanging with for two weeks" they didn't look harmless so I introduced myself as they did too and in
3 hours we became best friends. everyone assumed that we were all friends before the trip but they are wrong. saying yes to this trip was a good idea because everyone in my group has a different major and this could become long life connections. I am super excited of what these four individuals and these two weeks have to bring.