Day Fourteen:
Well the day has come, the day we all waited for... everyone was packing their belongings, un flatting the mattresses and placing things back into the cars. Once we were done taking care of everything needed we headed to the Casino to eat breakfast and oh my! I haven't stuffed face in a long time(2 weeks) and oh we finally drank soda, it tasted like heaven. I was sad because I met all these wonderful people and I had to say goodbye, everyone impacted me and my perspective of things and I am blessed. The two weeks away from home made my mind grow, lose weight and get an amazing tan but most importantly it thought me how much the earth is suffering and the people in it. Now no offense but every time a white person says "go back to where you came from" I realize they have no place to talk because then the white people have to go back to Europe, the natives own the land and somehow they want to be saying all kinds of nonsense. I was happy of coming aboard even though I was the youngest member in the Heritage Circle they all became family. Everyone was sad to go but happy to see their loved ones. When we arrived to Heritage everyone went their own ways knowing that one day we will be thinking of the moments we all had and the memories will randomly come to our heads and make us smile or when we see each other at the Heritage library we will laugh because we will know what we're going say to each other. I know I took a lot back home because when I arrived and my mom gave me a huge hug and a kiss she asked "how was it" and I just smiled and said "life changing". I couldn't really explain everything that happened in those 2 weeks to her or any one who would ask me that same question because it was so much but I tried and when I did everyone was amazed how interesting I made everything sound and how deep in thought I would go to explain myself. I arrived a different women a much sophisticated one, and if this trip is offered next year I am defiantly taking it.
sincerely,
Alexic Garcia
Monday, August 24, 2015
Day Thirteen:
We met up with Jennifer De'rose whom is the Culture Resource Manager, she goes every October through April to check the lake by Heyburn State Park, she explained to us how there use to tons of villages underneath the lake like Hnch'emtsn (Inner Mouth), Hnscharp (Upstream), Quaw'li't (Dark Pine), Ni'st'ed'we'st (Where a Stone Lies Down), Schetkwe' (On the Water), Nr'washalas (Dwelling On the Spur), Ch'mi'wes (Waist), Shsht'ut (Little Rock), De'ttelpus (A Large Clumb of Cottonwood), and Hnch'mqinkwe (Surface on the Head of the Water) all of them filled with life who knows what is left of the tribal members who lived in the villeges listed above. In 1858 the road was built, in 1906 they started to build the Damn, and in the 1990's logging became popular. in 1908 when Heyburn became a state park the tribe sued individuals who lived near the park because thy wanted their space, so the court gave the tribe 38,000 miles only to create a park for public use. in the 1960-80's people started building on the park and the tribe was not happy for that so they sued again and of course they won and the buildings were torn down and the park continued on living.
OPERATION GIVE A DAM! ABOUT THE BEAVERS. We got suited up and headed down see the beaver projects. I was told we were going to build a beaver dam and I got excited, they told us to think like a beaver so I did, when we started working on our dam we used straw, mud, and sticks and rocks. We used teamwork to get it done, some got cuts and others had mud on their faces but at the end of the day it was worth it because we helped the environment and we all learned to walk in a beavers shoes if they wore any. *drum set*
We met up with Jennifer De'rose whom is the Culture Resource Manager, she goes every October through April to check the lake by Heyburn State Park, she explained to us how there use to tons of villages underneath the lake like Hnch'emtsn (Inner Mouth), Hnscharp (Upstream), Quaw'li't (Dark Pine), Ni'st'ed'we'st (Where a Stone Lies Down), Schetkwe' (On the Water), Nr'washalas (Dwelling On the Spur), Ch'mi'wes (Waist), Shsht'ut (Little Rock), De'ttelpus (A Large Clumb of Cottonwood), and Hnch'mqinkwe (Surface on the Head of the Water) all of them filled with life who knows what is left of the tribal members who lived in the villeges listed above. In 1858 the road was built, in 1906 they started to build the Damn, and in the 1990's logging became popular. in 1908 when Heyburn became a state park the tribe sued individuals who lived near the park because thy wanted their space, so the court gave the tribe 38,000 miles only to create a park for public use. in the 1960-80's people started building on the park and the tribe was not happy for that so they sued again and of course they won and the buildings were torn down and the park continued on living.
OPERATION GIVE A DAM! ABOUT THE BEAVERS. We got suited up and headed down see the beaver projects. I was told we were going to build a beaver dam and I got excited, they told us to think like a beaver so I did, when we started working on our dam we used straw, mud, and sticks and rocks. We used teamwork to get it done, some got cuts and others had mud on their faces but at the end of the day it was worth it because we helped the environment and we all learned to walk in a beavers shoes if they wore any. *drum set*
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Day Twelve:
Bobby White took us to see one of the projects Coeur d'Alene was working on which is called the West Fork Lake Creek Stream and Wetland Project, they started working on it in 2009 and finished in 2011. The land they were using is owned by two citizens whom are Judy and Glen Ruark they let the Coeur d'Alene do their project in their backyard, they let complete strangers into their land... they are great people that believe in justice. We took a tour accompanied by Stephanie Hallock whom is a engineer and a biologist, she walked us through the backyard and gave us facts about the construction. she took us need a pile of regular rocks or so I thought they were but Stephanie explained how they are a native rock pit basically broken rocks in a pile. and took us to the stream and she told us that they built that, the stream led to a arch clover which is used to let fish pass, fish are very important to the Indian culture so it's important that fish have safe travels. After Stephanie was done showing us around we headed out to Culture and Language department to meet up with Caryl Dean Swan and Leanne Campbell, they took us into the storage room where they keep everything from the late 1915 to now, it's amazing how much they have saved. they have books, photographs, voice records, clothes, furniture, baskets, bones, and rocks. they are collaborating with Washington State University and have sent them 10 to 15 boxes of voice records so they can transfer everything into CD's on in a thumb drive. the Moccasins they have stored are so beautiful the bead work done is astonishing and looks difficult..
After a long day of walking by the river and almost getting stung by hornet's to looking at ancient artifacts we arrived back to Coeur d'Alene Restoration Cite and met Angelo Vitalic he is the Fisheries Program Manager, were able to carve a canoe, a very special canoe actually because the wood used was cinder wood which was donated to the Coeur d'Alene tribe, every five years they cut Cider wood and they only cut five trees down and Coeur d'Alene was given one of those five tress and that to me was special. The whole group helped shave the canoe so now how I see it is when ever it's completely done and sold to an individual every ones spirit will be riding in the waters with the canoe.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Day Eleven:
We arrived at Coeur d'Alene Lake and spoke with Bobby White, Jina Bond and Laura Laumatia, they offered us coffee and the whole class got excited, it was like we all saw a pot of gold. Once everyone was done pouring their coffee we sat down in a U like form and began to listed to Jina's presentation. Jina whom is a Natural Resources Education Specialist has been working in Fisheries for 6 years and Laura has been working for 4 years. Jima talked to us about the history of Coeur d'Alene and how big the tribe is, the tribe has 5 million acre of territory. I learned that in the Battle of Steptoe which was in May of 1858 Steptoe led 150 troops and 50 Nez Prece scouts toward Colville country 500 Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Palouse, Kalispel, and Yakama warriors surrounded them, Chief Vincent, Andrew Seltice and Peter Wildshoe helped Steptoe retreat in that Battle 10 troops and 9 Indians were killed after that battle was over the white man got livid and wanted to punish the tribes who were involved so they sent the U.S military to do just that. In August of 1858, Col. Wright led a campaign to "pacify" tribes he perused a "scorched earth" policy, the initiation was to slaughter the tribes horses, cattle, burn their barns and stored food. this technique is used to destroy the enemy. I also learned Mulla Road was completed in 1862 and in 1873 Chief Andrew Seltice and former Chief Vincent pursued and agreement with the U.S government. 598,000 acres were reserved for Coeur d'Alene Tribe, with 4 million acres ceded to U.S. the compensation was a mill, a blacksmith shop, a school and farm implements this agreement was not approved by Congress so the Tribe did not receive "Title".
Later in 1906 the Dawes Act came along, Dawes Act granted land allotments to individual Native Americans but there was a catch, the land will be given to you if a Native American changed their ways of living, there are six specific goals of the Act they are:
1) Break up the tribe as a social unit
2) Encourage individual initiative
3) Further the progress of Indian farmers
4) Reduce the cost of Indian administration
5) Secure part of the reservation as Indian land
6) Open unused lands to white settlers
By 1890's, the Coeur d'Alenes were well known as successful farmers, and many owned two homes. Allotment took place in 1909. 104,000 acres were allowed to 638 members and "adopted members" in 1911 the last families living on the lake were evicted Heyburn State Park was established, and money intended for compensation was used by the State to cover the cost of the park. 60 percent of lands lost through conversion to fee status, by 1921 only four Coeur d'Alene famileis were productively farming. Today, Tribe retains about 24 percent of the 345,000 acre reservation. Listening to all that made me livid because these white men were bullies and I do not like bullies.
After the presentation Bobby invited us for Dinner at the long house and let me tell you it was so amazing, I am Hispanic so we do our celebrations a lot different, I really enjoyed my self. When it was time to eat everyone sat down and before we could eat a group of girls from Yakima traveled four hours to show us the butterfly dance, it was so beautiful I was touched by the sound of the drum and the song the young lady was singing after they were done a woman began telling us the story of the sacred foods and roots and the same group of girls that were dancing earlier started putting the foods in order, I didn't know that before we eat we have to drink water and also when you're done you end it with water. This was my first time trying deer meat and it was so delicious I loved it. I was so happy to be a part of something so special I like how no one stared at me because if my ethnicity, the woman who was giving a speech said "everyone here is my brother and sister, the creator brought each and every one of you here for a reason" I took that to heart and I actually thought about it because it was true, I did not expect all this love from people I've never met, we have different beliefs yet they treated me as one, my respect and love for Native culture grew even bigger that day. it was a good day.
After the dinner we went back to the room where we first met with Jina and Laura except this time we met with Audra Vincent and Mitchell Clark, they both work in the Language Department, they work with members of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. the Coeur d'Alene language is becoming extinct only two elders from the tribe are fluent in the language so it's pretty say that their identity is fading away, Audra and Mitchell are there to prevent that and keep it going, Coeur d'Alene also tribe also got rid if Columbus day and turned it into Water Potato day which is chełchtu's'ya'pqi'n'm sqigwts ha'chsetq'it in their language.
We arrived at Coeur d'Alene Lake and spoke with Bobby White, Jina Bond and Laura Laumatia, they offered us coffee and the whole class got excited, it was like we all saw a pot of gold. Once everyone was done pouring their coffee we sat down in a U like form and began to listed to Jina's presentation. Jina whom is a Natural Resources Education Specialist has been working in Fisheries for 6 years and Laura has been working for 4 years. Jima talked to us about the history of Coeur d'Alene and how big the tribe is, the tribe has 5 million acre of territory. I learned that in the Battle of Steptoe which was in May of 1858 Steptoe led 150 troops and 50 Nez Prece scouts toward Colville country 500 Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Palouse, Kalispel, and Yakama warriors surrounded them, Chief Vincent, Andrew Seltice and Peter Wildshoe helped Steptoe retreat in that Battle 10 troops and 9 Indians were killed after that battle was over the white man got livid and wanted to punish the tribes who were involved so they sent the U.S military to do just that. In August of 1858, Col. Wright led a campaign to "pacify" tribes he perused a "scorched earth" policy, the initiation was to slaughter the tribes horses, cattle, burn their barns and stored food. this technique is used to destroy the enemy. I also learned Mulla Road was completed in 1862 and in 1873 Chief Andrew Seltice and former Chief Vincent pursued and agreement with the U.S government. 598,000 acres were reserved for Coeur d'Alene Tribe, with 4 million acres ceded to U.S. the compensation was a mill, a blacksmith shop, a school and farm implements this agreement was not approved by Congress so the Tribe did not receive "Title".
Later in 1906 the Dawes Act came along, Dawes Act granted land allotments to individual Native Americans but there was a catch, the land will be given to you if a Native American changed their ways of living, there are six specific goals of the Act they are:
1) Break up the tribe as a social unit
2) Encourage individual initiative
3) Further the progress of Indian farmers
4) Reduce the cost of Indian administration
5) Secure part of the reservation as Indian land
6) Open unused lands to white settlers
By 1890's, the Coeur d'Alenes were well known as successful farmers, and many owned two homes. Allotment took place in 1909. 104,000 acres were allowed to 638 members and "adopted members" in 1911 the last families living on the lake were evicted Heyburn State Park was established, and money intended for compensation was used by the State to cover the cost of the park. 60 percent of lands lost through conversion to fee status, by 1921 only four Coeur d'Alene famileis were productively farming. Today, Tribe retains about 24 percent of the 345,000 acre reservation. Listening to all that made me livid because these white men were bullies and I do not like bullies.
After the presentation Bobby invited us for Dinner at the long house and let me tell you it was so amazing, I am Hispanic so we do our celebrations a lot different, I really enjoyed my self. When it was time to eat everyone sat down and before we could eat a group of girls from Yakima traveled four hours to show us the butterfly dance, it was so beautiful I was touched by the sound of the drum and the song the young lady was singing after they were done a woman began telling us the story of the sacred foods and roots and the same group of girls that were dancing earlier started putting the foods in order, I didn't know that before we eat we have to drink water and also when you're done you end it with water. This was my first time trying deer meat and it was so delicious I loved it. I was so happy to be a part of something so special I like how no one stared at me because if my ethnicity, the woman who was giving a speech said "everyone here is my brother and sister, the creator brought each and every one of you here for a reason" I took that to heart and I actually thought about it because it was true, I did not expect all this love from people I've never met, we have different beliefs yet they treated me as one, my respect and love for Native culture grew even bigger that day. it was a good day.
After the dinner we went back to the room where we first met with Jina and Laura except this time we met with Audra Vincent and Mitchell Clark, they both work in the Language Department, they work with members of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. the Coeur d'Alene language is becoming extinct only two elders from the tribe are fluent in the language so it's pretty say that their identity is fading away, Audra and Mitchell are there to prevent that and keep it going, Coeur d'Alene also tribe also got rid if Columbus day and turned it into Water Potato day which is chełchtu's'ya'pqi'n'm sqigwts ha'chsetq'it in their language.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
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.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
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.
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