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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1927)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 THE RAINMAKER OF QUINAULT (Continued from page 1) the Indains were forced to take to their big war canoes. It rained until the whole earth was flooded and finally there came a day when only the top of Mount Olympus showed above the waters. It is told not alone among the Quinaults, but you will hear it among the Clallams, the Makahs, the Chimacums, the Elewahs and the Lummis, that on that day of the great flood, they gathered around the top of Mount Olympus and tied their canoes to the top of the mountain and remained there for many a day. And if you ask a Quinault why it rains around the Grays Harbor country so much, he will point to the Rain Rock and tell you the story of Aa-nuh-ah. A STRANGE CUSTOM Not long ago there was reported from Fort Washakie, Wyoming, a very strange Indian custom, of interest to many of us. Following some of his ancient theories into modern civilization the Indian has come up against some problems different to solve. For instance he can no longer conveniently have his personal effects buried with him when death over takes him, for at the present many things which he has accumulated are different from those used by his an cestors. He used to sleep in a buffalo robe, now he occupies a modern bed when he slumbers, and modern beds are difficult of burial in an ordinary grave, etc. The Fort Washakie article follows: Modern customs and ancient beliefs have clashed, with weird results in the Wind River burial grounds near here. The old idea that a Shoshone Indian should have his personal effects buried with him was workable in the days when he slept on a buffalo robe, but these mod ern beds present a problem which is generally solved by leaving the bed above ground. The burial place was established 43 years ago by Rev. John Roberts adjoining his log mission, which still stands. At that time the funeral ceremony con sisted of placing the body of the deceased on the back of a pony which was led, followed by the cortege, up long trails to a mountain top. There burial was made in the crevices of a rocky point. A Shoshone legend says the tribe is descended from a big coyote. When the Creator first spoke to the coyote, it is said, the animal replied in an impu dent, insolent manner and because of this the Creator told him his descendants would die. Thus death was brought into the world. The Shoshone, however, be lieves in a life hereafter. He has great respect for the chicadee, it having been told through generations that this bird discov ered the world. HONOR ROLL FOR MARCH Seniors Harriett Hill, Floyd Dupuis, Louis Dupuis, Clifford McLeod, Donald Smith, Coquelle Thompson, Percy Woodcock. Juniors Marie Bauer, Lila Crofoot, Alfreda Kipp, Vera Korter, Ruby Paul, Emily Phillips, Rose Smith, John Copeland, Pauline Pratt, Moses George, George Johnson, William Markishtum, Billie Williams. Sophomores Bernice Blakeslee, Frances Culbertson, Geraldine Dupuis, Florence Jameson, Martha Kinninook, Helen Peratrovich, Vina Smith, Cleo Plasteur, Archie Dem- mert, Charles Fagerstrom, John Frenier, Clifford Meachem, George Meachem. Freshmen Nellie Marcell, Mae Pepion, Margaret Roberts, Julia Walker, Flora Harper, Zelma Johnson, Ida Audette, Charles Morgan, Aaron Sookum, Joe Matte, Fred Motchman, Alex Gouley. Eighth Grade Carmen Chamberlain, Hila Contway, Anna Jackson, Ivy Sanderson, Oscar Evans, Harold Matt, Russell Valley. PREVOCATIONAL DECLAMATION CONTEST Last Friday evening the prevocational declamation contest was held in our school auditorium and en thusiasm ran high. Below we are giving a list of the declamation titles and the contestants. On another page will be found mention of the winners and the names of the judges. A Bear Family - - Kentucky Philosophy - - Elating on the Porch When the Folks Get Back - - Francis Goff Fifth Grade Rose Baker Sixth Grade Alice Collins Fourth Grade Little Willie’s Hearing - Gladys Parazoo Sixth Grade Almost Beyond Endurance - Earnest Courville Fourth Grade John Tells a Bedtime Story - Victor Sisson Sixth Grade The Charge of the Light Brigade • Oscar Taylor Fifth Grade Elmer Brown - - David Archambeau E'ourth Grade Johnny Gets Ready for Company, Sergius Bozeroff Sixth Grade Music ..... Band Judges’ Decision Recessional .... Band - -
