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
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Kentucky Philosophy
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Elating on the Porch
When the Folks Get Back
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Francis Goff
Fifth Grade
Rose Baker
Sixth Grade
Alice Collins
Fourth Grade
Little Willie’s Hearing
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Gladys Parazoo
Sixth Grade
Almost Beyond Endurance
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Earnest Courville
Fourth Grade
John Tells a Bedtime Story
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Victor Sisson
Sixth Grade
The Charge of the Light Brigade
• Oscar Taylor
Fifth Grade
Elmer Brown
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David Archambeau
E'ourth Grade
Johnny Gets Ready for Company,
Sergius Bozeroff
Sixth Grade
Music
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Band
Judges’ Decision
Recessional
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Band
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