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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1928)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 A BUFFALO BERRIES TALE (Continued from page 1) wonderful Indian figure made a picture worthy the efforts of any artist. He dived, and failed to get the berries. He returned to the bank. The berries were still on the surface of the water. He dived again and returned to his place without the berries, and to learn that they were still there. He said, “I’ll get those berries if it is the last thing I ever do.” He got a big rock and tied it on one end of a strong piece of buckskin and tied the other end around his neck. He dived for the third time into the water and would have drowned if the pike fish had not bitten the buckskin and released the rock from his neck. He could hardly get out of the water and when he did he was so tired that he lay down on his back to rest. He looked up and there he saw the buffalo berries. He then knew he had been diving for a shadow on the water; He said, “For that I will ask the Spirit of Good and Bad to make thorns grow with the berries so that when women and children go to pick them they will have to beat the branches to get the berries.” To this day the buffalo berries have thorns and the Blackfeet lay a canvas down at the foot of the bushes and beat the branches to get the berries. —J ohn B il - ledeaux . THE LAST KIOWA SCOUT Near Easter time in 1927 Sergeant I-see-o, *the last surviving member of the Kiowa Indian Scouts, passed into the Great Beyond. The passing of this great Indian soldier marks the termination of the early career of one who had much to do with the establish ment of good feeling between the Indians of the Southwest and the United States Government. Sergeant I-see-o died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. One of the largest funerals ever held in that vicinity was the one to honor the memory of Sergeant I-see-o, a good Indian, and a loyal citizen of his country. Two services were held. The first was held in the Indian Mission Church building and was conducted by the missionary of the Dutch Reformed Church for the Indians. The missionary spoke in English and his address was interpreted by a Kiowa to the mem bers of the Kiowa tribe, and by a Comanche to the members of that tribe. The second service was held at Ft. Sill in the historic Old Post Chapel. Here a great number assembled and Chaplain R. C. Diebert, U. S. A., conducted the service, using an interpreter only in the Kiowa language. At the conclusion of the service a military proces sion was formed with the remains of Sergeant I-see-o resting upon a caisson and drawn by six horses. The procession slowly made its way to the Post cemetery where, by the side of honored members of the military service, the remains were laid to rest. The volleys were fired over the casket and the strains of “Taps” blown by ten buglers, carried the message, “Soldiers rest, thy warfare o’er.” Sergeant I-see-o enjoyed a very unique distinction: By his faithful service in establishing peace between the Indians and the white men, and for this service by an act of Congress he was carried on the active list of the army in the grade of a sergeant for life. He bore this honor and distinction worthily and his last request was that he be buried in the uniform of his country. The imposing sight of Sergeant I-see-o, seated on his horse, was almost a fixed part of the landscape at Ft. Sill for many years. His significant and impres sive past is now history of which his race may justly feel proud.—R oyal S auox . THE HONOR ROLL Following is the list of those who are entitled to be on the honor roll for December: Seniors Alfreda Kipp, William Johnson, Raymond Jones and William Markishtum. Juniors Cleo Plasteur, Lawrence Crofoot, Ronald Leask, Russell Hayward, George Nicholson, Clifford Mea- chem and John Franier. Sophomores Flora Harper, Eula Hudson, Margaret Roberts, Irene Walker, Robert Hall, Joe Matte, Chas. Morgan and Aaron Sookum. Freshmen Rosemond Ecoffey, Inez Lobdell, Ivy Sanderson, Anna Jackson and Fred Sandberg. 8th Grade Christine Muller, Myrtle Rhinehart, Agnes Scott, Joy Yellowtail, Jasper Athanum, James Monteau, Benjamin Picutarik, George Weeks and George Little light. 7 th Grade Edna Wesley, Idella Curtis, Ina Curtis, Lois Jenks, Fred Crissler, Bennie Sanderson and Harold Louis. The names of Rosamond Ecoffy, Inez Lobdell and Fred Sandberg should have appeared on the honor roll for November. Miss Beecher, who has been ill for several days, is improving and is on duty again. Mr. and Mrs. Kayes, who have been at Chemawa for over a year in temporary positions, moved to Salem recently. While here Mr. Kayes was blacksmith and Mrs. Kayes was in the Small Boys’ Home. Chema- wa’s best wishes go with them.
