The Chemawa American, November 28, 1928, Page 4, Image 4

PA G E 4
TH E CHEMAWA AMERICAN
FREDERICK ELY PA R K ER
(Continued from page 1)
Geneva' H. Ctiswold,” a teacher on the Cattaraugus
Reservation, .and to them three children were born—
Arthur C. Parker, Edna L. Harrington and Dorothy
G. Parker. Arthur is an archeologist and museum
authority, and Edna is the wife of M. Raymond H ar­
rington the explorer. Mrs. Parker died in 1923,and
Dorothy remains as her father’s companion and comfort.
Mr. Parker retired from the railroad office in 1827,
to continue his work of organizing and solidifying a
patriotic society. His present home is in Peekskill,
N. Y. He is a native red man by birth and ancestry,
but his larger sense of civic responsibility leads him
to see th a t he is first of all an A m erican.
H e is a
firm believer that individuals as well as races „ must
work opt their own destiny without props or crutches,
and that the red race will only achieve its place in
the sun when it casts aside its reservation shackles
and assumes a free and constructive course in the
greater humanity. It was his philosophy and his love
of nature that inspired his son Arthur to give the In ­
dians a new interpretation, and to draw from their
teaching and their customs those worthy things that
would make the world Hold the. red race in greater
esteem,
Mrs. W. O. Johnson, daughter of Mrs. Brewer of
Chemawa, arrived here last Friday from her home in
South Bend, Wash. Mrs. Johnsonis in bad health and
is expecting to submit to a surgical operation within a
few days. She will probably go to Portland for the
operation.
and hunt a place far away where they could make
their own home and never be found. Knowing they
would be hunted, and possibly discovered, they agreed
to die rather than be captured and returned to an
angry home and an angrier people.
They started. The parents, wrathy and determined,
pursued. They hid like hunted animals, but were over­
taken on the banks of Minnetonka. The noble brave
drew his lover to his side and turned to make his escape
only to find they were surrounded by the hunters.
Behind him were the furious parents. Before him was
Minnetonka, wide and dark. To make their escape was
impossible. He planned for a minute, looked around,
waved a last farewell to his tribe and leaped with his
lover. The angry water closed oyer.the two.
The song commemorating the two determined lovers;
is the composition of Thurlow Lieurance, who has
spent a great part of his life with the various Indian
tribes in an effort to preserve their legends and lore in
music. -
John Dexter surprised all -of his Chemawa friends
by dropping in on us last Sunday evening. His home
is in Golovin, Alaska, and he took the last boat out.
John says that he was so busy at his home during the
summer that he had to neglect his violin practice.
However, he is still on the map with his old “ Horn-
steiner. ’ ’
CHEM AW A
BY THE W ATERS OE M INNETONKA
By CECILE PEPION, Chemawa Student
All lovers of Indian music have heard the beautiful
song, “ By the Waters of Minnetonka,” but few who
admire it so much know the legend connected with it.
Indian tribes in primitive days were jealous and fear­
ful of each other, therefore they forbade inter-tribal
marriage.
A Chippewa maid once chanced to meet a handsome
brave from another tribe. Then happened what modern
people call ‘ ‘love at first sight. ’ ’ The parents objected.
The lovers were disobedient. The parents then
threatened to punish if the tribal laws were not obeyed.
But these lawless children kept up their secret meet­
ings until the angry parents were forced to punish
them.
The maiden’s parents were harsh and unkind. She
had to suffer in both body and mind. In fact, the
whole tribe rejoiced that a disobedient, unruly daugh­
ter was being corrected for the violation of so sacred
a law.
>
While the girl’s parents were chastizing her, the
handsome brave was suffering no less. The more
cruelties they heaped upon him the more determined
he was to find happiness in marrying this dark beauty.
A strong charateristic of the Indian is to accept re­
proof graciously. This the two did until a chance;
ramp for them to leave their tribes and tepees behind
Oh bear my song, oh redmett hark!
My song of old Chemawa;
We’re near the half a century mark,
Chemawa, dear Chemawa. '
Here braves from every tribe are found
On our ancestral hunting ground;
From N orth, East, South they gather
’round, ' '
They who defend Chemawa.
Oh, could our ancient sires but speak,
They ’ d bid us higher knowledge seek;
They’d bid us climb "the highest peak
For the honor of Chemawa.
Then let our council fires burp,
h et flames of high ambition yearn,
Oh, welcome every brave’s return
To our old home, Chemawa.
Once more let old victorious cries
Ring out in old Chemawa;
Once more let fearless spirits rise
And shout for old Chemawa;
Our colors red and white enroll,
The highest aim shall be our goal,
And thus our ancient race extol
- Through our old home, Chemawa.
—J a m e s C u r w o o d O l i v e r .