The Chemawa American, November 28, 1941, Image 3

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< H O M E
R O O M >
The Makah Indian Reservation, in the state of
Washington, is located at the utmost tip of the
Olympic Peninsula; being bordered by the straits
of Juan de Fuca on the north and the Pacific
Ocean on the South.
Fishing is probably the most important in­
dustry although, logging is done extensively.
Until recently, during the spring, sealing was
probably the most important livelihood, for, not
only did it provide subsistance for the Indians
but the fur was sold at very high prices. Big
schooners from various points of the Pacific coast,
picked up Indians, men and women, and sailed in
to the Alaskan waters for the sealing season. The
men actually caught the seals by means of har­
poons and the women stayed aboard the schoon­
ers, skinned the seals that were caught and also
cooked for the men that were out. As much as
$100,000 worth of seal skins were brought in dur­
ing a single sealing season.
At present I would say fishing is the most
important industry. Fish caught are mostly sal­
mon, halibut and cod. The latter two are deep
sea fish and the fishermen have to go from
twenty to thirty miles out on the Pacific Ocean
to catch them. Although they don’t sell at high
prices, there is enough caught that they average of
ten dollars a day during a fishing season. Salmon
fishing is done throughout the year, although,
late fall and early winter are the times when the
most profit is made. During the months of Oct­
ober, and November, the fish begin to run up the
rivers and streams.
Gill nets are used to catch these fish but they
are caught for personal use more than for com­
mercial use.
Last summer the tribe won a right to fish on
the Hoh river. This was an important decision
because the river yields many fish during the
winter months. Fish caught in this river are
mostly steelheads, spring salmon, silver salmon,
and dog fish. Of these, steelheads bring the most
money and the dog fish are caught for subsistance.
The fish buyer comes right down to the river so
one can sell his fish as soon as he catch it.
How to P repare B uckskin for B eading
Take a buckskin with the fur on it. Then put
it in a tub of water and leave it in the water over
night. In the morning take it out and put it over
a wooden frame and scrape it with a knife until
the fur is all off. Then put the skin in the water
with some animal brain and leave it over night
again. The next morning take the wet skin and
sew it on a frame made from four sticks. While
the skin is on this drying frame, rub on it with
a flint until the skin is dry. Then you will have
white buckskin which is ready to be cut and
beaded.
If you want tan buckskin, dig a hole in the
ground about one foot deep. Put a frame over
it like a tepee. Then put this white buckskin
over this frame, light a fire in the hole in the
ground, and smoke the skin until it is the tan
color you want.—A rline M iller (Y akima )
L egend of T he I niskin
Long ago during one of the very cold winters
which often occur in eastern Montana all the
buffalo left the country. The red men could not
follow them because the snow was deep to walk
in. They hadn’t yet learned to ride horses so they
had to hunt small animals for food. Soon these
also disapeared.
One day a squaw was walking along a path.
She heard a song which came from a cottonwood
tree which stood near by. She stopped for she
was frightened. Then she saw a few buffalo hairs
where the tree trunk was divided. They were fast-
tened to the tree with a queer looking stone. Soon
the singing stopped and the squaw became more
frightened for the stone began to talk. It said,
‘ ‘Take me to your lodge and when darkness falls,
call in your people. Teach them the song you
have just heard and pray that the buffalo may re­
turn.” The squaw did as she was told.
After they had prayed, the hunters heard the
tramp of a great herd of buffalo, The young men
went out to hunt and soon returned with al
the meat they needed. They named the stone
which had brought them this meat, Iniskin, the
Buffalo Stone.—C orrine W alking (F t . P eck )
HI Y Club News
On Thursday evening, November 13, M r.
Mason was principal speaker at the Hi-Y meeting.
He spoke to the boys about vocations. He re­
vealed many possibilities for advancement in the
fields of trades that are taught here. He proved
his points by giving examples of ex-Chemawa
students who now have good jobs in the trades
they took up here. He held the interested atten­
tion of all. The Hi-Y members highly praised the
advice given by Mr. Mason and felt they had
gained something by hearing what he had said.