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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1983)
Chemawa American MAY 24, 1983 Page 3 M »O M « SENATE INVOCATION GIVEN BY BIGHORN CHEMAWA POW WOW DRAWS LARGEST CROWD EVER By LaVelle Walker, Gizelle Keluum, and Ms. LaCroix M ay 6-8 m a rk e d Chemawa's cultural event of the year: the annual Chemawa POW WOW. Sponsored by the Indian Club, the group raised over $2,200 this year selling, raffle tickets, donations, etc. Organ ization from early, in the year contributed to this year's suc cess. It had the largest record ed group for a Pow Wow in the history of the event. The highlight of the first ‘evening came when Miss Che mawa was named and crown ed. Sophomore Rebecca Da vid, Kpotenai, was elected as Miss Chemawa for 1983-84. Misty Arcand, Blackfeet, was chosen first runner-up. Second place winner was Shawn Hes ter, Grand Ronde and Yurok. Lena Ike from Warm Springs took third place. O ther contestants were Shawnie Sammaripa, Sho- shone-»B annock; S h erry Saunders, Navajo; Pam Wala- witsa, Tulalip; and Mona Cha vez, Wind. River Cheÿenne. Finalists were chosen after the Miss Chemâwa Pageant held M ay 3. The girls were evaluated on traditional and contemporary presentations, poise, friendliness, teacher evaluations, and interviews. They also were selected on points received from attending Indian Club meetings and sell ing raffle tickets. Involvement, respect for others and partici pation were key to this year's pageant. Grand Entry and the arrival of Nathan “Eight Ball" Jim from Yakima, who was the main MC for the Pow WoW, began the second day's ac tivities. This day Was dele gated to competition dancing rather than the total social dancing o f the night b efore. Girls Tiny Tots winners this day received $50 while Tiny Tot Boys received $40. Boys and Girls Unlimited Divisions each received $105 in prize monies. *? A potluck was provided and served by Chemawa kitchen staff and a special $200 salmon donation from the Warm Springs Reservation allowed participants to enjoy local feasting. A special word of thanks is extended for the fine efforts and warm hospitality of the kitchen staff in making this potluck feed for almost 3,000 people a success. During the evening, special awards and community recog nition were given to Vicki Belgard, CAEC alcohol and drug counselor, for 11 years of service to Chemawa and its students. Awards and letters of com mendation came from such places as the Oregon Gover- nôr's office, Navajo Nation and tribal chairman, Warm Springs reservation, YWCA, Childrens' Services for the help w^h many foster children Vicki has helped to raise, from Indian Club, Indian Health, Chemawa Alcohol Education Center Director, and many Northwest tribal leaders and groups. "It takes a special lady to dedicate herself to 11 years of trying to show our young peo ple a better way of life," said Miss Warm Springs upon pre senting Vicki with a beaded bag. As Vickie stood in utter amazement of all that was be ing presented to her. She began to cry. "Eight Ball" told her to get out there and say something: "You get out there and do the talking and I'll go cry for you." ' Belgard said, "This is all so . . . amazing. It's something I've never.. dreamed .of. I do love these kids, that's why Fm here. I love each of you, too. I guess I don't know what's hap pening, but you have made me very happy." After a special honor song done for Vicki and her family and friends, "Eight Ball" ex plained that in Indian country when someone does an out standing job for her/his peo ple, the Indian community honors them and recognizes those efforts. Later that evening Arlie Neskali, one of the lead drum mers and singers and student teacher at Chemawa was hon ored for his work in Indian education and commitment to the profession. Arlie was grad uated from Willamette Univ. and hopes to find a teaching position at Chemawa. If that doesn't happen he said he will return to his home in Col orado. , ^Sunday's activities included Ladies and Mens Fancy Danc ing Contests where winners each received $215; Ladies and Mens Traditional Competition winners took home a purse of $225; and the Owl Dance Open Competition winners shared $110. Mothers were recognized and a special honor song was played for them on this, their Mother's Day. Chemawa alumni were later honored and several addressed the group saying that they have always been proud of Chemawa and still are. They encouraged^ the p resen t students to accept the chal lenges of life facing them and not tun away. Mr. Watsulatez, who left Chemawa in 1927 because his family was having hard times, said life here was very strict then. He said they didn't want "us to speak our language or practice our culture. If we did, we would be punished. But now today you are encourag By Tracy Swimptkin and Ms. LaCroix Chemawa Indian School pow wow •LOST VOICE” I was once told, I have forgotten m any years ago. Today I am everything o f what once was ¡yesterday, What will become of tomorrow. Who will be there to lead m y children on, Will they understand the meaning o f < our people, 9 the power of being Indian. I am a lost voice, my words echo o ff silent walls. I tried Oh, how I tried to make them understand the reasons behind the light. A positive energy that grows inside. Once when the world was young, Earth Mother spoke to us in m any voices. We saw our Father in everything that greu around us. We had respect and honor, We had only one another and sometimes we had something behind us to guide us on our way. To commemmorate Oregon American Indian Week with a proclamation signed by Ore gon Governor Vic Atiyeh, Mr, Jacob Bighorn, Indian govern ment and leadership teacher, was asked to give the invoca tion for the State Senate on May 17 at the Capitol. This re quest initially was made by Cathy Green, executive secre tary of thé Commission on In dian Service for the State of Oregon. , Ushering in this awareness was a proclamation signed by President Reagan declaring May 13, 1983 as National American Indian Day. Bighorn and several of his students were invited to par ticipate in the official signing of Gov. Atiyeh's proclamation and to participate in some of the activities planned for this recognition week. Some of those activities included special Indian art and basketry displays, Indian Child Welfare Act information and displays; and Indian spiritual leaders who gave the daily invoca tions for the legislatures. Gov. Atiyeh complimented Indian people for their exam ple in working for a "harmon ious existence with life's forces and providing an inspiration for future generations. . . "Their enduring reverence for nature provides guidance for the conservation and pro tection of the natural beauty of our state. Continually ad justing and adapting, they make im portant and in novative contributions , in areas such as éducation, business, and government, serving both themselves and all of Oregon,"; proclaimed Atiyeh, After the signing of this pro clamation, Rebecca David, Misty Arcand, Shawnie Sam maripa, and Indian Club ad visor Vickie Belgard presented the Governor with a beaded medallion. Bighorn pointed out that he was personally impressed with the Governor's good words and respect for Indian people, and his sincerity and interest in the maker and meaning of the medallion given to him. Myron Jim, a senior, said that this experience made him extra proud to be an Indian and excited that non-Indians were showing so much con cern. In his prayer to the legisla ture Bighorn prayed for unity with all life: Tanka' sik (grandfather in Lakota) Creator of us all. We come to you in sincere humbleness, to seek your guidance and your blessing. We are pitiful in our human condition, for we know so little of the simple mystery which can bring true peace and harmony to all the livihg things of thy Creation. We ask your forgiveness for our sometimes inadequùte care of your Creation. We humbly beseech the Power of your Ho ly Spirit to descend upon this ptàce . . . and this moment: —* to release us from ourselves, —to allow our Spirits to ex perience the Oneness with YOU, and to instill à deeper awareness of our « personal responsibilities to each other. We thank you for the infi- . nite wisdom of your plan for each and all of us; and we pray for your special influence and continued blessings upon the. elected leaders assembled here and the plané they may enact. We pray this in the hame of your son, Jesus Christ. „ ed to be proud, to learn your language and culture. It has turned around in such a short (Continued oft page 7) Rebecca David Wins Miss Chemawa Crown for 83-84 By LaVelle Walker R ebecca D a v id , a sophomore here at Chemawai, w as se lec ted as MISS CHEMAWA for 1983-84. She competed against seven other c a n d id a te s also from Chemawa. Rebecca, 16, is from the Kootenai Tribe in Northern Idaho. She started dancing at the age of ten and won the title of Miss Kootenai 1981-82 while in Montana. She ran for this title because she felt it would be a good experience for her and that she would get a chance to travel around dur ing the summer and share some of her experiences while at Chemawa. While nervous, Rebecca thought that the pageant was a positive experience and alot of fun. z Her hopes for the future are to find a summer job, return to Chemawa, and hopefully graduate from here. College is part of her plans too, but she is not sure what she warits to do at this point. Rebecca competed in the Miss Inter-Tribal competition May 14 and took first runner up. She said that she tried there, and will continue to work hard during her reign to spread only good words about Chemawa and encourage seri ous students to come to this school. When asked what she could do to help younger people, Rebecca said that she would try and get them interested in their traditions and tell them to keep working at getting a good education. She said too that she really enjoyed the Pow Wow, the way people treated her with such concern and respect, and how the whole weekend was organized so that people could dance, visit and enjoy themselves. "I was so surprised to get this title because everyone was so talented and did such a good job. I will work hard to help make Chemawa known to all the people I visit," she concluded. Junior Misty Arcand, 17 year old Blackfeet from Browning won the title of first runner-up Miss Chemawa. Misty was bom in Billings on August 18, 1966. She started dancing at the age of eight but has never won any titles before this. During the Inter- Tribal Competition in Port land May 14 Misty took third lonors. n asked why she ran for e, Misty said that it was [ oportunity and experi- or her to learn more her traditional ways and ^ay to share some of her iences while a student t Chemawa. and thought that the it went well and that it ell organized, ty said that she too was >ed in being chosen for an honor, but that it her feel good inside and he will work very hard ending all the activities ored by the school and while she is away from :ampus to encourage ; people to stay in 1. She said what she î to offer the new its is someone that they irn to if they need help. >uld Rebecca David leave tawa or something häp äisty would assume the s of Miss Chemawa. e other candidates were n Hostler, Yurok and d Ronde, who took sec-. place; Lena Ike from n Springs who took third ; Mona Chavez, Wind , Cheyenne; Shawnie naripa, Shoshône-Piute; •y Saunders; Navajo; and Walawitsa, Tulalip. (ring the pageant, Sunny ey — Miss Navajo Na- a judge and honored 8 guests, entertained tne au dience by telling a few jokes, a legend, and singing a love song which meant, "In each direction I walk, may I be sur rounded iftbeauty." She said that she was very proud of the contestants because "perform ing in front of peers has to be the most difficult experience. Everyone knows you and can find fault." She said that Chemawa should be proud of the fact that so many tried and risked and that the girls should be proud of themselves and of the school. Lauren Star, Miss Warm Springs, also entertained the audience with a legend about I t M M II .."" Eagle Boy and the Stick Game. She-said that the moral of the story was that people should never gamble away anything as valuable as our lives on such things as alcohol, drugs, etc. Some examples of the modem talent displayed by the girls were a wonder in dance by Sherry Saunders; legends told by Shawn Hostler and Mona Chavez; a poem read by Misty Arcand; a dance routine done by Shawnie Sam maripa; the Lord's Prayer done by Rebecca David; and public speaking by Lena Ike. Congratulations to all those who worked so hard. Every one was a winner.
