TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Elders Honor Day
Another Year
of Wisdom
Happy Birthday!
Carol Blomstrom, 7/27
Douglas Brown, 7/31
Alton Butler, 7/5
Marie Chapman, 7/6
Alta Courville, 7/29
Antonio Delgado, 7/29
Everett Downey, 7/11
Peter Downey, 7/2
Marjorie Finley, 7/22
Barbara Fisher, 7/27
Joan Fisher, 7/20
Myrt Flagg, 7/1
Evagene Hamilton, 7/6
William John, 7/1
Geraldine Jordan, 7/11
Marvin Jordan Sr., 7/14
Richard Koehler, 7/3
David Lane, 7/24
Cherine Martell, 7/23
Loma Martin, 7/18
Roberta Martin, 7/4
Wilma Mills, 7/10
Judy Niemi, 7/7
John Roe, 7/19
Robert Sanders, 7/1
Rachel Smith, 7/15
Raymond Sondenaa, 7/26
James Swanson, 7/3
Naomi Vasquez, 7/23
Joseph Williams, 7/18
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians Elders have been invited to the
Grand Ronde Senior Honor Day on
July 20. Any elder who wants to attend
can call Kathryn Dick, elders
coordinator, at 1-800-922-1399,
ext. 261, or 541-444-8261.
There’s still time to sign up if you
would like to attend. Transportation will
be provided from each area. If you need
a ride or would like more information,
please call Kathryn.
L to r: Delores Pigsley, Frank Simmons, Bob Tom, Gladys Bolton, and
Rosemary Landis participate on the elders’ panel at the Native American Fish
& Wildlife Society conference at Chinook Winds Casino in May.
4
□
Siletz News
The elders are planning a trip to the
Run to the Rogue event coming up in
September. The planned dates are
Sept. 14-16.
We need to know how many elders
would like to participate so we can
reserve rooms. This is a very exciting
traditional event. Run to the Rogue is
right after our Pendleton trip, so those
of you who want to attend, please call
Kathryn Dick at 1-800-922-1399,
ext. 261, or 541-444-8261.
Elders Meeting
Elders and others participate in chair exercises led by Miranda Strong
at the diabetes conference hosted by the Siletz Community Health Clinic
at Chinook Winds Casino.
Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom
Before time, the Creator had
completed creating Mother Earth and
all the inhabitants of Mother Earth. Now
the Creator was tired but was fearful of
resting as the Creator was fearful of evil
elements in a different domain. The
Creator become very tired and had a
hard time staying awake.
One of the Tree People asked the
Creator to lie in the shade and rest. The
Creator said that it would be nice but
cannot, as someone needs to be on
guard all the time. Now the trees were
hardy and strong and said, “Creator, you
rest. We will keep lookout.” The Creator
was skeptical, but did consent that if
the trees would stay awake while the
Creator rested, Creator would rest.
Elders Run to
the Rogue
The trees all agreed that they would
“I didn’t go to sleep. I’ve been awake
stay alert and the Creator went to sleep.
all the time keeping guard while
As time went on, some of the trees
you slept.”
started to droop and were becoming s ZA
The Creator looked and it was
tired. Soon the Alder Trees became
Cedar Tree. For this, Cedar Tree
sleepy, the Maple Trees and even t'
would become the chosen tree. The
the Tamarack became very sleepy
Cedar Tree is the Sacred Tree of
and went to sleep. The mighty Oak
many
coastal
peoples.
was watching and thought that
-* The leaves are used in the smudge,
those trees were very weak and just
the wood is used for the coverings
couldn’t be trusted. Soon the
of sacred feathers, and the bark is
mighty Oak started feeling drowsy,
used for clothing and building
then he too went to sleep.
homes. Just under the bark is a
Now the Creator woke up,
substance that is edible. It’s a multi
looked around, and all the trees were
purpose tree.
asleep. The Creator became angry and
was scolding the trees for going to sleep.
There were other trees that didn’t
A voice came from the trees saying,
go to sleep but didn’t speak up. The
□ July 2001
July 14, 2001
Chinook Winds Casino
2 p.m.
The Siletz Tribal Police
. Department can be reached
at 541-444-8371.
J
trees that went to sleep, now the Creator
wasn’t so upset with them. The Creator
decided that each of the trees would
have a rest period every year. All of the
tree’s leaves would turn different colors
at a certain time of the year, then turn
brown and fall to the ground, becoming
part of Mother Earth. But every year
they would all start new again. The
Tamarack is the only needle tree that
went to sleep, so every year it loses its
needles and rests. This is why every fall
the trees all lose their leaves and every
spring the trees spring back to life after
the winter’s sleep.