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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2003)
TRIBAL MEMBER NEWS Depoe Drums Again for Redbone Redbone, a tribute to the Native American, is ready to tour and promote its new CD, The Essential Redbone. The band includes Pete (Last Walking Bear) Depoe (drums) and Pat Vegas (bass), both original members of Redbone. New members include Mark Guerrero (guitar), Mike Rossana (guitar), Ron “Raven” Hernandez (guitar), Steve Roybal (drums), and George Ochoa (keyboards). All of the band members sing. As Last Walking Bear said, “We started all this about the Indian in music. Believe me, it was hard until we got the people behind us. Our people will be behind us one more time. We will once again be part of history. We had every one from AIM to the war protesters at the Washington Monument playing our music and rallying around us. From Wounded Knee to Alcatraz, it was intensely uplifting with the high spirits of our ancestors all around. It’s our turn again and we’ve been called together for one last time, for one last message.” This is Redbone’s final tour and the group is interested in performing in or near Siletz as a fund-raiser for Siletz Valley School, the area’s new public charter school for children in kinder garten through the eighth grade. Snoball Butler - and possibly other local musicians - are ready to join Redbone. “I sure would like to play some music for my relatives in Siletz. I don’t know anybody down there in Siletz, but if you are my cousin please e-mail me. It’s time I started meeting some and all of you,” said Pete. He can be reached at depoebear @yahoo.com and you can visit his Web site at www.petedepoe.ontheweb.com. The Essential Redbone CD is available at sony.com. “For the Indian community, music is the universal language, medicine for the soul, and a reason to celebrate,” Pete said. “It’s a new era of prosperity for our people. It’s a chance to laugh, sing, and be who we are, Native Americans, Indians. It’s our turn.” Earlier this year, Pete was voted the No. 3 best drummer in the world. No other Native American has ever been rated that high. Pete also is a member of the Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the (international) Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Pete used to play music with Jim Pepper in Portland, Ore. He and Jim Restoration a Time of Celebration by Eva E. Clayton Our restoration celebration is the equivalent of the Super Bowl. Restoration is a time to celebrate our past, a time of reflection and to prepare for our future. Set goals, set pace, set for life. A celebration is good, it rekindles the spirit. Lose our brightness and we tarnish. We are stewards of our destiny, our descendancy, and are enriched with a multitude of choices. We must continue to direct ourselves accord ingly, leaving no one behind. Those who are small, carry them. Those who are weakened, strengthen them. So that all might see, hear, and feel the richness of our world around us. If the world is not within us, then it is without us. We are all a paint box of colorful delight. Let it shine through. Celebrate - paint your world. As each new season brings an awakening, celebrate. Like that of a resting iris that sleeps in the winter, awakens to the spring energized with fresh petals of vibrant color, so should we. The cover of Redbone's latest CD played with Pete’s dad, Chief Depoe, and some of his dad’s friends for the 100-year celebration of Chemawa Indian School. “It was one of the highlights of my life, especially the grand entry. Jim and I both started crying, as well as my dad. It was without a doubt one of the most uplifting musical jobs I have ever played,” said Pete. Indians were there from all over the U.S., age 100 down to the kids who served those who attended. “It brings a tear in my eye just to tell this story,” said Pete. “Jim Pepper passed away a few years back. If there is a Siletz boy who wants to know my secrets on drums, well I’m here. But you better hurry up; time is flying.” Pete Depoe We must remember. Yesterday there was no wind. Today the wind is behind us, now we need to harness that wind for tomorrow. Snoball Butler 12 □ Siletz News □ November 2003
