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
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Siletz News
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November 2003