TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Above: Eagle Thunder Butler (winner in his dance age group) and Sunshine Butler
Top left: Creeanna Logan and Ragina Reyes , winners in their dance age group
Bottom left: Kiesha Metcalf Sophia Hendrix, and Darian Dorman take a break.
Siletz Youth Street Dance Draws
Big Crowd
by Tiffany Stuart
Youth were getting their groove on
at the fourth annual Siletz Youth Street
Dance on July 16, 2005.
Approximately 150 came to the dance
that started at 7 p.m. and ended at mid
night. This drug- and alcohol-free event
Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom
by Walt Klamath
Several years ago in the late ‘50s or
early ‘60s, two families decided to go on
an excursion to Fort Rock. This was about
the time that the Sage Moccasins were
found at the Cow Caves. They were radio
carbon clocked at about 10,000 years old.
Well it just happened that a film was
being made there at that time. I forget the
original title but the new title is The Way
West. It starred a host of well-known
names - Kirk Douglas, Sally Fields (she
was a child then and had a chaperone with
her), Robert Mitchum, and a host of others.
These two families were my brother-
in-law and his children and my ex-wife
and three kids. We had towed a little uni
versal Jeep.
We were a little brash, I guess, we
camped in the same campground as the
movie stars. In fact, people were taking
pictures of us. My ex and I had many roles
of film, but we never took a picture of
any of those stars. We were saving them
for something special.
We were dedicated to going to the
Cow Caves; we wanted to find something.
The movie bunch was lining up the white
face cattle that were the oxen pulling the
wagons. We had to worm our way through
the herd to get to the caves; we never took
a picture.
Once we got to the caves, it was not
very interesting. In fact, it was messy as
heck. The cows used it for a barn and the
coyotes used it for a meal site. We lost in
terest in the caves and decided to explore.
At that time, not many fences were
up on the Long Ranch and we could drive
forever on the desert floor. We did see and
take pictures of old sluice boxes. Why the
sluice boxes?
There was no water. We found old
wells that when one dropped a rock, it
seemed like forever before the rock landed
on sand or whatever was at the bottom.
We did take a hoe with us and while
inside the Jeep, six kids and four adults
turned rocks over looking for rattlesnakes.
The storeowner said there were no
rattlesnakes in the valley as they had
brought in a bunch of king snakes many
years ago and king snakes eat rattle
snakes. Besides, they also had pigs in the
valley for many years so the poor little
rattlers didn’t have a fighting chance.
We did find some homy toads, though.
In fact, I tossed one into my sister-in-law’s
sleeping bag with her. It was an interest
ing commotion for a while. Those darn
things look hideous; guess they don’t bite,
though. I wasn’t very popular for a while.
There were or are many mounds
where the Indian peoples made arrow
heads and whatever they made from
obsidian. These were quite interesting;
wish I knew then what I know now.
We continued our adventure over to
the Hole In the Ground. Some say it’s a
meteor. I don't know and haven't read
anything about it, only gossip.
Some say that the meteor has been hit
at 600 feet below the surface and the hole
is almost a mile deep and a couple of miles
across. 1 am sure that if it’s a meteor, it
must have caused some kind of ruckus.
Then we went on over to Millican
from Fort Rock. We came upon one of
the faults; the sand there is always mov
ing. There was no wind but the sand was
crawling constantly. It gives one a very
weird feeling. Then of course, I wonder
what would happen if the two sides de
cided to come back together.
Then as we continued toward Mil
lican, we came to another set of caves.
We went inside but to me, I don’t like
being inside like that. The room was huge
and seemed very long.
The people there told us that they
were wind caves in that when the sun
came up, the wind would blow out and at
night when it cooled off, the wind would
draw in.
But like the faults, to me, what would
happen in an earthquake? I would not do
any exploring inside. I told the others I
would stay outside and tell the rescuers
where they were.
We did make it to Millican, no snakes,
no earthquakes, very boring. In Millican,
some writings are on the wall; that is a
different story.
I haven't been back there for many
moons, but I would like to go back
knowing a little more history. I think that
anyone who likes outdoor adventure
would really appreciate a trip to the Fort
Rock Valley.
was sponsored by the Youth Center Fund,
which is supported by the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians.
Chairs, clocks, backpacks, health and
body products, art supplies, and other
items were given out as prizes for dance
winners in the six categories. The catego-
ries were different age groups and $350
was spent to purchase the prizes.
With the vision of youth, this street
dance was planned for its fourth year.
“I saw Toledo’s (dance) and thought
it would be cool to have one in Siletz,”
said Adam Posey.
Adam has helped every year of this
dance. Other youth, such as Cat Smith,
Justin Evans, Brandon Haro, and Sage
Hatch, helped set up this dance.
Planning for the dance started in March.
From the DJ to the snacks, every detail
was looked at by the youth to create a suc
cessful dance.
Run to the
Rogue
Sept. 8 -10, 2005
Orientation
Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.
Siletz Tribal Community
Center
Run will start Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.
at the community center
For more details, contact Bev
Youngman at 54 I-444-8290 or
I-800-922-1399, ext. 1290, or
Mona Fisher at 541-444-8373 or
I-800-922-1399, ext. 1273.
August 2005
•
Siletz News
•
5