Photos by Theresa Smith; photo montage by Tiffany Stuart
Feather dancers on the beach include (l to r) Diego Gonzalez, Tommy Metcalf, Carl White, Savannah Vandaam, Tre Jackson, Neva Hamel, Turtle Metcalf, Mira Bentas, Edelio
Chavez, Ebyn Jackson, Teila Jurado-Salas, Jesse Rocha, Saydra Foster, Leslie Brown, Jessie Cordova, Tasha Mason, Tim Stuart, Tiffany Stuart, Rusty Butler, Chantele
Rilatos, Josh McKnight, SuSun Fisher, Ron Butler, Halona Butler, Daniel Regan, LaVonna Butler, Jacob Butler, Alaina Butler, Sage Butler and an unidentified girl.
Dance of the people draws crowd to beach on solstice
Edelio Chavez, Mia Scott, Ebyn Jackson,
Elaine Jackson and Jen Butler
Babies!
By Loraine Butler
I would like to say thank you to all
the people who participated in the June
21, 2013, Nadash at the 15 th Street beach
in Lincoln City, Ore.
It started to be a small gathering,
but with modern technology, it ended up
being a huge gathering of the people. I
was in awe at the number of people who
were calling the night before trying to
gather regalia to dance. The excitement
in the air was so powerful.
I don’t know how many first-time
dancers there were on the line, but it was
a beautiful thing to witness. I heard there
were more than 200 people in attendance.
I want to send acknowledgement out
to Bud and Cheryl Lane, the Ben fam-
ily, Auntie Nelly Orton, the Smith River
people, Loren and Lena. I know there are
many more. Thanks to all the ones who
shared knowledge and taught us the way.
Even to my mother, Grandma Martha,
who came to watch me dance and tell
what I was doing wrong. She taught me
the way she was taught. Is that not why
we are here? We learn and we pass it on
to the younger ones.
Thank you Rusty Butler and Willie
Towner for moving ahead, getting the
people motivated and coordinated for this
wonderful event. I’m sure Uncle Gilbert
Towner and Grandma Martha were among
the ancestors watching from the clouds
along the horizon.
Thank you LaVonne Butler for offer-
ing food and prayer to the ocean. Thank
you to the people who offered tobacco
to the ocean. This is our way of saying
thanks for the food and medicine that we
gather from the waters and our lands.
Thank you to our Elder, Deno Butler,
for the opening prayer.
Thank you Sonya Moody-Jurado,
Lisa Brown, the Rilatos ladies (Selene
Rilatos, Tasha Rilatos, Tiffany Stuart),
Misty and all who helped dress and paint
the lady dancers. You had them dressed
and lined up so fast, I would swear you
ladies are professionals. LOL.
The sharing of the regalia, to make
sure all who wanted to dance had what
they needed, was awesome. Unity is the
word that comes to mind.
Our little warriors who stood on the
line shivering in the cold wind – you
are the greatest. I say thank you to my
three grandchildren, my three great-
grandchildren and my son, who were all
on the line. My prayers and my dream of
a dance on the beach were answered.
Thank you to the people who brought
food, our children who helped serve it and
our Elders who withstood the wind and
elements to stay and watch this historical
event. The last dance on that beach was
recorded in 1924. Let’s try and do this
every year – 89 years is too long.
The dance will live on long after we
are gone. To those of us who were dancers,
singers and teachers – we did well.
A big thanks to Randy Austin and
Darin Rilatos for helping with the dressing
of the men and singing.
Thanks to the Grand Ronde canoe
people who came and danced with us and
shared their songs.
The biggest thanks to people who
were helping push the ones who got
stuck in the sand. Of course, I got stuck
first thing.
If I forgot to thank you, just know
that without each and every one of you,
this could not and would not happen. I am
proud to be a Siletz Tribal member and
was proud to be part of this event.
Most of all, always remember: It’s
better at the beach!
Ah ho.
Babies!
Jacob Levi wirick
We’ve been blessed from above
with the sweetest son
to snuggle and love
Announcing the birth of
Jacob Levi Wirick
Feb. 24, 2013
6 pounds, 10 ounces
19 inches long
Loving Parents
Levi and Jennifer Wirick
Carson Riggs Turner
Welcome to our Tribe, Little Warrior.
Carson Riggs Turner blessed us on April
30, 2013, at 7:59 a.m.
He weighed 7.3 pounds and was 19.5
inches long.
You are so loved and already have
melted many hearts! The Turner Tribe is
so blessed to welcome this little warrior.
8
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Siletz News
•
August 2013
Excited Big Brothers
Joshua and Jeremiah
Proud Grandparents
Dwayne and Peggy Flores
David and Lila Wirick
Zocyus Leroy Butler
Zocyus Leroy Butler was born June
20, 2013. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce
and was 20 inches long.
His parents are Gary C. Butler and
Samantha Walker. His grandparents are
Gary L. Butler Sr. and Patricia Martin. His
great-grandparents are Reggie Butler Sr.
and Kay Brakeman (deceased).
Free child ID kits from Oregon State Police – 503-934-0188, 800-282-7155 or child.idkits@state.or.us