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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1992)
4 June 1992 Medicine Man By: Walt Klamath, Outpatient Counselor March 13 we invited Aztec Indian to our area (a Medicine Man of his tribe in Mexico). He was unable to speak English. He had an interpreter with him, a man from Portland. Prior to coming to Siletz he had an art This proved quite showing in Newport. He explained through his interesting. interpreter, the messages that he had painted into his paintings. He had maybe 16 paintings with him. The price tags were around 3,500 dollars each, some higher some lower. This is how he finances his work in his country. He says that the Mexican Government does not help finance the alcohol and drug programs for the Indian Peoples of that country. At Siletz we had a Talking Circle with the youth in the afternoon. He spoke a little of what the mission of the Medicine Man was, and how he implicated his knowledge. He urged the young people to get involved with traditional practices. He did well in getting the youths present to participate in the Circle. He had much wisdom, especially in the environmental field. He went to the sweatlodge to lead us in a sweat. This was an exceptionally good sweat, quite hot too, I may add. Then Janet Dair had made up a big elk stew. The elk was provided by Rocky. This was truly enjoyed by all present. That evening, after the dinner, we had an adult Talking Circle. Some of the youths returned to participate in this Talking Circle. That was an accomplishment by itself. We had invited Agnes Baker Pilgrim to join us in the Talking Circle. She too did an outstanding presentation to the Youth Group and the Adult Group. She has a quality about her that about the best way to describe it is, magnetic. She too held the people's attention. I think that we will be seeing more of her in our workshops that we sponsor. ¿ S i* By: Walt Klamath, Outpatient Counselor One of the topics that Agnes talked about when she was up here was respect. Respect that as youngsters was expected of us. Our Elders received this respect from us. I don't really know if it was fear of what may happen to us if we didn't show respect or what. But, our Grandparents did not have to say a word to us, all that it took was a look. When we got that look we knew good and well that we had better get with the program. I do not know what would have happened if we didn't. Anytime that we went visiting, or people would come visiting, the youngsters were truly to be seen and not heard. Occasionally something would happen and we may get a back-hand, but not too often. However, this did not work for other people, like school teachers. They would try staring us down, giving us what they thought would be "the look”. We would press them as far as we could. In those days the teachers were allowed to warm our behinds, which they did, but after a time that ended up just frustrating the poor teacher. Then she would contact the higher power, Mom, and again that dreaded look. Some times we would get the backside kind of blistered, but even that was better than that darn look. That look was truly magic. It would make us tell the truth no matter how bad we did not want to. I think that was about the time that we figured it was the truth that hurt, sometimes. Smoke Alarms and 9-1-1 By: Walt Klamath, Engineer 802 SFPD Logsden Substation Again! I don't know how long I have been complaining about when people get into trouble to call 9-1-1 fir s t. It is perfectly OK to call neighbors for support. We all need it at times, but that does not.get the emergency equipment rolling. This is so important. Time is our enemy. The time used in calling the neighbors is precious time wasted. In most instances, that neighbor will call another neighbor to try to find out what to do. Now there have been several minutes used up. In the case of a fire this is disasterous. As has been said many times, a fire squares itself every minute. In 30 seconds a fire is out of control. Now, add the time calling neighbors to the time that it takes to activate the fire department....many minutes have passed. When 9-1-1 is dialed, it is not instantaneously routed to the area needed. It takes a minute or so to tone the fire department, or at least it seems like it. We do not have any paid fire personnel to stand by 24 hrs a day. Everyone works at other jobs, so it does take a little time to mobilize. Most of the time in the Siletz Area, the department is on the scene within 4 minutes from our call. Some of the cities that have personnel on stand-by 24 hours a day, I do not know what their response time is. The other thing that bugs us, is the house numbers. Darn, it is hard to figure out which house to go into when there are no numbers showing, especially if there is no smoke showing. Of course, in a full blown fire, numbers are not so necessary, we can usually spot them pretty fast. So again, put numbers so th a t th e y can be easily seen from the road o r stre e t that the emergency vehicles will be using. What has been said many times, "Ray knows where I live", well that would be fine if Ray was there every time, but Ray works a long way from Siletz and what you get is people like me. I don't know who lives where, besides 9-1-1 does not say 'who', just the address. Now, sm oke d e te cto rs. Every year people need to have some kind of ceremony to install new batteries in the detector. That time could be Christmas, New Year's, when the clocks are changed, or maybe the wife's or husband's birthday... anything to remind one to Put new b atterie s in the d etector. It is estimated that more than half of the smoke detectors in this country do not work. We think they will and we feel a certain amount of protection that is not there. Once a month push the button. See if it makes a racket. Some that have a light sensitive device, flash a light beam on it and it will sound off. A detector that "clicks” will not wake one up. Usually when a detector just "clicks" or "chirps”, the battery is weak. Nor will smoke wake one up. Infact, smoke will put a person into a deeper sleep. A working smoke alarm is the only advantage that we have over fire. Take care of them. Be sure that they are working. And one more thing, you can't have too many of them, that is my opinion anyway. I, personally, am afraid of fire. It is soothing and comforting and just cooks our food, gives us light, and warms us when we are cold, but, like a viper, can turn and destroy you if not taken care of. I think that there should be an alarm in each room and any hallway. The kitchen, there could be a problem. Almost every time that I make toast, the stupid alarm wants to sound off. Frances says that I don't make toast, I make charcoal. Some folks carry alarms with them when they stay in motels and such. I hope we never have to visit any of you officially, but some we wHI.___ __ Native American Cuitural/Spiritual Wellness Workshop June 15th - 19th 1992 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Daily Siletz Tribal Center WORKSHOP AGENDA THIS YEAR OUR LIST OF PRESENTORS INCLUDES: 15th - 18th: EDDIE BELLEROSE, ELDER OF THE CREE NATION: Eddie will discuss traditional values/lifeways/spirituality, how an aware ness of these subjects can help us address substance use/abuse, and revive & maintain successful ways of living. 17th - 18th: AGNES BAKER-PILGRIM, ELDER OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ: Agnes will also talk about the issues, and share some of her insights from a native woman's perspective. AL SMITH, ELDER OF THE KLAMATH NATION: Al will give a presentation on his search for the Red Road and his own recovery. THERE WILL BE NO FEE FOR THE WORKSHOP. Lunch will be provided Monday through Thursday. Friday will be a half day session. We ask that persons attending the workshops attend the whole 4 days. This w orkshop series is being sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. Funding is provided by the Indian Health Service. For more information, or registration contact: George Nagel or Walt Klamath at (503) 444-1030; or toll free in Oregon at 1-800- 648-0449. Space is limited. Hope to see you Wn| Med.clne Wheel May 21 Through June 20 Submitted by: Walt Klamath May 21 through June 20 is the CORN PLANTING MOON. People born under this moon are the DEER PEOPLE. Their plant is the YARROW, their colors are WHITE AND GREEN, their stone is the MOSS AGATE, and their elemental clan is the BUTTERFLY CLAN. They are compatible with the RED HAWK, STURGEON, RAVEN and OTTER people. They compliment the ELK people. THe DEER people, are like the DEER, sensitive, fast moving, graceful people. They are clever, intuitive, alert, eager and resourceful. They like to create and enjoy beautiful things. They must learn to be more consistent, and less suspicious. Courtesy of Sun Bear Publications
