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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1992)
■August 1992 Rescue By: Walt Klamath Some time in June the Siletz Fire Department's quick response team was called out on a water rescue on the Siletz River. A family had spent the night in what is called the bull's bag bend between mile post 16 and 12. There has been others locally that have had the same experience with that stretch of water. It worked out well, a family of 10, 4 generations, spent the night with nothing on but bathing suits. The temperature did not get too cool, maybe 50, with no clothes that is cold. One of them had a cigarette lighter, but she would not light a fire because fire season is in effect, now that is considerate. They are sure that there were some hungry bears out there looking them over all night. One child's temperature was pretty low when we arrived. We put her in a survival suit and by the time we left there her temperature had began to rise. This was a fun rescue, in that no one was hurt, a little scared. We told them that this is building memories. Next year it is going to be colder, the river deeper, and farther from civilization and the bears will be bigger, hungrier, and more of them. In fact, five years from now, it will not even resemble what actually happened. They were amused at this philosophy. That is how it will be. There were three of us on the initial attack so to speak. We had to go through 3 locked gates. Our key had 4 1/2 foot handles, and then we drove seems hours into the woods, then started walking. Now, I personally have never been in that area, but I assumed that the river went parallel with the road. As we were walking through the brush, the grass kept getting higher, more and more devils walking cane, and stinging nettles. I never seen so many holes,' well I'll retract, never found so many holes in all life put together as there were in that walk. One of the members went into a hole way over his head. I thought that we were lost, we had walked maybe an hour and no river and told them so. I figured that we were walking parallel with the river. They said no, that the river is about five miles from the road. I still didn't really believe them, but had no choice but to follow with caution and doubt. We did come to the river, I ceased to doubt them. For awhile we walked along the bank, the devil's walking cane got thicker as did the nettles. The grass got higher and the elk trails started inland. We had a debate and took to the water. Now there are places that the water reached the hip pockets of a tall Indian, one of the members is not so tall. Other places the .fish leave tracks when they swim. As we walked we made a lot of racket yelling like some kind of something or another, soon we did get a response and we were in business. The Coast Guard from Depoe Bay brought their rescue craft. The water was a little shallow for it, specially with propeller driven power. The Tâft/Nelscott Water Rescue brought their Zodiac type craft, a rubber raft with motor. This is also a propeller driven craft. Then the other segment arrived with the jet skis. Now these things will go if there is a slight dew on the ground, but they are not much for transporting. Some of them went on the my Coast Guard craft, then the rest of us went on the Zodiac. One rode the inner tubes being towed by the jet ski. We found some of the tubes along the way, guess that they did get a little hard to handle, there were probably six or seven of them. Alcohol Effects By: Walt Klamath, Outpatient Counselor Many times we have heard people say "what difference does it make, I am not hurting anybody?" when talking about alcohol use. And sometimes we tend to go along with it, that the person using is not hurting anyone but themselves. But, if we stop and take a look at what alcohol and/or other drugs do to the individuals health, that will eventually put them in the hospital or bed ridden, where someone will have to take care of them, then it becomes obvious that others are being affected by the individual's use. In the family, the use of alcohol will affect everyone in the family, the immediate family, not only the wives and children, but the grand parents, great-grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles and friends of the family. Many times a whole community is effected by one person's use of mind-altering chemical. The effects can be related to throwing a rock into a pool of water. One can see the ripples fan from the initial impact of the rock. These ripples will go out several feet before they smooth out. This is the way alcohol effects the individual, the fam ily, the community and the Tribe. Every time one uses, the ripples get a little rougher. If there is more than one in the family using, the ripples will get closer together and soon there will be waves instead of ripples. These will continue to increase in intensity as more use in the family and the abuse becomes addiction, the denial sets in more steadfast, and still we who are addicted to these drugs continue to be more adamant that we are not hurting anyone, not even ourselves, so leave us alone! We hide behind the screen of denial, that we owe it to ourselves to have a little relaxation, to have a little fun out of life, after all we work hard 40 hours a week, we deserve it. It is true, all of us need relaxation, we all need to have fun, and we can. We can have a lot of fun out of life. Our culture tells us that "Life is a Gift". Open it, enjoy it, without the use of mind altering chemicals. Without the use of these chemicals we can share pleasure with our families and our communities and really enjoy doing it. With the use of chemicals we are a little obsessed with qrandioses, that we a are the life of the party or picnic, when in reality those that are there are waiting patiently, with false laughter hoping that we will soon pas6 out and the others can have a good time. Alcohol and/or other mind/mood altering drugs do not just effect the one using them. These chemicals have an effect on everyone in the family and everyone in the community in one way or another. In our culture humor and fun is really inherent. As far back as can be remembered there has been happy times, plenty of good food, dancing, and singing. It was not necessary to have stimulants or depressants for our people to have a good time, to socialize. We are a people that like to get together, tell stories, and eat. Having a good time and enjoying life as the creator intended for us also has a ripple effect. Humor and laughter, smiles and hugs, are contagious and addictive. These all bring happiness to the family, to the community. Those of us who have walked both paths, know today the folly of the times when the king, the bottle or needle, was all make believe, all false, like building a house using sandstone cornerstones. Looks good for a while. Drinking & Driving By: Walt Klamath, Outpatient Counselor Don't drink and d riv e -lf you think that it has gotten tough on drunk drivers in the United States, note how they handle drunk drivers in other countries: A u straiia-T he names of the drivers are sent to the local newspaper and are printed under the heading, "he is drunk and in jail". M a la y a -T h e driver is jailed, and if he is married, his wife is jailed too. Can you imagine how much fun that would be? T u rk e y -D ru n k drivers are taken 20 miles from town by the police and forced to walk back under escort. Norway-Three weeks in jail at hard labor, one year's loss of license. Second offense within five years, license revoked for life. Finland and Sweden-Automatic jail for one year. Costa Rica-Police remove plates from car. Russia-License revoked for life. England-One year suspension, $250 fine and jail for one year. France-Three year loss of license, one year in jail and $1000 fine. P o la n d -J a il and fine and forced to attend political lecture. B u lg a ria -S e c o n d conviction . results in execution. El Salvador-Your first offense is your last- execution by firing squad. Medicine Wheel Submitted by Walt Klamath *July 23 through August 22 is the RIPE BERRIES MOON. People born at this time are STURGEON PEOPLE. Their plant is the RASPBERRY, their color is RED, their minerals are IRON and GARNET, their elemental clan is the THUNDERBIRD CLAN. They are compatible with RAVEN, ELK, REDHAWK, and DEER people. They complement OTTER people. Like the STURGEON, these folks have an inner strength and the ability to see through things. They try to avoid confrontations, but will fight when cornered. They are active, dominant, powerful, courageous people, although they also have a playful side. They must learn to curb a tendency to be too dominant, and to seem arrogant. (Courtesy Sun Bear Publications)
