REGION
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
East Oregonian
A3
Tamkaliks dances into Wallowa this weekend First West Nile virus
By ELLEN MORRIS
BISHOP
Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA — Tamkaliks
celebrates the reunion, remem-
brance, and resilience of the
people of Chief Joseph’s band
of Nez Perce, most of whom
were exiled to the Colville
Reservation in northern Wash-
ington following the Nez Perce
conflict of 1877.
It also is a powwow where
Indian dancers from across
the nation compete for hon-
ors and prizes in many tradi-
tional dances, including the
Grass Dance, Men’s Tradi-
tional, Women’s Jingle Dress
and other dances. Drums from
across the nation participate
and compete as well.
Tamkaliks gets under-
way on Friday around 7 p.m.
with an entry ceremony, and a
non-competitive social dance,
accompanied by singing
and drumming. The Native
Americans participating in
the dance will generally wear
tribal dancing regalia.
The Nez Perce will hold
a Memorial Horse Proces-
sion on Saturday in remem-
brance of those lost in the con-
flict of 1877, and also in honor
of the reunion and continu-
ance of the Nez Perce people.
The tradition of the memo-
rial procession originated in
1885 when the Wallowa Band
was returned to the “North-
west” as promised, but exiled
to the Colville Reservation at
Nespelem, Washington, 300
miles from Wallowa County.
“A rider comes calling out
the names of Indians,” Nez
Perce elder Albert Redstar
said, explaining the origin of
the Memorial Horse Proces-
sion and its use at Tamkaliks.
“You could hear the weep-
ing. He rode three times all
the way around the encamp-
ment to trigger that sorrow. He
called out the names of every-
one that was killed and was
left out there on the trail. It
was those names he was say-
ing. On the third time around,
he picked up the pace, and
began to move, began to gal-
lop. And you could hear him
saying, ‘Now we are rejoicing.
Look around you. … We are
together yet. Now stand up and
shake each other’s hand. We’re
here today.’
EO Media Group Photo/Ellen Morris Bishop, File
A man begins to don his regalia for evening dancing as the
sun sets over the Tamkaliks arbor in 2017.
“That was our memorial.
That is what we teach our
children today,” Redstar said.
“Take care of the pain that’s
inside and bring it out. But also
teach them how to take care of
that pain in the days ahead.”
The dance competitions
begin at 1 p.m. Saturday with
the Grand Entry. This entry
parade is led by veterans who
will carry the U.S. flag, as well
as the Nez Perce’s eagle staff.
Dancers and elders follow. The
ceremony includes prayers,
songs and drumming. Com-
petitive dancing follows.
Dances include catego-
ries for senior men and senior
women, and dances for chil-
dren. Dances to watch include
the Men’s Traditional, Men’s
Fancy Dance, Men’s Grass
Dance, Women’s Shawl Dance
and Women’s Jingle Dress
Dance. The Grass Dance has
its origins with Great Plains
peoples, and also would have
served the Nez Perce well. It
may have originated as a cer-
emony or exercise to tram-
ple down high grasses for a
campsite. Plains tribes also say
that it originated as a way for
a handicapped boy to learn to
dance by imitating the sway-
ing grasses on the prairie.
The Friendship Feast is
a highlight of Tamkaliks.
In 2018 more than 600 peo-
ple shared salmon, buffalo,
and a wide variety of pot-
luck dishes. The line was long
and stretched almost half-
way around the dance arbor.
Elders and honored guests are
served first at tables set up in
the dance arbor.
Tamkaliks concludes Sun-
day afternoon with dances that
are fun and non-competitive,
with traditional categories for
BRIEFLY
Life Flight responds
to crash in Pendleton
PENDLETON — One
motorcyclist was injured
Tuesday in a crash in Pend-
leton and required an emer-
gency flight.
The wreck occurred shortly
before 5 p.m. in the intersec-
tion of Southwest Dorion Ave-
nue and 10th Street. According
to city staff who responded to
the crash, the motorcycle was
heading east on Dorion and
the van was going north on
10th when they hit. The van
drug the motorcycle and rider
for about a block.
Emergency
personnel
called for the Life Flight heli-
copter, which landed at the
old Pendleton Grain Growers
property, and medics hustled
the rider onto a gurney and
into the helicopter.
Police and city public
works staff blocked off the
area and rerouted traffic. The
crash investigation continues.
It was the second seri-
ous motorcycle-versus-vehi-
cle crash in Umatilla County
in about a week — Hermis-
ton resident Nathaniel John
Bloomer, 56, lost his life in a
crash in Hermiston on July 8
after his motorcycle collided
with a trailer being pulled by
a pickup truck.
Pendleton will see a surge
in motorcycles on the road
all week, as Pendleton Bike
Week starts Wednesday.
men, women, and children.
The event wraps up about
5 p.m. with awards for the
dancers who won their catego-
ries and a closing ceremony.
Tamkaliks is on Whis-
key Creek Road just south of
Wallowa on 320 acres along
the Wallowa River. Along
with traditional cultural
events, vendors from around
the Northwest sell a variety
of food including Indian fry
bread, along with handmade
goods like moccasins, jewelry,
leather, and beaded purses.
You’ll find some Nez Perce
vendors among the plethora of
more commercial booths.
Historic bridges, bedecked
with informative interpre-
tive signs, link the powwow
grounds to the town of Wal-
lowa, and provide easy access
to the Wallowa Band Nez
Perce Interpretive Center. The
steep hill on the north side of
the grassy meadow and dance
arbor is known as Tick Hill.
A trail from the valley floor
winds up to the top. Inter-
pretive signs along the way
explain plants, animals, and
Nez Perce life. The view from
the top provides a nice over-
view of the Wallowa Moun-
tains and the fertile lower
Wallowa Valley, home to the
Wallowa Band Nez Perce for
thousands and thousands of
years.
Primitive camping is avail-
able. There are no specific des-
ignated campsites, no electri-
cal or sanitary hookups, and
water is available only at spig-
ots near the Dance Arbor. A
corral and horse stalls are on
site for those bringing horses.
A limited number of showers
and vault toilets are available
for campers.
Tamkaliks Schedule
In 2019, Tamkaliks’
schedule has changed
slightly with the addi-
tion of a Veterans’ Dance
and two new dances
on Saturday night. As
always, Tamkaliks will
begin Friday evening
with social dancing,
singing and drumming,
beginning at 7 p.m. at
the dance arbor on the
Homeland Project’s
grounds. Note that
some events may start
slightly later than their
scheduled times. Please
be patient.
Friday, July 19:
• All day: Wallowa Band
Nez Perce Homeland In-
terpretive Center open.
• All day: Arrival and
camp setup for partici-
pants. Arrival and booth
setup for vendors.
• All day: Nez Perce
Homeland Interpretive
Center open.
• 7 p.m. Social Dance,
singing and drumming.
Saturday, July 20:
• All day: Wallowa Band
Nez Perce Homeland In-
terpretive Center open.
• 9 a.m. Memorial Horse
Procession.
• 1 p.m. Grand Entry:
1 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. (approxi-
mate) Dance compe-
tition. Includes men’s,
women’s, and youth
dances.
• 7 p.m. Veterans’ Dance.
• 8 p.m. (approximate)
Slick Style and Short
Fringe special dances.
Sunday, July 21:
• All day: Wallowa Band
Nez Perce Homeland In-
terpretive Center open.
• 9 a.m. Washat Service
at the Longhouse
• 12 Noon: Friendship
Feast. Please come
early and bring a dish to
share!
• 2 p.m. Grand Entry
• 2:30 pm (approximate)
Non-competitive danc-
ing, with categories for
men, women, children,
and families.
• 5 p.m. (approximate)
Contest dancing awards.
detected in Umatilla County
By KATHY ANEY
East Oregonian
UMATILLA — West
Nile virus, a flu-like disease
spread by mosquitoes, has
been detected in mosquitoes
at a testing site in Umatilla
County.
Oregon Public Health offi-
cials say the the mosquitoes,
found in Umatilla, are the
first to test positive for the
disease in Oregon in 2019.
The mosquitoes were col-
lected last week by the West
Umatilla Mosquito Control
District. The Oregon State
University Veterinary Diag-
nostic Laboratory in Corval-
lis confirmed the discovery.
West Nile virus spreads
to humans via the bite of an
infected mosquito. About
one in five infected people
may show signs of the virus.
People at risk of serious ill-
ness include individuals 50
and older, and people with
immune-compromising con-
ditions, such as diabetes and
high blood pressure.
West Nile symptoms
include fever above 100
degrees and severe headache,
stiff neck, mental confusion,
muscle weakness, shaking,
paralysis and rash. People
should contact their health
care provider if experiencing
any of these symptoms.
The incubation period
is usually two to 14 days.
Rarely, infected individuals
may develop severe brain or
spinal column infections that
could cause death.
The number of mosquito
pools — samples of about 50
mosquitoes — testing posi-
tive in any area could lead to
infection. Dr. Emilio DeBess,
veterinarian at the Ore-
gon Health Authority’s Pub-
lic Health Division, recom-
mends people and animals
guard against mosquito bites.
“It’s very easy for people
to prevent bites from mos-
quitoes that may carry West
Nile virus,” DeBess says.
“Although the risk of con-
tracting West Nile virus is
low, people can take sim-
ple precautions to keep
these insects at bay if they’re
headed outdoors.”
DeBess
recommends
eliminating sources of stand-
ing water that are a breed-
ing ground for mosquitoes,
including watering troughs,
bird baths, clogged gutters
and old tires.
Use mosquito repellent
when engaged in outdoor
activities at dusk and dawn
when mosquitoes are most
active. Wear long-sleeved
shirts and long pants in mos-
quito-infested areas.
Make sure screen doors
and windows are in good
repair and fit tightly.
During the 2018 mos-
quito season, there were two
human cases of West Nile
virus in Harney and Clacka-
mas counties. The virus was
found in one bird, 58 mos-
quito pools and two horses.
In 2017, seven humans, 92
mosquito pools, five horses
and one bird tested positive
for West Nile. The virus also
can be found in chickens,
squirrels and dogs.
Health officials say cli-
mate change effects, such as
increased temperature and
changes in rainfall, mean lon-
ger mosquito seasons and are
contributing to the spread of
West Nile virus.
———
Contact Kathy Aney at
kaney@eastoregonian.com
or 541-966-0810.
7/17
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