New Arbor for
Fr iendship Feast
Anyone who plans to attend the Friendship Feast hosted by
Native American tribes during the Chief Joseph Days rodeo can
look forward to the event taking place in much improved digs.
hat’s because the CJD rodeo board decided it was time to upgrade
the old arbor that sheltered the feast, which consisted of a tarp
secured to a log frame.
he arbor is a sacred place used by tribes to celebrate their her-
itage by feasting, dancing and other ceremonial rites. Native Amer-
icans have shared these traditions with the public for nearly 30
years during the CJD Rodeo with a Friendship Feast and dancing
on Saturday.
CJD board member John Hillock said the decision to replace the
arbor was easy for the CJD committee in charge of the project.
“We thought this was a sign of solidarity with the tribes and
solidarity with the community — that we want to do good things in
the community.”
Local engineer Ralph Swinehart designed the new 76-by- 52 foot
structure. Vertical steel beams connected by horizontal laminate
beams and raters form the frame of the structure. Swinehart said
the CJD committee always wanted a covered arbor, but the
previous structures weren’t designed to take the stress.
Plans for the steel beams that support the structure include
wrapping them with either logs or timbers to give them a more
natural look. For the same reason, the structure also has a shake
14 | wallowa.com | 2016 Chief Joseph Days
roof rather than metal. Semi vertical logs fanned out over the west
end will be covered with a tarp or canvas to resemble a half-tepee
that the Native American drummers will sit under. Swinehart said
he’s pleased with the looks of the building as well as the progress
toward its completion.
Hillock tried to minimize his part in the building’s construction.
“Wellens-Farwell is doing the construction,” Hillock said.
“hey and Stangel Industries are working on the metal fabrication;
Terry Jones is doing the excavating; Casper is doing the roof and
Ralph (Swinehart) did the design – I’ve just been coordinating it.”
Even though the arbor is a project of the CJD board, they remain
respectful of the structure’s purpose and encourage input from
Native American tribes, including the naming of the area as well as
the structure. Members of the Nez Perce tribe and the CTU are
planning a future christening event, Hillock said.
In addition to serving as an arbor for the Friendship Feast, Hillock
also envisions the structure as a community gathering place for
other occasions, especially picnics.
“We’ll get some picnic benches and a barbecue in here so people
can pull in here and have a picnic. It’ll be like another city park, but
it’ll be owned by the rodeo committee.”
he area also is a possible site for the farmers market, wedding
banquets and could serve as a campsite for wildland ireighters
during ire season.