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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1976)
JULY 23, 1976 WARM SPRINGS, OREGON PAGE 7 (Continued from Page 6) Dan Macy has been making his own history, not only through the store but also by being an active participant in community doings. Born in Indiana, to a BIA school teacher, Macy moved around the mid west and south as a youngster and came to his final roost here in Warm Springs in 1934 at the age of 20. He married Priscilla about a year later and they started a sizable and in fluential family of five boys and one girl. The children are all grown and have assumed various leading roles in the community. Macy boasts of a mill manager trainee, a rest aurant owner, a policeman and prize-winning dancer, an oil company representative, and a couple of tree-thinners. Macy himself is not Indian, at least not enough to outweigh the royal English blood that centuries of records can trace (his geneology lies within easy reach in his desk drawer). But his years in Mississippi seem to have left their imprint on Macy — his accent and his colorful language seem dis tinctly southern. Macy brought with him a southern style of jazz which caught on in Warm Springs and entertained locals for years. Macy had led a band during college and soon after arriving here he organized the Warm Springs Orchestra which lasted for 28 years. “Louisiana Gut Bucket” is what he calls the music they played. But they also arranged their own brand of swing (big band) music and had people dancing all over central Oregon. The jazz band’s last dance was in Prineville thirteen years ago, but by that time they had dished out 18 years of enter tainment at the annual Far- mers’ Frolic, 15 years at the Tygh Valley (now the Waico County) Fair, in addition to regular Saturday and holiday gigs. Macy really lights up when he tells of the band days. He speaks fondly of his various band members. He played trumpet, Willis Miller played saxophone, and together they arranged the music. Gib Kal ama played piano, Al Wyatt was on sax and trombone, and Art Thomas on drums (with Nick Kalama and Felix Wallu- latum filling in at times). Jimmy Durbin, from Bend, was a long-time guitarist and another unnamed outsider from Gresham played sax for the band for a time. “LOUISIANA GUT BUCKET” and swing styles of music were played by the Warm Springs Orchestra. Shown at one of their dances are (1. to r.) Jimmy Durbin (Bend), unknown (Gresh- Al Wyatt was visited at the pro shop at Kah-Nee-Ta, and he commented, “It was a heck of a good band. Dan kept us together. He had to have a lot of patience to work with us. I remember we’d often impro vise and he’d say, “Indians can play without music. We’ll just grab ‘em out of the air!” The musicians’ jobs be came a distraction and the band finally broke up in 1963. But some of the original mem bers, plus Mel Ashwill, music teacher at the W.S. grade school, got back together sev eral years ago and thrilled the crowd at a local talent show. Grant Waheneka’s son Dolan was heard to have remarked, “I didn’t know them old guys could play like that!” Macy made his mark again when he brought the first TV am), Art Thomas on drums, Willis Miller, Band Leader Dan Macy, and Gib Kalama. Photo courtesy of Dan Macy cable to Warm Springs in 1954. In fact it was the third cable in the whole northwest. The Tribal Council and Superinten dent did everything they could to get TV “in the hole.” Macy experimented with helium bal loons to determine the neces sary height for the transmitter, then he assembled the first cable with apartment house amplifiers. Macy owns and maintains the cable in addition to his many other activities. Dan Macy indeed a busy and productive man. His re spect for the community, his fascination with history, and his unflagging work have paid off in a store and a life that please him. You might ignore his grumbling because he really does love what he’s doing — and his eyes will be the first to betray him. Throngs lured io Salmon Bako There were an estimated k500 persons attending what is pow becoming an annual event of an old time Salmon Bake held each year at Cascade |Locks, Or. This event sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and with the volunteer help of various tribal members in the preparation of the Sal mon Bake as well as the Fish and Wildlife -Committee claimed a successful feed this year according to Mrs. Neda Greene, ode of the instrumen tal individuals in planning and who did a great deal of the work. Everyone seemed to en joy themselves there. A Memorial Dinner opened this years festivities; it is customary to honor past mem bers that have passed on? This year there were three mem bers of the Confederated Tribes that were in memory. They included the late Alex Henry, Phillip Boise Sr., and Perry Kalama as these mem bers had fished in that area for years. Traditional give-away cere monies were concluded on Sat urday July 17, which is a highly sacred event among all the Tribal Members and is highly respected by all. On the following day the Old Time Salmon bake took place which is as near as from the past in preparation of the Salmon and the aroma that filled the air was enough to build anyones appetite. Salmon slabs perched on sticks around a fire were the scenes there as many attend got their fill of EFFIE CULPUS keeps a close watch on eels and salmon roasting over an open fire during salmon bake held at Cascade Locks, July 18th. Over 1,000 people attended. Photo by Olney Patt, Jr. the rare treat. Many old friends of the reservation, as well as curious passersby were amazed at such a turn-out of this great event. There was also a good turnout of the Warm Springs Tribal members for this years picnic. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and as some sta ted, are looking forward for such a treat next year.
