APRIL 7, 1978 PAGE 9
Andrew and Edna David shared the work of peeling roots and later led Washut worshipping
at the Agency Longhouse.
Bernice Mitchell and her horn-handled Kupn dug roots
from the still moist soil - piaxi for her left bag and lukshfor the
right.
(Root Feast)
PHOTOS AND TEXT BY CYNTHIA STOWELL
Come and celeb rate the
greening of the earth. Prepare a
feast with a song in your heart.
Sing for the return of the
roots — piaxi, luksh arid xauch.
Mother Earth offers her gifts
once again. Offer her a song.
Sing for the deer who su r
vived the w inter and g iv e s his
meat and strength to you. Let a
song guide the bullet to bring
him down gently.
B less the salm on given by
the river and remember with a
song the fisherm en that the
river Has taken in return,
Cherish the old ones who
gave you their songs. They left
before you learned the endings,
but be glad you listened. Sing a
new ending.
P eel the root g ifts with a
song of thanks. They are many
and healthy and w e thrive b e
cause of them.
Let songs fill the kitchen
where the pots and oven are
filled-with earth’s bounty. But
cher, bake, boil . . . . and sing.
Wear your finest wing dress
and m occasin s and carry the
precious foods to your friends
and relations with a song.
N usux, yam ash, piaxi,
luksh, xaush, wiwinu, tumsh.
Salmpn, deer, roots, berries.
Chuush!
Drink!
Butcher
Silas Williams butchered two deer, the result of special
hunts for the feast.
Bake
Theoven was too full so Verbena Greene baked several sides of salmon on the outdoor grill.