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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1978)
PAGE 6 JULY 19, 1978 ---------- CAMPERS FIND PiACt, ADVFNTURF IN FORFST---------- TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA STOWELL GEARING UP - No sooner did campers arrive at Peter’s Pasture but they were packing up for a hike up to Harvey Lake, the site of a spectacular waterfall and plenty of peace and quiet. Morris Johnson tossed his sleeping bag out to tepee-mate William Culpus. High Country, U.S.A, is the address given.; It is a quiet neighborhood of tepees and fir trees. The neighbors couldn’t be better, except for an occasional* unwelcome bear. Eighteen campers have found peace with each other and their environment at Peter’s Pasture on the upper reaches of Shitike Creek. The second ses sion of culture camp was in progress this week and the silence of the forest was broken only by traditional Indian song and kids’ laughter. Today was undoubtedly more hectic than any other day, since campers were joined by parents and friends who travel ed the 25 miles to share a meal and view the crafts made during the camp. But a typical day hardly makes an impression on the for est, although it is an unforget able experience for the camper. The day beings with an early morning dip in icy Shitike Creek. The rule is three times off the diVing board or once across the creek and back. No one is sleepy after that routine. The flag raising ceremony is a daily affair. Kids watch the American flag go up over the crumbling chimney of an old CCC building, one of the few reminders of the original Camp Shitike. The rest of'the day is ordi narily a relaxed schedule of craftmaking, drumming and singiog, religious instruction, food gathering - and of course recreation. A host of local resource people are on hand to teach campers beadwork, shawl fring ing, arrowhead chipping, and the making of drums, cedar bark baskets, and feather fans. Kids also learn the rudiments of the Washat religion, Indian mu sic and hunting. Evening is the time for sweating in the tiny lodge on the creek bank. This and the morn ing dips are the ways in which campers bathe. A nightly campfire brings campers together in song, skits and legends. Each session also had a special day when they hiked to dazzling Harvey Lake for an overnight amidst the breath taking scenery eight miles dis MAKING IT FIT - Nathan Jim, Jr., a counselor at culture camp, helped Vincent Culpus with his bone choker, the first craft project tant. Refreshed by the natural that campers took on in the second session. environment and the warm com panionship, campers find they don’t miss TV and many other trappings of civilization, al though “snacks and snoose” are admittedly hard to give up. Culture camp is in its tenth year, the slowly growing “baby” of Cultural Heritage Director Nathan Jim, Sr. Not a regularly budgeted program, Jim has to “scrounge” each year for funds, materials and counselors. His dream is to establish Peter’s Pasture as a “multi purpose camp” giving different groups a wilderness backdrop for their activities. BELLY FLOP - There’s always something to be learned at culture camp - even if it’s just to tuck your head when diving. INDIAN SONG - About the only sound to be heard at Peter’s Pasture is that of a drumbeat and traditional singing. After lunch, campers William Culpus, Willie-Jim, and Vincent Culpus gathered around the drum and learned some songs from counselor Fred Hill.
