Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
July 15. 1988 PACE J
Exhibit takes visitors into the past
As visitors strolled through the Agency Longhouse last week to take a look at the exhibit
presented by the Middle Oregon Indian Historical Society, the 200 or so people were
probably reminded othowdillerent lite must have been long ago. On display were most the
1,600 heirlooms and artifacts accumulated over the past 14 years by the MOIHS. The
two-day exhibit was the first time all the MOIHS artilacts had been displayed for public
viewing. A display In 1983 featured about half of the accumulated treasures.
The preservation and safekeeping of the artifacts is of utmost Importance. The Tribe has
spent over $600,000 since 1974 to acquire the artifacts that are currently stored in an
environmentally controlled room in the Day Care building. However, the ultimate goal Is to
build a top rate museum in which the entire collection can be safely and attractively
displayed.
Among the many stressing the Importance of a museum were Bill Merrill and Jo Allyn
Archanbault, both from the Smithsonian Institute In Washington, D.C. Merrill has "accumw
lating a collection.. .It Is important
that people make an effort to pre'
serve their own culture."
Archanbault stated that the Warm
Springs collection Is "very important-it's
value Is Important." She
advised that Warm Springs should
be sure to "get the collection Into a
first class museum." She added
that some of the pieces are "very
rare." Speaking of the 74 shup ta
kais (rawhide suitcases), Archan
bault stated their designs may be
used to "rewrite the history" of
beadwork. "They're extremely im
portant in unraveling history."
MOIHS has In Its possession a
deer tail dress that Archanbault
described as "very rare and ex
tremely valuable." The deer skin
dress features narrow fringes on
the bottom hem and the hem of the
sleeves. The sleeve fringes feature
actual deer tail fur, thus the name
of the dress. The yoke is beaded
and Includes brass thimbles.
Archanbault approximated that the
dress was made before 1860.
Concluding, Archanbault ad
vised that the Tribe retain the col
lection "safe in your keeping and
not in the hands of collectors...you
have a very good collection; make
it available to your children, grand
children and their children."
Verbena Greene explained her
feelings about the collection, say
ing that "these things have been
handed down" for many genera-
'. t tions. "I'm proud of the display.
j The people who made these things
"" made them with loving care. They
gave it to their children, family and
friends. As I walked around in
there, it was like living way back
there."
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A tula mat In the middle of the Longhouse floor was
backdrop to many pre-contact era artifacts.
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A teepee was set up to display various headdresses. Delis, men ' wear and a drum. All exhibits were
put together by MOIHS staff.
Sftwp fa kals, all 74 of them, were displayed. They were described as possibly
"providing a history of tribal beadwork."
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Jo Allyn Archanbault, director of the Native American Program at the Smithsonian Institute In
Washington, D.C, described some of the artifacts to MOIHS board member Jim Southern.
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ffudy Clements was honored at the Longhouse dinner tor his
many years as board member and chairman. Delbert Frank, Sr.
has been appointed acting chairman.
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Huckleberry baskets, numbering 1 16, were lined up on the bleachers for display. The large and small baskets are
an important part ot the tribal collection.
Spilyay Tymoo text and photos by Behrend
Old-time beadwork features unusually colored
beads and a design not often seen on present-day
work.