2 December 5, 19
Warm Springs. Orison
SpilyayTymoo
A conversation with: George Aguilar, Sr.
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George says he is "retired" these days, but retirement is not evident,
as he spends much time working alongside family members.
Editor's Note: The following ar
ticle was written by George Aguilar,
Sr. 1 le was reluctant to be interviewed
for Spilyay's senior citizen segment
and wanted to submit his own recol
lections of the past, steering attention
away from himself.
The setting is the early years of
the 1800's. 1805 to be exact. The
mother's a member of the Tcnino
Clan of the Columbia River, relates a
story to her daughter named Sta-Na-Que.
It was about the arrival of the
white man; (Lewis & Clark Expedi
tion). Within this era, arose a proph
ecy: It concerned the arrival of the
hordes of these people. It was to be
an introduction to a different culture.
Catastrophe was to also follow in the
wake of these foreigners. This
prophecy was fulfilled in the 1840's
upon the arrival of the pioneers of the
Oregon Trail.
Sta-Na-Que now a teenage girl
witnesses the arrival of these strange
people. The never before seen cook
ing utensils that was revealed in the
prophecy had now become one of the
trade items for dried salmon and other
foods. The pioneers arrived nearly
starved from the long trek. It was
mentioned by Sta-Na-Que to my
grandmother Hattie Symentire Polk,
of the children being barefoot and
sickly with some near death. They
also brought diseases upon our
people. The prophesied catastrophe
of small pox and measles took their
toll and wiped out a great portion of
the River area tribes.
The Native people young and old
were seriously affected by the never
before known illnesses. Many died.
The sweathouses became ineffective.
Many dove into cold waters only to
become victims of death that paral
leled a near genocide to our racial
group.
Sta-Na-Que survived this catas
trophe and also witnessed the sign
ing of the 1 855 Treaty. She was now
a young lady of 35 years of age when
this historical event took place. Sta-Na-Que
lived out her years in the
Tcnino Valley, where Jack and Irene
Towe now have their irrigation pond.
She died in 1 934 at the estimated age
of 1 10 to 115 years of age. She is
buried in the Tenino Cemetery.
My genealogy is as follows: Kush-Shi-At
(Great Great Grandfather) is
a nephew to Sta-Na-Que. Henry
Symentire (Great Grandfather),
Hattie Symentire Polk (Grand
mother), Evelyn Polk Aguilar
(Mother), Easton Aguilar (Father).
Great Grandfather James Polk Sr.
was named after president James
Polk. My father Easton, was born in
1891 at Manilla, Philippine Islands.
Immigrated to the United States and
was a veteran of the First World War.
Easton's first marriage to Adeline
Brunoe had produced a son
(Raymond Aguilar-deceased) and
daughters Arradonna Aguilar Seyler
(deceased), Theda Aguilar
Whalawitsa. These are also descen
dants of the Symentire's and Chief
Billy Chinook.
I was told by my grandmother that
male members were lined up and
given caycaia (whiteman) names.
Hence: Symentire, Polk, Seymore,
Sidwalter, Howard, Miller or what
ever. This was how most of our people
lost their Indian given names.
Yearly chronology of events are:
Baker named veteran's officer
The Jefferson County Vetetrans
Service Department has hired Keith
Baker of Warm Springs as their new
Veterans Service Officer. "This
position became available with the
passing of World War II veteran Cecil
Benson," says Baker. Benson held
that position for a good number of
years. Baker's first day was
F ..'V
4 m
November 4. The office will be open
on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
andThursdays from 8:30a.m. to 12:30
p.m.
The Jefferson County Veterans
Service office is located at the
Jefferson County Court house
building on C street in Madras.
Keith Baker is a Vietnam Veteran,
and served with the U.S. Army as an
infantry soildcr in the first infantry
and the twenty third infantry divisions.
"The position is only parttime," says
Baker. "But I'm going to try to be
able to assist any veteran who is
fighting for their benifits or whatever
reason involving a veteran. A veteran
is someone who has completed basic
training or has served in the armed
forces," says Baker. "If needed says
Baker, "I can extend the office hours
for the working Veteran, and try to
meet their needs. The object of this
program is to help the Veteran and
thats what I plan to do to the best of
my ability. Stop by my office or call
me at 475-2449."
Spilyay Tymoo
Publisher: Sid Miller
Editor: Donna Behrend
ReporterPhotographer: Selena T. Boise
ReporterPhotographer: Bob Medina
ReporterPhotographer: Dan Lawrence
Secretary: Tina Aguilar
Founded in March 1976
Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confederated
Tribes of Warm Springs. Our offices are located in the
basement of the Old Girl's Dorm at 1 1 15 Wasco Street. Any
written materials to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed to:
Spilyay Tymoo, P.O. Box 870, Warm Springs, OR 97761
(54 1 ) 553-1 644 or 553-3274 - FAX NO. (54 1 ) 553-3539
Annual Subscription Rates:
Within U.S. - $9.00 Outside U.S. - $1 5.00
Spilyay Tymoo 1996
George Aguilar, Sr. born 1930 at
The Dalles. OR. In the spring of
1930 made first outing trip to Dig
Fddy. 1932 Father F.aston drowns at
Cascade Rapids salmon fishing. 1932
Evelyn (mother) dies. Services held
in historical Shaker Church near
present Sliilo Inn at The Dalles, OR.
From early childhood to 1948, I
was raised by my grandinoiher I lattie
Symentire Polk (Swi-Do-Ni Indian
name). During the course of time I
learned how to scrape hides, tan and
smoke hides, turn gloves, dig roots,
become familiar with my uncle's fur
trapping methods, farming, garden
ing, fishing on the Columbia, net
making, berry picking, bootlegging
and whatever else it took to survive
in that era.
The year about 1935 we made a
trip to pick huckleberries at Zig Zag
area, which I now assume is known
as the controversial Fnola I lill. The
trip was made with a pair of horses
and buggy. The hack was parked at
Zig Zag, horses were taken up a trail
where we came onto other tribal
members. The trip back to the Rcz
was first stop off at Swim camp
ground (cast of Govt. Camp). While
there grandmother and Mot-Ni (Sid
Miller's grandmother) conversed
with a whiteman practicing the use
of the Chinook jargon.
1934-1948 stories told by ciders
are: Raids by the marauding Snake
Tribal Clans in the root digging and
grass gathering areas. A special grass
was gathered and used to separate
the drying salmon. This method of
processing salmon drying probably
went out of existence in the mid
1930's.
I would accompany my grand
mother on her visits with other elder
relatives. A blind and near deaf old
lady was telling grandmother of the
place of gathering this grass. She
would pause, listen intently to hear
the direction of the roar of the Cclilo
Falls and point in an easterly direc
tion with all her fingers extended. I
never did find out how far east it was
because at that time, I was sent out
side to make a deal with a tourist. The
trade for his watermelons and grapes
was a bright, fresh caught salmon.
We would also search the Salmon
Head beach area for oval shaped flat
stones. Grandmother would throw
these small stones on larger rocks
attempting to split it in half so it may
be used for a hide tanning rock,
which was attached with rawhide to
a stick.
Stories also were told of the abun
dant salmon runs. Its decline starts
with the whiteman's introduction of
fish wheels, traps and beach seining
with horses. Some Chinook salmon
runs exceeded 100 pounds or more
per fish. This salmon run was wiped
out of existence when the Grand
Coulee Dam and Chief Joseph D.un
were constructed near the Canadian
border. The last known silver side
(Coho) salmon was caught at Tenino
where we fished in October of 1948.
I never saw this species in this area
again.
The year 1937, 1 entered boarding
school. My clothes are a homemade
pocketless store bought calico cloth
flowered shirt handsewn by my
grandmother. Trousers were tied up
w ith a buckskin siring used for a belt.
Footwear consisted of a brand new
Indian made w ixq'am laplklakii (high
top moccasins), upon the issue ol
hoarding school blue overalls and
shoes, the matron in charge threw
away my moccasins. I spoke fluent
Sahaptin and I spoke and understood
just enough Fnglish to get by. I was
very bewildered by seeing so many
children.
The most shocking was the change
of diet. Some foods served at the
dining hall were completely differ
ent to me. Gone were the dried salmon
heads and dumplings, roots, dried
eels, dried deer meat, luk-a-meen
and so forth.
The year I93S, I became 8 years
of age and I was in the Kindergarten
grade. Tribal enrollment comes into
existence. I become No. 0008 on the
enrollment records. I attend my very
first powwow and stickgame held at
the CCC Dining Hall, located in the
Park area.
1939 was the last Huckleberry
excursion to the F.nola Hill area. An
avalanche rumbling an entire after
noon rolls away about 20 to 25 of
the top portion of Mt. Hood. Huckle
berry buyer informs tribal members
encamped in this area of the arrival
of war. Germany invades Poland.
Huckleberries sell for 75 cents to $ I
per gallon.
1941 Japan invades Hawaii.
School children listen intently of the
news on the radio. 1942-1945, mod
ern dance of the time is the Jitterbug
and Fox-trot. The nation experiences
rationing of meat, gasoline, tires, and
sugar. Formations of Madras-based
B-1 7 bombers flying overhead daily
on training missions. Many local
young men march and sail off to the
war in the Pacific and Europe.
1949, last year of fishing the Co
lumbia River, I join the Army. While
in Bootcamp I fought (Boxing) for
the Sixth Army Elimination Cham
pionship. Made runner-up position
by winning 7 out of 8 bouts.
1950, I was stationed in the
Ryukyus Command (Okinawa). We
were on Training maneuvers when
North Korea became an aggressor.
Another war, our heavy anti-air craft
unit was attached to a B-29 Bom
bardment group which was very busy
raining bombs on the Chinese and
Koreans. I attained the rank of Ser
geant First Class (E G Grade). Hon
orably discharged late 1952.
1 953. fell timber in the I lood River
area and once again fished the Co
lumbia River.
Activities mentioned are only of
ancient historical value. Through the
1930's and I94()'s. there was much
activity. It is very painful to make
mention of the horror stories of po
lice brutality and the FBI beatings on
alcohol use. Some retail stores, res
taurants, barber shops had a "No Dogs
or Indians Allowed" policy mental
ity to run their business. Some of
these practices lasted into the early
I950's.
1 954-1 955, was hospitalized with
a service-connected illness. Decem
ber 1955 I married F.lla Kurip, a full
blood Ute from White Rock, Utah.
We had four sons and one daughter.
Pursued building trade that was
learned in Alaska and Chcmawa In
dian School. I was employed with
the Confederated Tribes for 1 3 years,
was the tribal construction manager
for 5 years. Was a union-affiliated
carpenter for 1 2 years, some refores
tation, contracting, general con
struction contractor. I am now re
tired and serve as an Ex-officio for
the local Shckinah Enterprises
(Easton & Tina's) specializing in
general contracting, reforestation and
development projects and Autobody
rebuilding.
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George Aguilar was raised by his grandmother Hattie from a very
young age. He learned many traditional trades from her.
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An aspiring drummer?
Young Thanksgiving Powwow dancers received $1 each for their dancing efforts.
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Veterans were honored at this year's powwow.