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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2009)
Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon Page 2 April 23, 2009 Bridge was named for Wasco Chief Duc-Sa-Hi Dedication ceremony was 75 years ago by George Aguilar Many geographical areas, buttes, mountains, etc., have been named after distinguished people. A fine example would be the Crooked River Gorge Bridge named after a Culver war hero named Barber. Another example closer to home: The bridge crossing the Deschutes River at the reserva tion is named after the Wasco Chief Mark Meacham, Indian name Duc-Sa-Hi. Thirteen-hundred people at tended the 1934 dedication of the bridge. During the dedication cer emony, the state highway com missioner and several speakers representing D eschutes and Jefferson counties delivered sev eral speeches. According to a 1934 report in the Madras Pio neer: “Following the speeches of the ‘white brothers’ one of the oldest o f the Indian, chieftains Owhi Ike, a Modoc scout and one of the last surviving of his tribe, was led to the platform and spoke through an inter preter. The crowds Estened in- tendy to what the old chieftain had to say of early days when there was no bridge and only trails and plenty o f warlike ren egade tribes to disturb the more peaceful and friendly ones. “The climax o f the day’s events occurred when Mr. Scott (State Highway commissioner) cut the ribbon held across the bridge and christened it Duc-Sa- Hi, naming it after a famous Wasco chieftain. “Duc-Sa-Hi was a chief of the Wasco tribe o f Indians and a counselor and-spokesman for the tribe until his death in 1879 at Warm Springs. In 1885 the government sent his son Frank Meacham to West Virginia to college and when he returned he was a great leader among the Wasco tribe and made several trips to Washington D.C. on behalf o f the tribe.” The report continues: “Fol lowing the dedicatory ceremony the Indians, ranging in sizes from dignified chieftain to a tiny papoose carried in a baby board on his mothers back, took part in a colorful parade across the new bridge. War dances in spec tacular Native regaha proved to be much interest to the crowd and closed the ceremonies for the day.” The primary purpose for this new bridge was to provide a faster and shorter route from Pordand to the Central Oregon areas. This bridge also opened up the Warm Springs Reservation to the outside world. However, Highway 26 was not paved and opened until 1945, w hen the Mill Creek Bridge was completed. Years later, the steel and con crete reinforced 421-foot long Duc-Sa-Hi Bridge survived the devastating 1964 floods. “Who will be the first to throw away his Indian heart, laws, and cus toms and from this day henceforth be a Whitman in everything pertaining to civilisation!” i MaryAnn Winishut Meanus at the Duc-Sa-Hi Bridge christening, 1934. Ike Owhi, listed as a Modoc War Veteran scout, attended the Duc-Sa-Hi Bridge christening in 1934. Owhi is the grandson of the Chief Owhi of the Chief Kam-i-a-kan Yakama War Campaign of 1856. Changing of names was to see how P resid en t Duc-Sa-Hi Was one o f the Grant’s Peace PoEcy had taken Chief’s of the Wasco and head effect on the Warm Springs Res men o f the primary signatory ervation. During the meeting participants o f the 1855 Treaty. with the Indians this scene took Below is an excerpt taken place: from the book, IFTgw«? and Warpath, by A.B. Meacham, a After a few moments, the chief U.S. Government high Official arose and said, “I will be a white man o f Indian Affairs. from this day;” and then advancing M eacham visited W arm toward the desk, he was welcomed by Springs Agency in December friendly greetingfrom the White men 1871. It also may be safely sur present. Holding him by the hand I mised that the visit o f Indian (A.B. Meacham) said to him, Commissioner A. B. Meacham “I welcome my red brother to our civilisation. You are now a {white) man; our people do not consider the color of a man; it is his heart, his life. What name will you take?” He (Duc-Si-Hi) hesitated, look ing down for a moment; then raising his eyes to my own with earnest ga^e, spirit and relationships. he inquired if he might take my name, Please contact Ursala or saying he liked it because it sounded Alicia to register for this well. Acknowledging the compliment, group. Meetings are begin I addressed him as Mr. M ark ning this week. Meacham. This was greeted with There is no cost for this applauses. new approach to wellness, as it is financially supported by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Community Counseling Center. For information, contact the Community Counseling Center at 553-3205. R ed Road counseling program fo r youth The Warm Springs Com munity Counsehng Center is presenting The Red Road— Reaching Your Potential with Community and Family Sup port. T his aftercare support group approach will focus on health in body, mind, spirit and relationships. Each group m eeting is two and one-half hours in length, twice a week. This is the start o f our Red Road to the Circle of Life. Aftercare support groups will be for twelve weeks, or, in three moon cycles. Groups will be held at the W arm Springs C om m unity CounseHng Center. This after care support group will target youth just completing in-patient treatment, youth who have com pleted in-patient treatment, or youth who just may need added support and inform ation re garding health in body, mind, Dininq Rpom Seis (fathering Tables -10 Percent Off! Serving Centrai Oregon since The giving o f an Indian name was a custom o f the Wasco to pass on Indian names fo r the preser vation o f posterity, and tribal history was also passed on this way. Ralphs Furniture & TV 525 S.E. 5th Street Madras, OR 97741 The changing names o f In dians to EngEsh were another way to put an end to the tradi tions o f the Indians. During the meeting o f the 1871, aE individuals were forced to renounce their former civiE- zation by saying: “I throw away the law my fa thers made. I take this new law” Several of the leading men of the Wasco and Teninos made this statem ent and decision when A.B. Meacham came to the Warm Springs and Duc-Sa- Hi was the first to have his name changed. Hand shaking was renewed, and then one after arose and made short speeches, and came forward and were enrolled: The Captain (Smith) grow ing warmer and more enthusiastic as each new name was entered on the roll. Nearly one hundred had come out squarely, and we adjourned the meet ing to the following day. D uc-Sa-H i acquired the American Mark Meacham name when he was forced to throw away the laws of his father, the throwing away of the Indian law also meant changing the Indian nam e o f D uc-Sa-H i to the A m erican nam e o f M ark Meacham. Duc-Sa-Hi was one o f the principal Kiksht Wasco chiefs who signed the Middle Oregon 1855 Treaty with the United States. Duc-Sa-Hi’s activity is weE documented when pen was put to paper of earEer years. T he giving o f an Indian nam e was a custom o f the Wasco to pass on Indian names for the preservation o f poster ity, and tribal history was also passed on this way. D uring the earlier years, probably in the 1860s to 1880s, a setder by the name o f Henry Coe documented a case o f a m urder th a t to o k place at PoUalah (Hood River) as the early setders knew it then. “One of the chief Wallachin In dians killed a Mosier Indian; pay ment was demanded by the relatives of the deceased and refused on the grounds of poverty. Mark, the chief of the Wascos, backed up the demand, and did not accept the excuse. Mark without delay marshaled his band of warriors, and at their head came to Hood River. They came for business and they looked it. Seventy- five or a hundred of them on horse back with their war paint and eagle feathers galore. A ll were armed, some with flint locks, others with bow and arrows and with tom toms beating. In about two hours they returned lead ing three Cayuses, {horses) par value of the dead Indian. In my very earEer years I had the privilege o f having to stay with a daughter of Duc-Sa-Hi. Her name was Jane Meacham, her Indian name was Low-sha- wy. She was the mother o f Eva Brunoe Winishut. This old lady and I used to converse in the Indian language. The nearest people connected to this family tree is Levina Tanawasha, Levina is the grand daughter to Low- sha-wy. The great great grand daughter to Low-sha-wy is Ge Colw ash, the late Sammy Colwash is the O e‘s father. (N ote: George A g u ila r is the award-winning author o f W h e n th e R iv er R a n W ild!) IRA’S SALES & SERVICE, INC. Junk Cars - Call Tiger a t 419-7379 Scrap Metal, Used A u to & Truck Parts, Wrecking Service, Diesel Trucks, Pick-ups & Cars (541) 475-2578 <97* uoU/ Jot. AuppotZincj. tire éuûXneaAea. you, Ace. in. tKe §jji£yay. G/ytnoo. j L <3 4 4 7 Î >
