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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1997)
8 1 (BWOQWO S)r,tiG0 SMOKE1 SIGNALS Descendants of Umpqua Chief Louis Nepesa (Nepissank) 7a 7 V repesa was not an Oregon Indian, but came over the northeastern mountains when he was just a boy to hunt for the fur company. He was named after his native Lake Nipissing in Ontario, Canada. After many adventures, Nepesa was adopted by the Umpqua people. Famous among them for his ability to follow trails even when others were at a loss, the Umpqua said he asked the wild animals and it was they who directed him. On November 29, 1854, a treaty was made at Calapooia Creek in Douglas County, Oregon between the Confeder ated Bands of Umpqua and the Calapooia residing in the Umpqua Valley and Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. As First Chief of the Umpqua, Louis Nepesa was one of those who signed the treaty on behalf of the Umpqua people. Years after their removal to the Grand Ronde Reserva tion, Chief Nepesa joined other chiefs in petitioning for a resident Catholic priest at Grand Ronde. He took a leader ship role in all public gatherings and according to Father Crocket set an example of reverent participation at Mass for which Grand Ronde became renowned. However, he did not contribute to the building of the new Catholic school mainly because he saw this effort as symbolizing approval of the United States government's refusal to finance the project and to pay the Indian workers involved. Nepesa's first wife died shortly before the Cayuse attack on the Whitman Mis sion in 1847. He gave up trapping about this time, married Lizette Klikitat and moved to the Umpqua Valley where he had a house, barn and 60 head of cattle. His eldest daughter, Mary Ann married Alexander Day and later Abraham Leno. His younger daughter, LaRose, married Frank Quenelle and followed her father's example as a leader in the Catholic faith. Born in 1849, LaRose lived out her life at Grand Ronde where she and Frank Quenelle raised a family. Five of her grandchildren (great grandchildren of Chief Nepesa) are shown here standing on a log posing bashfully for the cam era. From left to right: Corinda Quenelle Snider (daughter of Fabian Quenelle and Tillie), Mceme Langley (daughter of William Langley and Mary Quenelle), Ethel Quenelle (daughter of Fabian Quenelle and Tillie), Albert Quenelle, and Francis Smith (son of Jesse Smith and Ester Alice Quenelle). Family photo is courtesy of Grand Ronde elder, Mary Snider-Johnson. tiff . ' hr f (V , T- i ,-' , f I U 1 r iff r t . : I . I t. . ! . ; m-m" x ' i ''f. STANDING ON THE LOG: Corinda Quenelle-Snider, Meeme Langley, Ethel Quenelle, Albert Quenelle, and Francis Smith. Photo provided by Mary Snider-Johnson. i 4 k 4 V ' 1r" 1 4- W t r f" j 4 V ,J J" Pictured at left: LaRose Quenelle holding Richard and Beryle Langley. Pictured below: Alice Quenelle, LaRose Nepissank-Quenelle, and "Boney" Fabien Quenelle. . ' l-LHI.ll . J..!...J.'.'l.'ti"W.l".'WWa! 1 I I . II II W Jltll.ljjJM jlMIIIIIIIHMI tlH.II! vJl 1 ii . nJ -zJ x:t II si U Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and Heritage meetings The Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and Heritage Society Board of Directors hold regular monthly meetings the second Mon day of each month. These meetings are generally held at one of the two banquet rooms in Spirit Mountain Casino from 1 p.m. until approximately 4 p.m. The meetings are open, and interested tribal members are encouraged to attend. If you have questions, please con tact Pam Warren, Co-Chair at 1-800-422-0232, extension 2028; or Shawn Hostler, Co-Chair at (503) 879-2850. Meet ings arc subject to cancellation and rescheduling at any time. CAMP OUT: Sweet Home Ranger District Tony Farque, an archaeologist with the Willamette National Forest, recently con tacted the Cultural Resources Program to invite tribal members to a week long camp out near Cougar Rock. The Sweet Home Ranger District will be clearing a parcel of land to enhance the camas growing in the area. Besides spending a week in the great outdoors, this will be a great opportunity for tribal members to meet people working for the forest service, identify other kinds of plants, dig some camas and collect seeds. The camp out will be held June 23 to July 3. If you and your family would like to attend or if you have further questions, please call June Olson at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2249.
