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News StoriesDonald Harvey George-Oya Jan. 17, 1987-Jan. 5, 2006Let us all join together to stop the violence. New Smoke-Free Initiative Makes No Exception for Ceremonies PuyallupTribalNews.com Denied Table at Chief Leschi Powwow Native American Student Union from Tacoma Community College Thanksgiving Gift October 20th Concerned Puyallup Tribal Members Meeting: Seeking Solution Emergency Tribal Meeting Held on October 13th "Concerned Puyallup Tribal Members" 10/13/05 Meeting Minutes New Sheriff in Town: Robert Satiacum Plays Roll of Sheriff in Locally Filmed Movie PTHA Construction and Remodeling Takes Shape Tacoma Community College helps Native American student succeed Puyallup Elder Helps to Return Paddles to Port Gamble S'Klallam Puyallup Elder Helps to Return Paddles
to Port Gamble S'Klallam On October 18th 2003, the Port Gamble S'Klallam tribe of Indians from Little Boston, invited other tribes canoe families to come celebrate an evening of song and dance. That night, tribes far and near, gathered to be a part of and witness history, the returning of two canoe paddles taken nearly fifty years ago. The story goes, back into the late fifties when Bill Brown and his son Robert were logging in the northwest region of the Little Boston reservation. When Bill had felled a tree across an abandoned house and carport, his son noticed the tips of the paddles barely sticking out from underneath the rubble. Not sure what to do with them, they put them in the truck and took them home. Bob Brown tells that his father had kept the paddles in his garage and again were forgotten. After his passing Robert re-discovered the paddles and took them home.
Reporters and the family left shortly there afterwards leaving the night to sing and celebrate! Many things were taken care of this evening, honoring certain peoples with blankets and other gifts. The people that bless the food, the floor the ceremony was being conducted on, the doormen and of course Mr. Isador Thom (Doby). Our veterans were not forgotten, we were reminded of the importance of our warriors and not to forget them and that when we recognize them it is a healing for them and it's the least we can do. The witnesses were honored with blankets and asked to share a few words, among the witnesses were Guy Capoeman (QUINAULT), Connie McCloud (NISQUALLY/PUYALLUP), Edgar Charlie (A'HOUSAT), and Lester Green (MAKAH). Four people received their Indian names from A'Housat's own Chief Hanuquii, Edgar Charlie; Mary Jones and Elizabeth Ward-Sneatlum, Oliver and Mike Jones.
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Not
sure exactly what to do with them, the paddles led Robert to one
of the Puyallup tribes' esteemed elder, Raymond McCloud. Raymond
retired skipper of Puyallup's "Thunder Spirit" canoe (now
on display at the Washington State Historical Museum**) knew exactly
what to do, he contacted the S'Klallam tribe and get the paddles
home. Raymond contacted the tribal leaders Oliver and Mike Jones
and invited them to come and see them for themselves. It was agreed,
the paddles must be returned home. The return was to be the traditional
way, with no detail left out or to small. While the S'Klallam tribe
was getting prepared, Raymond sought spiritual guidance and help
from Isadore Thom (Doby). Doby instructed Raymond to keep them in
a safe place and wrapped in either red or black cloth tied with
cedar until they could be returned.
Raymond's
mother (Walla Walla) from Pendleton, offered a seven drum song to
start the celebration. At this time Raymond unwrapped the red cloth
from the first paddle and held it high with both arms, as the camera's
flashed and the crowd applauded, then the second paddle was unveiled
and held high also, the two paddles then were given over to the
S'Klallam tribe. The tribe responded with paddle songs with the
two paddles being used with the dance by the princess of S'Klallam
Days. Oliver spoke of the importance of this occasion, the impact
of culture and the handing down of tradition in this day and age.
Raymond was asked to say a few words about how all of this came
about, he replied he was just doing what was right, and gave thanks
to Doby, and that at no time did it ever occur to him to keep the
paddles. The tribe called Robert Brown to the podium to say a few
words, he invited his family in attendance to join him up there.
He kept the saga simple and stated he also wanted to do the right
thing and return the paddles. The tribe honored him with one of
their signature paddles in return. The humbled Robert Brown was
overwhelmed with the hospitality, kindness and generosity of the
Indian people that evening and now has a story of his own to hand
down to his relatives.
Many
songs were sung by each tribe in attendance, Nisqually, Squaxin
Island, A'Housat, Tulalips, Quinault, Suquammish, Skokomish, and
Puyallup. Ray from Squaxin Island and their canoe family cleansed
the paddles with prayer song and dance, the paddles then rewrapped
in the cloth and put away into the canoe. The night was closed out
right out on Indian time with everyone joining together and singing
songs in the middle of the gym.|
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