Friday, September 2, 2016 • tacomaweekly.com • Section A • Page 9
anyway. “My oldest brother, George, would tell From page A1 me about losing Warren.” It was a sad mystery that the Landry life and non-Indian life,” Landry said. “You family lived with for decades. “Eventually, Warren suspected he had become aware of it very early. A girl told me when I was young, 'You're really different,' a family. When he began searching for it, and that hurt me. It took me years to figure Warren was told he was from a tribe in Washington, so he tried the Muckleshoot out what she meant, and she was right. “With those two lives, you can feel awk- tribe first. They sent him to the Puyallup tribe. He called my mother, who burst into ward all the time.” tears. I was there that night, and when she For instance? Landry laughs. “We don’t entirely trust told me, we held each other and cried.” Landry has never been bitter about livnon-Indians,” he said. “We’ve had 500 ing in two cultures. Though he’ll retire in years of good reasons not to.” One of the examples Landry learned November as Human Resources director of the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, he from began before he was born. “I had two older brothers, one older has always been something of a free spirit sister. And the youngest of my older broth- all his life. Landry has four children, though only ers, Warren, was kidnapped as a baby by a non-Indian care provider who moved out of one he fathered. He either took the other state. She told Warren he was born in Okla- three on in different relationships over the years or had them claim him. homa,” Landry said. “A couple of them adopted me,” Landry “I didn't meet Warren until I was 45 years old. My mother couldn't talk about said. “My kids say I’m a perpetual father.” Landry also perpetually tried jobs on him, it was too painful. She went to the police when it happened and they wrote for size. “I’ve had more careers than anyone I it off as a domestic case. That was in the 1940s, and many people thought Indian know,” he said. Start with picking berries in Puyallup babies were better off with white parents,
t Landry
t Soul Salmon around the city like in front of the Proctor Fire Department. The Old Town statue stands out due to it being covered in tiles featuring photos of Old Town’s history, including photographs of Old Town founder Job Carr, and businesses that have become the backbone of the district. The tiles were originally grafted on by artist team Bruce and
From page A1
Shannon Anderson. “The most historic business community in our city is Old Town. This is where it all started. It’s the most historic of all the salmon because of what’s on it,” said business owner Bill Evans, who helped bring the statues to Tacoma over a decade ago. Needless to say, the community is thrilled to
have their sculpture back. At the unveiling ceremony, neighbors across the street from the park raised a sign welcoming back their salmon neighbor, and the unveiling of the salmon attracted many members of the community come out to celebrate. The business district views the return of the salmon as an omen of good things to come, as it represents the past of the historic district as well as its bright future.
summers, where his family would spend nights in berry cabins and the kids thought of it as camping. “I worked for Washington State for seven years as a liaison with Native Americans with the Department of Social and Health Services,” Landry said. “I sold original art – it wasn't my art – door to door. I probably hit every business on the I-5 corridor. “I was a truck driver, once spent time as an industrial cleaner. I worked on a fishing boat but didn't make any money. The captain didn't know where the fish were. “I worked at a wood mill, I did carpentry work for a time, building pole buildings. I taught photography,” Landry said. Trained in photography at an eastern university, Landry went to work in Portland as a television cameraman until the station downsized in 1985. And, in one of the more contentious times in memory, Landry was elected a Puyallup Tribal Council member in 1989. He was involved in the settlement of a legal land dispute between the Puyallups and the Port of Tacoma, one that gave each of the approximately 1,500 tribal members $20,000. It was controversial from the moment “We see it as signs of good times to continue, prosperity and growth for the Old Town community QUALITY FACILITY ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE FLEXIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE
the settlement was made. “We worried that going to court, we might lose no matter what the evidence,” Landry said. “Which goes back to not trusting non-Indians. We were a small tribe then – we’re more than 6,000 strong now.” The settlement produced a $162 million package of land, cash and programs to improve education, employment and business opportunities for the tribe. It also produced recalls by the handful, taking out two tribal leaders and other council members – including Landry. “I was recalled six months before my term ended, and I’d already decided not to run again,” Landry said. “I didn’t fight the recall. When I was elected, I won by one vote – and every person who visited my office when I was on the council told me it was their vote.” Landry laughed again. “My major frustration was that no matter what I did, I didn't get my message across. There was so much what-can-thetribe-do-for-me out there,” he said. “It was like moving water uphill with a broom. I got tired of being wet. “My mother's only rule was never to embarrass the family. I've embarrassed myself many times, but never the family.”
and all of Tacoma,” said Ruth Dalenius, current Old Town Business Association president.
The statue now sits safely at Gateway Park and will, hopefully, remain there for years to come.
Courses Offered r Cosmetology r Barber r Esthetics r Manicure r Instructor Training Course
Call today for your free consultation! 253-301-2995 8024 S. Tacoma Way #C, Lakewood, WA 98499 nwbeautyacademy@gmail.com
PIERCE COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP SEEKING A
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER PCCNG, Pierce County’s community news leader, is seeking a Sports Photographer with a great eye for capturing live game action at games, practices and events in Pierce County. Experienced photographers preferred. REQUIREMENTS: 1-2 years experience taking sports photos. Must have professional equipment, reliable transportation and ability to travel to sports event locations. The ideal candidate is a self motivated, outgoing individual with a positive attitude. They should be able to work evenings and weekends, be willing to work outdoors in various weather conditions, and be able to stand, bend, kneel for prolonged periods of time. Please send your resume and photography examples to jgimse@tacomaweekly.com.
MILTON • EDGEWOOD