Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune, Vol. 3, Issue 13 by Wild Horses Thunder

BREAKING Nez Perce Tribe Places Immediate NEWS Firework Discharge Restriction

See pg. 5

N I M I I P U U T

Q’oyx̂ c’áal / July

Volume 3 / Issue 13

WETXUUÍITIN - Captive Returns Home

25 years later a collection of items comes full circle, receiving an appropriate name

Stacia Morfin shows a líickaw’; a basket cap, made of hemp or corn husk. (Photo by Mary Jane Oatman)

It took over two centuries, hundreds of thousands of donations, and vocal media campaigns, spearheaded by the Nimiipuu with the help of many friends, to return 21 pieces of clothing, baskets, bags and other pieces that missionary Henry Spalding shipped away thousands of miles from the Tribe’s homelands. While Spalding re-

ceived less than $60 in goods for the entire collection, over $600,000 was raised on behalf of the Nez Perce people for the Spalding-Allen Collection to return. The Tribe reacquired the collection from the Ohio History Connection in 1996, after William Holmes contacted the Nez Perce people regarding the items being in possession of the Ohio museum.

The new name, Wetxuuwíitin, was revealed at the Nez Perce Renaming Celebration. (Photo by Angelika Dietrich/ WildHorsesThunder.com)

Holmes was passionate about seeing the collection return to the people, and watched over the ceremony from the Happy Lands as his widow Marty, attended in his honor. Holmes passed away in December of 2020. On June 26th the collection was officially renamed “Wetxuuwíitin” meaning “returned home after a period of captivity.” The renaming ceremony was the final act of reconnecting the pieces with the Tribe. The collection is on display at a new exhibit at the Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center in Spalding, Idaho. “The renaming of this

collection is a step to reclaiming ownership of one of the most significant ethnographic collections in existence,” said Nakia Williamson-Cloud, director of the Tribe’s cultural resources program. “More importantly, renaming helps us in rejecting colonialism and its impacts on our way of life. Like any group of people, we’re not suspended in time. There’s been a lot of changes to our culture, because there’s been a lot of changes to the land. We’ve had to adapt.” Stacia Morfin, owner and operator of Traditions Gift Shop and Nez Perce Tourism,

Continue Reading Wetxuuwíitin on Page 5

CULTURAL

Nimiipuutímtki- The People’s Language (Nee-mee-poo-timt-key) July

Fish Chinook Salmon Blueback Salmon Silver/ Dog Salmon Berries (general term) Huckleberry Strawberry Raspberry Elderberry Cherry

Q’oyx̂ c’áal (Koyks-all)

“Blueback/Sockeye Salmon season”

cúuy’em nacóx̂ q’oyxc k’állay timánit cemíitx nicka’níicka céeqet mít’ip tíms

ts-ooy-yem naw-tso-h koy-ks ka-lie tim-on-it tsa-meat-h nits-ka-neats-ka tsa-ket mitt-ipp tims

NIMIIPUU TRIBAL TRIBUNE The Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune is published twice a month, on the first and third Wednesday. Our mission is to publish a timely and credible resource for our loyal readers and provide local information relevant to the Nimiipuu people and surrounding communities. Our vision is to disseminate content of interest to readers and to ensure this news publication is accessible by all. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, we are working to cut down on paper waste and printing cost. Hard copies will be available upon request only. Enrolled Nez Perce Tribal members are able to receive hard copies at no cost (limit one per household). For businesses and non-enrolled Nez Perce Tribal members, the hard copy subscription fee is $36 annually. The online version is free for everyone. Subscribe today! For more information regarding submissions, subscriptions, classified ads, display ad rates, dates and deadlines, visit: http://nezperce.org/government/communications/

Contact: Chantal C. Ellenwood 208-621-4807 chantale@nezperce.org Mailing: P.O. Box 365 Physical: 120 Bever Grade Lapwai, ID 83540

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

CULTURAL

Tana Wheeler- Nunez, Her Own Story

Tana Wheeler-Nunez is the Needy Families Quality Assurance Specialist through the Nez Perce Tribe’s Social Services Department. She is a direct descendant from the Lookingglass band, on her paternal side, and Whitebird band on her maternal side. She is extremely proud of the people she comes from. Tana knew from the time she started her college goals, that she wanted to work for the Tribe. She began with a temporary position. Tana enjoyed her work and found it rewarding. She has now been employed with the Nez Perce Tribe for a solid thirteen years, and counting. When Tana began working with Social Services she worked directly with clients and helped them become self-sufficient. She has since changed positions and now ensures the program com-

ponents are fair to all clients. Social Services covers many departments from Senior Citizens, Veterans Services, Food and Nutrition, Child Protection Services, Children's Home, Women's Outreach, and TANF. They manage and care for numerous tribal members and their needs. “We are here to help those who need help,” said Tana. Tana’s job duties extend far and wide. She trains staff to properly case manage, she demonstrates how to implement client plans to be effective for each client, she analyzes data to see outcomes of case management, and monitors clients to make sure they are following their individual plans. Since Tana’s job requires interaction with clients she had to overcome personal barriers such as being an introvert. She knew at the same time she did not want to be overly friendly, or over share. “We always have to hold up a guard because being too relaxed in a situation can result in us getting hit with unexpected hurdles,” said Tana. “We work with a wide variety of age groups and we need to adjust our thinking to whoever we are working with.” “Whether it be baby boomers, Gen X,Y, or Z; each group thinks differently and need to be handled differently. That was a big eye opener for both staff and client sides.”

Some challenges Tana faces in her position is going into people’s personal space with home visits. Many clients are guarded when it comes to workers entering their personal space. Tana has to ask questions that some clients are hesitant to answer, but she gives them her own personal examples to show them that she is not too different from them. In some cases, they have had the same struggles and the same barriers. Tana found after a few visits with her clients, they became more trusting and would start welcoming her. Tana would like to thank her past supervisor, Leo Smith. “He gave me a chance,” said Tana. “Leo was a trusting, caring, and honest source of information. He allowed us to make small decisions for clients. He cared for his staff and would recognize our efforts. Leo also spoke from his heart to help us learn who we are working with. He used his life experience to teach us in a moment when we thought we were right. No one is ever right, they just want to push their own ideas first, but he always asked us for our ideas and he in turn would learn from his staff. Leo stayed humble in his position as a leader. He never thought of himself as bigger than any of his staff, he was part of the staff.” Tana would also like to send a special shout out to

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

a Nez Perce Tribe Education Program that Sonya Samuels was a part of, that helped students want to give college a try. “If it wasn't for this program, I would not have gone to college,” said Tana. “Once I was in college, Bob Sobotta was a very important person to help me navigate through the maze of college life. And of course Leo Smith who gave me a chance without expectations. All of these people were my support to help me get to where I am today. Without them I would probably still be sitting on my mom's couch.” When Tana is not at work, she enjoys relaxing and watching movies with her children. “I cherish my down time because it helps me get up the next day and do it all over again,” she said. “My inspiration comes from my children. I grew up in a different world than the kids today, I want my kids to grow up knowing that I expect them to prosper with their education. I have been talking to them about grades, graduating, and going to college since they could hear. Education is very important, more so now than it has been in the past, due to electronics and how our world has changed so much. We can all make the world a better place but it starts from our homes, what we teach our children.”

COMMUNITY Don’t Call it a Comeback: Juneteenth Returns to Lapwai

Mikailah Thompson and Tommy Williams speaking at the Juneteenth Celebration. (Photo by Chloe Thompson) Chloe Thompson, Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune Intern

On January 1st, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln that freed the enslaved people of the south. It reached every plantation until the last one in Galveston, Texas, which was the last state under the Confederacy with institutional slavery. The date that the Union Army general Gordon Granger proclaimed the independence and freedom of the enslaved people in Galveston was on June 19th, 1865. Since then, it became celebrated by the African American community since 1866. Juneteenth became a federally recognized holiday on June 17th, 2021, under the presidency of Joe Biden. It is the first holiday to be officially recognized since Ronald Reagan made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday in 1983. Mikailah Thompson and Tommy Williams created and hosted a Juneteenth celebration at Lapwai City Park. Many speakers, performers, and vendors, and activities were involved in the prosperity of the event. The celebration started at 11:00 a.m. and went on until 6:00 p.m. Thompson and Williams began by introducing themselves and the event. Music was then put on by DJ Drae Slapz, throwing down

some good old-school beats. Later on, Jeff Guillory spoke on his experiences of living in a society who has discriminatory views. He also gave recognition to those who have passed on, and gave honor to them and their families. Co-host Williams spoke about his life as a Native and African American male on our reservation, other reservations, and this country. As the celebration was continuing, vendors were helping out by selling their foods and drinks to the people who attended. Jalene Powaukee made some delicious soul food, Angela Picard sold thirst-quenching lemonade, and Daniel Spaulding cooked fresh tacos and horchata from his own kitchen, “La Cocina.” A concession stand was also set up that sold hotdogs and burgers, cooked by Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee member, Ryan Oatman and sold by family of Thompson. The next presenter was Izzy, an up-and-coming rapper who rapped at the celebration. Izzy, Imani Mitchell is a local tribal member who is Nez Perce and African American. He awed the audience with his witty lyrics and smooth flow. The next to speak was Gyasi Ross, member of the Blackfeet Tribe, accompanied by Minty and Randy. He is an

Attendees enjoying themselves dancing at the Juneteenth Celebration at Lapwai City Park. (Photo by Chloe Thompson)

advocate for the Afro-indigenous people, speaking on the importance of activism, education, law, and what it means to be Afro-indigenous. Minty and Randy have also spoke on what it means to be both Native and African American, and their experiences growing up on a reservation. Tai Simpson also spoke, representing her Nimiipuu name of “Storyteller.” In the community, she serves as an organizer for the Indigenous Idaho Alliance and works as a Social Change Advocate with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence. She spoke on her life growing up as well, while also stating some struggles of being both Native and African Ameri-

can. She also helped explain Black stereotypes, struggles, and prominent Black figures. Rebecca Miles also spoke on what it means to raise children who are Afro-Indigenous, and expressed her admiration for the Black culture and the celebration. The event ended on a celebratory and empowering note. There was dancing, storytelling, and knowledge shared at the event. Many people came to support Juneteenth. With the success that came from the gathering, it is without a doubt that we can look forward to future events to learn more about the African American community and what it means to be Afro-Indigenous.

Mikailah Thompson and Tommy Williams, creators and co-hosts of the Lapwai Juneteenth Celebration.

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

Wetxuuwíitin Continued from Front Page

was honored with the duty of bringing out one of the items from the collection- a liic’kaw’- which was held up for the attendees to witness. Williamson-Cloud mentioned that the items in the collection were carefully blessed, making sure to honor the sweat and hands of our ancestors that once handled the items. The collection’s renaming provides an opportunity to honor the Tribe’s ancestors and encourage contemporary Nimiipuu to find a piece of themselves through the pres-

COMMUNITY ervation of the intricate work and dedication of our ancestors, whom planned for seven generations with intention. At the ceremony, a blend of community members, both tribal and nontribal, were present in the audience. Waap qah qun provided songs, while the Chief Joseph Foundation Royalty and other beautiful representatives of Nimiipuu horse riders circled around the park three times to honor the collection and the attendees. A bison and salmon feast were provided to the guests, some traveling as far as Ohio.

Nakia Cloud shakes hands with Marty Holm, the widow of Bill Holm, who discovered the Spalding-Allen Collection in Ohio. (Photo by Mary Jane Oatman)

Chief Joseph Foundation Royalty at the Renaming Celebration at the Nez Perce National Historical Park. (Photo by Mary Jane Oatman)

Nakia Williamson-Cloud and son Nakia Cloud at the Celebration for the renaming event on Saturday. (Photo by Mary Jane Oatman)

attention! Nez Perce Reservation: Per the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee there is an immediate Fireworks Ban (Pursuant to 6-3-8 of the Nez Perce Tribal Code). The discharge of fireworks is banned for the entire Nez Perce Reservation due to the dry and hot weather conditions. Discharge of fireworks will be permitted on July 4th, 2021 between the hours of 6:00 p.m.-11:59 p.m. ONLY Please be extra cautious & courteous during these concerning conditions for the safety of our communities. Nez Perce County: Deems it appropriate to declare an emergency based upon the severe fire threat and a ban on discharging fireworks within the physical boundaries of the Nez Perce County until further resolution of the Nez Perce County Board of Commissioners pursuant to I.C. § 46-1011(1) and I.C. § 39-2609(4). Asotin County: It is illegal to set off consumer fireworks until further notice, per ordinance order 16-19.

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

NORTHWEST

Another Opportunity to Purchase the Nez Perce Pendleton Blanket

As retiree Terry Ball worked through the design of a custom wool blanket, he wanted it to be symbolically meaningful in its telling of the 1877 journey of a band of Nez Perce people as they tried to make their way to Canada and, they hoped, freedom. But working on the blanket was its own journey, a journey of history, spirituality and geography that took him from the Chief Joseph's treasured Wallowa Mountains of Oregon to the Bear Paw Battlefield south of Chinook. When Ball read stories in the Tribune of Blackfeet fashion designer Belinda Bullshoe and saw her designs with Pendleton Wool Mills blankets, he was inspired to donate to her efforts to get to New York Fashion Week, to rally his friends and colleagues from his 40 years as a Pendleton salesman to give and to finally pursue his own dream of commissioning a custom Pendleton blanket that would honor Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. Ball went to college at Washington State, where he learned about the land and its Nez Perce heritage. "For 60 years I've been enamored with the history and culture of the Columbia Basin tribes," he said. As he worked on the blanket, Ball met with Nez Perce elders, who helped guide his choices for the dozen colors in the design — salmon for the central food source of the tribe, blue for the sky, another blue for the water — and explained traditional designs. "The points we hit are exactly what they wanted," Ball said. At the top and bottom of the blanket, the border pattern is drawn from the oldest blanket in his collection. The geometric pattern is believed to represents the camas flower, an important food source. "We wanted symbolism, meaning and beauty," Ball said. Next in the design are the Wallowa Mountains, the ancestral homeland of Chief Jo-

The Nez Perce Pendleton blanket features symbols representing the Nez Perce. It includes tribal leaders, landscapes and battle sites. Designed by Terry Ball, LeRoy Seth, and Silas Whitman. (Photo by Terry Ball)

seph. The federal government's removal of Chief Joseph's band from the Wallowa Valley onto a reduced reservation in Idaho and strife with white settlers precipitated the Tribe's flight to Canada, where the people hoped to find political refuge. Between Wallowa peaks, a bolt of lightning points to Hinmatóowyalahtq̓ it, Chief Joseph. “Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain.” He's flanked by the silhouettes of Chief Looking Glass and Chief White Bird. They are all on the Nez Perce horse, máamin, Appaloosa. Chief Joseph's horse has the maker's handprint, a blessing. Below the chiefs are the "skeleton teepees" of the Big Hole Battlefield in southwest Montana and the Big Hole River. Walking the battlefield, Ball understood why the Nez Perce elders who urged him to go wept when they talked about that place. It was there on Aug. 9, 1877, Col. John Gibbon and his

161 soldiers from Fort Shaw attacked the Nez Perce camp, catching them by surprise at dawn and killing 10-12 percent of the group, women, children, and elders as they fired indiscriminately into the camp and burned teepees. Ball's blanket was halfway done as he walked the battlefield, but the project didn't seem to be coming together. Then as he walked toward the teepee poles, he saw two ravens circling a teepee. When he reached it, he noticed the teepee was marked stating that was where Chief Joseph's teepee had been. "The raven is close to the Creator. A raven takes what is not yet fully formed and makes it to what it is," Ball said. He took the ravens as a sign to carry on with the project. "The elders told me for this blanket to be all it could be, everyone had to work spiritually," Ball said. Below the skeleton teepees on the blanket are the

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

Bear Paw Mountains, with a bear's paw against them. The sun is setting behind the mountains, for it was here Chief Joseph said, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." At the Bear Paw Battlefield, after a 1,100-mile journey and a five-day battle, the Nez Perce laid down their weapons and surrendered just 40 miles from Canada, to ensure the protection of the Nimiipuu. On the battlefield, Ball remembers seeing the pits the Nez Perce dug 141 years ago as the Army laid siege, seeing two huge mule deer bucks rise from the grass to stare at him and walking under a Northern Harrier as a hawk circled only eight feet above the hallowed ground. “A friend with a passion for the Nez Perce would later say ‘A hawk circled over your head, didn't he?’ when I told her I had visited the battlefield,” said Ball. The response has been positive. The elders Ball worked with, LeRoy Seth and Silas Whitman, were excited, as was Pendleton Woollen Mills. For Ball, the process was more than he imagined it would be. "I've never seen a blanket that's more beautiful and meaningful," Ball said. "I really feel like the Spirit was working through me," he said. "I don't know how we could have made it better. I'm just happy it came out the way it did and with the connections we made." A number of 50 blankets have been ordered and are being sold at $349 each. The blanket is offered to Nez Perce enrolled tribal members for $320 with free shipping and handling charges. View and order the Nez Perce Pendleton blanket at Jackson Hole Pendleton Store, http://www. jacksonholependleton. com/. View Jackson Hole Pendleton Store on Facebook. To inquire email info@ jacksonholependleton. com or call 307-733-1040.

NORTHWEST

“Quantum Theory” Interview with Mikailah Thompson & Kellen Lewis Chloe Thompson, Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune Intern

Kellen Lewis and Mikailah Thompson are both taking this community, and everyone tuning, in by storm. Together they have created a podcast named “Quantum Theory”, elaborating on their experiences on being biracial in their community and the country. The sole purpose of their podcast is to “amplify Black Indigenous voices.” We were able to sit down with them, over Zoom, and hear about who they are, what they stand for, and the experiences that they share. Thompson and Lewis were both inspired to create this podcast that focuses on the subjects of social issues and identity because of the world climate. Lewis said “This is not new. Now that we are in this internet connected world, we are able to really come together, and simply put our voices out through a platform that can reach so many. It’s a powerful tool and it’s really awesome to be in a space where we are able to do that.” Thompson expressed that it was a good opportunity for them to sit down and relate with each other, while relating with others who

could be tuning in. “We didn’t know each other, but we knew we had a lot of commonalities. We kept talking, and kept having these conversations.” Their thoughts on blood quantum do not shy away from what some people are thinking and feeling. Lewis says, “I sense a lot of anger inside of me, a lot of frustration. Because it’s a colonial system. It’s a mathematical equation that’s set to wipe us out as people. It’s a method of divide and conquer. I hope that in time, we can reclaim our sense of blood and our sense of kinship with one another.” Thompson added on saying, “Blood quantum is always a hard topic to talk about, especially amongst tribal members. Our people are our people. We shouldn’t have to feel as though we are pushing them away. It’s an uncomfortable conversation that needs to be had, just for the sanity of protecting our own.” Thompson says that it is their goal to bring light to these subjects. She explained that one thing they don’t do in their podcast is throw out an issue to dwell and gossip on it. She said they try to propose an issue or problem, and the solution. Lewis adds that it’s important

to have empathy and compassion about where we are today. When asked how this experience has helped them grow as a person, both did not fail to recognize the other for what they have been through and what they themselves have been through. Thompson said “I actually look forward to our conversations. Kellen and I normally keep in contact. Even though it’s just us two, in a way, I feel like it’s a sense of community. Kellen is as passionate as I am, and what I love about him is that he tries to understand you. I learn a lot about myself, too. Realizing the big and small things are a game changer for me. It’s making me step outside of this box and launch myself forward about subjects that we don’t normally talk about.” Lewis responded by thanking her genuinely, “Meeting Mikailah and joining in conversation and building what we now call “Quantum Theory,” it’s breaking out of that isolation, finally having contact with another. I felt isolated my entire life, and talking with Mikailah, I’m breaking out of this isolation. There is also a lot of technical stuff that goes into it…and it has been great to go

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

through these challenges with Mikailah. The greatest thing that I am learning and loving about this podcast is connection with those beyond us.” The interview was such an intriguing and engaging conversation, that we were only able to put a small portion of what we talked about in this article. If you want to know about their individual stories, their answers on Native customs, and Black prominent figures, please go watch our interview that is uploaded on our new YouTube channel, called “Nimiipuu Tribal News.” Our last question was what they wanted to say to the mixed girls and boys out there who aspire to be so much. Lewis said, “Knowing that you are worthy is the biggest thing. Know that you are not alone, and trust in yourself. Understand your self-worth, and let it be your driving force. No matter what you do, you will always belong to anything that is inside you. You don’t need to shape that to fit the model that somebody else may see. Just be whatever you want to be in that, and that will be the thing.” Thompson says, “You have nothing to prove, and be you beautifully.”

NORTHWEST

Chloe’s Conspiracy Column – Bermuda Triangle (Part 2) Back in 2015, a video of an unidentified flying object was spotted by a civilian that hovered over an undisclosed location. The object in the video was shown darting from one direction to the next with speed outside of our normal aircraft, with the shape of a round figure, instead of wings or fins. However, the Pentagon acknowledged the aircraft back in 2020 and stated that this “UFO” (unidentified flying object) is not extra-terrestrial. As stated by Time Magazine, “In the past 20 years, military pilots have made more than 120 sightings of objects with no apparent signs of conventional propulsion…” This means that the aircrafts reported as UFOs show signs of abnormal physical features. The New York Times published a copy of the report given by the Pentagon. Concrete evidence is absent, inferring that the UFOs are not of extraterrestrial conception, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. The report given by the

A tornadic waterspout, over the Bermuda Triangle area. (Photo from cityandstateny.com)

Pentagon says that the flying object could be of military machinery. They have confirmed that Russia and China are both experimenting with different flying crafts that have hypersonic technology, giving a reasonable explanation on the sighting. Although this explanation sounds logical, the speed and agility that the flying craft portrayed

is more advanced than military crafts and machinery. “These things would be out there all day,” one pilot told the Times. At the speeds at which the objects were moving, he added, “12 hours in the air is 11 hours longer than we’d expect.” There are also reports of other crafts diving in the ocean and back out at fatal speeds. Because of

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this, more people are coming to indescribable conclusions. “What is true, and I’m actually being serious here, is that there is footage and records of objects in the skies that we don’t know exactly what they are,” said former President Barack Obama said May 17 on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Even with all of these intuitions about these UFOs being considered extra-terrestrial, there are many others out there who know that what we are seeing is not other worldly. “As Carl Sagan said some time ago, extraordinary claims require for their validation extraordinary evidence,” said John Logsdon, founder and longtime director of George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute in an email to TIME. “Apparently the government report says that there is no such evidence. So I continue to be agnostic about these phenomena, leaning strongly to thinking they are, one way or the other, of human origin.”

NORTHWEST Native Americans are Transporting a 5,000-Pound Totem Pole to D.C. from the Pacific Northwest By Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post

The pole was made from a 400-year-old Western red cedar tree that was cut, carved and painted with images of importance to Native Americans. A 5,000-pound totem pole that was hand-carved by Native Americans is coming from Washington state to be on display in the nation’s capital this summer after a journey that organizers hope will raise awareness about protecting land that is sacred to tribes. The totem pole’s journey on a tractor-trailer, which organizers are calling the “Red Road to D.C.,” involves a twoweek trek led by about a dozen people, many of whom are Native Americans and members of the Lummi Nation, a tribe of about 5,000 members west of Bellingham, Wash. About $500,000 has been raised from dozens of nonprofits, sponsors, and tribal groups for the cross-country trip. In preparation for the journey, the group took the pole on a tour this spring along the West Coast and parts of the South. Group members will hit the road again in midJuly, arriving in the nation’s capital by July 29. The pole will be on display for two days on the Mall and outside the entrance of the National Museum of the American Indian. Native American organizers said they plan to “deliver the pole to the Biden administration in hopes that it gives a strong and important message.” Arrangements are being made to find a permanent home for it in D.C., organizers said. On their road trip to D.C., the caravan plans to stop at several spots of importance to Native Americans, including Chaco Canyon National Historic Park in New Mexico, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota and Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. Each faces threats of development tied to natu-

A 24-foot totem pole carved at the Lummi Nation from a 400-year-old red cedar begins its 5,000 mile cross-country journey, evoking an urgent call to protect sacred lands and waters of Indigenous people. The journey is called the Red Road to DC Totem Pole Journey to Protect Sacred Sites. (Photo from San Juan Islander)

ral resources or pipelines. For Jewell “Praying Wolf” James, a Lummi Nation citizen and the master carver of the pole, it is “a reminder of the promises that were made to the first peoples of this land and waters.” He said he hopes that people will “share in their responsibility to safeguard the sacred sources of life — Earth, water and sky.” The idea came from Phreddie Lane, a Lummi Nation citizen. He said he is “proud of how strongly Native Americans had come out to vote in swing states in the last U.S. presidential election” and he wants the new administration to “hear our message” of concern about issues important to Native Americans and, in particular, worries about sacred sites being harmed. “It’s a very historic moment to bring it to D.C.,” Lane said. “And to have it sit among these sacred national monu-

ments, representing Native American peoples, is special.” White House officials said they are aware of the totem pole’s journey to Washington: Libby Washburn, special assistant to the president for Native affairs and a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, said Biden is “committed to ensuring tribal voices have a seat at the table.” She noted he appointed Deb Haaland, who is Pueblo of Laguna, to lead the Interior Department — the first Native American Cabinet secretary — and has worked closely with “the Native community on our covid-19 response and plans to rebuild our economy.” Totem pole carving is a tradition for some tribes, mainly in British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. They often are said to be a “spiritual being” and are considered sacred symbols of a tribe, clan or a family tradition, experts said. For the Lummi Nation,

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

totem poles historically are carved with symbols that represent a certain clan of a tribe or show a family or tribe’s lineage. They can have scenes that depict an important tribal leader or might have a panel that shows a tribal battle or a story told for generations, James said. “They represent visions, dreams and stories that are handed down and shaped through each generation,” he said. Standing 25 feet tall and measuring about 43 inches wide, the totem pole that’s coming to D.C. was made from a 400-year-old red cedar tree. The tree was cut, carved and painted with images and symbols that include a moon, salmon and a man praying. One drawing shows an eagle “headed downward in a dive to the Earth,” representing a Lummi belief that the eagle is “bringing the spiritual power to impregnate the Mother Earth.”

AWARENESS

With Discovery of Unmarked Graves, Canada’s Indigenous Seek Reckoning Two gruesome discoveries of what Indigenous groups say are the remains of hundreds of children have strengthened the groups’ resolve to hold the country accountable for a long-hidden brutal history.

A line of children’s clothing along the highway signifies the children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo) By Ian Austen, New York Times

MUSKOWEKWAN FIRST NATION, Saskatchewan — At age 6, Ken Thomas said he was put in a van, driven two hours from his home and dropped on the steps of the Muskowekwan Indian Residential School. The nuns immediately shaved off his braids, and he soon learned that whenever he spoke his Indigenous language they would wash out his mouth with soap. During his 10 years there he experienced many more searing horrors. He recalled a friend committing suicide after being stripped naked and locked into a dorm after trying to escape. Mr. Thomas and the other boys found their friend hanging lifeless in the shower. And like many other students, he says he saw human bones being unearthed by unsuspecting contractors connecting a water line on school grounds. Some students had gone missing and he had heard rumors that they had died and been buried there. From the 1880s through the 1990s, the Canadian government forcibly removed at least 150,000 Indigenous children like Mr. Thomas from

their homes and sent them t o residential schools designed to sever them from their culture and assimilate them into Western ways — a system that a N ational Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008 called “cultural genocide.” At the schools, which were mostly run by the Catholic Church, sexual, physical and emotional abuse and violence were commonplace. Thousands of children went missing. Now Canadians are learning even more about this disturbing history. In the past four weeks, two Indigenous communities said they have discovered hundreds of unmarked graves of children who may have died at the schools of disease or neglect, or even been killed. And the revelation has stoked a new resolve among Indigenous groups to hold the country accountable for its brutal past, and increased pressure on the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to put in place the 94 recommendations of the commission. It is also potentially changing the way Canadians think about their history. Jim Miller, history professor emeritus at the Univer-

sity of Saskatchewan, said that since 1983, when he began studying the residential school system, public awareness of the history outside of Indigenous communities has periodically risen, only to ebb again. He said that since the recent discoveries of unmarked graves, interest has been markedly strong, and that he had never seen a time when it was “this intense or widespread.” “This is, in my experience, unprecedented in its scope,” he said. “And I find it very difficult to believe that we can go back to ignoring the ills and legacy of residential schooling after this.” The reconciliation commission estimated that about 4,100 children vanished from the schools nationwide. But an Indigenous former judge who led the commission, Murray Sinclair, said in an email this month that he now believed the number was “well beyond 10,000.” “People say: ‘Oh, get over it, it’s done,” said Cynthia Desjarlais, a councilor for the Muskowekwan First Nation who is leading the effort to locate the remains of children who were forced to attend that school and never returned home.

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“We need to work on this.” In recent years, Indigenous communities have been pushing to use improved ground-penetrating radar technologies to search for graves of missing children. On June 25, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan said it had found the remains of as many as 751 people, most of them likely children, at the Marieval Indian Residential School, about 87 miles from the provincial capital, Regina. In May, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said it had discovered the remains of 215 people, also likely mostly children, at Kamloops Indian Residential School. Muskowekwan, where Mr. Thomas was forced to attend school, was the site of one of the earliest searches for remains. The red brick and stone school building opened in 1931, and operated until 1997, first under the Catholic Church, then under the federal government and finally under the First Nation itself. Its facade is now pockmarked with broken windows and particle board Continue Reading Thomas on Page 11

AWARENESS

The Muskowekwan school was the site of one of the earliest searches for remains. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo) Thomas Continued from Page 10

patches that prove futile at keeping out birds and visitors. In 2018, students from four universities drove to the school to begin searching for unmarked graves. For four days they swept a small portion of that land, once used to grow potatoes, with groundpenetrating radar, a technology that has become more sensitive in recent years. Their search revealed what many in the community had expected and feared — the remains of 35 people, most of them children, in unmarked graves. In general, Muskowekwan drew its pupils from up to a half dozen Indigenous communities in a wide area north of Regina, the provincial capital. But Ms. Desjarlais of the Muskowekwan First Nation boarded at the school although her family lived close by. She said she had nightmares that she would never see her mother again. When Mr. Thomas, who is Anishinaabe, arrived in 1973, he was too young to comprehend what was happening. “I had no clue what was going on,” said Mr. Thomas, who is now 53. “I came to the school with the braids and about an hour later, those braids are gone. My head was shaved. So that was kind of the start of how I was introduced into the residential schools.” On a recent day, as he

walked through the school — its floors littered with bird droppings, peeled paint and feathers — Mr. Thomas described his harrowing memories. In the darkness of what had once been his dorm room, he pointed out the series of shower stalls where the friend who committed suicide had been punished for trying to escape. The Kamloops Indian Residential School, about 900 miles to the west of Muskowekwan, has been replaced by a new Indigenous community school nearby. At the grounds of the old school, the search for the remains of more missing children is continuing. Guards keep the curious away from an overgrown orchard that appears to be the locus of the search. A perfectly manicured soccer field sits in front of the old school building. The poet Garry Gottfriedson boarded at the residential school, but returned years later to become a teacher and eventually principal of the new school. Mr. Gottfriedson attended Kamloops for about seven years, from 1959 to 1963, until he and some of his 13 siblings escaped the system. Their mother, and other women in the Indigenous community, successfully petitioned to send their children to the local public schools instead. Now retired from the school, Mr. Gottfriedson teaches writing at Thompson Rivers

The Muskowekwan school. The trees at left were planted by students at the school decades ago. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo)

University. He said the discovery of the unmarked graves has revived bitter memories for him; the only salve was to return to traditional land in the company of family members. The previous Sunday, he drove into the mountains on the dirt tracks his grandmother once traveled by horse and buggy to get to her summer cabin. He was joined by two nieces, and a cousin and her three children. They were searching for a medicinal root. But after several false starts and a phone call to another family member, the party figured out that they were about two weeks too late for the harvest. So they shifted their focus to tailgating. Food, ranging from shortbread and almond cookies to a bitter Indigenous drink, appeared. “We were not successful today in finding the

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root we wanted,” he said. “But look, we’re together and we’re out on the land.” Like many former residential school pupils, Mr. Gottfriedson decided years ago that for his own sake, he would not discuss his experiences. His children, he said, learned about them only when he began publishing his poetry. “Things that I witnessed and experienced in that place — if the words came out of my mouth, I think that would be the end of me,” he said, sitting in the shade of a large tree on the arid mountainside. “But I can write about it, and I can write about it in a creative way where it’s safe.” Still, as he spoke, some grim memories slipped out: seeing a friend and classmate being sexually assaulted by a Continue Reading Thomas on Page 12

Handprints on a door at the Muskowekwan school. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo)

AWARENESS

Ken Thomas was forced to attend the Muskowekwan school. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo) Thomas Continued from Page 11

monk when he was too young to understand what was going on; warnings from other children never to be alone with the priest or monks; and a girl committing suicide after repeated beatings because she couldn’t speak English. A renewed determination by Indigenous leaders like Ms. Desjarlais and

the expanded use of scanning technologies is expected to lead to even more discoveries of unmarked graves. On June 22, number of former students — who in Indigenous communities are generally known as survivors — gathered in front of two teepees near the Muskowekwan school, wearing their traditional skirts and shirts trimmed with brightly colored ribbons. They

had gathered to hear the federal minister for Indigenous relations announce by Zoom that the government would provide just under five million Canadian dollars to pay for the searches of the grounds surrounding former residential schools throughout Saskatchewan. While many Indigenous people feel validated by the finding of remains, the news has also been traumatic and prompted a host of questions about what should happen next. To identify the remains — and determine how and when the people died — the communities would have to exhume them, a decision the Muskowekwan rejected in 2018. The First Nation in charge of Kamloops has said that no decision will be made about this or any other next steps until the search for remains is completed. Another question is what to do with the buildings themselves. When the residential school system was dis-

mantled, with the last institution closing in 1996, local Indigenous communities set up schools to replace them. The Muskowekwan First Nation kept the old building as a symbol of injustice, but all other First Nations in Saskatchewan tore down their schools to break with the past. Ms. Desjarlais’s objective is to mark off the burial grounds after the next round of scanning is complete. She’s also looking for money to turn the ruins of the school into a museum and archive as well as an adult education center. Hers is not a universally shared vision. Some former students said they avoid driving past the school simply because it contains so many bad memories for them. Mr. Thomas is among those who want it to meet with a wrecker’s ball. His wish is to “have some kind of monument instead where they’re not seeing this big building where a lot of hardships occurred and abuses.”

A memorial for the 215 children whose bodies were discovered near the Kamloops school. (Amber Bracken/New York Times Photo)

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AWARENESS

Interior Secretary Haaland Announces Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative In remarks to the National Congress of American Indians 2021 Mid Year Conference on June 22, 2021, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive review of the troubled legacy of federal boarding school policies. Today’s announcement is accompanied by a secretarial memo in which Secretary Haaland directs the Department to prepare a report detailing available historical records, with an emphasis on cemeteries or potential burial sites, relating to the federal boarding school program in preparation for a future site work. This work will occur under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Said Secretary Haaland: “The Interior Department will address the inter-generational impact of Indian boarding schools to shed light on the unspoken traumas of the past, no matter how hard it will be. I know that this process will be long and difficult. I know that this process will be painful. It won’t undo the heartbreak and loss we feel. But only by acknowledging the past can we work toward a future that

we’re all proud to embrace.” Secretary Haaland recently reflected on the intergenerational trauma created by these policies in an op-ed. “We must shed light on what happened at federal Boarding Schools,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, who also delivered remarks outlining implementation of this effort. “As we move forward in this work, we will engage in Tribal consultation on how best to use this information, protect burial sites, and respect families and communities.” Beginning with the Indian Civilization Act of 1819, the United States enacted laws and implemented policies establishing and supporting Indian boarding schools across the nation. The purpose of Indian boarding schools was to culturally assimilate Indigenous children by forcibly relocating them from their families and communities to distant residential facilities where their American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian identities, languages, and beliefs were to be forcibly suppressed. For over 150 years, hundreds of thousands

A new classroom building at the Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada circa 1950. (Reuters Photo)

of Indigenous children were taken from their communities. The Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative will serve as an investigation about the loss of human life and the lasting consequences of residential Indian boarding schools. The primary goal will be to identify boarding school facilities and sites; the location of known and possible student burial sites located at or near school facilities; and the identities and Tribal affiliations of children interred at such locations. The recent discovery of 215 unmarked graves by Canada’s Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation at the Kamloops Indian Residential School prompted the Department to undertake this new initiative with the goal of shedding light on these past traumas. The work will proceed in several phases and include the identification and collection of records and information related to the Department of Interior’s own oversight and implementation of the Indian boarding school program; formal consultations with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to clarify the processes

and procedures for protecting identified burial sites and associated information; and the submission of a final written report on the investigation to the Secretary by April 1, 2022. The Interior Department continues to operate residential boarding schools through the Bureau of Indian Education. In sharp contrast to the policies of the past, these schools aim to provide a quality education to students from across Indian Country and to empower Indigenous youth to better themselves and their communities as they seek to practice their spirituality, learn their language, and carry their culture forward. The Department of the Interior conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.

Kamloops pow wow grounds were lit in the shape of a teepee in honor of the memory of the children whose remains were discovered. (New York Times Photo)

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

GOVERNMENT

AmeriCorps Invests $1 Billion in Pandemic Recovery through National Service Washington D.C. – As part of the Biden Administration’s plan to Build Back Better, AmeriCorps announced today that it will use its $1 billion American Rescue Plan resources to address the ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic by giving more Americans the opportunity to perform national service. AmeriCorps service will become more accessible and inclusive, giving people of all backgrounds the chance to serve their country, in their communities. “The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis in our nation’s history, and it demands an unprecedented response. In our darkest hour, Americans of all ages and backgrounds are showing the depth of their character by answering the call to serve,” said AmeriCorps Acting CEO Mal Coles. “With the help of the American Rescue Plan, AmeriCorps will ensure their service impacts those who need it the most. When more Americans serve, we not only confront our nation’s toughest challenges together, but we also renew our sense of community and strengthen our democracy.”

TRAE BLACKEAGLE

GENAI CRUZ

CONSTANCE WALKER

The American Rescue Plan will help AmeriCorps expand national service into new communities and strengthen existing programs with additional resources. AmeriCorps will prioritize COVID-19 relief efforts in communities disproportionately harmed by the pandemic and recruit members and volunteers from these communities. Since COVID-19 Outbreak, AmeriCorps programs have acted to meet emerging public health, education, food security, and economic needs. Members and volunteers have provided COVID-19 support to more than 11.4 million Americans, including assisting 2.5 million people at vaccination sites, conducting more than 1.6 million wellness checks, providing 34.4 million meals, collecting and distributing more than 145 million pounds of food, and supervising more than 50,000 volunteers. “AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have spent the last year showing the crucial role of national service in helping our country respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said

JENNETTE L. SCOTT

MARTINA TALLBULL

Karen Dahl, Senior Advisor for COVID-19. “With our programs’ strategic application of this historic increase in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, AmeriCorps’ resources will help even more communities address their most pressing needs.” The American Rescue Plan creates new positions for AmeriCorps members and volunteers to serve in, makes national service more accessible by offering an increase in the living allowances for AmeriCorps State and National and VISTA programs from the previous year, and provides match replacement to existing national service programs that were hit hardest by the pandemic and are unable to raise matching funds for their grants. American Rescue Plan funds will be invested in three AmeriCorps programs: AmeriCorps State and National ($644.9 million) – The largest AmeriCorps program by resource allocation, AmeriCorps State and National addresses community needs through a variety of mechanisms, including direct service grants, capacity building grants, and partnerships with Governor-ap-

JEANETTE EDWARDS

AURORA GOMEZ

BONNIE JACKSON

pointed state commissions, US territories, and tribal governments. • Under the American Rescue Plan, the living allowance for AmeriCorps State and National members will increase. • Governor-appointed state service commissions will receive an increase in AmeriCorps formula funding over three years, giving states additional flexibility and resources to increase living allowances, stabilize their state AmeriCorps programs, and expand AmeriCorps opportunities. • Current grantees will have increased access to “match replacement” funds, which cover the grantees’ portion of the obligation they are unable to fulfill due to the pandemic. This reduces the burden on nonprofit, tribal, and community-based organizations, in order to implement AmeriCorps programs. • AmeriCorps State and National will introduce a placebased planning grant opportunity to community-based Continue Reading AmeriCorps on Page 15

PRISCILLA PINKHAM

ELIZABETH ALLEN DELPHINE ALLEN

SHARI BLACKEAGLE, MARIETTA CRAIG, KATHLEEN STEWART, LILLY EDITH MOODY, MARY HAYES MADISON, PRISCILLA PINKHAM, DELPHINE ALLEN ROSE, CLARA DAVIS PADILLA, VERONICA MAE TAYLOR, BERNICE CARTER LAWRENCE, JEANETTE E. SCOTT, JENNETTE L. SCOTT, ELIZABETH ALLEN WILLIAMS, TRAE BLACKEAGLE, AURORA GOMEZ, BONITA K. JACKSON, MARTINA TALLBULL, TARA TAYLOR, CONSTANCE WALKER EVANS, SALLY TITUS SPRINGS, KIM E. WILLIAMS, ANGELA SHIPPENTOWER BROTZMAN, GENAI FOSTER

SHARI BLACKEAGLE

Nez Perce Descendants: VIOLA PICARD, DESIREE ALLEN COYOTE, TABITHA HART, DERENA TUELL, BERNICE CARTER

VALERIE ALLEN, CANDACE GUZMAN, ELIZABETH MCCORMACK SHECKLES, APRIL SHELL, TONI MINTHORN, MARY CARTER SUAZO, TASHA CARLSON

MARY HAYES

SALLY TITUS SPRINGS

LILLY E. MOODY

KATHLEEN STEWART VALLERIE ALLEN

DERENA TUELL

CANDACE GUZMAN

ELIZABETH MCCORMACK

TABITHA HART

TASHA CARLSON

MARY CARTER

VERONICA MCCORMACK

TARA TAYLOR

By: Nez Perce Tribe Veterans Program The Nez Perce Veterans Honor Our Sisters

J U N E 1 2 i s W O M E N V E T E RA N S DA Y Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

ANGELA SHIPPENTOWER

GOVERNMENT

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Welcomes Two Acting District Rangers

Zach Peterson (USFS Photo)

Zoanne Anderson (Courtesy Photo)

KAMIAH, Idaho: June 25, 2021—The Nez PerceClearwater National Forests welcomes Zoanne Anderson and Zach Peterson as the Acting District Rangers on the Red River Ranger District and Salmon River Ranger District, respectively. Prior to coming to the Forest Service, Zoanne Anderson spent many years with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Idaho Department of Lands.

She also spent three years working for the Nez Perce Tribe as a National Environmental Policy Act Coordinator. At the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Anderson is the Environmental Coordinator in the Kamiah Supervisor’s Office. “Natural Resources are not only my profession, but also my passion,” said Anderson. “One of my goals is to instill in others an appreciation of the unique and important work we do, serving as stewards of the

forests and grasslands for the benefit of people in perpetuity.” Outside of work, Anderson, an avid hunter, angler, hiker, and photographer, enjoys spending “every minute possible” outdoors with her husband, Shane, and their Labrador retrievers. They are often joined by their two sons, their grandchildren, and other family and friends as they traverse the mountains and streams near Pierce. Zach Peterson has lived in Grangeville since 2011, where he raises his family and is active in the community. He was born and raised in a small logging town in Oregon, where his love of the outdoors grew. Peterson decided to make his passion into his career and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Peterson began his federal service as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management, first in Nevada and then in Cottonwood, Idaho.

AmeriCorps Continued from Page 14

members serving, expanding VISTA’s efforts to address the needs currently facing communities, including public health, food insecurity, and learning loss. • VISTA will use American Rescue Plan funds to expand its summer associate program, immediately adding 1,000 new positions beginning this month. • As directed by the American Rescue Plan legislation, VISTA will use additional funds to increase the living allowance provided to VISTA members. AmeriCorps Seniors ($30 million) – AmeriCorps Seniors is the largest AmeriCorps program by enrollment and provides older adults, all volunteers 55+ years of age, opportunities to serve in their community. • Additional funds will focus first on supporting COVID-19 vaccinations, vaccine outreach and education, and summer learning loss and enrichment programs for our nation’s students.

Subsequent funding opportunities will focus on programming that supports continued education efforts, health and wellness recovery, and needs identified by communities. • Priority funding will be given to projects that are serving Veterans and military families; populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, such as Tribal nations and African Americans; and communities that have been hard to reach, such as our nation’s rural communities. • Together, AmeriCorps Seniors’ three programs, RSVP (that serves a variety of community needs), the Foster Grandparent Program (that provides tutors and mentors for children and youth), and Senior Companion Program (that connects seniors to peers who support their independent living), will add over 7,5000 new older adult volunteers across the country. • AmeriCorps Seniors will pro-

organizations that are strategically aligned to local government priorities. Communities will be asked to collaborate with community leaders to plan and apply for AmeriCorps funding. • Governor-appointed state service commissions will receive additional administrative dollars to support a growing portfolio of programs. • The Volunteer Generation Fund will receive additional funding to develop innovative approaches to expand volunteering, increase diversity in volunteer organizations, and strengthen the capacity of volunteer organizations to recruit and retain skill-based volunteers. AmeriCorps VISTA ($80 million) – VISTA is an antipoverty program designed to provide resources for nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty. • Additional funds will increase the number of VISTA

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15 In 2014, Peterson became the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests’ Forest Planner, heading the Forest Plan Revision Team. Peterson has a diverse background including extensive on–the–ground experience in timber, forestry, and wildland fire, as well as land planning and management. After work, Peterson and his wife Brandice both volunteer with the Grangeville Ambulance, where Zach has been active for over ten years. He is an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, teaches EMT courses, and serves on the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee for the State of Idaho. He also loves attending his two teenage childrens’ sporting events and working with their horses. He is an avid skier, hunter, and outdoorsman. “I consider the Salmon River Ranger District my home, and I am excited to be the Acting District Ranger this summer,” said Peterson. vide existing grantees with the opportunity to obtain additional resources to supplement and expand their current services. The National Service Trust will receive $148 million for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help members who complete their term of service pay for college, technical school, or repay student loans. AmeriCorps will use the remaining funding to support the agency workforce and technology enhancements to improve ease of access, expand applicant diversity, and drive improved engagement. AmeriCorps NCCC, the team-based, direct service youth leadership program, will continue to support its operations through fiscal year appropriations funding for 2021. AmeriCorps will announce additional grant opportunities this year, which will include funding for both current and new nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations to use national service to meet local challenges.

HEALTH 10 Fruits Full of Nutrients and Benefits for your Health

By Animal Gourmet, The Yucatan Times

Going to the market or the supermarket and choosing natural foods not only portends a delicious meal, but it also means that it will be more nutritious. What’s fresh – whether it’s a fruit or any vegetable – is packed with nutrients and health benefits. However, each product has a different function in the human body, they are all beneficial when there are no excesses. In some cases, the heart is strengthened, in others, they help the mind, and sometimes it is their antioxidants that shine. Nature is wise and yes, it provides food that is needed to live healthily. It doesn’t have to be expensive as fresh ingredients can last for days with knowing how to choose and store them. The fact is that these 10 fruits are among the best in the world for their nutrients. AVOCADO: Avocados have a high percentage of calories but it is not to be alarmed, their role in the diet goes far beyond that count. Just one half has about 4.6 grams of fiber, a pretty high amount for such a small serving. The fact that a food contains fiber means that it will feel full for longer. In fact, in a study published in the National Jour-

One item on this list, the black zapote, an exotic, tropical fruit that is native to Central America. It receives a lot of interest for being a healthy version of chocolate pudding. (Cuisine Vault photo)

nal of the United States, they documented that people who ate this serving of avocado had a 40% decrease in desire to eat. In other research in the journal Phototherapy Research, it is mentioned that this fruit helps fight metabolic syndrome, a grouping of signs that includes high blood sugar levels and also high cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index. This set of signs can be life-threatening on their own or lead to other conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And, did you not know that avocados are fruits and that

they are also full of nutrients? BLACK ZAPOTE: It may be that in Mexico the consumption of black zapote has decreased, but knowing how good it is for the body may make it popular once again. There is the idea that citrus fruits are the best sources of vitamin C but the zapote supersedes them; just 100 grams have 130 calories and 191 milligrams of this nutrient, which is easily twice that of orange. In addition, a published study explains that it is also a great source of carotenoids and catechins, antioxidants that help

the liver convert fat into energy. This endemic fruit is one of those that boasts the highest amount of nutrients as well as an incredible flavor. PINK GRAPEFRUIT: Eating half a grapefruit before your meal can help reduce belly fat and cholesterol levels. That’s how it is! A study published in 2012 ensures this thanks to the results obtained in a group analyzed for six weeks. Those who participated noticed that with this practice their waist decreased be-

Nimiipuu Behavioral Health Recovery Program Sponsors White Water Rafting Sober Activity On June 13th, 2021, 25 community members enjoyed a White-Water Rafting trip down the Lochsa river. The adventure was filled with laughter, stories, and teamwork while making it through Class IV rapids. For some, this was the first time they had experienced rafting, and many were a little nervous. They were able to conquer their fears, trust the process and enjoy a wonderful event financed through the TOR Grant with Nimiipuu Behavioral Health. Alex “Tei” TallBull was instrumental in putting this event together and making

sure everyone had transportation and signed their forms. To ease their minds, he answered any questions they had about the thrilling excursion. Nimiipuu Behavioral Health will continue to plan these fun activities for those who are in recovery or have completed treatment and would like to join. The next venture will be a camping trip. Please contact Tei at alext@nimiipuu.org if you would like to join or have any ideas for future events. We will notify the community when the next event is planned.

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Continue Reading Fruits on Page 17

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tween 3 and 4 centimeters. But why is it? The researchers attribute the effects to a combination of phytochemicals and vitamin C, both nutrients contained in grapefruit. Good tip right? CHERRIES: The University of Michigan determined after an 8-week study that cherries benefit heart health and body weight. They have to be natural, not the bright red ones, and excessively sweet in syrup. Naturally, they not only maintain large amounts of antioxidants, but they also help reduce abdominal fat by 9% just by eating them. The secret lies in the alteration of fatty genes and how this fruit alters its expression. If you like salads, they are an excellent option to include them. BLACKBERRIES: Berries could not be missing from this list, be they blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. One of its main benefits is polyphenols, powerful chemical compounds that, in addition to helping in weight loss, help prevent the formation of fat. Not only that, blackberries are rich in antioxidants and very low in calories and carbohydrates. In short, they are the perfect fruits for being packed with nutrients. ACAI: Açai is also a berry but it certainly deserves a special

HEALTH

section. This fruit contains more antioxidants and phenols than pomegranate and blueberry – chemical compounds that give both personality and popularity. As if that weren’t enough, a University of Florida study found that açai extract triggered a self-destruct response of up to 86% in the leukemia cells it came into contact with. This is a major scientific breakthrough for researchers looking for a cure for this type of cancer. KIWI: For bloating or indigestion, it is time to eat kiwi. This fruit has great power in the digestive system thanks to a natural enzyme called actinidin that helps break down proteins in the body. It also contains prebiotic fiber that acts directly in the intestine, there are even studies where it is proven that it helps

increase visits to the bathroom. These fruits have many nutrients and best curious benefits; for example, it is an excellent sleep conciliator for people suffering from insomnia. APPLES: Apples are great allies against constipation due to their high fiber content and this quality helps in two ways. The first is by providing a great feeling of satiety so as not to succumb to binge eating caused by anxiety spasms. The second has to do with the reduction of visceral fat; When the consumption of soluble fiber is increased to more than 10 grams per day, the nutrients of carbohydrates are taken advantage of and magic happens. Although all apples have this capacity, there is one in specific that also adds a higher level

of flavonoids and antioxidants than the others, it is the variety called “the pink lady” that has a color between red and yellow. WATERMELON: In diets low in sugar and carbohydrates in general, watermelon is prohibited but this does not mean that it does not have benefits that can be taken advantage of by ending the regime. This huge fruit improves lipid profiles and reduces fat accumulation according to a study from the University of Kentucky. It is also a great source of hydration due to its water content and not only that; A Spanish university and its team of scientists discovered in a study carried out on athletes that its consumption significantly reduces muscle pain. GRAPES: Sometimes the sugar content in grapes makes them fruit that although it is good, is not good in large quantities and less for those who suffer from diabetes; however, they are rich in nutrients and antioxidants like resveratrol. This compound is one of the most studied for its effects against cancer cells. In laboratories, they detected that it prevents the type of cellular damage that triggers carcinogenic processes in tissue and animal studies. In addition, it inhibits the proliferation of these cancer cells and reduces the invasion of these cells.

Free, At-Home COVID-19 Tests are Available in Idaho by Dialing 2-1-1 Anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms is encouraged to get tested, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to Idaho residents. Tests can be requested by calling 2-1-1; no personal information is required other than a name and mailing address. “Reliable and widely available testing is a critical part of our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, said Elke Shaw Tulloch, administrator of the Division of Public Health. “Combined with efforts to increase vaccinations, this important initia-

tive can help to get us back to our usual way of living.” DHW is working with VAULT Medical to provide COVID-19 PCR testing on saliva for individuals in Idaho. VAULT tests can be used whether a person has symptoms or a known exposure to someone with COVID-19. The test involves collecting saliva and mailing it to a laboratory that analyzes the sample. Saliva collection can be done in the convenience of a person’s home with the assistance of a trained VAULT Medical observer via a virtual Zoom visit on a smart phone or tablet.

To use VAULT tests, individuals will create an account on their phone or tablet using their email account. They will then contact a remote observer via Zoom and collect the saliva specimen as the observer watches over Zoom. The saliva sample will then be mailed to VAULT in a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope via UPS. Results are available to the individual electronically in 24– 72 hours. Test results are also reported to Idaho state or local public health departments by VAULT, per federal requirements for all COVID-19 testing. VAULT does not provide medical care. Those ex-

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

periencing severe symptoms should follow-up with their physician or go the nearest emergency department. VAULT Medical is available to offer Zoom visits to observe saliva collection from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (MDT) Sunday through Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MDT) Friday and Saturday. Call 2-1-1 by dialing either 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588 to get a FREE COVID-19 test. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

NATIONAL

South Korea Contemplating to Require Females to Enlist

Image of South Korean troops. (Photo from Financial Times) Chloe Thompson, Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune Intern

Since 1957, South Korea had a policy to recruit all males for war who were ages 18-28. This has been a prospering system for South Korea since that year, and it reigns as one of the world’s longest. However, the country has encountered a problem: the decline of eligible male recruitment. In South Korea, with some exceptions, men who are able-bodied must report for duty before they turn 28

years old. The country has around 550,000 active troops and another 2.7 million in its reserves. These numbers have shrunk in current years due to the country’s continually low childbirth rates. According to the Wall Street Journal, South Korea has developed the world’s lowest birthrate, and as a result, their military has declined 1/6 more than normal. In two decades, it is predicted that their military will lose half of the regular amount of recruits.

A new lawmaker from the Democratic party advocates that the military abolishes its 18-month service to all males. In exchange, Park Yong-jin proposes that both male and female should go through the process of basic training. He also has strong motives to run for president for South Korea. This proposal is stirring debate on whether or not females should get involved in this war and be required to enlist. President Moon Jae-in has captivated the young male vote in 2017, with the promise of lowering required service time. The proposal made by Park Yong-jin caught the nationwide attention in their country, and this idea was brought up in a book Mr. Park wrote. The book was published the same day in April, and a petition calling women to enlist was put up on the presidential website. The petition got nearly 300,000 signatures, causing the presidency to look over the petition within 30 days. President Moon, whose term ends next year, has not taken

a stance on the preposition. “Having women participate will create a strong reserve force,” Mr. Park said in an interview. His manifesto would enlarge the country’s reserve ranks of roughly sevenfold from present-day levels. The military recruitment of young men is among the world’s largest. In Singapore and Thailand, the men serve two years, and an additional three years of Israeli men. North Korea is said to have the longest conscription—ten years for men and seven years for women. Haley Cha, a 32-yearold graduate student in Seoul supports the female draft preposition. Ms. Cha expresses that there are a lot of military roles that exist on the outside of the resilient combat positions, including administrative jobs and medical service careers. A system only drafting one gender but not the other leaves a bad imprint on society. “Viewing women as incapable of serving reinforces wrong notions that they are weak,” Ms. Cha said. 6.22.21

6.16.21

NW Tribal Epidemiology Center: Bigfoot Tackles Covid

COVID-19 and Reproductive Health

Bigfoot has been helping the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s (NPAIHB) Tribal Epidemiology Center spread the word about how to stay safe from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

It is understandable that people have concerns about the impacts of being vaccinated on their pregnancy or their desire to become pregnant. Pregnant people were not part of the clinical trials testing the vaccines, but there is good news to share regarding vaccines, pregnancy, and fertility!

Can I safely be vaccinated if I’m pregnant? Yes! Studies are showing that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe for pregnant individuals and the child they are

carrying.1 In addition, vaccinated women can pass protective antibodies to their unborn child through their bloodstreams and to their infants through breast milk. Research is also showing there are no differences in birth outcomes for vaccinated pregnant people and unvaccinated people.2

In his first appearance in March 2020, Bigfoot stressed the importance of protecting our Elders and staying home to stay safe. Since then, his guiding presence has brought important messages to the NW Tribes wrapped up in a bit of fun.

Studies for the Janssen vaccine and pregnancy are not yet available, but the CDC has concluded pregnant people can safely receive this vaccine. Women under the age of 50 should be counseled about the rare risk of blood clots from the Janssen vaccine, however. More studies on pregnancy and all the COVID-19 vaccines are on-going.

Pregnant people at higher risk for severe COVID-19 What is known, is that if unvaccinated pregnant people become ill with COVID-19, they are at considerably higher risk for severe disease than non-pregnant people. Because of changes to women’s bodies during pregnancy, they are more vulnerable. This is especially true for people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or obesity. 3 Studies have also shown pregnant people who become ill with COVID-19 have increased risk of difficult birth outcomes including premature birth, preeclampsia, and emergency Cesarean delivery.4

Last fall, Bigfoot started making personal appearances at all the NPAIHB Tribes to encourage mask wearing and to spread some joy despite the pandemic. Wearing his extra-LARGE mask, he was enthusiastically received by all.

Because of these risks, the CDC has recommended that coronavirus vaccines be made available to pregnant people and encourages women to talk to their doctors about getting a vaccine. If you are pregnant and considering getting the vaccine, you might want to have a conversation with your health care team to help you decide whether to get vaccinated. While such a conversation might be helpful, it is not required before vaccination.

In early 2021, besides his Stay Safe messages, Bigfoot began encouraging people to get vaccinated culminating in his appearance on a “tattoo” after vaccination. These tattoos were also sent to all the Tribes served by the NPAIHB for distribution at vaccination events.

Vaccinations and fertility

In his most recent appearance, Bigfoot has been seen taking his children to be vaccinated, encouraging parents to take care of their children and communities!

There is no evidence that any of the COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems in women or men. Many women of child-bearing age participated in the vaccine clinical trials or have since received the vaccines, and become pregnant. In December 2020, a false rumor was started about coronavirus vaccines affecting fertility. This rumor has been completely discredited by American researchers.5 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states “As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals. We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility.”6

CDC Safety Monitoring The CDC has on-going safety monitoring for pregnancy and COVID-19 and encourages people who were pregnant at the time of vaccination, or shortly thereafter, to consider participating in the COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry. The registry will be gathering information to help build the evidence about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/05/covid-19-vaccine-does-not-damage-the-placenta/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/13/health/vaccine-pregnancy.html https://www.acog.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy-conversation-guide-for-clinicians 4 https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(21)00565-2/pdf 5 https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-vaccine-myths-debunked/ 6 https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2021/02/medical-experts-assert-covid-vaccines-do-not-impact-fertility 1 2 3

Like our Tribes, Bigfoot is committed to protecting those who came before him and nurturing those who come after. Please see https://www.npaihb.org/covid19/community-resources/ for all Bigfoot materials and other materials to learn about COVID-19.

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

NATIONAL

South America is Now a COVID Hotspot

Days sincle total confirmed cases per million people reached 1. Situation update worldwide. Last updated June 8. (Photo from European CDC) Chloe Thompson, Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune Intern

South America, just as everywhere else in the world, is being affected by the pandemic. However, South America has also become one of the epicenters with some of the highest rates of COVID cases. 5% of the population in the world are residents of South America, and around a quarter of the COVID deaths originate from there. Almost one million people have died across 12 countries of the region. The deaths have surpassed 500,000 in

Brazil mid-June, making the death seven times more devastating than in India, where a majority of the COVID cases are reported. Columbia and Argentina are also being impacted heavily, as around 95 million people live in both countries, have tallied three times as many deaths as in Africa. There are many factors that have accounted to the reason of this detrimental spike: lack of or slow rate of COVID vaccinations, crowded populations, a spread of new COVID-19 variants, feeble healthcare systems, a huge

amount of obesity rates, and governments’ lack of motivation to control the virus. “While infections and deaths from COVID-19 are decreasing in the U.S. and other nations, South America has turned into the pandemic’s epicenter,” said Denise Garrett, an epidemiologist who worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than 20 years. The impact and aftershocks of the pandemic have brought negative occurrences in the countries: communities reverting back to crippling poverty, fluctuating economies and pushed back education to more than a year. With the rates escalating of what seems like every single day, hospitals have had to take a step back from treating patients with pernicious diseases, such as cancer, to make room for patients infected with COVID-19. As these cases are now reaching an extreme level of disaster, people are angered about how their governments are choosing to react to the pandemic. Violent protests have already erupted in Columbia, the president of Brazil is facing a congressional inquiry over how he is handling this virus, Peruvian citizens have

elected a Marxist party member as president, and groups from the left are now drafting a new constitution in Chilé. The country with the highest death rates is Paraguay, with 19 times as many deaths than in the U.S. per capita. In Columbia, about 4,200 deaths have been recorded just in mid-June, with the total number of 50 million citizens living in the country. This makes it 50% worse than the whole continent of Africa. Even though vaccinations are steadily being distributed in Chilé, fewer than 1 in 10 people have been vaccinated in Latin America and in the Caribbean, according to the Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO. The people in Latin America have grown weary of staying at home, however. Many clubs have been packed with people not wearing masks, and several weeks ago, military police busted 120 senior citizens at an underground bingo club, wearing no mask and in an indoor and clustered space. “People just don’t seem to get what’s going on,” said Geci de Souza Junior, director of Curitiba’s Worker’s Hospital. “If only people could see what I do, how patients’ skin rots from bed sores after being intubated for so long.”

Idaho Philanthropy Day Nominations Now Open Submit nominations for those in your area! Do you know an amazing nonprofit, a devoted volunteer, or a generous donor? Along with Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, and the Idaho Nonprofit Center, I would like to invite you to nominate any and all for an Idaho Philanthropy Day award.

WE PRINT!

Idaho Philanthropy Day is celebrated statewide with award ceremonies to recognize the amazing work in our great state and to honor the spirit of philanthropy including time, talent, treasure, and involvement in the community. Nominations are now open and award categories include: • Outstanding Philanthropic Company/Foundation • Outstanding Nonprofit • Outstanding Adult Philanthropist • Outstanding Adult Volunteer – Brightest Star • Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Thank you so much for your time and I am excited to honor the truly innovative and inspiring work of our community! Nominations close July 19.

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NATIONAL

Deconstructing the Myths About Victims

Historical Bias: The oppressive nature of European ideas about civilized societies, acceptable cultural practices and religious beliefs accompanied the colonizers to the “New World” in the 16th century. Native peoples felt the immediate brunt of racial discrimination, which continues today. Those who were not “white” were seen as dirty, savage and unworthy of justice. These biases and misconceptions permeate the legal system and when it comes to evidence of innocence and guilt — prosecutors use a filtration system seemingly dictated by the media. The Myth of The Perfect Victim: The “perfect or ideal victim” narrative is a widespread phenomenon that not only potentially prevents a victim from reporting assaults, it almost always ensures that a defense attorney will use appearance, behavior and reputation to refute a criminal case in a court of law. Unfortunately, the media often portrays the perfect victim as a Snow White fairytale innocent. According to Jason B. Whiting, Ph.D., LMFT, whose research delves into deception, communication and abuse in relationships, the “ideal victim”

profile consists of five traits in which the victim must be: ● weak/vulnerable ● involved in a respectable activity at the time of victimization ● blameless in all aspects of the interaction ● victimized by an obvious offender ● someone who doesn’t know the offender These socially accepted victim traits may contribute to why male victims are less likely to report an assault; and these assumptions often result in victims and perpetrators being painted with a very narrow brush involving social biases about age, gender, sexual orientation, social class and race. The Unseen Victim: This “perfect victim” could be a contributing factor as to why the judicial system ignores the

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives crisis that has plagued Native communities. We know from years of generational trauma that Native peoples are often ignored because they are not portrayed as victims of colonization and oppression. In stark contrast, the media often portrays Native Americans as lazy, drunk or looking for a handout. Not only are the stories of Native Americans more likely to be questioned and/or doubted — they are easily forgotten. The Myth That Only Women Can Be Abused: Media and socialization may lead you to believe that only women can be abused but the truth is anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. National Institute of Justice statistics show that there is an increased rate of violence

among intimate partners in Indian Country including;; one in three men has endured physical violence by an intimate partner and nearly three in four men have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner and one in four men has experienced sexual violence. When it comes to domestic, dating and sexual violence, men who reported abuse indicated that were they sexually assaulted both as a child and as an adult and that they continue to struggle with intimate partner violence as victims and/or perpetrators. StrongHearts Native Helpline Can Help: The reality is that physical abuse is almost always accompanied by other types of abuse. Abuse is not okay and it's not okay to live in fear. If you think you are being abused, StrongHearts can help. StrongHearts advocates take a Native-centered, empowerment-based approach to every contact. Services are completely free, anonymous and confidential. Call or text 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or visit StrongHearts online at strongheartshelpline.org for oneon-one chat advocacy 24/7.

IRS Stimulus: Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments By Leada Gore, lgore@al.com

The Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury have launched a portal to allow families that don’t typically file tax returns to register for the monthly child tax credit payments. “Our goal is to make sure that every American can get the relief funding they need as simply as possible,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. “We know working families can’t put off paying for doctor’s visits or grocery bills, and this new tool will help more people get their tax credit every month, starting in July.” Available through IRS.

gov, the new Non-filer Signup Tool is for people who did not file an income tax return for 2019 or 2020 and did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to register for their stimulus payment. The portal also allows users to enter direct deposit banking information. People who filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or used the IRS non-filers tool last year to register for their stimulus payment do not need to provide additional information via the tool. “Most families will begin receiving monthly payments automatically next month without any further action required,” the IRS said.

The American Rescue Plan, passed in March, upped the child tax credit amount to $3,600 per child ($300 a month) for children under age 6 and $3,000 per child ($250 per month) for children ages 6-17. The payments will generally be made on the 15th of the month, starting in July and running through December. Users of the tool will be asked to provide full name, mailing address, date of birth, email address, social security number for user and dependents, bank account number, type (checking or savings) and routing number. The IRS said additional portals are coming in the coming

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

weeks. Those will include: • An interactive Child Tax Credit eligibility assistant to help families determine whether they qualify for the payments. • Another tool, the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, will initially enable anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to see that they are eligible and unenroll/opt-out of the advance payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of their payments and make updates to their information. Deadline of July 15, 2021 to apply for people who have not filed taxes in the last two years.

OBITUARY

Alfred J. Pinkham, 94, Lenore, Idaho

Alfred Jordon Pinkham was born February 8, 1927 in Tsa Weekta, Idaho. Alfred passed away on June 26, 2021 due to old age & kidney issues. His Ni Mii Puu name was E Loo Tase La Kat Tset which means One Who Stands On a High Point Signaling. This name was from his paternal Grandfather who participated in the War of 1877 & his name was Johnny Pinkham. Alfred resided at his home on the Red Bear estate in Lenore, Idaho. His parents were Alex M. Pinkham, Sr. & Annette Blackeagle. His

maternal grandparents were Norton Blackeagle & Antonia Matthews, his paternal grandparents were Johnny Pinkham & Elizabeth Broncheau. His Mother was a direct descendant of Old Chief Joseph & Blackeagle, a treaty signer of 1868. His surviving siblings are Alvin, Sr. & Allen Pinkham, Sr. His siblings who preceded him in death were Albert, Sr., (WWII Veteran), Audrey, Priscilla, Alex, Jr. (WWII Veteran}, Leroy, Loretta, and Bernadine. His children are Ron, & twin Melvin deceased, Renita Brien & her husband Pat Brien, Sr. & their son PJ Brien Jr. of San Jose, California & Wayne Pinkham, deceased. Alfred married Marian Johnson (deceased) in 1947, Jan Broncheau (deceased) in 1978 & Darlene Greene in 1989 who survives him. Darlene and Alfred spent the years together supporting the children and grandchildren joined by their union. From attending graduations; college and high school, birthday parties, weddings and a faithful Lapwai

Wildcat fan, the young relatives from Alfred’s abundant family tree were always happy to see him. Darlene was always beside him & who especially took care of him during his final years. He & Darlene raised grandchildren, Cissa B. & Tyler C. He is survived by his stepchildren, Josh Jr., Gem, Paris, Juda and Jesse, and blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. His stepson Johnson Leighton proceeded him in death. He is survived by the descendants of his mother’s brothers: James and Rueben Blackeagle. Alfred has over 40 nieces & nephews from his siblings & from his father’s siblings. Alfred & his family went on BIA Relocation to California where he obtained a job at Disneyland for 14 years including: Frontierland at the Davy Crockets Explorer Canoes, Pirates of The Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Mark Twain River boat, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Haunted House, Autotopia, Mad Hatter Teacups, It’s a Small World, and

Nimiipuu Speaker Series

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https://youtube.com/ Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

Sky Ride. Alfred also worked at Orofino Mills and as a welder for a tire rim company in Corona, California. In 1978 returned back to the reservation and worked at the Omark Industries bullet factory before retiring. Alfred was a steel guitar player & earned a certificate in Electronics. He was a hunter of deer, elk, moose pheasants, & also a farmer Alfred was the eldest man of the Nez Perce Tribe at the time of his death. His kindness, smile and traditional knowledge will be missed throughout the homelands by relatives and friends. Alfred was a constant presence at community events, including pow wows, name givings and memorials. Armand Minthorn will officiate Wahlasut services at the Pi-nee-waus in Lapwai, ID on Monday, June 28, 2021: dressing at 4pm & services at 7 pm. The final seven will be Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 7 am. Alfred will be laid to rest at the family cemetery on the Red Bear estate near Lenore, Idaho.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Fishing Season Regulation

Elder of the Year

Fire Notice

Fishing Season Regulation NPTFWC #21-178 Closure of Lookingglass Creek Spring Chinook Treaty Fisheries As of June 27, 2021 Fishery Closure Area: Entire reach of Lookingglass Creek will be closed to fishing. Justification: Harvest goals for hatchery and wild/natural spring chinook have been reached. It is important that we achieve the hatchery broodstock and natural spawning objectives for spring chinook in this area in the Grande Ronde River subbasin. All Nez Perce fishing regulations and sections of the Nez Perce Tribal Code pertaining to this fishery remain in effect. Not complying with these regulations may be cause for civil or criminal penalties per the Nez Perce Tribal Code. If you have fishing enforcement concerns, please contact the Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management Conservation Enforcement at 208-843-7143 or toll free 1-877-790-3474. For additional information on Nez Perce Tribe fishing regulations, please contact Nancy McAllaster at the Fish and Wildlife Commission office at 208- 843-9376.

The Senior Advisory Board has closed nominations for Elder of the Year Enrolled Nez Perce tribal members, age 62+ are eligible to be nominated Only enrolled Nez Perce tribal members age 55+ are eligible to submit a nomination Ballot Box Locations Lapwai Senior Meal Site Kamiah Senior Meal Site Orofino Fisheries Office NPTEC Reception Area Voting will take place from August 2- August 30 Only enrolled Nez Perce tribal members age 55+ are eligible to vote Male and Female Elder of the Year winners will be announced at the Fall General Council meeting

The weather remains unseasonably dry outside!

Waking Up In Idaho - Casting Call Casting call for any Native American girl ages 16-20 to try out for the part of Anna in the upcoming film Waking Up In Idaho. Auditions to be held at the Clearwater 12 Hotel Nez Perce Conference room in Kamiah, Idaho on July 3rd at 11 a.m. Girls must be able to pass for 17 and have some athleticism. For more information please call Eve Allen at 208-935-8467. Potential candidates must also commit to the shoot dates of August 20th-September 20th. A set teacher will be available and schooling would be done each day as well (if still in school). Also needing a woman to play the part of Lucy a “yoga mom”. Lucy is one of the four main parts in the film.

COVID-19 Update June 26, 2021- Recently awareness of two COVID-19 positive adults and one youth, under the age of 12, has caused concern about the spread of COVID-19 during youth activities in the Lapwai community. Based on this information it is requested that all youth activities be cancelled immediately, until further notice, unless the youth are required to properly wear masks for the duration of the activity. The two positive COVID-19 cases were found to be in unvaccinated individuals and variants of the virus do not seem to be a concern at this time. As we are still unable to provide vaccinations for youth under 12, it is important to continue to remain vigilant and cautious and follow COVID-19 safety protocols during events or activities that involve children. It is highly recommended that anyone over the age of 12 be vaccinated for COVID-19. Nimiipuu Health continues to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone, beneficiary or not. We encourage any unvaccinated person to contact Nimiipuu Health in Lapwai at (208)843-2271 and in Kamiah at (208)935-0733 to schedule your COVID-19 vaccination and/or to get answers to any of your questions or concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Any small spark will easily ignite dry fuels. • Avoid tall, dry grass when travelling off road. • Remove any combustible material away from structures on your property. • Fires should be dead out before leaving them unattended. • Report any wildfires as soon as possible by dialing 911. The faster firefighters can get to them, the better their chances of keeping them small. Don’t let your summer go up in smoke! Nez Perce Tribe Forestry and Fire Management

Free Estate Planning Free Estate Planning for Tribal Members From: 6/7/21 through 8/13/21 Contact: Auston Jimmicum 208-791-0500, willsintern@nezperce.org

Water Resources Utilities Program Starting in September 2021, the Utilities Office will return to doing shut offs for nonpayment of Utilities bills for water/ sewer. If your Utilities account is past due, please contact the Utilities office to make arrangements with Priscilla Arthur, Utilities Accountant. If you would like to make a payment over the phone please call the Finance office. Please do not wait until it’s too late! Contact Information: Utilities Office: 208-621-3899 Finance Office: 208-621-3838 Email: priscillaa@nezperce.org

Memorial & Give Away In memory of Darryle "Dow" Broncheau Chief Lookingglass Pow-Wow on August 20, 2021

Memorial Please join us and celebrate the life of Ruth McConville Saturday, August 14, 2021 Lapwai City Park Stone Setting 9:00 a.m. Lapwai Tribal Cemetery Giveaway and dinner to follow Lapwai City Park

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

ANNOUNCEMENTS

South Fork Salmon River

Chief Lookingglass Pow-Wow

Tribal members and their families are encouraged to travel to the South Fork Salmon River to harvest available summer Chinook. This year’s run is earlier than normal - due to low river flows and higher water temperatures. Fish are currently in good condition but the quality of the meat will worsen as more time passes. The inseason run projections for fish returning to the South Fork Salmon River support a harvest of 444 clipped hatchery fish and 42 unclipped fish (wild and unclipped hatchery fish). Our current harvest estimate is 45 clipped adults and 6 unclipped adults caught and released. Remaining harvest is 399 clipped and 42 unclipped adults for this fishery. At this time, this fishery offers the highest number of spring/summer Chinook fish available for treaty harvest in the Snake Basin. It is suggested that Tribal members and their families plan on fishing in the South Fork Salmon River from June 28 to July 1, and from July 6 until the season is closed. The reason for this, is the State of Idaho sport fishery will be open June 26th and 27th, and potentially again on July 2nd through 5th. Fishing then will likely be under much more crowded conditions. Under these conditions, it is practically impossible for Nez Perce tribal members to access the fishery and key fishing sites along the river during the time the sport fishery is open. There will also likely be Shoshone-Bannock members in the South Fork Salmon River fishery that will impact our harvest activities and the number of fish we can harvest to meet our needs. The projected returns to East Fork South Fork Salmon River/Johnson Creek and to Secesh River are very small and supports a very limited harvest of just 8 unclipped adults in each of these two areas.

The 45th Annual Chief Lookingglass Pow-Wow The Return to the Circle August 20, 21, 22, 2021 Kamiah, ID Friday, August 20 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Giveaways/Memorials 7:00 p.m. Grand Entry Saturday, August 21 7:00 a.m. Huckleberry Pancake Feed 8:00 a.m. Fun Run 12:00 p.m. Friendship Dinner 1:00 p.m. Grand Entry 5:00 p.m. Dinner Break 6:00 p.m. Main Street Parade 7:00 p.m. Grand Entry Sunday, August 22 1:00 p.m. Grand Entry Dance Contect Finals, Crowning New Royalty, Raffle Winners, Retire Colors. Chilf Lookingglass Royalty Specials Teen Jingle Dress Contest 1st Place - $300 2nd Place - $200 3rd Place - $100 Open Fancy Shawl Contest 1st Place - $300 2nd Place - $200 3rd Place - $100 More Pow-Wow Information: Memorials- Angela Broncheau (208) 935-5349 Royalty- Tana Wheeler-Nunez (208) 790-8351 Concessions & Raffle- Nancy Wheeler (208) 790-0262

The survey is designed to understand the values of tribal members and foresters related to forest management and their degree of satisfaction with various types of management activities on the ground.

The survey is designed to get more detail on the tribal and BIA workforce, including age, education, and past experiences, as well as input regarding desired training.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IFMATIVtms

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IFMATIVwfs

Q’oyx̂ c’áal | July

Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune, Vol. 3, Issue 13

Articles inside

Nimiipuu Tribal Tribune, Vol. 3, Issue 13