Day 14

The Road Home

Day 14

            As I write this last log of wonderful trip, I am full of knowledge, friendships, and respect that I didn’t have before this trip. I gained so much knowledge of the Native American communities and their past and present struggles. Each tribe we met or heard about include the Warm Springs, Yakima Nation, Celilo Village, Spokane Tribe, and Coeur d’Alene tribe have their own laws, government, and agencies to ensure their survival of their culture and traditions. The future doesn’t tell us a lot but what we do now, in the present can only ensure the ways of Native ancestors to be provided to the next generations of tribal members.  The future isn’t lost, not yet it hasn’t gone away. The friendships I built with tribes will only grow as I will return to volunteer or perhaps even for them in the future.

            As for the other students and teachers that came along this trip, I built a bond with them much like a older to some and a goofy younger brother to others. I wish them the best in lives and nothing should ever be taken for granted. If you’re reading just be away that you are my friend and you can contact me for advice or any favors that a brother can do. Good luck out there. As for the teachers, director, and chaperone, you fellas and ladies are great and don’t ever give up doing this. This trip has opened doors for the youngsters and motivated them to work with the tribes or out in nature. It’s been a great time and I won’t trade this experience for anything else. I like to thank the following people: Dr. Jessica Black for being my mentor and providing me this chance to come aboard, Dr. Leonard Black for providing a fun experience and his chocolate chip pancakes, Mrs. Griselda Black for being a caring mother on the trip, Monet for being the best driver ever, Mr. Arnett for taking time to talk about tribal law, Celilo Village for providing us a place to stay, Paul Lumley for being a powerful figure and providing words of encouragement, Oregon Forest Service for taking time to show us how the service works and providing job opportunities, Warren Sailor and the Spokane Tribe for providing a place  to stay and being a welcoming host for us not to mention getting us into Midnite Mine, Dave Matheson for paying for our Coeur d’Alene expenses and giving us his words of wisdom, Heritage University board of education for providing us a chance to contact and build relationships with the surrounding tribes and I do see this as a good way to introduce students to STEM careers and enforce educational pursuits. 

      Thanks again for the experience.

Day 13

The Wetlands Restoration

Day 13

            Today we were greeted by Jennifer on the Coeur d’Alene Natural Resources and her job title is Cultural Resources Manager. Her job has her manage the Coeur d’Alene Lake and help protect ancestral artifacts on the banks and beaches of the lake. Because of the nearby dams like Post Falls Dam, water levels can reach 8 feet higher when flooded. When this happens, artifacts or remains could potentially come to the surface. Jennifer’s job is to collect them and preserve them at the nearby cultural preserve. She also will help enforce tribal laws that violators may at the time be doing because law enforcement is scarce and needed for the forest and lake area.

            The second event we did was meeting with Natural Resources Program Manager. Angelo has been helping restore the area for some time and is now managing a plan to restore beaver dams in a nearby creek that leads into the Coeur d’Alene. He took us to a area that begins the forest restoration that was once owned by farmers that clear cut the area. This has damage the beaver population and habitat from growing so Angelo has been restoring creek beds with manmade dams with hay, branches, mud, and rock like a beaver would use. He has several groups that volunteer mainly youth groups from the local community that get involved and spend days building dams and observing the creek. As the beavers return to the area and begin to build separate dams and lounges, they create flooded areas and wetlands in the area. This allows the waters to flood and the vegetation to overgrow creating shade in the water and drastically cooled the water for fish and other aquatic. Birds have returned to the area along with packs of wolves that feed on beaver.

            The last thing we did with Angelo and the Natural Resources department was volunteering in making beaver dams.  Angelo took us to a beaver dam made by a youth group and showed us what was engineered. Poles were inserted into the ground to help debris build up and material to be placed to back flood the area. Hay, mud, rocks, and branches were placed in areas to support the structure and make sure water doesn’t push the dam apart. So with our example given to us, we spent an hour and a half building a dam. We moved material using an assembly line of people to areas of the dam that needed the repairs.. I Spent my time in areas digging mud and gravel to mix with hay to act as an adhesive. The time went by quick and we managed to make water flood back slowly. By the time everything was done, Angelo had graded our dam as “Beaver Approved.” The hard work we did in that short time is what a beaver does in a longer time frame. The beaver has my respect has a busy creature that provides sanctuaries for all animals of the area.

Day 12

Watershed Project

Day 12

            West Fork Lake Creek Stream and Wetland Enhancement Projects, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Fisheries Program by Stephanie Hallock. Stephanie is a biologist and engineer working with the Spokane tribe for over 10 years. Lake Creek watershed is 91 miles of stream habitat with an area of 36 square miles.  Some of the watershed leads into Washington state. West Fort Lake Creek has been straighten many times for agriculture but has led to bank erosion. EPA has able to grant the Coeur d’Alene Natural Resources to restore banks of the creek. Project goals are creating wetland habitats and hydraulic connections with the valley bottom, reduce erosion, enhance property for agriculture and the creek, and provide measurable abundance and distribution to cutthroat trout. A design was created to provide a new creek and enhance habitat which will reduce bank erosion. Techniques are creating ditches and with the leftover soil to be use for enhancing creek banks. The project took three years to complete the ditch and open the water ways. The old creek was filled in with soil and new native vegetation was provided for the new creek. The creek provides security from floods but not a full guarantee from flood damage from winter runoff. Bonneville Protection Agency also provided funding for the West Lake Creek restoration. There is a combine effort from the Forestry program, Natural Resources, BPA, EPA, and landowners.

            Stephanie then led us out to her 3 year restoration project on the West Lake Creek on a local homeowner’s property. The farm was in an open meadow surrounded by trees and hills on the Washington side of the border. The property owner’s name was Glen who farms right by the creek. The first year of the project was creating ditching to replace the old creek. The second year was diverting the old creek into the newly made one and adding native vegetation while filling the old creek in. The third year was to repair any damages done to the creek from winter flood damage  and controlling floods with logs. It’s been six years and you couldn’t tell that it was man-made and the vegetation has grown to provide shade to cutthroat trout.

            Angelo Vitali is a fisheries program manager who is in charge of many programs for the Natural Resources department including planning volunteer and contract work build 6 sturgeon canoes for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It will take a couple of months before the canoes are done and put in an expedition that travels from Coeur d’Alene Lake to the Columbia River next year. Our young crew came outside to help carve the canoe out of an old cedar tree estimated 600 years old. The log was approximately 30ft long that could fit all 16 of us. It was fun helping carve out the wood and the smell was so great that we collected saw dust and chips to use at home. But the tools were simple shavers that used more muscle than technology. We spent a good hour or so help smooth out the canoe and everyone put in their effort to use each and every tool. We’re glad we could help and we’ll get credit for our volunteer work.

Day 11

Coeur d’Alene Tribe Natural Resources

Day 11

            We arrived in Coeur d’Alene’ Natural Resources a little past 1. We were all starving and tired from Dr. Jessica Black waking us up early morning. Our first presenter was Laura of the Coeur d’Alene Natural Resources and gave us a history lesson of the Coeur d’Alene tribe which included a lot of government betrayal that led left of land and hangings of tribal leaders. Also described was mining and train transportation which led to pollution of lead, cadmium, zinc, and other heavy metals to flow into the Coeur d’Alene Lake causing major health and habitat problems. I asked Laura if there was any cleanup plans but Idaho government has denied pollution and encourages tourism of the lake. People swim, fish, and boat in this lake. It just made me sick hearing her presentation.

            Now on the flip side we had a presentation by Audra Vincent a local Language Program Manager helping to restore the language of the tribe. She has a bachelor’s in world languages and has classes that teach adults to learn the Coeur d’Alene language to hopefully teach others in their homes. Only two members of the tribe speak fluently and are in there high ages which include Felix Aripa who is also the last WWII veteran of the tribe. He has a huge impact in the tribe’s culture and community. Audra and her helper Michelle continue to work on helping restore the language and culture.

            Afterwards we all gather with the tribe’s community at the local long house to have a traditional feast put on by two sisters and their mom. They keep the tradition by making home meals salmon, deer, water potatoes, and others. We first sampled them as their ancestors would in order given than would feast on the main course. Afterwards we would end with water as tradition. I also forgot to mention that we start by drinking water. We receive food from the earth and its creator only to respect and pay tribute back. Along with the dinner, we had traditional singing and dancing which include the Swan Dance and Butterfly Dance. Their culture is still strong in their community and I respect that.

Day 10

Our friends, the Spokane Tribe

Day 10

It was going to be our last night camping at the Spokane Tribe’s campgrounds. Our first event of the day was a presentation by Twa-le who again is the manager of the tribe’s air quality and has an local talk show on Tuesdays talking about Native American events and historic events. Her presentation focused on the Midnite Mine facts that were not present in the Dawn Mining Company’s tour or presentation. We talked about health and statistics that were ignored including cancer rates, asbestos deaths, and water contamination. Twa-le has also helped the community with repairing houses that could have poor air conditions that lead to asthma or lung cancer. Also we talked about the Midnite Mine’s historic background and legal battle to bring Dawn Mining Company and several reservation pollution stories. It’s really sad that no one would give a damn and leave their mess behind while fighting lawsuits to drag out restoration.
 

            Our second event was fish shocking which helps the local fish and wildlife department determine what fish are in a creek. Several folks from the fish hatchery helped including Casey and Paul who work at the hatchery, Brittany, Jordan, and James who are interns that help the fish hatcheries. We all put on our weightiers and got into the creek with our nets while one person shocked the fish. I manage to collect one big boy into the bucket while Chrissy managed to nab 7+ fish without shocking the fish. Don’t worry, the fish just enter a knocked out phase. 
 

            Third event we met the Elk ranch crew which is just outside Wellpinit and has several properties that include farmland and forest. Their main goal is to restore elk population and tag them to follow their migration patterns. They also worked on tagging a wolf pack but the Alpha female was kill which could mean the pack has split up. On the farm, corn and sugar beets are grown to feed the elk population but several deer, wild horse, and moose come into the area to feast on the crops. 
 

            Next we had a swim in the Spokane River next to the Two Rivers Casino. We had fun swimming and doing cannonballs into the water. Afterwards we drew several images that were landscapes or structures. I drew a pretty awesome pine cone and will give it to Chrissy from White Swan. George Hill later returned with his art pieces and critiqued our pieces. He loved my shading that created a flow for the eye to observe. Warren also joined and asked us to join him for an Native tradition and he began to cry 
 

“I know I haven’t been able to spend more time with you but could you spare 30 minutes” Warren asked. I didn’t know what to expect but I was all in.

            We were invited to Warren’s short house which was much like a Hobbit home from the Lord of the Rings. We entered and a circle of chairs were pulled out. We sat down and Warren described that this was much like his ancestors’ short house that was used for ceremonies that we going to do. He asked us what we were thankful for and that anything said would stay in the short house. I felt a presence of tradition and emotions that I never felt before. You just had to be there to experience but I’ll describe it best I can. Everyone said their thankfulness from the bottom of their hearts, the trials they endured, the challenges they faced, and the future they want.

Myself, I am grateful for my mom and stepdad for pushing me to pursue my education, to push me in the right direction even when I didn’t want to. I am thankful for my girlfriend Sheila who has pushed me as I pushed her to do her best. I’m thankful for her love and passion that I never gotten from others. I’m thankful for my brothers whom showed me that life is rough and that my actions affect my future. We are from a broken house much like everyone that was in the short house. We are thankful for our friends that we met on the trip. I am thankful to have a professor to help me set my future education goals and to bring me on this journey to meet and encourage others to stay in school and pursue a career. I’m thankful to know more of the Native Americans’ culture, heritage, traditions, trials, persecution, and restoration. Warren ended with a prayer and cleansing our spirits with smoke to ward off evil. Afterwards I felt like a monkey was off my back, I was able to breathe. It was unlike any emotional experience I had gone through.