Page 3 - September 2008

3 Honoring our Elders: Mae Palmer “Mae has always been a dedicated wife and mother. She still passes on her values of honesty, fairness and caring.” Mae Verana Palmer, was born in 1917. She married Charles W. Palmer in 1935. He passed away in 1992. Mae lived on the reservation until she was 18. After she married Charles, the couple lived in Rochester, Doty and fnally settled in Oakville. Mae was raised by her mother, Gertrude Parsons, and her grandfather, Charlie Parsons at her great great-grandparents Melinda and Dave Benn’s home until she was nine. Her grandmother, Gertrude Parsons, passed away before she was born. After her mother married Edward Connors they moved into a place of their own. Mae is the eldest of six girls: Mae, Geraldine (Jerry), Barbara, Marie, Alberta, and Delores. She has two , children, Charlotte and the late Charlie. She has four grandchildren, eight grandchildren and three great- Mae spends the holidays with her great great grandchildren. grandchildren, Mason and Katie Karl. Mae Verana Palmer was born in 1917. The whole family enjoyed taking The entire family joined the Black was 89. She commented, “It was good From the time she could crawl, she knew their motorcycles on trail rides around the Hills Wranglers Horse Club in Oakville. exercise and kept me active.” she was a tomboy. Playing with dolls Oakville area. Mae was known for wearing It involved trail riding, horse shows and These days, Mae stays involved was not an option. Mae much preferred her favorite heavy blue coat. She remembers parades. Club members went on overnight with friends by playing pinochle. “I like horseback riding, loading hay, and playing Violet Starr saying, “There goes Mae on her trail rides to a cabin in the Capital Forest. the laughter, the conversations, the good basketball and baseball. She remembers motorcycle wearing her blue coat.” Cars weren’t allowed up there, so food companionship,” she said. Sometimes Mae being a pitcher in games held on the feld Although Mae loved riding the hills, was transported by horse and wagon. She hosts the pinochle parties, and sometimes by the old Oakville Grange. She also liked she had some unnerving times. “Due to an remembers those times fondly. “Whenever they are at friends’ houses. She also watching bone games at the Beckwith unfortunate experience on my motorcycle, I see the moon, it takes me back to the enjoys holidays and family get-togethers family home. Mae often went to the small going down hill made me nervous. My moonlight rides together with my husband. and spending time with her sister, Marie tribal center to dance and listen to Frank son Charlie, being the gentleman that he These special rides will always remain deep Griswold. Pete play his fddle. She went to barn was, would go up the hill and ride it down in my heart and memories.” Mae has loved her family and animals dances that her great uncle Johnny and for me.” One of Mae’s fondest memories was her entire life. When she read a recent tribal aunt Maggie Benn held on their property at Mae has loved horses her entire life. watching Charlie compete in Play Days newsletter, she commented, “It’s great to see 90 Balch Road. (Johnny Benn raced horses After completing her chores, her favorite sponsored by other horse clubs, trail riding, a tribal program helping the community to at Long Acres in Renton). During haying activity was to ride her horse to visit and watching Charlotte ride in the grand feed, spay and neuter pets. All my animals season, she helped the family by loading friends. She entered a horse race at the Elma entry at the Grays Harbor Rodeo. Mae was have been spayed or neutered. We need to be hay. They used pitch forks to put the hay Fairgrounds. She said, “We didn’t own a so proud of Charlotte, because she continued responsible to keep our animal companions on a horse-drawn wagon. horse trailer back then, so my soon-to-be- to ride despite the horse accident. Imagine in good health.” Mae has always been a dedicated husband, Charles, volunteered to ride him Mae’s pride when Charlotte was selected as In her 91 years, Mae has seen a lot of wife and mother. She still passes on her there for me. Racing was a thrill!” one of the Rodeo Princesses. progress on the reservation. She said she values of honesty, fairness, and caring. After Mae married Charles, she took a Mae remains a Black Hill Wranglers is very proud of the way we are growing. During earlier times, Mae went with her break from horses. Fifteen years had passed honorary member. From her home near the “Keep up the good fght to keep our youth husband Charles to dances at Swede Hall. since Mae had ridden. Then, Charlotte was Oakville rodeo grounds, Mae can hear the drug and alcohol free!” said Mae. Then she She enjoyed taking her family traveling, riding her horse and it bolted, Charlotte fell rodeo announcers on the loudspeakers. She added, “Don’t forget to spay and neuter your clam digging, camping. In later years, off, and a horse trainer was needed. Mae always goes out to sit on her front porch, pets!” she took trips to Reno with her late son, climbed on the horse and broke it of its bad and uses binoculars to check out the rodeo Mae gives special thanks to Audrey Charlie, and his wife, Audrey. She enjoyed bolting habit. The horse, named Cookie, activities. Palmer, her daughter-in-law, and her sister, being invited to bowl with her daughter, became one of Mae’s favorites. Mae was also an avid bowler. She joined Marie Griswold. “Your help and assistance Charlotte, in a tournament in Reno. several leagues. She bowled until she is greatly appreciated,” said Mae. Tribal Summer School Sees Huge Employees Get Lucky on Increase in Native Students Bottom By Tawny Willis, TELO K-12 Program Specialist The Chehalis Tribal TELO K-12 There were so many students Fishing program’s participation in the Oakville participating, one of our own, Nathan Floth, Summer School was a success. All of the volunteered to teach classes, leading by staff, JJ Shortman, Misty Hill, Nathan example, showing how to better yourself Trip Floth and myself volunteered daily to assist through education. with tutoring. There were 95 students who We will be recognizing our 6-12 grade attended summer school, the number of Native students increased dramatically. We Native students with a lunch/dinner and a movie for their attendance and participation. By Andy Olson, are proud to say that 56 Native students Great job students!! Fisheries Biologist participated in the daily classes. The TELO staff was complimented Tribal employees enjoy the bottom fishing trip at Westport provided by the Twelve Native high school students on their commitment to education by the Chehalis Tribe. Pictured (left to right, back) Crystal Ortivez, Shawn Ortivez, were in the program, and completed WASL Oakville staff member, Penny Reinitz, Dustin Klatush, Guy Youckton (front) Diana Pickernell, Frank Cayenne Jr., preparation and testing. The number of “This is the highest Native student count Donna Koernke, and Sylvia Cayenne. Native middle school students was a huge we’ve ever had. Without the assistance of surprise, because they didn’t initially sign the TELO program staff, this wouldn’t have The Chehalis Tribe sponsored a bottom Once we reached the fshing spot, we up for summer school. It’s a proud moment happened. Thank you very much for helping fshing expedition on June 20, for tribal lowered our lures to the depth of 150-200 when youth voluntarily commit themselves this year!” employees. The day began with gray feet. Any deeper and there was risk of to their personal growth in education. skies and everyone hoping for good clear catching yelloweye and canary rockfsh that weather. About 60 employees gathered in are endangered off the Washington coast and the Westport Charter offce and smiles were cannot be harvested. everywhere. All had hopes of limits and The fshing started slow but was pretty derby fsh—that maybe he or she would get consistent, as long as we fshed at the depths lucky and get a monster. suggested by our skipper. The Neddie Rose The group was divided into three boats. didn’t have the experience in the spot we I was lucky enough to be on the Lucky were fshing, and the results on that boat Pierre and it was aptly named. We made weren’t as good. The Lucky Pierre was the our way out onto the vast Pacifc Ocean. We only one of the three boats to have limits of waited and wondered what we would catch rockfsh for everyone. We also caught the as we traveled to the skipper’s secret spot largest derby-entered ling-cod of that week. some 28 miles from port. A few unlucky Though there were some who didn’t catch anglers chummed for us on the way out as the limit or the big one, any day you can they suffered from seasickness. spend fshing is pretty lucky! Tribal Staff Profle Lori McClung, I have two beautiful children and one Domestic awesome grandson. I graduated in 1996 Violence from The Evergreen State College with a Advocate BA. Although it was one of my greatest My name is Lori accomplishments, nothing tops being a McClung, (Sinixt mother and a grandmother. Band) Arrow Lakes I have worked for over 14 years in from the Confederated Tribes of the Native communities in the felds of Colville Reservation. My Native name domestic violence, substance abuse and is TulQitAwit. I come from a huge social services. I’ve conducted women family that extends from this side of the and girls’ cultural support groups and Chavez Secena was well-prepared for the rigors of third grade, in coordinated tribal community programs. mountain to the other side, Canada and I’m very excited to be here and look part because he attended summer school at Oakville Elementary. further. forward to meeting you. Congratulations to all students who are in school. We are proud of you!