Page 3 - January 2009

wa. Honoring our Elders: 3 George Youckton, Sr. “...If you have a job that you enjoy, you will put more of yourself into it,” George “Chops” Youckton was born in 1933 to Jessie Hayden and Clarence Youckton Skomkama. His grandparents were Bessie Walker and Johnny Hayden, Sr. His great- grandparents were Charlie Hayden and Jacobs. He has three brothers: Percy, Melvin, and Marvin “Mutt”; and fve sisters; Irene, Clara, Edna, Lorillee, and Linda . George was married to Mary Estell-Bumgarner for over 40 years. Together they had fve sons: Lenny, George Jr., Allen, Robert, and Anthony. George has seven grandchildren. George enjoys the company of family and friends at events like the Christmas Bazaar. By Fred Shortman, Editor, make him fumble the ball. He tried to he thinks about the feel of a canoe on water. Over the years, George has worked in and Cecilia Kayano recover it and reached out with his arm. While George was playing on the the education and government assistance For a split second, I thought about jumping Taholah Baseball Team, he met Mary Estell- felds. He has been an advocate for Indian George Youckton grew up at his parent’s on his arm, but changed my mind,” recalls Bumgarner. The couple married and moved education. In the 1990s, he was appointed home on Howanut Road where he lives George. into a small one-bedroom house belonging to the Washington State Governor’s now. As a youngster, he spent time helping Later that evening, he was reliving the to Charlie Hayden. He worked odd jobs, Education Advisory Board. He has testifed the family. When it was berry season, game with his dad. His dad told him that ran fsh nets on the river and dug clams. at the Capital in Olympia on the need for George and his siblings would pick he saw the play, and knew what George “We didn’t make a lot of money, but we ate money to fund Indian education. He says, blackberries and sell them in Oakville to was thinking. George recalls what his dad well,” recalls George. “It’s hard for us to realize that back then, earn money for gas and groceries. They also said: “Remember, it’s just a game. Don’t George lived on the Quinault Reservation there was no money.” harvested and sold cascara bark. George try to hurt anybody.” George says, “My dad for many years. He coached Little League George’s roots are from a time when remembers walking to the Nyland Grocery taught me an important lesson, to try and and Babe Ruth teams. He helped build the education was often self-taught. He gives Store in Gate City on the corner of Moon live my life by doing the best I can, by not tribe’s frst diesel service station. He started this advice: “Keep learning wherever you Road and SR-12 to spend some of his hurting anyone, and helping others to be the a GED program that produced 32 graduates are. Listen to people. Learn from them. money. When he was milking the cows best they can.” its frst year, more than the high school. He Find a job you like to do. Don’t take a job with Mel, the two brothers would compete About 50 years ago, the family home took part in a program that provided down just for money. If you have a job you enjoy, to see who could milk the fastest. They burnt down, and George and other family payments on homes in exchange for 1000 you will put more of yourself into it.” would deliver extra milk to Lizzie Johnson members helped his dad rebuild it. Many of hours of labor. “Everyone pitched in and George is passing on his father’s legacy and other families charging 10 or 15 cents a the family had jobs, but they helped when helped everyone else,” says George. “When of being a proponent of education. He quart. they were available. the inspector came, he said they were the says, “It’s good to see our students staying The family had a large vegetable garden George remembers there were not many best built homes he had ever seen.” in school and graduating and going on to behind the house with an acre of corn, fve tribal buildings on the reservation back George returned to the Chehalis Tribe get higher education. That way they will acres of potatoes, and other vegetables to be then. The small tribal center was heated by in 1980. He started working for housing, be ready to take over some management preserved. Abe Parsons brought his horses wood. To supply the wood, anyone who but kept returning to Taholah for odd positions or develop their own companies. to prepare the feld for planting. To harvest, happened to be cutting wood for themselves jobs, including working on the crew that Education is the key for continued growth they used pitch forks to dig up the potatoes. just cut extra and dropped it off at the tribal blacktopped the highway from Taholah to within the tribe.” George remembers his father fshing center. “You didn’t get paid for the wood or Moclips. in the Chehalis River where Percy used to stacking it. Your own good feelings were fsh at the end of Niederman Road, using the pay,” recalls George. nets he had made by hand. He soaked the After George graduated from Oakville nets in a dye made of wild cherry bark so High School, he went into the Navy. When the fsh couldn’t see. George remembers he came back, there weren’t any jobs at the 2nd Row launching his dad in a canoe at the end of Chehalis Reservation, so he went to Taholah Anderson Road, and watching him drift to work in a cannery. Mel was working in Mel toward his fshing grounds. He also fshed Taholah, too, The two brothers kept busy Youckton in the old channel in Mattson Creek. George by working, fshing and playing baseball. seen in remembers that his dad was an expert “I was on the go all the time,” recalls Jersey trapper, and received a certifcate from Sears George. He says he liked “long days and Number for “Best Pelts.” short nights,” then explains, “I was a little 1; George George was an athlete, playing football younger then.” Youckton and baseball. In 1949, he was on the One fond memory was foating down seen in Oakville High School football team when it the Quinault River while fshing. He still Jersey had its frst undefeated season. George was remembers what it feels like to spend the number 2. a junior, and Mel was a freshman on the entire day foating on water. He would foat team, but still, the team had only 11 players. and fsh until dark. Then, Mel and George That year, in order to have a full practice would build a fre on the gravel bar at the scrimmage, the coach had to suit up. mouth of the river to protect their fshing George says his best game was when net from thieves. Both were known as George and his brother Mel, were on the 1949 Oakville High School Oakville played against LaBam. He had fve boxers, and fearless fghters, so their fshing Football Team, when it made school history with it’s fist undefeated interceptions and one touchdown. “During nets were never bothered. Now, whenever championship season. (Photo from Oakville Cruiser, September 2008) the game, I tackled a guy hard enough to George is near the Chehalis or Black Rivers, Tribal Staff Profles: Elders Coordinator and Medical Assistant 2008 Coho Hello. My name is Nancy Hawaii (52 Elders), Ocean day. Season a Romero. I am the daughter Shores for the Basket Weavers I attended Rochester High School and of the late Alice Secena Conference (30+ Elders), graduated in 1995. After completing high Medina and Manuel Medina. monthly birthday dinners at the school, I went on to Eton Technical College My grandparents are Nancy Lucky Eagle Casino and once in 1997 to become a medical assistant. Since Success Beckwith Secena and Murphy to Tacoma Red Lobster, the then, I have gained over 10 years experience Secena. Southwest Washington Fair, the in pediatric and family practice. By Andy Olson, Fisheries Biologist I have been happily Puyallup Fair and so much I come from Tumwater Family Practice, married to Ray Romero for Nancy Romero, more. where I had been for 10 years, receiving 28 years. We have seven Elders Coordinator I want to thank all the employee of the year in 2004. Two years of The fshermen of the Chehalis Tribe children: Micheal and Elders who have given me that was focused on phlebotomy (drawing had another successful Coho season this twin daughters Scarlett encouragement, love and blood and lab specimen collection). Prior fall with many large, beautiful, fsh being and Rayna, and foster children; Amanda respect to do my job so far. to that, I worked with Northwest Pediatric caught. We had an excellent price, and the Verna, Adam Diaz, Cody Revay and Jared I am looking forward to 2009 -- planning Center. fsh buyer was happy to have the tribe’s Simmons. We have been foster parents for fun activities and trips and working Being a sincere individual, I maintain a Coho. Tribal fshermen all together made 14 years and are blessed to have been able alongside the Elders Committee and Elders professional and caring attitude, making sure over $30,000 this season, catching 659 to help raise these kids and have them in our to make this a great year for the Chehalis all the patients receive proper care while hatchery Coho and 317 wild Coho. This lives. Tribal Elders Program. coming to our Wellness Center. was a pretty good season, especially when Our latest joy is our grandson Artie Any Elder who needs any assistance, I was very the preseason forecast was for very low Anthony Uden. We love him so much and please contact me at 360-709-1577 or (cell) excited to be returns of Coho. he makes our hearts so happy. 360-480-2911, or stop by my offce in the hired as a medical We also had over 500 pounds of I have worked for my tribe for the past 14 Elders Center. assistant and to smoked salmon available for sale at the or so years as a Youth Coordinator, Elders become a part of Casino, Eagles Landing Hotel, all of the Cook, staff of Chehalis Tribal Construction, the clinic team. I End of the Trail stores and the Great Wolf and the Heritage Coordinator for a short Hello. My name is Autumn Klimek. I look forward to Lodge. We are anticipating an excellent period of time. am the newest medical assistant at the meeting you at your return next year, since we had a really This is one of the best jobs on the Rez! I Chehalis Wellness Center. I’ve been next appointment. high number of jack Coho return to the am the Elders Coordinator! What a blessing married for four years and have a 12-year- hatcheries and fsh trap at Elk Creek near it is to work with all the Elders. old daughter, Haley. I really enjoy helping Doty. A high number of returning jacks Since I have been the Elders Coordinator, people get their medical and health needs Autumn Klimek, indicates excellent ocean survival for next the Elders have been on trips such as: met. Being sick isn’t fun, and I hope that Medical Assistant year’s adult Coho. NNAOA Conference in Tacoma (25 Elders), a smile and caring attitude helps ease their