Page 2 - August 2010

Youth Learn from Elders to Gather High School Student is Recognized for 2 Traditional Basket Making Materials Academic Excellence and Dedication By Fred Shortman, Editor Rigoberto Hernandez, an eleventh grade their course work. Rigo, who was mentored tribal member was honored by the Skookum by Pete Peterson, received mostly ‘A’s Rotary Club of Shelton on April 29, 2010 throughout the school year. for academic excellence in the Home Rigo’s’ mom, Rita Hernandez applauds Partnership Program. Rigo was part of a her son, “I am pleased with the way things small group from the Home Partnership are working out for you. It makes me proud Program who received a Certifcate of of your accomplishments and how you’ve Achievement for placing in the top ten grown in the past year. Keep up the good percent academically among high school work. You make me so proud and I love students in Mason County. you!” Rigo was ahead academically in his classes at the end of last year and was encouraged to participate in this program Youth went on fields trips to gather sweet grass along the harbor and as a way to graduate early from high learned about harvesting techniques in preserving this important tradition. school. The program requires students Pictured (L-R) top row are Leo Daniels, Tony Medina, Savanah Bird, Latishea to maintain a minimum ‘B’ average in Banuelos, Violet Starr, Diane Devlin, Theresa Pannkuk. Middle row are Jerry Youckton, Trace Meddaugh, Isaak Hofstetter, Sally Pikutark, Roberta Youckton, Jazmin Banuelos, Geraldine Youckton. Bottom row are CJ Youckton, Alfredo Lopez, Shayna Pickernell, Michael Daniels, Gina Daniels, The Aaliyah Meddaugh, Chyler Daniels. Partnership program has By Diane Devlin, Cultural Coordinator given him the opportunity to Youth, ages 5 to 14, who participate in the week the youth helped to clean and cut the graduate early. Youth Program learned frst-hand how to cattail into kits preparing the material to Pictured (R-L) gather and prepare cattails for basket making make cattail dolls and baskets. The fnal step are Mentor on July 15. Under the direction of Tony will be for the youth to make an item they and Teacher Medina and Jerry Youckton, who transported can be proud to say they gathered and made Pete Peterson them, the youth traveled to the Trans Alta themselves. and Rigo Steam Plant in Centralia, Washington to On Thursday, July 22,the Youth Program Hernandez, gather cattails. Mark White from the Tribal traveled outside of Hoquiam to a traditional Jr., who DNR Program and the Chehalis Tribe gathering place in the bay area to harvest worked Cultural Program met several times with the sweet grass materials. They learned together to Tony Briggs, Manager of Trans Alta, to gain how to pull the sweet grass, and how to cut achieve his permission for the Tribe to gather cattails the grass from the mud fats. Traditionally academic on Trans Alta’s property. The wetlands twisting the steams at the base of the plant goals. surrounding the steam plant’s property are was the way we gathered, but if the roots ideal for the natural growth of the cattail. are pulled out in the process then the plants The bus left at 9:30 AM Thursday do not return. To insure the return of the Youth Succeed in Babe Ruth Division at morning flled with youth ready to learn all harvesting areas it is also acceptable to cut about cattail gathering. We met the Steam the plant at the base of the stem if the pullers District and State Baseball Tournament Plant Manger at the State Park just outside are not able to correctly twist the plant out of Trans Alta and followed him to the back at the base. Over the years we have seen the side of the Steam Plant’s property where harvest beds of the sweet grass grow smaller By Charlotte Lopez, Team Mom massive amounts of cattail where growing and smaller. Where once there was a vast by a small pond. amount of sweet grass, it has now dwindled Four Chehalis Tribe youth were selected for In exciting and competitive games at the Tony and Jerry assisted in directing the to a minute area. Tribal people are not sure the South Thurston 13 year-old Babe Ruth state level they lost by one run each to the youth during the trip. As we gathered the why this happened, but in order to protect All-Star Team. Ray Lopez Jr., Gary Ortivez, frst and second place teams. The South cattails we learned about where and why this precious resource we continue to teach Shawn Youckton, and Oscar Jackson Thurston All Stars ended the season as third cattail grows in wet land areas. The youth both ways to harvest sweet grass. joined other team members from Oakville, in state. Commenting on their play Ray learned not to cut the male cattails down, The Youth Program placed the sweet Rochester, and Tenino in play at the District Lopez and Marvin Youckton Jr. said, “We and why that is important, as well as how to grass in garbage bags to bring back to the Tournament at Morton High School July were honored to have such a talented team. identify the male cattails. They worked as tribal center. Youth Program Director Tony 8-12. They were coached by Ray Lopez, They worked hard and we are very proud of a team, with some cutting the cattail while Medina and the Youth Program staff Jerry Marvin Youckton Jr., and Mraw Hill. them!!” others carried the stocks to the base camp. Youckton, Marla Medina and Teresa, took The All-Star team fnished 3 in District, Our local boys express a huge “Thank- rd At base camp youth were busy stripping off the group to a traditional Native American then traveled to North Thurston High School you” to all those who supported them the dead outer husk. Others used rubber camp site to eat at McDonalds. Okay, just to play in the State Tournament July 21-25. throughout the baseball season. bands bundling them into groups of ten. kidding. We had planed to go to the beach After the cattail was loaded up the bundles for a picnic, but Mother Nature calls the were transported back to the Community shots and the program went to plan “B”. Center. The youth were quizzed on what Both the cattail and sweet grass gathering they had learned that day. They did a great trips were planned to teach youth that job answering the questions. To fnish gathering the basket materials is just the frst the day off we stopped at the park to eat. step, cleaning and preparing the materials is It was a hot, fun flled day as everyone also part of the process. Our Basket Culture enjoyed cooling off and took a swim in the is a living part of our Tribal Life and the Skookumchuck River. kids are helping to keep it alive by learning At the end of the trip youth unloaded the where our traditional gathering places are cattail and laid them out to dry in the sun. and how the Chehalis People gather and care The cattail was rotated everyday for a week for the basket materials we use. The kids did to completely dry them before we started the a great job and created some true art in the next steps in processing. The following process. Four Chehalis tribal youth were selected to play for the 13 Year Old Thurston County All Starr baberuth team. Pictured are (L-R) are Coach Marvin Youckton, Jr., Greigh Hill, Oascar Jackson, Shawn Youckton, Brian Ranger, Ray Lopez, Jr., Bret Casey, Coach Mraw Hill, Coach Ray Lopez, Sr., Bottom Row (L-R) Dakota Cleeves, Dakota Deal, Lucas Eastman, Omar Hernandez, Garry Ortivez III, Andy Sommer, Johnny Archia. Photo provided by Chalotte Lopez Chehalis Business Committee Tribal David Burnett, Chairman Don Secena, Vice Chairman Newsletter Jessie Goddard, Treasurer Cheryle Starr, Secretary 420 Howanut Road Dan Gleason, Sr., 5th Council Member Oakville, WA 98568 (360) 709-1726 (office) Chehalis Tribal Newsletter Staff: (360) 273-5914 (fax) Fred Shortman, Communications Coordinator. Go to this direct link newsletter@chehalistribe.org for online newsletters copies: www. Articles and opinions expressed in this chehalistribe.org/news-events/index.html publication are not necessarily the opinions of this publication or the Chehalis Tribal Business Committee. The Chehalis Tribal Newsletter encourages tribal members to submit letters, articles, photographs, and drawings to be considered for publication. These are subject to editing. Youth field trip to Trans Alta at the Centralia Steam Plant pond learning how Contributing writers, artists, and to harvest cattail for weaving material. Pictured top row (L-R) are Tony photographers include Chehalis tribal Medina, Latishea Banuelos, Jacqueline Bray. Middle row (L-R) are Geradine community members and staff. Youckton, Zachary Banuelos, Isaak Hofstetter, Jordan Wyatt. Bottom row (L- The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis R) are Zander Klauths, CJ Youckton, Payton Simmons. Submission deadline: 6th of each month Reservation... Printed: Each month Photo by Diane Devlin “People of the Sands”