Warm Springs elder blesses ground

Wilson Wewa, Jr. led Warm Springs dancers at a ceremony at Suttle Lake. photo by Judy Vallembois

Wilson Wewa Jr. performed a ground-blessing ceremony Paiute-fashion at the site of a new Suttle Lake Resort lodge on Saturday, October 11.

Wewa, who hails from the Warm Springs Reservation, brought along dancers, songs, and music to help with the ceremonies.

Wewa began the ceremony with great warmth, remarking that "my people used this land and stayed here. We are coming home to where we used to camp, fish, hunt and pick berries. Truly I believe this land was saved (from the fire) for a reason."

According to Wewa, a lot of places where there are now roads over the Cascades were once Indian trails.

Central Oregon obsidian is of very high quality. Obsidian tools and artifacts from this area have been found in both Alaska and Mexico. It was a high-priced commodity for trading.

Even though the rainy, chilly weather on Saturday seemed dismal to many, Wewa said that we were being blessed by the Creator. The rain was washing away the smoke and ashes; it was adding moisture to the ground and that helps to get the seed growing. Plants may grow out of the ashes that haven't grown there in 50 years.

"There are cycles of life," he said. "Part of the cycle is death. The forest burning ... something good will come of it. As we smelled the smoke of pine and fir over Warm Springs the ashes were dropping and some were concerned about more fires starting. That didn't happen.

"However," he noted, "my niece mentioned all the smoke coming over is the same thing you use to bless people with. Certain types of smoke have medicinal purposes to clear us up."

Wewa seems to have a great fondness for children and remarked that he believes sometimes the innocence of youth carries the strongest prayers.

Not too long ago, Deanie Johnson and Valerie Switzler, two of the teachers at Warm Springs Elementary School, wondered why some traditional dances hadn't been performed in many years. Great Grandmother Gladys Thompson encouraged the teachers to teach the children dances and songs.

"Grandma Irene" Towe participates in the dances she hadn't seen performed in over a decade.

The young people, ranging in age from four years to 14 years, performed numerous dances at the Suttle Lake ceremony along with their teachers and "Grandma Irene."

The dances included the Welcome Dance, the Butterfly Dance, the Skip Dance and the Hoop dance. Each dance has a story. Most of the dances "belong" to the tribe. These are the social dances.

Deanie Johnson observed that dancing and songs keep the children busy. It keeps them in a good frame of mind and they learn their culture. Besides the Community Center is closed and the Boys and Girls Club isn't open much, she said.

"Val and I are trying to revive the old dances in the hope they will carry it on in their generation," Johnson said.

Valerie Switzer said the children would just be watching TV if they weren't dancing. This way they can share what they have learned. They have a sense of belonging. They are surrounded by family. Wilson Wewa Jr. said that he "could have brought adults but the kids are the ones who will be carrying on the tradition after I'm gone.

"I watched, I listened, I learned and I don't claim to know everything but I pass it on to our people, even the ones that aren't here yet," he said.

Wilson concluded the event with the Laugh Dance and Thank You Song.

Both performers and viewers participated.