PowWow Brings Richness of Culture to Ashland

Jane Ayers, Director of Jane Ayers Media, 14.04.2009 17:54

NASU PowWow features tribal dances rarely shared with the public. Takelma Spiritual Elder, Agnes Baker-Pilgrim, welcomes Mexican delegation at PowWow and SOU, focusing on the importance of saving the world's salmon population and preserving the rivers.

NASU PowWow Brings Richness of Culture to Ashland
& Elder Agnes Baker-Pilgrim Addresses Mexican Delegation at SOU

Editorial by Jane Ayers

(Ashland, Oregon) The 17th annual PowWow, sponsored by the NASU (Native American Student Union) April 11-12, was the epitome of a packed house of good relations. The Native communities, coming together to dance, drum, sing, and honor one another, fully expressed the rich cultures that collectively shared some of their beautiful traditions to the participants at the McNeil Pavilion.

That richness of culture included a welcoming of the delegation from Guanajuato, Mexico, here in Ashland as part of an exchange tour of sister cities. A Friendship Dance was given to the delegation, led by elder Agnes Baker-Pilgrim, comprising of the dancers in full regalia walking in a full circle around the arena floor shaking hands to welcome one another.

The head of the Mexican delegation graciously stated, “This is symbolic to bring Mexican and Native Indian and U.S. nations all together to bring harmony to the world, and for most of us here from Mexico, firemen, professors, teachers, this is the first PowWow we have ever attended.”

Later, a surprise occurred when an Honoring Dance was given to a Native couple that had been married for fifty years, with a huge family reunion appearing on the arena floor, wrapping a Pendleton blanket around the happy couple, and following behind them in the honor dance.

The Red Hoop Drum was the Host Drum for the event. Traditional native dancers also competed for prizes, and two local dancers, Lucas Morgan and Chris Hines, also had a “giveaway to the community” as part of officially becoming a Grass Dancer and Traditional Dancer, respectively.

Red Earth Descendants (RED) sponsored the dancer, Lucas Morgan, with his giveaway, which is a tradition of giving gifts of blankets, toys, handmade pouches, and jewelry—all given to the elders, children, and Native community members.

Dan Wahpepah, organizer for RED, stated, “This teaches to look to your community, and it will look to you.” Wahpepah highlighted the importance of walking the “path of the human being, the highest path walking in the way Creator meant us to be, which is walking with kindness, humility, compassion, and most importantly, walking the truth ” which, in essence, brings “honor to the family and the community.”

The PowWow also featured a version of the Apache Crown Dance, a ceremonial dance rarely shared with the public, given by dancers from the Chemawa Indian School of Salem, Oregon. This amazing group of young men transformed all in attendance, bringing an intensity of spirit and protection that was visible in the dance.

A short version of the traditional Karuk-Yurok Brush Dance was also given by a group of seven young women from the tribe. The 3-day Brush Dance is a traditional ceremony of healing songs/dancing for healing any child who might be suffering an illness.

One of the dancers, Maime Preston, (also Co-Chair of the Native American Student Union, NASU), explained that the ceremony is also to “bless the life of the child”, and added that during the three-day ceremony “a medicine girl and boy also totally fast, going without food”.

Tribal elders expressed their pride in the dancers for “healing the children”, and noted that the dancers wear regalia that can “weigh up to 40lbs., dancing one full evening, resting a day, then dancing all evening until the next morning.” Native community members were invited to attend their upcoming Brush Dance on Father’s Day, and urged to contact the Karuk Tribal Office for further details (www.karuk.us)

On Monday, Takelma spiritual elder Agnes Baker-Pilgrim, spoke at the SOU Stevenson Union to the Mexican delegation from Guanajuato, a program that included traditional dances from the Mexican folk dance troupe, Ballet Folklorico. Professor David West of the Native American Studies Dept. introduced Aggie, stating, “This land is her People’s place from the beginning of Time, and this land is their place to take care of, to love, and to represent.”

Brent Florendo, Drum Keeper of the Dancing Spirit Drum, also offered a women’s traditional Honoring Song before Grandma Aggie spoke. He stated, “We sing with no language. Our Voice carries the intent of the songs of our heart, our Spirit, and the Creator sees that in our songs.” His drummers consisted of SOU faculty members (David West and himself), several students, and Grandma Aggie. He added, “We are taught that the drumbeat represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and the teachings are that we respect Mother Earth and especially the women, the ones who can carry two spirits at one time.”

Baker-Pilgrim spoke candidly about the “rulers of the world should learn about exchanges of peace and love” noting she is, at age 85, the oldest descendant of the Takelma tribe, and a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. She urged the delegation to travel to the downtown Ashland statue, “We Are Here”, which is a depiction of Agnes Baker-Pilgrim, and on the backside of the statue is a depiction of a Shasta man holding a child, honoring family connectedness. In addition, there are carvings of the animals that fly, “also the 4-leggeds, the swimmers, etc.” to show that “we are all family with animal kingdoms too,” stated Baker-Pilgrim.

“Ashland is the threshold coming into Oregon from California, and is the only place that shows our Native presence in this land, and also gives support here for our Native students here in the University,” she said.

Baker-Pilgrim also told the delegation to “remember that 75% of your body is water”, and to always “bless the water” before one drinks it, as it is “sacred, so speak to it.”

She noted that for thirteen years she has provided a Salmon feast on the Applegate and Rogue Rivers, with a focus to teach people “how to give back”.

“There are now more salmon in the rivers near our ceremony, and two small dams near the site have come out to help with their survival,” she said. Stressing the importance of removing the remaining large hydroelectric dams which are endangering the salmon population, Baker-Pilgrim also urged all to clean up the world’s rivers, which are “polluted all around the world.”

She also expressed joy in being able to meet with the Japanese scientist, M. Kmoto, who has proven that “water can hear”. The Japanese scientist is coming to Ashland in July 2009, and she is scheduled to meet with him to discuss the power of water.

Baker-Pilgrim is an Alumni of SOU, and currently the Director
of the 13 International Indigenous Grandmothers, whom are all coming together in August to the Siletz Powwow in Lincoln City, Oregon.

A local fundraising dinner will be held at the Applegate Restaurant on May 23 for the 13 International Indigenous Grandmothers event. (contact by email:  thegrandmothersarecoming@gmail.com or visit www.grandmothercouncil.com, or email local volunteers for the fundraiser:  coachlouise@mac.com
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Jane Ayers is an independent journalist, and can be reached by email:  ladywriterjane@hotmail.com. She is Director of Jane Ayers Media, a nonprofit affiliated with the International Humanities Center, Malibu. (www.IHCenter.org).

e-mail:: ladywriterjane@hotmail.com
Homepage:: Jane Ayers Media, a nonprofit of International Humanities Center (www. IHCenter.org)

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“We Shall Remain” on PBS KSYS8 next 4 Mon 9pm 14.04.2009 - 21:43 We Shall Remain Title Card thanks Jayne for these wonderful words!!! Here is a wonderful and important documentary series now on the air... full info link:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/ Airing on Southern Oregon Public Television, this five-part series spans 300 years of U.S. history, placing Indian voices and perspectives at the heart of the series. Narration by Benjamin Bratt. SOPTV (PBS/Ch. 8) will broadcast “We Shall Remain” on Monday nights at 9 pm, starting April 13. For details, call 779-0808 or visit  http://www.soptv.org. MORE: Chris Eyre, director of the first three episodes, was raised in Klamath Falls. “You can’t understand America in the 21st century if you don’t understand the Native experience,” he says. “This country is founded on people striving, being tenacious, and moving forward … this is a look at that, through Native eyes.” Southern Oregon Public Television’s community partners include SOU Hannon Library, SOU Native American Academic Programs, Josephine County Library, Klamath Tribes of Oregon and Red Earth Descendants. I would like to see a local group showing and discussion on these, if interested, respond to this posting... Terr'rence> Homepage:: http://