Warm Springs Program; Huckleberry Feast: Traditional Teachings and Rememberances

Welcome to the Warm Springs program. HUCKLEBERRY feast is an annual event of the confederated tribes of Warm Springs. The feast is usually held when the first huckleberries are ripe and ready to pick a feast of thanksgiving for the traditional food is held before individual families can go out and gather berries for their own use. It is in this way by praying and being thankful to The Creator for the food he will always bless the people with food in the years to come. Before the huckleberry feast memorials and or name giving ceremonies are held tribal elder Netty show way spoke about why this is done before the feast. I really don't know how to see it because we love our children and I want it passed so we hear. We don't want to cry when we pick berries. Why. We have made Maryellen we

let that cry out when we have made Mario. Also when people lose people in their family or a woman loses her husband. Why shouldn't they be out there gathering food. We Carse is indeed in law I think. You know when I lost my husband people put on me black clothes and I was supposed to stay like that one whole year. I couldn't go pick pick berries couldn't do groups I couldn't look at the water spray in it this was the law for the Indians because when y'all marry and you had one just like 1.

0 0 and I get enough of forward our pup and he'll tell you your dream to finish it and everything new you folks. You. Have just like one man who you know eat Tina one bit. What is what is the belief if if someone does go out while they're in mourning what is the traditional belief. If they go out to gather food before they're through with their morning. Of a before that Ill kill all of their Everything everything will dry up there and everything. They'll be no more berries like last year. There was nothing. At best that way. My mother used to tell us. Even if you would close daughter shoe you

couldn't go because she couldn't cool the correlates. She'd used to wear dark since it was streak a long time ago and everything was just nice. Every tree good. Do you think it's changed now the food in the way the teachings or have they changed in the air. Everything changed and people don't believe what we tell them. You wouldn't believe us. It's just awful. What were some of the teachings that that you received when you were growing up about the handling food or gathering food. Well we never did go just mother used to go

after you know a forward. We stay home after that too. She take us and make us work. They did it for the winter. We fill up Curly sacks or whatever big sacks we had total. I feel all that lots of it. My wrist was hurting hoeing roads. She wouldn't. She tell us all we'll go once more and here we feed there are two one whole week here. How about when before so she's the one that was one of the ones that gathered for the feast. Yeah Was that also true for the huckleberry feast. Yes she she used to go with that woman. There were seven of them. She

was seven and less tall and get their various and her awards. We never go but they wouldn't let us go when we were children. The bee wouldn't allow us to touch the new fort. No they wouldn't allow us. We couldn't even touch the cook you know. They wouldn't let us touch that just the old people used to take it around like you and take Dora. How old were you before you were allowed to be part of that. I never turned there until I went to hear them. He hired me to be a one of the D.A. So over there it was all Ben. She sure when when she was again.

She held the unity maybe you can talk about some of the traditional teaching when women were being taught to handle food to feed people either at the feast or the long house. What are some of the things that they were taught to keep in mind while handling food. Yass mother and father taught us how to handle forward which couldn't be mad. All we had to clean up first to comb our hair and change our big clean father tell us when you'll get up Sunday clean up right away and comb your hair put your moccasin on and Bill won't be angry tone being met your killed the people if he'll handle their full man at the wanted to ever build it. See your mother always handle food she

growls. You never get mad even if she cooks for maybe a hundred people. She never feel bad about it. And we try to be like that that way. Let's suppose we mean when we handle for laughs that teach indeed in teaching but won't be met quite in your hands before cooking especially. You're supposed to have oh here's a fuller still pray all the time quite we'll handle for free. Prepare for especially when you see somebody sat and pray for them. And along with the teachings about handling food Matilda Mitchell remembers the song that she was taught that was sung before the roots or dog

or the first berries are picked for the feast. There's a song that is sung before the women go out in the field or while they're out in the field ready to pick the berries. Matilda Mitchell a religious leader from some national longhouse is going to. Present this song that the women sing or that is sung before the women start to pick berries. Cello teacher. Equal but not teacher. It came to mean that what they're what I think I could meet and that their teacher. I mean what that high to me and I have there should be equal and there go up and each need

equal or higher. So moved and had their regime short each and. And what they were Joe would take up sit an hour when you had there not a short ladder no gain in April and the end that you know what Glenn and I would ask. But yeah yeah yeah I know. You're all a woman know or it's name I dunno what was her inclusion name if she was to stay with us right here. She th mother and mother know

that saw a man and she learned from their material that now let them be meet her head a digger or pick her because she learned there so much there. It's really a holy song on there. I can explain it. It's hard to see it again. I wear it in English. Now all we need now. I want it taken. Was subsequent one does to me and it does what they can. Chris was just subsequent thought

I was in as your question. Same as what. And that that me when we first. Oh my. When. For years. Rule. And man when really we had to pick berries for that please. We seem sot it's slightly both. Both you know what talk about that is. You know. They gave us them the root beer is. She asked that I learn from

her initial no less. Marvelous. Teach me the Psalms. He told me put a new heart and I know how I'm gonna put it. But ade Lerone lawn when. And how would they put this. I think you could understand Indian. You understand in the little bit who did determine that. But I need to make it. Just everything in the end no one had learned.

But they teach them. I have two more sons to teach them but the integral as it is. It's afraid and it was her phrase her son. See it's easy it's easy for it. So besides the song that you were just saying about before they pick the berries. There's one more song that they sing at the longhouse a prayer song about the food we eat. Best time for prayers. Before we eat you know there's a sauna. Certain saw.

Before we do little pieces hooey you see that in a play. No so hire me out here and there. Barry x different kind of berries then. There there there. It's everybody knows that song and certain saw where you use there then and there's over a wider and then anybody can have them. Everybody can eat after it at that. That's really a prayer. Quite and we have that lady pieces that little pieces say em and me them. Root Berry and water

queen. Well I would took that. I took that Glee. I meet her at the. And we took that as. Oh I meet Jim true in that but I say. Hey you got an sleepin. Even you are so rude. OK so the song much you saying this is the song that talks the song that

song when they're taking the little pieces of the food and then drinking the water before everybody starts to eat at the feast. Yes yes. Everything in little pieces like fish deer meat are all different kinds are all looks and berries different kind of berry. And we see and take all of them pleaded pieces in our mouth. True Thing if it weren't there. Matilda says the other song sung during the feast are wash it or prayer songs as well as knowing the songs of the feast. Matilda Mitchell talks about how they dressed for the feast on Sundays.

We were adults meat you wouldn't cut them. And that you know what. That can convict him afraid of by their IP at tell it when that Bush and. And quite me a when. And I can only quote that ma. Bush. Now what. I mean I can but I you know we. And then we. Dress up. We will she said. I assure you we we're always where buckskin Drislane are. We have feast and that cap.

Yeah but upper and man folks wear leggins said. They all have to be aware. Indeed style every scene there. We get key everything that is nice nice. That's what we older people used to. Across there they always were but do you still wear pretty since they even put a red on their feet and he had little Put Get along there. But the hair that one don't wear a cap put the put a little on their hair. Why why did they put yellow on their hair and a way out their story it's in heaven.

They say it there when people die and the girl I have been in the sea pretty peoples they're real pretty. I walk away. Oh a poet in the PTA. But oh oh oh up oh ah. I caulked what. At tell her the din. Even that man folks have to dress up. I said there are two men folks have to dress we. We respect our firmest could bury feast like him. Is there a way you see it.

That I wrote first Durex Deakin. We get so happy that we we have a new fall. That's why we dress up like that Huckleberry feast time and he was also a time when families came together and camped camps were set up under the shade of pine trees next to the cool clear water of the Warm Springs river it was a time to greet old friends as well as make new friends. Nettie remembers the Serenade song sung long ago. Our brother there's our talk Brad there's really no at that. So what do you call it is that clear yet. So so on stage in all of us here in the 8 songs we always have that one wave move in and that that was the most fun to

us. And when we last night and they do it that day again. But do you stare funny. So when you first moved into camp before you broke camp and moved out they had serenading. Yeah. What was what kind of songs were these were they just fun songs. Yeah. I don't know if I am. Hey. Hey. Hey. It took their soul really love to do that. We

miss them. Did they was it just singing was there dancing at the camps as well. A Well they say they had that drum. Whole bunch of them circle here now and hit that drum and the women folks will stand behind them just say and its loudest we want to be like just glad glad that we're together again and really be. Will see you next year again or something like oh you know so. So the songs were kind of. I'm glad we're coming together and then the songs before you left were you know I'm glad we came together and will see you again. You're so. Yeah but they move from camp to camp. Yeah yeah. They've all of

that dance whatever it is you know Drum where they're supposed to drum at the mall. Took a cab took him away. We cannot leave tomorrow then. Be more off to camp took camp by all or all around every place. Bed was really fun. We go in for her but for a break. How about OK you had serenade songs when people set up camp and then before people took down the camp. One of the other things that I know they did is they had a traditional dress parade. Maybe talk a little bit about that and why they did that around the campground area.

We still pray that with the horses that man the furthest always when we next and we seen worship saw. When we three. Yeah. O prayers for us. Was that kind of like a blessing for the ground it was just go around. There's sin. Sure miss tall and. Really. I feel it is my heart that they don't do that anymore. I know who are but if they don't have horses we don't have no more horses you know.

We used to pray to with the horse. Even the Horus love that they could just jump around. Even the Pocahontas jump around and do it that way. I hear I hear men folks see in wash out saw now but that one we're still used that parading. I can't remember it now just get just all that. I guess I can even claim that car I don't know if I can write a hardass. You'll have to get them to hook up a way I get it for you. Yes dear. Throw me up maybe throw me out on a horse and I just stay there for ever.

What about some of the dances they used to do. I know now most most things are kind of like Powell but what are some of the fund answers they used to do at the feast. To learn and connect. WILSON The way or is it. You know he's seen as we used to have their fun dance. Them peyote Johnsons. It be used to do that to. Like we were that we had led a pilot that used to come over here and have that song on route like around there and so on but faster. The door faster. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.

I can remember that. Moment. Remember the song Oh if you think I can remember this so I will remember it. It's all nonsense. You would seem so a lot of the time when you got together you know you shared different dances. Yes we shared different dances there were Paiutes like John's Clay Johnson and the older people. The Johnsons there were so many trance and the Beatles to come and share their dance with us. And so each tribe did some dances was there was go dancing that was done a long time ago.

Yeah it was good. We had it was good it was deferred. It was good. Then said it was different. You know we then skein a funny you know. What kind of dances did they do. A long time ago was go dancing just dance. Tool me to a woman and men just then see. Just like there. When you play you play and say the man who once say that all men just go. Or like me at the end. It looks they is but they know the Dems came in a different no. Funny. Do you remember enough to teach those old dances.

Do you remember enough to teach those old dances. At least make us dance during the afternoon they tell us we have to go to bed. Bill Aldridge. So so the younger people they had dances for the kids were mostly in the afternoon and the older people danced that night. What were some of the other dances that I did dance when I was so plentiful so poor I had just one Moccasin and I just take off my of my Because I have just stuck an on seeing in the skip then saw an Oh I played the first one dancing and I

lost my stock dance scene and Big Give me $5 because I make them laugh. A long time ago when they had dances like the skip dance so they had rabbit dance or dance. You never have been never did head butt dance. Just go play a piano around dance. I don't know when they saw red but dance came late so it wasn't. We never had a bet just award bands and they're cool people you know around dance like you know they they're there. So you're saying on the Albans that they've kind of adopted a different style but

when they had these kind of dances a long time ago these were ways for the young people to kind of media each other the boys and the girls. Yeah. He has our sister was the whip for my long time ago across here we had total on house way across here. Totally mad. Lawn house paedophile. You know when you dream in you could just get wet. Then when become trouble see if you see and know and you have to pay for high blanket beg. Men are told that they had to go pay a fine. It was a no. Like Dan Snow for that money price money

we never had at that time Michael. So it was more more socializing and more fun. Yes you tell us. Oh really fun I think. Hey we try to do it at the hip but still we get the price money no. In the big time. Yeah. I would like to think Matilda Mitchell way and Frida Woolton for sharing their remembrances and the traditional teachings concerning the Warm Springs Huckleberry feast. When we come back on the Warm Springs program we'll also be visiting with tribal elder Lucy roan about some of the teachings that she can recall from her younger days and how these were taught to them concerning the feast and other things as they were growing up as youth in Warm Springs. You're listening to the Warm Springs

program on K WSO ninety one point nine FM. Your station on the reservation. Why.

Warm Springs tribal. Traditional.

She grew up with are still valuable for you to share with us. You could sing in her. VOICE. And they would share with you and if they were. Cowboy break horses for the old people and give it to them. Custis what in Chin in their future life they would have good

luck. Be nice to the old people. And that was the belief the old people always share. Don't all don't ever ask for anything because things will come to you if you share with the old people. We did that in even those that. We shared with even our whip pan. In my generation I think everybody grew up that way. Sharon. In. And man I really believe that those of us that are now in raising our family we'll all reach by the foot then. From Matilda and Nettie on down. We were all had. Put man in a family. In peace. After he tweeted us switch us. He would. He would ask us how many Whitney switches we wanted

one want to attain. Whatever number we gave we that's what he does. But 20 a week if true then he would tell us. This was for our own good. We was going to. We would learn to. Be good parents yes we do our work but we our parents told us. And I really believe that really helped me as I didn't have a mother in law and the people that I always counseled with us at that time that is what they call it they call it the saying. That's like whispering in your ear. And SR you'll be like this you'll be like that when you grow up. And your job is to be raise your family. You gotta cook three meals a day. You wash dishes. And I think all the girls were that way. And maybe we're not doing these things now to

our younger children. This is why we have to have this child Children Protective Service not taking kids away from parents and child abuse. Because we're not telling our children. How to behave. Lizzie can you talk a little bit about some of the training this specific training of the young girls and the young men in connection with the feast What are some of the things a long time ago that the elders of the longhouse or the religious leaders how did they train the young people a long time ago to conduct themselves when they were taking part or learning to be part of the feast and the food handling. We didn't get training but we watched. And we did it is kids we played with played our feast as this is what you call

this children. We learned a song from just listening to the older people sing. And we did it with served. We didn't have the bright shawls and things like that they have now but with gunny sacks or so our blankets we were draped. But I guess we mobbed him because like in our family Ada Marina. My sister Rena. That's all we did. Yes we copied them. And we watch them when when they were in a long house and we had to get out and dance. And this is some of the things that we had to do. Quick man with outside wit go outside can make all the kids going the wrong house it's no Mattia and that was the only place they had to feast is subsume ASHO. And when we watch them.

And they'd make us get up and dance. And we had to get off the floor we couldn't stand on our feet. They made us jump up in the air. This is we learned and now we are teaching our mind like mine me with my daughters I have to follow me as I as I lead. Put them behind us. Then we tell them you know this is what you do and this is what you do. Cause our aunts taught us so we're you know we carried on teaching our children. I said would guess we learn from our adults. And I like Ada she was raised by her grandmother and she was a long lost person. The dress that is. This is why we all learned

and we never went to a long house to worship. All the parents worshipped in their own home. My dad worship Souther Saturday 8:00 in the evening when his force was good. It sing three sevenths. And pray to meet that meets Nate Sunday. Then come a Sunday date. He ate all his service first thing in the morning. Sing another seven. And always sing it to me else. I guess this is where we learned you know watching our order people how they did. And we learn from them. How about how about now Lizzie. What are some of the younger people some of them have not grown up with the tradition and yet they're expressing interest in

in learning what kind of words would you have for a young person that is interested in learning and doesn't have that background or that tradition of someone working with them. Where would a young person start with that. Where she kept will well come to some one her family you if she's the long lost person or even come to the longhouse Sunday. And she could learn from there. I don't like the and I think Tony tries to teach them during a set or a feast. She let them lead do all the table setting. And she doesn't she just tells them you know what to do. And. Just coming to the long last tour. Rondo sings this. Yes that's where there are not a for Pickett before the thesis that was one thing this is no Eton there is before these you wait till we

have heard that the longhouse. So we as children we learn will listen. We didn't dare eat anything. The sick class you bad luck your way to the east and then you can eat. In I think most of the children were those that were selected to go out in the four these two pick. But we pick for our family. Because they had special people you know pick for the wrong house. Has that changed now. What what has changed from when you grew up and you could remember because an elder told me before that there were seven women that went out to pick for the feast. How has that changed now. Whole families are going out now. And the you still meet like the aisle the Sunday before the feast.

They'd have a meeting. Then they would see OK someone so it's going to go to look at the various. Next Sunday we'll meet here and then we'll go. But now it's families are all going out. We didn't have in. Not just a certain no one said we should go out. Well he had now it's come by and you know the two long hours us. And we have two leaders in the heat now. But we don't have a man leader agency doesn't have a man a leader and in the longhouse a managed a leader. Not a woman the man is the leader. And that's changed the same way up to a snow national Matilda displays that really didn't you know what Pearson she strayed

in him. That's one of the changes I see in you and the whole family goes around. That should be just one from each family go around the plate that's the thing that I see changed. It's less two years since the pickers go round she chance used to when they come in when they bring their Berry saying they brought it in. They went around with that letter they put it down and that was it until Sunday. And they put it out and that was it. Now it's the pecker drop again. Then to go around the shake hands that it's not our way. That is the way I seen it when I was a kid growing up in some measure that is and what do you do to the longhouse. Everybody know who went Pekin So a long time ago if there was a person

designated as one of the pickers say one of the seven How was that passed on their oldest daughter or somebody in a family if she didn't have a daughters. Not like Edna she she inherited Sally Ike's place. They pass it on to send money in a family they want to. But the few who you know will carry it on. My sister got into care and a berry surround her and our aunt Susan Moses put her in line. Because we were so we used to go to the long house all the time. And we donated berries for the feast all the time for the hook feast. So that was how she got in. And when she passed away. Then I took over the spot. And now it's the bowls are heavy. So I pass it on to Serena

which is her daughter. I told her she could take her spot. And that's how I would go astray and he should pass it on down down the line. And they said we have a lot more settings than he used to have. We have what he said but four four behind each lady now. Maybe talk a little bit about when and when you say the places in line are passed on. I know part of that passing the tradition is the passing of the baskets and also of the past. Talk a little bit about the puff. What what was the purpose. Because a long time ago the elder say that these were only worn feast What is the significance of that hat. Well I guess you're just like a war bonnet to on to on man. It's you

are you are a mature person and you're what you call. I know the older people I see them. Even now in their pictures you know they were a few of them had heads. The. And those hats are not to be put into the grave. With the person there who like a war bonnet they're there for 11 people. They not to put into it because they're just like us. They were I know when my dad passed away baby. Henry Thompson told me don't you put your Dad swore Monody in in his in the what you call it's for livin people. That's why you never see them put a war bonnet or a punch in. Unless it's you know they needed one or something that you know they have never. Really.

You just kind of pass it on to the family in the family right. The ones that were traditionally worn at the feast These were mainly the Cornhusker puffed up post Yeah they were all Cornish were those their grass those old ones were made from. Bare grass and so that was that was kind of when that transition was done from whoever had the hat and the baskets when they passed that on to somebody then that was also passed as well. Yeah the dish has said Don I would like like us will would just what you called Acquired hours than one that I have yes. Ella bought for me and she gave it to me. So I use it. Been say didn't have a mother to Europe as I have down for me or my sister. Well that

beat a lot I have less sure that was hers was passed down from. We'll say it's family. What are what are some of the other ways that you've seen women in the long house. Some of their attire are how that has kind of changed over the years I know the older ones some of them just put what you call kind of rolled up halfway rolled up a handkerchief and tied it around their head. And the what red put their shawl around them like a ski rep or a skirt. Because someplace she didn't have a new dress teachers used to put shawl and that was one way. The I see the surveyor with shawls wrapped around them. Maybe talk about that. There have been other women that have talked about for the time that it's the teaching was that you wore a new dress talk talk a

little bit about that. I know even when we were little my stepmother she would make us all new pairs of jeans and little dress just out of peace. And we run around just like sheets now with brand new shoes. But we were so glad we had new moccasins but. I don't know why it was. I guess you know a celebration. But I know all the kids had new moccasins for peacetime. Even if we didn't take part in a feast but we went in long hours to dance. Just you know going around as boys said to get in there and dance to. That. Since. It's just one thing a lot of the older people are rich in buckskin. So we everybody had options.

And one of the things that they talked about and what I've heard echoed in a lot of different places and different times is the elders want people to dress appropriately. They want them to wear mosques and so they want them to even dress respectfully in the longhouse talk a little bit about the teaching when you were growing up about the way that you dressed in the way that you conducted yourself in the longhouse. I know when. We say we all had to wear ring dresses on Sunday even a plea even if we didn't go to the wrong house but we had to have it and braid our hair. Because she'd braid our hair for us. You break your hair. We sure respect ourselves and take care of our hair costs. The our own people are really their hair. As cut like a crowning

glory. Why they keep their hair to. Their comments. The Colemans are kept to use as a. Test so we use that. To put in. A. New they make a new pillow case. Then to put that in. That's a pillow that's you take that to you don't burn your hair. That's just. That's a no no. You put away. To see if just to to the grave with you. Yeah. Are all people to see evil come to shake my hand smile at me makes me feel good because it just makes like they say now days he thinks my day but. I always tell young people go she said old lady san or the grandpa. And because it makes sense feel good to make me feel good. And.

Even liked Matilda Nettie I'll tell him our all in a field that even if I'm you know not so far behind them. Me either. But. Parents should tell their children to their aunts or anybody for their relatives see how a lot of them will shake their hand if they're old like us or else up there you know. And it's thanks to people feel that in the in time we'll see or those kids are nicely come in to shake my hand. Makes me feel that. When they grow old they will realize how hideous. So it's good for the parents to teach your children to respect the elders that comes from that respect. Recognizing who we are and shaken hands with the old

people. I would like to express appreciation to our tribal elders for sharing the teachings and beliefs they grew up with our elders are one of the most important resources we have as native people to Lizzie roan Matilda Mitchell Netty Shah Wei Frieda will look to him and all of our other tribal elders or memorials the name giving will take place on July 30 first at the HEA long house on Sunday August 1st they will be having Sunday services all pickers fishermen and hunters are asked to be in attendance. The Warm Springs Huckleberry feast for 993 will be August 8th at the HEA longhouse join us for the Warm Springs program every Wednesday at 5 pm rebroadcast Sunday morning at 8 on your station on the reservation. KW ninety one point nine FM.