Posts

See ya Coeur'd Alene Lake!

Image
Last morning, honestly I didn't want to get out of bed. I got up, had my regular cup of  joe and we checked our rodent traps Pedro showed us how to make. Two teams trapped mice and he demonstrated how to measure and weigh them. He also showed us how to identify what sex they are. Our bucket was visited and they ate out bait and left their feces. Some how they got out of the bucket.  I really wanted to swim in the Lake. So I told Robyn to jump in with me. We did, it was so refreshing. We noticed that they also have an invasive species problem growing in their lake, like our waters back home. There was a sign saying that they have mats layed over the invasive species and not to disturb. Invasive species are everywhere. Ultimately disturbing the system as a whole and the ecosystem is damaged. As we all will forever remember this trip for the rest of our lives, we came as friends and strangers... and leave as brothers and sisters. Bonded by time that we took out of our lives and the
Post a Comment
Read more

Kamiak Butte County Park with Landon Day 13

Image
Day 13 July 21, 2017 Today we got up and drove toward Pullman, about 10 to 15 miles before Pullman there is a state park, Kamiak Butte. There we met up with a graduate student from WSU that is from the Flathead tribe. He has been studying Pileated Woodpeckers. It was very interesting learning about the woodpeckers. I didn't know they were a keystone species. The cavity they make in the dead trees are used by many species, including squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and weasels. He didn't trap or tag the woodpeckers. He only monitored their activities. He didn't even actually see any. I really enjoyed listening to his knowledge. He also did a lesson with us on the butte about the aspects of the mountain and the different vegitation, trees, moisture, wind, and the amount of photons that reached the ground. North East aspect of the Butte was shady, lots of diversity in trees and vegitation, cool and less wind. The South West aspect was very dry, a lot of dead plant species, shrubs
Post a Comment
Read more

Sending off canoes/ Day 12

Image
Day 12 July 20, 2017 Our first morning waking up next to the Lake. It was a beautiful morning. We jumped up early and went to an amazingly awesome Couerd' Alene wellness center to shower. We made back in time to witness the send off of the canoes. It was a beautiful moment that I was able to witness. I thought it was important to witness and thought the high school kids should of experienced it. Prayers of love and concern were shared. Young people need to be exposed to these ceremonies. It was a start of a wonderful celebration of Julyamsh! I was the excited to meet with Quanna Matheson and his father Dave. They are very prayerful people and I knew they would have a good message for each of us. We met them at the Coeurd' Alene Casino, a very beautiful facility.  I really liked the way Quanna and his father talked about having that "common sense". Quanna talked about most Americans behaving like they are teenagers. They aren't thankful, only see what is front o
Post a Comment
Read more

See you later Wellpinit, hello Lake Coeur' Dalene Day 11

Image
Day~11 July 19, 2017 We took down our tents, said our farewells to Warren, loaded our vans, and we hit the road once again. Beautiful drive to Spokane and on to Lake Coeurd' Alene! As soon as we arrived, we all fell in love with the lake. We set up camp just in time. Coeurd' Alene Tribe was hosting a first foods feast. They seeved us delicious salmon cooked on sticks. They had cooked an elk in the ground for 3 days. They also cooked Kunch in the ground as well. They also had a little bit of Camas to go around.  The traditional foods were delicious. After dinner they had a ceremony to bless a new canoe. They prayed over the canoe and blessed it with cedar and sang an honor song. It was a good collaboration of family and in laws. I was honored to witness. They even allowed us to bless ourselves. It was a good feeling. We watched them put the canoe in the water and a woman took the first trip in the lake. Beautiful....
Post a Comment
Read more

POBR HAIKU

Image
The Wellpinit woods People of the Big River Our Heritage soars
Post a Comment
Read more

Spokane Tribal Hatchery, Wildlife, Canoe journey Day 10

Image
Day~10 July 18, 2017 It seemed like we don't have enough time in the morning to get everything done we need to, even when we have extra time. Before we knew it we were off on another adventure. First stop was to see their fish hatchery efforts, where they produce rainbow trout and Kokanee Salmon.  Tim Peone was very knowledgeable and passionate about his efforts to bring back the salmon and provide fish for his people. Our next stop was to the Anderson Farm. The tribe purchased this property in efforts to restore water to the McCoy Lake by returning a creek to it's nature path into the lake. They also use the property for the Wildlife program. The Wildlife program manager is  Eddy Matherly an enrolled member. He talked about how his program is part of the mitigation funding provided by the BPA. In 1992 the population of the people was growing and White Tail deer populations were declining. Since the Salmon can not swim back up the rivers, they needed another source of protei
Post a Comment
Read more

Tshimikain Creek/Pit House Day 9

Image
Day~9 July 17, 2017 Tshimikain Creek was beautiful, I enjoyed jumping off the cliff and swimming to the falls. We did help out the water and fish Manager Casey Flanagan and Nick Eldrid do some electrofishing. We learned about the native trout species, Red Band Rainbow Trout. They are mostly resident fish but some do swim out to the ocean and become Steelhead. They also have Kokanee Salmon In their waters. This is a resident hatchery salmon, they try and raise them a little longer at the hatchery so they don't swim out to the ocean. The Spokane people are still waiting for Chinook salmon to return to their rivers. BPA is still holding out on building fish ladders, so salmon can not return. It sets my soul on fire to be reminded of this and see the hurt in the people's eyes. Even with the sorrow they feel, they can still smile and carry on in hope and a prayer. They know who they are and where they come from. Creator bless the Spokane Tribe.  We ended our night at the pit house.
1 comment
Read more