Salmon bake, special presentations at Chiloquin High honor Tribes
Nov. 17, 2023 / Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School students and staff enjoyed salmon cooked over an open fire pit for lunch Friday (Nov. 17) during a day dedicated to exploring Native American culture and heritage.
After watching classmates perform traditional Native dances with the Warrior Society Drum members, students headed to class as the salmon cooked in front of the school and fry bread sizzled nearby.
This is the second year the school and tribal members have organized a traditional salmon bake to celebrate the Native culture within Chiloquin’s student body and honor Native American Heritage Month. Organizers expanded the celebration this year to include presentations on Klamath Tribal history and language, highlighting the cultures of the local Klamath, Modoc, and Paiute people, said Will Hess, a Klamath Tribal member who works with students through the On Track OHSU! program.
About 60% of Chiloquin’s student body identifies as Native American or Indigenous.
“By hosting this event we are creating space to celebrate the rich cultures of our Indigenous students,” Hess said. “This is an opportunity to share a small piece of our local tribal culture with all students and faculty.”
As the salmon cooked, Chiloquin eighth-grader and tribal member Denver Bravo joined classmates who checked on the progress during a break between classes.
“It’s cool we get to do this,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to show people our traditions.”
Chiloquin administrators Ruben Paschal and Valli Lonner helped Hess and Alethea Barlowe, Klamath Program coordinator for On Track OHSU!, organize the event with support from the Klamath Tribes Culture and Heritage Department, Klamath Tribes Language Department, Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services Prevention Program, and staff from the Klamath County School District Title VI and Food Services departments.
Ten salmon were donated by Klamath Tribal Elder Romaine “Smokey” Miller and Warm Springs Tribal Elder Ron Suppah. Hess, Brad Parrish, water rights specialist with the Klamath Tribes Ambodat Department; and Tribal member Clarence Henthorne prepared and cooked the salmon over the fire, following the traditional fish cooking practices of the Klamath River tribes. Other Tribal members cooked fry bread to serve with the fish.
After lunch, students attended four presentations:
- The traditional homelands of the Klamath Tribes – Klamath Tribal elder Kathleen Hill, J.D., LL.M., who holds a master of law degree with a focus on International Sustainable Development, hosted the presentation with the help of her husband, Dr. Joseph Dupris, Ph.D. J.D., who is a member of the Minneconjou band of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
- Lived experience – Klamath Tribal member Dr. Gerald Hill, a retired medical doctor, has served as president of the National Association of American Indian Physicians and was instrumental in the establishment of Tribal Health Services for the Klamath Tribes after Restoration in 1986. He presented about his experiences and shared an inspirational message with students.
- Introduction to the Klamath, Modoc, and Northern Paiute languages – Klamath Tribal members Georgene Wright-Nelson and Steve Weiser form the Klamath Tribes Language Department, taught beginning language lessons to students.
- Traditional foods of the Klamath Tribes – Klamath Tribal member Garin Kohl Riddle, who works as the Klamath Tribes Culture and Heritage Department Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act specialist, shared about his job and his knowledge on the traditional foods of the Tribes.
Organizers plan to continue the annual event and thanked tribal members who presented to students.
“Until 1978, practicing traditional tribal ceremonies was still illegal in the U.S.,” Hess said. “The fact we are able to bring students together to sing, dance, eat traditional food, and learn our history and tribal languages in school today is worth celebrating.”
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