The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1908-04-02
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u Siwashes have said their iafe-
wells and taken formal ieave q
their iavorite hunting and fishing
grounds 90 the Columbia river.
near what Is 70 he the town q
White Bluffs, IN Douglas county,
southwest 81 Spokane. The final
poN-uoN and poiiatch took place
II night aad closed with the tribal
salute g tbs eoln.ng II the white
race.
Graceful IA his gestures and
eloquent ii tongue. f0mame assde.
Inrred the farewell oration. holding
his people literally spen.hoand ipr a
quarter hour. while be glofifed
their deeds q vaiof, told q their
struggles aEalhs, the white man
and q their battles with other
trhes who sought TO invade the
rch valley. where le and hs tribes.
men and their 'orclNar hel1 sway
many years.
The cefemonials were witnessed
BY a number Il Yakimas. one time
ihe bi,tercss foes 81 the departing
tribe. also ~ large gathering q
settlers. who came into the valley
u advance q the ifans.coniInen,al
meroad now building through
/ Washington.
I The farewell was preceded hy
three days Of dancing, during which
the ehei and hcaamcn visited the
Old stamping ground. which marked
the scenes q, their victories in tbe
'Nakimas Indian wars. This was
followed hy II hours q fasting.
during which the sauaWs and girls
prepared The camp io5 the anal
leave taking.
AZ dsisk the heads q the bands
visited the tribal hup9ng grounds,
requesting the newcomers 10 permit
the remains q Their sepafed t'eth-
ers 70 rest undlaubea. This fHeI
tcing carried oui with much ce'e'
mony and pomp, the Indians
assembled a, the waters edge.
p,hefe small fires had BEEN started
as.d the flames smo,hefed. Chsi
Tomanasas lmpetsonated tho var
god q salute TIC newcomers.
When the neon appeared d, al
certain point q TIE slSy. the squaws
began the Death chant. which Was
weird ara wll1 d TIE extreme. thelsI
voices minglng with the hoshng
q the coyotes. Waneblsha. -.
elafel 70 + the Oldest sauaW in the
pagh1 Northwest pfosiIatcd hef.
selt before TIE central 6fe AZ the
beginning u the chan, and as her
Volce ease expression q tones lI,,e
the vail q a los soul. the fires. Ia
.tafn. were uncovered ani the
s1aaws formed q e.felt about them |
IA points between TIE fires thel
headmen took positions. each
te5sed b the Nai paint and head-
ieathefs q the old days.
squaWs and girls, with the old.
fashioned ptstie and moaaf. ground
grain tor the fsld. The corn and
wheat had been ehatUaed b. tie
medicine men. The chanting oi
Tire squaWs continued % minutes.
when Chef Tomansass arose from
cfouehlng position 10 the sentef
d the Sc c8ele. and, giving q
shout which echoed along TIE hits.
commanded those assembled tol
hailken 70 tlM hst voice u the Waf-
uors which would ever b heard
IN TIE Columbia Flyef valley.
AZ TIE close d his address. Wheh
was largely oi a historical character.
tlle veteran chefiain squatied On
the ground. and the Indians joined
the chant q he aged squaw. VINO,
during the early part II tie cere-
mony and the chiefs big talk,
pfostrated herself, sauiFmInr % free
herself from the bonds which Bound
her aud TIE others of the tribe 70
this part ol the tlvcf lands. When
al was quiet the sguae uttered a
terrifying scream and sVooned.