First, I'd like to thank everyone for their input, criticisms, etc. If I
find the time I'll respond individually...
Most people asked if WA has "Indian Graves" laws. It does, but there was
some question as to how it applies re: private land. Not any more.
Copies of the appropriate RCW (Revised Code of Washington) have been made and
distributed.
Second, I do realize that some sort of previous Fed involvement must be shown
if NAGPRA is to be invoked. Personally, I believe a case can be made,
but we need the documentation.
I attended a meeting on 17 Feb in Winlock (bastardized from the NA
Winolequa), at which representatives spoke about the project. They
told us, in no uncertain terms, that while the Burial Issue was indeed
important, they felt that it is not the *most important* issue, and don't
want to have to use it unless as a last resort. Unfortunately, I was in a
room of Conservative Whites, and knew I couldn't speak my mind and have
an impact (I know it appears I'm overgeneralizing, but that's what they are).
I kept my mouth shut. We are causing them to think. They are afraid we
might gain control, because if we do, a can of worms will be opened, and
this time the lid cannot be replaced.
The impression the CIPC currently has is that the local community (Winlock/
Toledo) is not a force we desire to ally ourselves with. If we attend
no more meetings, it will appear that we have lost interest, and we have,
insofar as expecting genuine support from the public. However, I have been
in touch w/a reporter from nearby Longview, and she is interested in what the
CIPC seeks to accomplish. Some of us will still attend meetings, if for
no other reason than to be a thorn, to remind them of our purpose.
All within the CIPC save myself feel that a Cowlitz Indian Cultural Center
would be a good thing to have on that property. It is my wish, though, that
if we gain control of the land we should dismantle the buildings and reforest
the plot, with the exception of the burial sites. It would not be a good
thing to locate a "common building" anywhere near known graves -- I fear we
would be inviting invasion and disruption of those whose peace we seek to
preserve, regardless of race.
We have one other tack we'd like to take, to persue, and I invite comment,
criticism, and discourse. It is thus: the land the mission was built upon
was indeed a gift from the Cowlitz to the Catholic church. If they cease to
use it as a place of prayer, as a place to practice their religion, should
they not then return it to its original "owner?" It is this that I address
in the following statement, once again written by Greg Ladue Grove. I have,
just like last time, not transferred his text directly -- I am adding
statements and thoughts that are my own -- but since our goals are the same,
our words flow together.
If any body finds some words here they want to repeat, repost, or quote,
feel free to do so -- all we ask is proper credit, and that you make all CIPC
contact information available. I would also ask that if you do use our
words, please email me with appropriate info. I just want to know who and
how far we are reaching.
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Greg's message:
February 15, 1996
Klohawya,
Many years ago, in the middle 1800's, some very religious people came to
our land, the Land of the Cowlitz, in what is today known as Southwest
Washington State. They came as people with good intentions and we accepted
them. We were grieving for *thousands* of men, women, children, and warriors
that had died of diease.
The people who had come were the missionaries, the blackrobes. They were
allowed to teach their ways -- some of our people found this healthy and
took those ways. The missionaries were allowed to build a school and a place
of worship. The land these were built on was not bought. It was not
traded. It was our gift. As was done in other parts, the church and its
people allowed the Cowlitz a place to bury their own dead. Since most of
our people were killed by smallpox, their bodies were not placed in the
cemetery proper; they were instead interred nearby. Most unfortunately, the
headstones of the Cowlitz graves have been removed.
The church now says this land is for sale. They would sell this gift, this
place of prayer, this quiet place where Indians and non-Indians rest.
They propose to sell this gift to a group that would build a boot camp for
children that have lost their way. A boot camp was not the intent for this
land by our old ones. It was to be a place of prayer.
If these people cannot honor this gift it then needs to be given back to our
people so that we may again care for it, so that we may use it as a place of
prayer by and for our people, so that we may care for the ones who rest
there.
Let it be summed up as such:
* NO BOOT CAMP. This is a spiritual place,
a resting place.
* If this gift cannot be honored it needs
to be returned to the Cowlitz, who WILL
use this land as was intended.
We call upon all families and descendents of those buried at this site,
as well as our sisters and brothers from other Indian nations, and any other
truly interested party, to stand against this sale -- and against any who
seek to control this land who are not Cowlitz, and who do not seek to
honor those who have given their lives so that we may live.
For info, comments, suggestions:
COWLITZ INDIAN PEOPLES COALITION
PO Box 123
Bucoda, WA 98530
Greg LaDue Grove
360-278-3329
Wendy and Patty Kinswa
103 Panorama Dr #A
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-8190
and, of course, me:
dAVe Burlingame
206-255-7303 (h)
206-386-4680 (w)
davidb@spl.lib.wa.us
List of some Indians and Families at this burial site:
BouchardBorteBernierDeBeau
EylePlomondonMeyerSt. Germain
SauraultSennSatanasSkemin, Jack
Scomish, Henry JackStockhamWahowa, JosseYukton
end of Greg's message
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I do recall, in all your responses, someone suggesting that I contact the
Archdiocese of Seattle, since our poeple were buried, most assuredly, on
consecrated ground, which cannot, by virtue of Catholicism, be disturbed.
I'm not personally nuts about this idea, but it's quite good, and more
than viable. Denial of our "religion" may lead to acceptance under another.
I'm going to wade through my mail and thank the person who made this
suggestion. I will be using it.
Many others have suggested protests, etc. We have thought about this, and
have not decided against it -- we don't want to use the tactic of
embarrassing others right out of the gate -- but the horses are warm, and
we're ready to ride...
Thank you for your time.
All My Relations
dAVe Burlingame
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
CIPC