NATIVE STORIES: AN ACT OF CULTURAL PRESERVATION

Historically, the Pacific Northwest had a great deal of trade among Native American groups: Tribes would bring different goods to the Columbia River east of Portland, a centralized area for these types of gatherings, especially during the summer months when salmon would migrate upstream to spawn.

Ed Edmo, Native American storyteller, playwright, poet, and all-around performer, explained the important role of the Columbia River and much more regional history at Mt. Hood’s Student Union on Wednesday, May 30.

The event was hosted in partnership with Chakc-Kum Tux and the college’s Diversity Resource Center (DRC). Chakc-Kum Tux (which means “beginning to learn”) is the potential re-vamp of a Native American club on campus.

Edmo’s initial home growing up was at Celilo Falls – known as the ancient village of Wy-am – located 13 miles upstream from The Dalles Dam and about 95 miles east of Portland. His tribal affiliations include Shoshone-Bannock, Nez Perce, and Yakima tribes.

Using a slide show, he discussed the environment he grew up in and summarized small parts of Native American history. This mainly included photos of traditional regalia, community members displaying large salmon they had caught, and traditional abodes.

Edmo’s own childhood home was built from railroad ties, he said.

However, this area was inundated with water on March 10, 1957, when the Dalles Dam had been completed and the river behind it began to fill.

In a brief article The Oregonian newspaper (OregonLive.com) published in 2015, Edmo recalled, “I saw it! Hurt my heart!”  describing the dam flooding out his family home.

A lot of history and culture was washed away by this event – thousands of years of history.

An essay by John Caldbick on HistoryLink.org notes: “Archaeological findings have established that (Natives) had been catching salmon between The Dalles and Celilo Falls for as long as 11,000 years, and the village of Wy-am was one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the region.”

Edmo referred to the damming as a form of drowning in his poetry book, “These Few Words of Mine,” which was available for purchase at the MHCC event.

He relayed other experiences of hardship, as well. As a young boy, he was often discriminated against and his community often segregated from the white population. He remembers going out to eat with his family and being quickly turned away from the upscale restaurant in town, where it was stated, “Your kind aren’t welcome here.”

Humor as medicine

Although Edmo grew up in this environment, he did not let it faze his sense of humor.

In a video piece published by OPB Television’s “Oregon Art Beat” in 2010, Edmo’s daughter, Se-ah-dum, states, “I think humor has played a huge part in the survival of Native people. And if there’s one thing that my dad is really good at, it’s making people laugh, on a regular basis.”

Still going strong at age 72, Edmo also shared Native legends with the Student Union audience.

Guests had the opportunity to listen to a handful of Native stories from several tribes. Storytelling is a traditional method of teaching for Native communities. They believe in a time where there was magic in the world: Animals could talk, manifest in ordinary objects, and alter surroundings. Characters such as Coyote, Owl, Eagle, Bear, Beaver, and more have vital roles in storytelling legends shared among numerous tribes.

The method of delivery for Edmo at Mt. Hood involved several puppets the audience would greet and then interact with. Guests were highly encouraged to join in during parts of the storytelling, restating small segments of speech and making bodily movements, mimicking the elder  (Edmo).

In sum, it was an honor to hear him share traditional stories and inform the Mt. Hood community about Native culture.

For more, or to contact Edmo, visit: ededmo.tripod.com or email: [email protected].

One final note: If you would like to assist with initiating the Native club Chakc-Kum Tux, call 503-491-7269 or email the ASG Director of Student Clubs & Organizations at [email protected].