by Judy Bushy, Happy Camp. CA
It was a busy weekend in Happy Camp with the Krauk Tribal Reunion as well as the Klamath River Watershed Art & Music Festival.
It wasn’t required that one be Karuk to attend the reunion, only to vote in the election that was taking place at the same time. The thing I noticed most was how considerate they were to all. They served breakfast for those who got there early, without charge. They were offering everyone bottled water and asking them to be sure not to become dehydrated. Since temperatures had been in the triple digits the week before, Saturday didn’t seem all that hot. The consideration that they expressed was what one appreciated! They were also inviting all to the dinner at three o’clock. A welcoming attitude pervaded the day at the Reunion .
Susan Gehr had a large Karuk Dictionary that she was making available to those who wanted to play a little game. Eager youngsters enjoyed the game and even wanted to play again without the reward of another dictionary once they had earned one. It looks like a fascinating book and it is good to see all the enthusiasm from youngsters learning to speak Karuk. There was basketry going on both in the People’s Museum (where the language game was taking place also) and on the grass elsewhere. I noticed the addition of many photographs to the museum displays and hope to go back and look at them further another time. The Gift Shop in the People’s Museum was also a very busy place and had hats and t-shirts as well as their usual assortment of interesting wares for the event. They have such a good collection of books available and handmade note cards and so many things.
Dion Wood kindly invited me into the room where youngsters were decorating neat tote bags with stencils and markers. I didn’t get any art done due to taking photos of the beautiful children who were doing better art work than I could, but they offered a tote bag to carry all the literature, pens and color books that I’d collected. My kids always humored my having more coloring books than they did, but we always shared or copied a page they liked. Having child care business over twenty years, with CareAlot Child & Family Resources 1989-1991 made that more practical. Right behind that building you could hear gleeful sounds of children and on a hot day there was a long line at the waterslide. In fact, some bigger “kids” carried down little ones, and didn’t mind the splash in the cool water in the pool at the bottom at all!!! Then they could bounce in the bounce house until they were dry and slide down the water slide again!!! Great idea for a hot day.
The “techie’s” from the Tribe were cooking up hamburgers and cheeseburgers that looked delicious despite the jokes about keyboarding on the beautiful grill. The Happy Camp Community Computer Center had a booth as well. They have a lot of college classes available right in town here to help community members get an education! Eddie Davenport had a booth on the financial helps that are available to buy or remodel a home or to help a business. One area just for Tribal members were kits for emergency preparedness that were prepared for the elders and other members in case of flood, fire or catastrophe, but everyone was welcome to information on how to prepare for such an event. Here in Happy Camp we are accustomed to a week without electricity around New Years although we haven’t had one like the 1964 flood lately. This year the fires have so far been eighteen miles west of us but last year we were faced with the possibility of evacuation from wildfire. Being seventy five miles—long and winding road miles—from a hospital in the winter makes us more aware of needs to be prepared for handing some difficulties on our own before we are able to get to outside help.
The Health Tent had displays and information on all sorts of health issues and handouts of all sorts of helpful information. There was a beautiful horse painting being raffled off and opportunities for the youngsters to do their own art of horses. The Red Cross people were there with first aid information. You could learn your blood pressure or information on diabetes or other ailments. There was information on alcohol and other drugs. It seemed like there was information on any area of life that you wanted to become more aware of and healthy from dental to safety.
There were crafts and homemade jewelry and articles available for purchase of course. There was a raffle for everyone who came and registered as well as a raffle for a beautiful blue scooter, which received a lot of interest. Horseshoes, volleyball, and all sorts of games were available. Later on in the day there was music planned and after the Reunion many went over to enjoy performances of musicians at the Watershed Festival.
Some lucky students of Happy Camp High School took a class called “Life Skills.”
Some lucky guests that they invited to “sample” the final exam were delighted!!! For the Final exam these students made a delicious lasagne with garlic chicken, fresh corn on the cob and delightful salad. It was definately a grade A+ final exam!!
They prepared a dish fit for a king, and enjoyed by the principal and other guests!!!
The Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce announced that the annual membership meeting will be held March 4th at 7 PM. The meeting will be at the Grange Hall/ 64501 Second Avenue, Happy Camp. the time when board members will be elected to begin servnhing for the coming yera. Nominations are open until election time.
The Board members: Chris Sorenson Roberta Collum, Montine Blevins, Rita Manley, Karen Tulledo and Linda Zink sent out the announcement, with application for membership. Dues are still $52 annually from April 1 to March 31 year. Those who wish to be on the Chamber Web site, www.happycampchamber.com may fill out the membership form and pay dues at the March 4th meeting. You do not need to be a business owner to join or participate.
The Chamber sponsored River Run last summer made $1,927 to the Chamber and $2,815 to the Happy Camp Community Services District for park improvements. Cheryl Wainwright and John and Donna Gould continue to provide the leadership for this annual event for the Chamber.
The Chamber has obtained new business space, business insurance, a compuer and a part time employee through the STEP program.
For the coming year the Board plans to expand their reach to more businesses from Klamath River to Somes Bar, inscrease advertrising and sinage, improve Webpages and do radio ads. They also plan to reach out to large businesses who used to be members such as Pacific Power, Amerigas, etc.
Holiday Happiness in Lights are popping up all over, both on homes and businesses in our community.
Happy Camp is showing bright happy Christmas lights! Next to the lights of Parry’s Market, you can see the outline of the world’s largest dreamcatcher, complete with weaving spider in red.
Jesse Tree has been celebrated at the Happy Camp Christian Fellowship.This may not look like the traditional Christmas tree to you, and indeed, it is lacking the greens with sparkling lights, shiny tinsel and bright baubles. It is however, traditional in another way.
Margaret Bernhard shared an ornament with an ark on it and read Scripture that tells how Noah’s family was saved from flood, just like Jesus came to save those who believe in Him from destruction. Susan Neal hung an ornament. Vickie Simmons hung a burning bush on the Jesse Tree and read scriptures which told how God spoke through the bush, just as Jesus came to speak to us for God. Deleana read a scripture on “Son of Righteousness” as she hung an ornament on the tree and Pastor Kirk Eadie read four more scriptures.
Two weeks worth of ornaments have been hung on the tree and the rest will each be placed on the Jessie Tree on Sunday December 23rd.
Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce has, for many years, held a Community Tree Lighting. This year is no exception and will be held on Thursday, December 6th in the Happy Camp District Forest Service Office on Highway 96.
Lou Tiraterra, Sr. will be leading, with the Happy Camp Elementary School children, in Christmas Carols. There will be cider, cocoa and popcorn for those who come before supper.
Santa will also make his traditional arrival to hear the boys and girls tell what they want for Christmas.
Thank you to the Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce for continuing this long held tradition. Thank a board member when you see them, president is Chris Sorenson of Mosaic Press. Since last April when the new board took office, Karen Tolledo and Linda Zink from Scott Valley Bank have been appointed to take the place of Lehel G and Roberta Arneson who have resigned.
Other Christmas events planned for Happy Camp in December are two Children's Christmas Parties. One Children's Christmas party will be held by the Happy Camp Lions club and the other by the Karuk Tribe of California but both are planned for December 15th. The Grange also is planning a Holiday Bazaar on December 1st at the Grange on 2nd Avenue in Happy Camp.
John Kufner was honored for 35 years as coach! The recognition ceremony was at half time at a recent Happy Camp football game. The signed football was presented by his mother, Lola Bassett who was escorted by Phil Tripp and Jeano Wright.
The stands applauded in appreciation for what Coach Kufner has dedicated many years teaching, both in the classroom and the football field, at Happy Camp High School!
By Judy Bushy - copyright 1997 “From the River” column
Originally printed in the Siskiyou Daily News, Monday, December 1, 1997
The Karuk Tribe of California had its first Reunion recently. Tribal members and their families came from all directions, including some from Florida, Idaho and Alaska, Alvis (Bud) Johnson Tribal Chairman, flew back from Washington D.C. Where he had been working for the tribe.
One of the most popular spots was a collection of old photos. A case of photos of the elders was unlabeled the guessing was interesting to see who could name all of the people in the pictures.
Crafters had jewelry and etched glass to share, but most of the sharing was old friends, cousins, and family members meeting after many years. Some were meeting an extended family member for the first time.
Indian card games, played with sticks to the accompaniment of drumming were drawing a large crowd to cheer on the Happy Camp team or the Yreka team. Many of the booths were informative. One could have blood pressure or sugar level checked at booths by the Karuk health Services. Net door the Karuk Housing Authority had information on the housing developments for the tribe.
Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce, whose president is Harvey Shinar, had T-shirts available to commemorate the reunion. The black red and gray shirts had a single white feather pointing down, the symbol of a tribesperson traveling in peace.
To top off the day full of memories and reminiscences, some of the elders of full Karuk blood were presented on the stage by Bud Johnson: Fanny Fisher, Violet Super, Carolyn Brown, Francis Davis, Charles Robert Thom, Vera Vena Arwood, Lucille Albers, Louis Lloyd Jerry, Barbara King, Priscilla Dean Ainsworth, Nancy Lee Super, Lafayette Jerry, Deanna Rose Harris, Charron Davey Davis, Ida Jean Quimayosie, Shirley Jerry, and Margaret Vera Huston were honored. Vera Arwood gave a welcome in the Karuk language. Salmon had been prepared over the fire all day for the special Reunion Dinner.
“Good teachers can become better teachers” was the theme of classes at the People’s Museum. A number of teachers from local schools went back to class for a couple of days last week for the Northern California Writing Project. Their goals were to be better prepared when they return to the classroom next fall to teach Karuk students to write.
One very special item that Jennifer Goodwin and Erin Hillman shared with teachers was the creation of regalia for a girl to dance in ceremonies last weekend. It took many hours of work over weeks to sew and decorate the skin skirts with fringes, shells, beads abalone, deer toes, and braided bear grass, It was beautiful and made a pleasant sound as it moved around. The design on the top of the apron-like skirt, was “friendship design.” The skirts were made by grant of $5,000 and worn by Frankie Snyder in the brush dance, her first ceremonial dance.
The Karuk Tribe of California Education Program Director, Jennifer Goodwin, arranged an exciting opportunity for teachers in the Happy Camp Schools and Down River in Junction School, to learn more about the cultural background of the students in their classes.
It was a pleasure to have Tom Fox of the Northern California Writing Project and transferring soon to the National Writing Project share current resources for teaching writing. Besides delving into discussions on “What connections there are or could be between writing in school and writing in real life in Happy Camp,” there were opportunities to talk to tribal members about their culture and Tribal employees about how they use writing in their employment. Some examples were working with language as Susan Gehr does, writing grants or writing lessons to teach, reports, minutes, agendas and articles.
Much is happening in Happy Camp to help us in learning and understanding each other better. This is sure to help the community.
The rain mostly held off for the Reunion although it was threatening or giving sprinkles at times. The day began with those wanting to register for volleyball and horseshoe games getting there early.
After Alvis Johnson opened in prayer, there was a song by the Vice Chairman of the tribe Leaf Hillman. Chairman Arch Super welcomed all to the 9th annual Karuk Reunion. In the past it has been held in the fall but this year it was moved to June to accommodate those who want to travel to Happy Camp for vacation when the kids are out of school. There were well over three hundred there with some coming from a distance.
Elders who are eighty-five years of age and older were all honored. Then Lucille Albers, Charron Davey Davis, Margaret Vera Houston, Lafayette Robert Jerry Sr. Violet Ruth Super, Nancy Lee Super, Charles Robert Thom and Anthony Joe Jerry Sr. were all recognized as Karuk full bloods. There were sixteen at one of the first Karuk reunions but they are passing away. The Karuk Tribe is honoring and desiring of preserving their wisdom and knowledge.
Volley Ball games and the Texas Hold’um Poker tournaments began. Never did find out about Texas Hold’um. There was also a “Make and Take Activity” room for children at the TERO office. There was a “Language Jeopardy Game.” Sue was also telling stories in Karuk to the youngsters. Craig Tucker was scheduled to do a presentation on the Department of Natural Resources. Julian Lang presented songs from the Center of the World.
Dinner was traditional fish and acorn soup with pork barbecue ribs; bake potatoes, beans salad and dessert. At the River park the evening dance was with the live band, “Taxi.”
Florrine Super and Carrie Davis were Co-coordinator of the event and gave a special thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this years reunion. Sara Spence did a great job as Vendor Booth co-coordinator. The booth that was the most fun was cutouts for men, women, boys and girls where they could place face and hands through holes and look traditional, holding basket weaving supplies or drum or tomahawk. Myrna painted the plywood pictures with Michael Thom’s assistance. Sara Spence, Ellen Johnson and others helped in printing out the photos.
Other booths had food. The High School Indian Club served hamburgers and hotdogs. Indian Taco’s were available also. There was a unique old blue bus whose occupant was selling beautifully tie dyed shirts and things.
Many of the booths were very informative. Each of the departments of Karuk tribal government had booths. The health exhibits were especially informative and helpful. Everyone there seemed to be having a good time. It was a good opportunity for those from a distance to visit the People’s Center Museum and gift shop also.
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