Age: 63
Enrolled Yakama Tribal Member
My grandparents raised me and they were Shaker and Washat religion.
Everything we did was extremely traditional. When the springtime came we would
gather roots in the mountains and we would travel to Puyallup to gather raspberries
and beans. The food that we collected we would use as our food source through
the entire year. My dad and grandfather would fish in the Yakima River for salmon.
We believed The Creator gave life to all things and all thing deserved respect.
I went through quite a wild stage for a while and threw all traditions out the window. But I suffered with multiple deaths of love ones around me, which is when I found God and became a Christian. Since then, I have embraced more traditional ways of living.
I went through quite a wild stage for a while and threw all traditions out the window. But I suffered with multiple deaths of love ones around me, which is when I found God and became a Christian. Since then, I have embraced more traditional ways of living.
I have tried to pass on traditions to my kids, but they are busy
with different activities at school and with church so there are a lot of
things they don’t have yet like their Indian names. Sadly, our Elders are dying,
so my boys may never be given their Indian names. Our traditions are fading
quickly.
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