CULTURE & HERITAGE of the SILETZ INDIANS of OREGON
Heritage:
defined is, “an estate acquired through birthright, and inheritance.
In late March of 2003 twenty-one students, (self included) from Oregon State University had the opportunity to visit with and interview several key members of the Siletz Indian tribe located in Siletz Oregon, Lincoln county.Our purpose was to ask questions concerning such topics as Economy, Employment, Housing, Civil Rights, Social Issues, and Culture, and compare them to communities around the community of Siletz.An interest of mine was that of culture.Knowing something of the Native Culture I wanted to know what if anything the Siletz people were doing to preserve their culture.After all, culture defines a person, it’s who they are, and it’s their identity. A people without culture and or identity can often find themselves lost and confused.
I
was pleased to find out that the Siletz people are doing a great deal to
either preserve or restore their old culture in an effort to give their
children a sense of identity.Some
of the things they currently have going on are, the bringing back of one
of their native languages, Anthropologists will tell you that language
is culture.The bringing back of
language then becomes a key element in the definition of ones identity.They
have brought back many of their ceremonial dances, chants, and songs.The
Siletz have recently built a special dance house specifically for the purpose
of ceremony.The tribe sponsors Pow
Wow’s and other gathering events. These
gatherings unite not only their own tribal members in an atmosphere of
fun and enjoyment but native people from all over the Northwest are invited
as well as anyone else who may wish to attend.These
things are all done for the benefit of the youth, to give them a sense
of who they are thus giving them an insight as to what they may become.
Favorite Links
http://www.indiancountry.com/se/powwow2003/
http://www.leg.state.or.us/cis/cis_links.htm
http://dmoz.org/Society/Etnicity/Indigenous_People
http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources
http://www.osac.state.or.us/oicpse/links.html
Last revised: Datehttp://extension.oregonstate.edu/warmsprings/comprof.htm