Feb 21, 2016: Official Witness is Designated
Following Pacific Northwest tribal protocol, the official witness chosen, gifted and told her duties
Sharon designated an official witness who would write after the event about everything she saw, heard, tasted, felt and experienced.
Michelle Graves, an old friend of Sharon's, was chosen. Sharon gifted her with a jade necklace. Keelin Lang, as the youth present, paid her for her duties.
Sharon designated an official witness who would write after the event about everything she saw, heard, tasted, felt and experienced.
Michelle Graves, an old friend of Sharon's, was chosen. Sharon gifted her with a jade necklace. Keelin Lang, as the youth present, paid her for her duties.
Our official witness' account of Feb 21st Kickstarter Launch Event
Greeted by Youth, Honoring the Elders
On Sunday, February 21, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. promptly, knots of invited guests arrived to the large front door of Seattle’s historic Smith Tower. It was a typical February day in the Pacific Northwest, with all four seasons represented in the span of an hour. Pamela’s daughters, Zenia and Sophia, welcomed and guided us into one of the building’s iconic elevators for a quick trip to the 29th floor.
Masks and regalia from the collections of Owen and Janet Walker were on display, serving as visual reminders of the reason for our gathering. Guests chatted with old friends and new acquaintances, marveled at the view of Puget Sound, and basked in the warmth of sun streaming through the windows. We shared food and drink prepared by loving hands.
Soon, we were invited to gather, as Pamela’s and Sharon’s long-time friend John Kottcamp welcomed us, and introduced these two gifted women. Sharon, following strict Northwest Coast protocol, draped a blanket over John’s right shoulder.
As Sharon stepped up to greet her guests, she was struck by powerful emotion, taking Beth Brownfield’s hand to steady and center herself. The support and love in the room was palpable, as most of us know the time, energy and compassion that Sharon has poured into her work over the years. She told us a story of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, and the beginnings of Dos Polacas. Laughter lightened the room when she shared her story of the Raramurí shaman who asked (through two translators) if she was in need of a new husband. Surprised and flattered, she paused for a beat, then asked her translators to tell the shaman that she was honored, but was surely too tall, eliciting a huge grin from her suitor.
Pamela took the floor next, and welcomed us in Kwak’wala. Reminding us of the alarming rate of disappearance of indigenous cultures and languages, she spoke with urgency about her desire to write the stories of Kwakwaka’wakw elders in English, and record them in Kwak’wala. This project will provide weblinks to these recordings, as it strives to preserve the tribe’s oral tradition and language.
Yakutat Tlingit elder Jim Thomas, dressed in beautiful regalia, stepped up to a podium and spoke. Through his stories, we felt the wisdom and experience of a “Great One Who Leads”.
Masks and regalia from the collections of Owen and Janet Walker were on display, serving as visual reminders of the reason for our gathering. Guests chatted with old friends and new acquaintances, marveled at the view of Puget Sound, and basked in the warmth of sun streaming through the windows. We shared food and drink prepared by loving hands.
Soon, we were invited to gather, as Pamela’s and Sharon’s long-time friend John Kottcamp welcomed us, and introduced these two gifted women. Sharon, following strict Northwest Coast protocol, draped a blanket over John’s right shoulder.
As Sharon stepped up to greet her guests, she was struck by powerful emotion, taking Beth Brownfield’s hand to steady and center herself. The support and love in the room was palpable, as most of us know the time, energy and compassion that Sharon has poured into her work over the years. She told us a story of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, and the beginnings of Dos Polacas. Laughter lightened the room when she shared her story of the Raramurí shaman who asked (through two translators) if she was in need of a new husband. Surprised and flattered, she paused for a beat, then asked her translators to tell the shaman that she was honored, but was surely too tall, eliciting a huge grin from her suitor.
Pamela took the floor next, and welcomed us in Kwak’wala. Reminding us of the alarming rate of disappearance of indigenous cultures and languages, she spoke with urgency about her desire to write the stories of Kwakwaka’wakw elders in English, and record them in Kwak’wala. This project will provide weblinks to these recordings, as it strives to preserve the tribe’s oral tradition and language.
Yakutat Tlingit elder Jim Thomas, dressed in beautiful regalia, stepped up to a podium and spoke. Through his stories, we felt the wisdom and experience of a “Great One Who Leads”.
A Chief standing in the front of a war canoe, calling to his foe on shore, asking:
What is it that we are doing?
How will it be in two weeks? In four months?
The canoes turn around and war is averted.
What is it that we are doing?
How will it be in two weeks? In four months?
The canoes turn around and war is averted.
He reminds us that the power of big over small is only in our minds.
A big bear and a tiny bird meet on the trail, and the bear tries to bully the bird into leaving the path.
The tiny bird stands firm, and shouts that he will fly up the big bear’s nostril, scramble his brain and fly out his ear!
The bear laughs and the tiny bird puffs up his chest, flies up the bear’s nose, grabs his brain and flies out his ear.
The bear falls over dead on the trail.
A big bear and a tiny bird meet on the trail, and the bear tries to bully the bird into leaving the path.
The tiny bird stands firm, and shouts that he will fly up the big bear’s nostril, scramble his brain and fly out his ear!
The bear laughs and the tiny bird puffs up his chest, flies up the bear’s nose, grabs his brain and flies out his ear.
The bear falls over dead on the trail.
Jim contends that the word culture is too limiting. Only our language and the movements of our bodies tell what it means to live on Mother Earth. Sharon and Pamela have a deep connection to the Kwakawaka’wakw, that hasn’t come quickly. They have permission to record who these people are, where they are. He poignantly encourages them…
Write what is seen on paper that will outlast us.
Our hands. Our faces, our eyes.
Who spoke the words, and who witnessed the speaking.
Jim calls our attention to the fact that there isn’t anyone like Sharon who is capturing so close to the face, so close to the hands.
Strong faces! Strong speeches!
Write what is seen on paper that will outlast us.
Our hands. Our faces, our eyes.
Who spoke the words, and who witnessed the speaking.
Jim calls our attention to the fact that there isn’t anyone like Sharon who is capturing so close to the face, so close to the hands.
Strong faces! Strong speeches!
Darrell Hillaire, Director of the Lummi Youth Academy, then stepped into the middle of the room, humbly reminding us that a chief does not stand above his people. Sharon and Pamela show their respect for Darrell and Native protocol by draping a blanket over his right shoulder. Darrell then shared stories of his youth, coming to the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, where his Uncle Joe carved a totem pole. His sister spinning wool and knitting Cowichan sweaters. Darrell remembered his mother bringing tribal elders into their home to stay with them, elders who spoke a language that the kids didn’t understand. These elders arrived during the winter season, the time to gather together and the time for the stories to come out. Through his elders, Darrell learned the importance of acknowledging our gifts, acknowledging what we can give. Seeing when a person has a good heart.
Pamela and Sharon have gifts.
That’s why we’re here, to acknowledge the gifts of Pamela and Sharon, and to help them fulfill the responsibilities of their gifts.
That’s why we’re here, to acknowledge the gifts of Pamela and Sharon, and to help them fulfill the responsibilities of their gifts.
Sharon and Pamela took the floor once more to thank all in attendance, as witnesses to this gathering, to their project.
Jim shared a closing prayer and Beth launched the fundraiser with the honorary first Kickstarter pledge.
Jim shared a closing prayer and Beth launched the fundraiser with the honorary first Kickstarter pledge.
The campaign is off and running!
We’re all proud to support these women, to support this project and to carry this message out to our wider communities.
Michelle Graves
March 1, 2016
We’re all proud to support these women, to support this project and to carry this message out to our wider communities.
Michelle Graves
March 1, 2016