Today my name holds no relevance because I am just a man, but I will tell you that I am a Siletz Indian and that the Siletz Indians are a confederated tribe made up of twenty-seven different bands of tribes. I myself am part Kalapuya, Chetko, Tillamook and Talowa, to name a few. However, in the native community, there are more than five hundred different nations and more than five hundred different ways to do the same thing, such as praying.
It is with this in mind in the eclectic array of paths to choose, I find myself more respecting and using the words empathy, unity, and humble in my dealings with the children. If you have spent many days searching for the words which I could use that would not be in an offensive way as knowledge be greeted with open arms. In the days of my searching and years of my life, I have witnessed many discerning events that in the end left me sad and desperate for a better way. In my heart, however, I don’t know what to do. I do not wish to disrespect anyone or their religion, for history has proven that to be a learning experience.
It has been in my time that we, as a people, need to learn to introspect and learn to respect ourselves, so that we may in turn learn to respect others and the land, as well. Many people say, “I am respectful.” And perhaps you are. But as a whole, however, it is sad to see. It seems to me that too many times we find ourselves or others, searching for the fastest way to exploit one another’s weaknesses or the ways in which we are different. Too many times we show our own weaknesses. We search for this weakness in others. For me, it is sad to see, for we, as a people may then never fully witness the potential the Creator instilled within our heart and soul.
Many people say that we were created in our Creator’s image. To me that says that we are as a where each of us a grain of sand work together. We make up the most beautiful beaches, whereas alone we are next to nothing. Maybe we are the redwoods so mighty strong and wise, yet even they started from just a little seed. Or perhaps we’re each a drop of water until unity makes us a river or stream. And as we flow together we begin to grow strong and move mountains, and ultimately we become an ocean—an ocean connected to the world.
You see, it is this ocean of knowledge in which many have thirsted, yet too many times we’ve chosen a teaspoon to drink from. With teaspoon in hand, we’ve become deprived and dehydrated as desperation sets in. From household to household fear becomes apparent and the father of ignorance as knowledge is power.
In closing, I do believe it to be this kind of thought and these unanswered prayers that signify to you all that I’m a dreamer—a dreamer that dreams of a time when diversity can be embraced, and we as a native people could begin to share the many beauties of our culture and heritage. If ever this day should come and empathy is shared, perhaps we can look beyond ourselves and look to Mother Earth.
Eddie Ehret
Eddie Ehret is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. His lineage includes Talowa, Tillamook, Chetco, and Kalapuya. Chetco, Kalapuya, and Talowa come from his father’s side and the Tillamook comes from his mother’s side of the family. The Talowa were from around the Smith River in Northern California along the California and Oregon border, the Chetco was from Agnes in an area called Big Bend along the Rogue River, where the last battle in Oregon took place in 1855. The Tillamook were from the Salmon River area and the Kalapuya originated in the Willamette Valley around what is today Cottage Grove and Yoncalla, Oregon. Presently the Siletz Reservation is located about eight miles inland from Newport, Oregon along the Oregon coastline. There are a lot of hills, trees, and creeks or estuaries that run into the Siletz River.
As a storyteller, Eddie bases some of his presentations around the pow wow. He started learning about the history and the people through the pow-wows. The pow wow was given to the people who lost their traditions, culture, heritage, and language from relocation to reservations. It inspired him to learn more about his people and brought him here from Eugene, Oregon to the Siletz Reservation. He has stories of how the flute came to be and how the eagle feather came to be so sacred.
Among Eddie’s other activities he gives drumming classes, begins flute, and sings a few nights a week with local children and a few elders. He tutors traditions to the children so that they will know how important it is to the people. He makes fans, regalia, and dance sticks or coup sticks. He did the woodwork on the Run to the Rogue staff. He coaches the youth in basketball tournaments. For the last three years, he has made drum sticks for the drumstick-making class at Culture Camp.
The Willamette River is an environmental issue that Eddie speaks about. It once was a major source of nourishment and food for the Kalapuya people. It had more than twenty-seven different species of fish. In the early 1900s, the government had a landfill right next to the river and it’s still there today.
Eddie has published some poems to the Siletz Tribal Newsletter and the Register-Guard, in Eugene, did a write-up on his presentation on harassment and racism through the Title VII Indian’s Mentoring Program when he was asked to speak at Spencer Butte Middle School. He did two videos for the Siletz Tribe called ‘Skookum Tillacum’ and ‘The Strong People of Siletz’. He also was honored to perform at the capitol building in Salem, Oregon for Indian Recognition Week.
Most of Eddie’s presentations and teachings are with children at schools and libraries. He talks to the children and reminds them that they are our future. The children should be brought up to share the traditions and cultures of the people so that it will help break some of the stereotype labels given to our people.
Today my name holds no relevance because I am just a man, but I will tell you that I am a Siletz Indian and that the Siletz Indians are a confederated tribe made up of twenty-seven different bands of tribes. I myself am part Kalapuya, Chetko, Tillamook and Talowa, to name a few. However, in the native community, there are more than five hundred different nations and more than five hundred different ways to do the same thing, such as praying.