Siletz High School - Warrior Yearbook (Siletz, OR)

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FROM INDIAN RESERVATION TO PRESENT DAY CIVILIZATION The Siletz Reservation, at one time comprising one and one-third million acres is gone, but a few relics remain on what is called Government Hill, named by the early Indians, Tyee Ililhe, which means high land. A few of the older Indians re- member hearing of the times before the coming of the white man, when different tribes living in the valley had their own hunting and fishing grounds and lived always peacefully, for the Indians in this valley were never warlike Perhaps it was for this reason that the government brought many Rogue River Indians here, so that they might learn more peaceful ways According to the older living immigrants, the natives were the Flatheads Among the immigrants from the Rogue River were the Chetcos, To To To neys, and the Coquelles, who were moved unwillingly from their native lands over a hundre years ago, about the year 1855 They had been promised land, a home made of lum ber, horses, cattle, and necessary machinery if they would go In spite of p o tests they were put on board ship at Port Orford, Oregon by soldiers of the govern ment Each person was allowed one package, generally a basket, and most of the people took food, knowing nourishment would be needed first They left behind all hides, canoes, and good houses, with little hope for the future After several days at sea, they sailed into the Columbia River and were eventually taken south to Grand Ronde Some of these tribes stayed there, and others wandered southward, looking for a place to build a home Measles struck, killing many people, but e ventually sixteen reached the Siletz Valley, where they settled, finding friendly natlves already here These natives called the river the Se la gees, but the first government agent to record the word called it Siletz, by which name all the Indians in the valley, including the natives and lmmigrants, were called Eventually, the Reservation was also named Siletz The school, the city, the valley, and the river are unique, not only in name but in the way that the many peoples have learned to live together in harmony, each re specting the other's right to be different Few of the Indians who live 1n Siletz Valley today try to preserve early dress and customs Below are Archie Ben and his brother, who take pride in their heritage They also dance with a group on many occa sions if O . . - - - d . 0 T - . i . . - - . . Af' IN . Z1 A . is o A A, .!' i Q! , ,, K b N -4 by A , , I , v ,, I 7 If 15 I If , f ' fv ,R V A , 3 f 'f f' ' V 6 fc nf M. , A I fs ' qj PJ ,ffl flfff' ' I , X f. 1, 1 I 'xy I A V A , , r lyk., -A A ,-