Monday, July 22, 2013

Pictures!!


                                                                 Me at Painted Hills
Me and other riders!
Me and my horse Cooch!
The beautiful falls!

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Day 7

Day 7: I am going to explain this day a little different then usual. July, 21, 2013. Although I did in fact learn amazing facts about natural resources along with nature in general, which I will explain later, I want to talk about something that I learned that has really had a an impact on me.
            Elmer Crow, an Elder that took the time to speak to us and tell about his life along with information about eels and his culture, left me with outstanding gratitude. This was the first time ever hearing an Elder speak which made this experience even better. Half way through his talk he asked each and everyone to introduce ourselves, our age, grade, and culture. Half way around the circle we reached one of the students from heritage and she spoke in her native tongue and then gave background of herself, including her mother and her mother’s parents, along with her father, and his parents. Crow then explained how it was an excellent way to address the elders and how that was a way of knowing who a person was. When I was sat there listening it almost brought me to tears. When it got to my turn to speak, I said the general thing and said I was Hispanic and didn’t come from a tribe, Crow asked me to correct myself. With that I knew what he was talking about. He was referring to the Aztecs and Mayans. I instantly froze, I did not know the answer. I didn’t know anything of my Hispanic side. Yet, how can I tell everyone this and not cry? So I lied and said Aztecs. I felt ashamed and after introductions I asked to be excused to use the restroom. In all honesty the reason I asked to use the restroom is to gather myself because I could feel the tears coming. My dad died 6 months and 6 days before I was born and the moment he died, so did my heritage. I know little of my father and his side. The reason of explaining all this is because the moment Crow explained the fact that he could be shown his culture and talk about his ancestors, I knew I wanted that. I wanted to be able to show who I was and how I came to be. Many people say that the pass don’t matter, the present does. Yet that is not true, the pass does in fact matter it describes your past; a part of you, whether or not you claim it. I long for this, and with this Crow left an important impact with me and he left the advice of, “Don’t be afraid of what you find, because you have the choice to turn away. It is your decision.”




Day 5-6

Day 5: We were put to work. We awoke early and we were lead to a trail where we were to restore the trail. Wow. First thing first, protection! We had hard hats that were provided for us and we had to wear. (: My first tool was a shovel where I and others had to dig water trenches which would help water travel away from the trail. Then I had an axe to go crazy on roots. Ha it was an excellent way to vent some anger. Frustration from being stuck with people all day or people who just get you angry. Jessica Black and some nice swings in there she vented her anger for long hours of blogging (: Aside from that I then had a hand saw where I got down on my knees and used a lot of my power to saw the trees that were close to the trail away. It was a lot of hard work but it was awesome to know we were restoring a beautiful trail and many other people beside us will enjoy the path later on. After a long hard morning of work, we hiked to Blue Lagoon where we had the privilege to swim!
 

                                         On our lunch break.
                                         Me with an axe working on the trail.
                                         Sitting eating lunch at Blue Lagoon.

  First, we had to change in the wilderness. That wasn't to fun, we were exposing ourselves to the poor ol' nature ha, but it was all we could do. The water was freezing. Yet, it was so beautiful and it was nice to swim after working and being in thew hot sun! After we got right back to work though.
Blue Lagoon

Day 6: Left camp by 8:10 am and started traveling towards Nez Perce Country. First we stopped at a gorgeous and fascinating place called Painted Hills though. Then we arrived at Nez Perce around 9:30 pm and after setting up camp we were able to watch the pow wow that was going on around here.
                                     Painted Hills
                                     Painted Hills

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Day 4

Day 4: Wow what a busy day. We awoke around 7 am and had an hour to be ready for an eventful day. At a little passed 8 am we were on the move to our first location, a lava tube.
     We arrived at Lava River Cave where we learned about bats and how they live. We received all this information from a woman named Barbara who is a wildlife biologist. She talked about the bat habitat and how the species of bats at the area we were only consume insects to me this was quite fascinating. Later, before entering the cave, which I might say was freezing cold (42 degrees), our guide Bart Wills (geologist) had asked if we were in any types of other volcanoes located East of the Rocky Mountains because of a nationwide situation called the White-nose syndrome.
      After a wonderful look into the fascinating cave we went to Lava Butte where we met a woman named Erin who was Archeologists. She was able to talk about the archeological history around Lava Butte. We also were able to take a look at obsidian which is tools such as arrowheads made out of rock. We were then able to take a look out at the beautiful high view and talk to a person name Stewart Blockley who explained his job as a fire look out and how exactly he is able to locate fires in the Deschutes National Forest. Then we took a hike through Benton falls where we were able to talk to different rangers about any questions we had, and during that time we learned a lot about the rangers, for instance we asked which high school they went to and a girl name Amy was from Basic High School! Such a weird name. After about a mile hike we were able to see a raging beautiful fall. Then we hiked backed to the vehicles and said bye to lovely people who helped out with today.
     Unfortunately I can not explain in detail about my every second of my eventful evening, so until we find another McDonalds (we use McDonalds wifi to blog), that's all for now (:

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 1-3!

1st Day: While driving towards Warm Spring, each vehicle decided to lay a game where you count each wild horse you see. Our vehicle (The Bandwagon) counted 338 wild horses! Did you know there is approx. over 18,000 horses in the area (Yakama Nation) we live? Interesting fact I found out. On the way to Warm Springs we took a stop along the Celilo Falls. At first just looking at the view, I thought it was so wonderful, so calm and peaceful. Then, I heard the story of what use to be and what is not anymore. As Haver (Chaperone) spoke the history of Celilo falls, I couldn't speak. My jaw clenched as I heard the stories of people hurt by the history. What was once gorgeous raging waterfalls is nothing but a silent calm current. Villages moved and destroyed a place that use to be home is no longer there but buried deep under water.
     Horsetheif Lake, we were going to stop their and see the petroglyphs that were there. The moment we arrived I see the warning sign stating "Watch out for Rattlesnakes" My heart beat speed up as I freaked out at the thought of encountering a rattlesnake! We started our hike and it was well worth it, I saw many petroglyphs which only led me to question why they were there. What was the story behind them. I remember a few looking like a sun.
     Later we arrived at the Warm Spring Reservation we stayed in a longhouse which was lovely. One shower, that was not to lovely, we ate dinner and prepared ourselves for bed. With the luxury of a blowup mattress and sleeping bag.

2nd Day: We woke up at 7 and got up and ate breakfast. After breakfast we all gathered around a table and learned a deeper meaning about the scientific method. We then went Shitike Creek which was a restoration project that was a success. Jason Grant (Fish Biologist) and Austin Smith (Wildlife technician) informed us about what a river needed how they were able to do it and how with the restoration project they were able to increase the population of the coho salmon. We then went to an area in the woods where Austin demostrated what he does in his field of work. He works with muledeer where he counts the decline of muledeer. He spoke of how they capture a deer and attach a collar to it and monitor the deer at least once a week. As he continued speaking we learned about the predator (mountain lions, bears, and pouchers) issues. They have now gathered enough information to present the information to the tribal council where the tribal council will decide what to do next. After that stop we then went to a location where they intend to do a new restoration project. We looked around and counted multiple issues with that area. With that they explained how they were going to fix each issue.
     Wow! We covered a lot of information in one day, so after learning so much we had the opportunity to go swimming! We swam in a river with such a strogn current and me along with a couple other friends decided to see how it would be to be a salmon. Oh goodness that was intense. After a long stuggle and scrathes along our body we now understand why salmon die! Ha no, but the swim downhill can be quite painful.
     Sadly when we got back to the lognhouse it was Bandwagons time to cook dinner and might I say we did a mighty fine job at cooking. After dinner we made rope and when I say made, I mean literally made! We took Tacuse and went through a long process to make a small piece of rope. It was very time consuming but such an interesting thing to learn!
     We were then able to bond with people on this trip and play a few games that had us giggling so much and then we secretly took pictures of adorable Mr.Clinton cuddled up in bed! hehe (: After that, bed time!

3rd Day: I woke up at 6:30 and we had to be all packed and ready to head out by 8 am sharp. It was so intense cleaning everything up and on our way!
     We went horseback riding and what can I say, that was such a joy! I loved every moment and my horse (Cooch) was so nice and lovely. It was a beautiful site and I was able to run my horse a bit but when I did run him I was bouncing up and down and it hurt! After the horse ride I got off and was bit sore.
     We then headed straight to the Museum at Warm Springs and learned so much about the Native Americans and the three different tribes down here and how there language is hard to speak. Thats it for now (:


Pictures Below!!

                                          At Celilo Falls
                                         Beautiful water bottles that were given to us.
                                         Petrogylphs at Horsetheif Lake Park
                                         Clinton and his sleeping
                                          Us set up at the longhouse in Warm Springs
                                         Chance, Sheryl and I getting ready for the hike!

Monday, July 15, 2013

First Blog

It's been a crazy start but now we got are blogs going! (: It's going to be an interesting two weeks!