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 |  | Saturday July 26, 2008 7:51 PM |
 | | CHILDREN of the SUN by David Wynecoop | |
CHILDREN of the SUN: Chapter 1
Before White Men Arrived
The Spokane Indians are of the Interior Salish group which has inhabited
northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana for centuries.
The native language spoken by the Spokanes is common to other Salish tribes
with only a slight variation in dialect. Generally speaking, the Spokanes
can converse easily in their native tongue with the Kalispels, Coeur d'
Alenes, Colvilles, and Flatheads.
The aboriginal lands occupied by the Spokanes laid in eastern Washington
along the Spokane River and surrounding area encompassing some three
million acres. The vast domain began on the Columbia River near the
present town of Hunters; thence easterly along Hunters Creek to Deer
Lake; thence to Mount Spokane and southerly through Peone Prairie and
the present town of Opportunity to a point near Rosalia; thence west
and slightly south to Ritzville and thence north to the old townsite
of Peach, and up the Columbia River to the point of beginning.
The tribe originally consisted of three bands: Upper, Middle, and Lower.
These terms were apparently applied by the white man to the three bands
according to their location on the Spokane River. The Lower band usually
occupied an area along the Spokane River from its mouth to the present
site of Tumtum; the Middle band occupied the area from Tumtum to the
mouth of Hangman Creek; and the Upper band lived in the Hangman Creek
region and through the Spokane Valley as far as the present town of
Post Falls, Idaho.
The word "Spokane" is generally accepted as meaning "Sun People" or
"Children of the Sun", although the interpretation is somewhat
controversial. In 1807, David Thompson, a trapper with the Northwest
Fur Trading Company, first used the name "Spokane" in referring to
three Spokane bands.
The most reliable estimation in 1880 of the Spokane population was 3,000.
A smallpox epidemic just prior to the turn of the century killed many.
The living cycle of the Spokanes was very important to their economic and
social life. In the spring, usually March, the winter camps dispersed
into small groups to gather food, hunt, and fish. By early summer,
salmon fishing, hunting, and root digging were the main activities.
During the summer and early fall, the schedule included root digging
and berry picking. It was at this time of the year when inter-tribal
social activities were at their highest be cause most of the neighboring
tribes joined the Spokanes in one general area for root gathering and
berrying. This tradition of socializing with other tribes is carried
on today with the Indian "Pow Wows", which begin in June and end in
September. While perhaps the competition isn't quite as keen, visiting
and competing in stick games and ceremonial dancing are an important
part in the social life of today's Indians. In early winter, the smaller
units regrouped and formed their winter camps. These camps were located
in favorable places along rivers or creeks which afforded water and
shelter. Most of the winter months were spent observing ceremonies,
visiting, and trading.
The Spokane country was abundant with roots, berries, fish, and game
animals. Mount Spokane was a prime area for berrying and hunting.
The prairie country south of the Spokane River provided roots and
camas while the Spokane River abounded with salmon. The area was
also plentiful with deer, elk, and antelope.
The method of hunting used in early days is similar to the
"drive" used by the Indians of today. Men, women, and children
formed huge circles and moved towards the center with game
hopefully trapped inside. As the circle became smaller, the best
bowmen were placed at vantage points where the game would most
likely attempt to escape. This method of hunting proved most
effective and was used until the introduction of firearms and
then was discontinued for fear of shooting one another. The bow
and arrow was the most important and effective weapon prior to
the arrival of the gun. The best bows were made of syringa wood.
The arrow shaft was also made of syringa and straightened for
accuracy by working it back and forth through a grooved stone.
The arrow point was made of stone and shaped by a flaking
process, using a sharp elk antler and heat.
The Spokanes joined other Salish tribes to hunt buffalo east of
the Rockies in the much feared Blackfoot and Crow country. As
an allied force, the
Salish tribes had not only sufficient man power for the hunt,
but also a superior force if the enemy were encountered. Prior
to the introduction of the horse, individual stalking was
carried on and the buffalo slain by arrows or spears. After the
arrival of the horse, which is estimated to have occurred two
hundred years ago, hunting was much easier and the horse was a
much more efficient mode of transporting game home. Able bodied
women and children accompanied the hunters on the long journey
to prepare the carcasses for the trip home.
Salmon was perhaps the most important commodity in the early
economy of the tribe. Not only did it provide an excellent food
source, but it was also an important trade item very few other
interior tribes enjoyed. The Lower Spokanes used a net almost
exclusively to catch salmon while the Middle and Upper bands
generally used spears and traps.
Two varieties of camas were
considered the staple food items and were abundant in several
areas. The "Brown" camas, an onion like bulb, was dug in damp
meadows. It was dried in large fire pits in layers separated by
moss and eaten whole or added to fish and meat for seasoning.
The "White" camas is found in rocky areas of the plateau
country. It was used primarily for making flour. Today the
"Brown" camas is found in several places on the Spokane
Reservation and just to the north of Camas Prairie. The "White"
camas is usually dug in an area between Davenport and Creston,
Washington.
In very early times, the Spokanes frequently raided the Yakimas
to the south and down the Columbia River to the Dalles. Spokane
parties occasionally raided coastal tribes and went as far south
as the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Raiding parties usually
stole horses and women for slaves; food and weapons were other
prime targets. Raiding was very common amongst most of the North
west tribes. The Yakimas called the Spokanes "robbers" because
of the raids. In comparison to neighboring tribes, the Spokanes
were not considered warlike people. However, when they did engage in battle, they were formidable warriors. Usually they were
in alliance with the Kalispels and Coeur d'Alenes.
The social and political organization of the Spokanes was
influenced by ties of blood, mutual interests, and dialects.
There apparently was no overall chief of the three Spokane
bands, but the chief of the Upper band usually announced
important decisions concerning the whole tribe after consulting
the other band chiefs. Upon the death of a chief, a sub-chief
was usually selected as chief. The chieftianship was very seldom
hereditary. Each band had a chief and several sub-chiefs. The
chief was selected by the members of the band considering the
qualities of wisdom, dignity, wealth, warring abilities, and
striking physical appearances. When the tribe divided into
smaller groups for berrying, root digging, or hunting, a
sub-chief was in charge of each party. The sub-chief was also
important in the supervision of camp regulations such as storing
and issuing of food, guarding, and pasturing horses.
Clothing of buffalo, elk, and deer hides was used extensively
during the winter months. Moccasins were worn throughout the
year with fur worn inside in winter for warmth. Men's clothing
consisted of a long buckskin shirt, leggings, belt, breechcloth,
moccasins, and a fur hat. The Spokanes wore a short feathered
bonnet during ceremonies, but later adopted the "Sioux Bonnet"
of eagle feathers because it was more striking. Women wore long
dresses, leggings reaching to the knees, moccasins, belt, and
hats. Decoration of clothing was done by dyeing or painting and
using porcupine quills and beads. The designs usually
represented dreams or visions while others were connected with
the guardian spirit.
The teepee was used almost exclusively as their home. The
conical shaped shelter was built by leaning upright poles inward
forming a large circle at the bottom and a small opening at the
top. Mats made of tule were hung overlapping around the frame to
enclose it. The teepee was used because the tule mats were light
and easy to transport and poles were readily available.
Rectangular housing was used at permanent camps, and could house
four or five families. They were also used for ceremonials and
other gatherings.
Animal hides are tanned much the same today as they were
centuries ago, the only difference being modem tools. A sharp
tool is used to cut the hair from the hide. After the hair is re
moved, the hide is soaked, scraped, then soaked again in a
mixture of water and brains of the animal, spread, and is then
ready for tanning. The art of tanning hides is rapidly
disappearing be cause of the time and hard work involved. Thread
for sewing was of sinew taken from the backs of larger animals.
Needles were made of sharp bones or stones.
In the division of labor, the woman did a great deal of the
heavy work. She made all the mats, bags, baskets, dressed the
hides, made clothing and teepees, gathered the fuel, dug the
roots, and prepared the meals. The men made the tools and
weapons, made ceremonial clothing, hunted, cared for the horses
and made war when necessary.
The search for a guardian spirit began when a child reached the
age of puberty. This was an extremely important part of
childhood and no one could attain adulthood until a guardian
spirit was found. 'Me child was sent to a mountain top or other
isolated place to fast and watch for his spirit to appear. It
may have taken a few days or many days before it appeared, and
usually it was in the form of an animal. The seeker was taught
an original song by his guardian spirit. In later years, the
guardian spirit and song were interpreted into symbolic items
which were made into a medicine pouch. The Salish word for
guardian spirit is "sumesh".
Before the introduction of the white man's religions the Indians
held the belief that there were three worlds, one on top of the
another, with the middle world being earth. They believed a
Superior Being ruled the upper world while the lower world was
ruled by an evil person. The ruler of the above gave them rain
and made food plentiful. The evil ruler was blamed for poor
hunting, fishing, and crops.
It was the good God from above who sent the coyote to earth.
Coyote is said to have given the Indians special skills and know
ledge. His cunning and crafty ways are told in coyote stories in
which he always outwits his foe.
Shamans or sorcerers were active amongst the Spokanes. They were
believed to possess the power to foresee future events with
great accuracy. Among other things, they were said to be able to
locate herds of animals when hunting was still poor. Although
sorcery is not practiced now by Spokanes, several Salish people
practice it.
The dead were disposed of by burial. The burial took place after
the corpse was sewn in skins or robes and placed on a scaffold
or in a tree until the grave was dug. Burials were usually made
in sandy knolls or where digging was easiest.
Last Updated
December 21, 2004
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