15th Annual ROBVP event highlights oral history, traditional foods & education with 514 participants
Representatives for the Keith Keener Trust presents and signs a land conveyance to the OBVP Board of Directors on Friday, June 19 in Boise.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
BOISE — There were many highlights organizers say at the Fifteenth Annual Return of the Boise Valley People event June 18 to 21 at Eagle Rock Park and Gowen Field including the fact that 514 participants registered.
Oral history was shared, friendships were renewed, traditional foods were served, and the public was educated about the five Boise Valley tribes - Burns Paiute, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Paiute Band, Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone, Shoshone-Paiute and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
The event began June 18 at Boise City Hall where Boise City Council President Meredith Stead issued a proclamation declaring that day Return of the Boise Valley People Day in Boise. She welcomed the Boise Valley tribes back to their homeland. “The city of Boise remains deeply committed to honor your relationship to your ancestral homelands, from the banks of the Boise River to the sacred spaces like Eagle Rock Park. Mayor McLean and the city council are firmly committed to strong, respectful, and transparent, intergovernment, governmental relations with all of our tribe partners,” she said. “Real partnership requires continuous open dialogue, mutual understanding, and a shared vision for the generations who will come after us. We are especially grateful for the growing collaboration between tribal representatives and our arts and history staff as we work to preserve Indigenous history and elevate native art through Indigenous voices.”
Veterans carry in flags during the ROBVP walking parade.
Tribal leaders from the five Boise Valley tribes spoke sharing history and the significance of the area. Antoinette Cavanaugh, Shoshone-Paiute and Original Boise Valley People LLC board member, shared the Boise Valley history, “Since time in Memorial, our people have had and maintained a during relationship with our Aboriginal territories. We recognized the presence of our indigenous people, both in the past and today. We haven’t gone anywhere. This is still our aboriginal homeland. It’s really important for us to continue to reaffirm that our people are from this area.”
Justine Barr, Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone, with grandchildren at Eagle Rock Park.
Sunrise ceremonies were conducted each day. Shoshone-Paiute hosted the Friday morning with Norm Cavanaugh doing the prayers. Saturday morning was Shoshone-Bannock with Fred Auck and Lee Juan Tyler doing the prayers. Sunday morning was combined with Delmar Kelly leading the prayers. Duck Valley Singers and Shoshone-Bannock singers assisted on all three days. Kelly told a story his hootsi (paternal grandmother) told him how their family seeds began. Ancestors were being chased out of the Boise Valley by the military, the people were warned to hide because the soldiers were mean, a baby was placed in a badger hole, a warrior came along behind them and heard the baby crying and took the child. “That’s where I come from.” Paddy Cap band near Delamar.
On Friday at noon the Keith Keener Trust did a land conveyance to the Original Boise Valley People LLC where 2.8 acres of land in north Boise was signed over. The Keeners will reside there until they give up occupancy. Ed Keener said the trustees hope the land will continue to welcome the public and from now on include interpretation about the original Boise Valley People as well as present day Bannock, Paiute and Shoshone peoples. Ed said, “Many in our privileged society would see this land as property which our family could have sold for $800,000 to a developer. But knowing what we now know, we can make a better choice. We now acknowledge that this land was never ours to hold. We honor the relationship between this land and generations of the Original Boise Valley People, their ancestors, their descendants, and those yet to be born.”
Lance Owyhee, Shoshone Paiute, presents a demonstration on elderberry syrup.
OBVP Board of Directors presented the Keeners with gifts – a beaded bolo tie for Ed, beaded coin purses for Ed’s wife Martha and his sister Dorothy.
A walking parade of representatives of each tribe commenced with veterans leading the way around Eagle Rock Park. Afterward, Bailey Dann, Nolan Brown from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Original Territories Program gave an update on the Camas Prairie where the enemy grass Garrison’s Creeping Meadow Foxtail is overtaking the traditional food. Dann talked about the bodo digging stick. University of Idaho intern Tyler Bear Claw Anderson assisted.
Participants were encouraged to visit the exhibit featuring the 14 years of the Return of the Boise Valley People event at the Idaho History Center. It includes history, information and photos from every year the event occurred. It will be available through September.
Rosie Tom, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, prepares salmon for the feast at Gowen Field.
Despite the rain, the walk/run continued Saturday morning at Eagle Rock Park were 100 participants registered with winners receiving cash prizes. (See separate story in sports)
Each of the tribes served meals featuring traditional foods. Burns Paiute and Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone were Friday evening. Saturday morning, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs tribal members prepared 12 Columbia River salmon to be cooked over the fire. Rosie Tom, Shirley Allen, Noah Suppah, Hoss Suppah, Delson Suppah Sr., along with Shoshone-Bannocks Lyman Dixey and Susan Avila Dixey learned to fillet. The salmon was served during the lunch the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Shoshone-Bannocks served. Sho-Bans served buffalo meatloaf. Shoshone-Paiute Fish, Wildlife and Parks employees Daylen Thomas, Jesse Thomas and Joey Thomas prepared 27 groundhogs (yaha or gedu) Saturday afternoon. Numerous spectators watched and helped prior to them being placed in the ground. The groundhogs were served for the dinner the Shoshone-Paiutes hosted that evening. They also had elk meat.
Burns Paiute Food Sovereignty program staff Jenna Witzleben (left) and Rhonda Holtby present on creating willow salve.
Traditional food sovereignty and culture were an integral part of the Return of the Boise Valley People event. Burns Paiute Food Sovereignty program staff Rhonda Holtby and Jenna Witzleben did a presentation on their garden and how to create willow salve Friday night. They also gave out willow salve samples.
Rosie Tom, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs had a booth set up at Eagle Rock Park where she taught how to make small tule mats and displayed her baskets. She also did a traditional food presentation featuring roots, huckleberries, dried meat, gathering tools and baskets Friday evening. Shoshone-Paiute Lance Owyhee did a demonstration on making elderberry syrup while other Shoshone-Paiute members Paula Whiterock presented Shoshone language with coloring sheets, along with Tom and Genevieve “Chip” Mason played Painkwi Hea Nuhi (Go Fish Game).
Susan Avila Dixey taught a circle dance song about black carrots (Yumba tuu yumba) to children and adults and they performed it later Friday afternoon at Eagle Rock Park.
Indian games were featured Saturday afternoon at Gowen Field where children and adults competed. Water balloon toss, kick the shoe, tug-o-war, spear throwing for men and rock juggling were among the games offered, along with shinney game for women the Burns Paiute team won.
Participants join hands for a round dance at the Return of the Boise Valley People event at Eagle Rock Park in Boise.
The annual auction followed where Miss Shoshone-Bannock Myke Moore and Miss Burns Paiute Amaya Garcia helped displaying the items including various beadwork such as earrings, lanyards, necklaces, along with dishes, wall hangings, a porcupine roach, Dutch Bros. gift pack, numerous T-shirts, etc. The funds raised go to the next year’s event expenses.
The hand drum contest was the final event of the day featuring adult and youth categories. Hovia Edwards won the adult contest winning $100, Reggie Sope was second earning $75, and Lathaniel Nappo was third winning $50. Susan Avila Dixey won the youth division winning $50, Brett Toby was second earning $25 and Naboo Yellowjohn was third winning $10.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Language and Culture Preservation Department sponsored the contest.
