LCPD hosts willow & pine spear pole workshop
SBT Fish & Game interim director Tom Wadsworth demonstrates shaving down a spear pole on April 19.
By JOSEPH WADSWORTH
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Shoshone-Bannock Language and Culture Preservation Department hosted a willow and pine spear pole workshop, with help from the S’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ (House of Welcome), at Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School on Saturday, April 19.
All community was invited to share knowledge and their experience when hunting steelhead and salmon.
Nakeezaka Jack tries out a spear pole during the workshop.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Fish and Game interim director Thomas Wadsworth, along with SBT Fish and Game Enforcement staff and Fish and Wildlife department, instructed the workshop.
Community members were shown how, from start to finish, a pole is made, how hooks are tied and prepped, and how to straighten out a willow pole.
Tribal members Wendy Farmer and her grandson Zeme Soldier with spear hooks.
Instructor Thomas Wadsworth “we wanted to bring our young people together and show them how to tie salmon hooks and put together poles.” He added it is an effort to pass information and history to younger generations.
“This is connected to our tribal treaty because we are able to go out and hunt, fish and gather, that is a part of our treaty so just like a muscle you must exercise to keep it strong and the more people we have out there, the stronger our treaty is,” Wadsworth said.
Wadsworth said when tribal members stop going into areas to hunt, gather and fish, that is when a treaty is put on the line, because we are not utilizing these rights that was passed from our ancestors.
A young workshop participant works with a hook.
Don Moss, Shoshone-Bannock tribal elder, said many of the older generation all learned from elders and parents on how to fish and hunt. “All elders were our teachers and teaching the younger ones is a lot of fun, it keeps your spirits up and it keeps your heart going the more you are out there with the kids — it makes you feel stronger.” Moss also offered his time to help instruct the class by telling stories and sharing his knowledge of his years growing up being a fisherman.
Wadsworth also spoke about his teachers — Vincent Ponzo was a big inspiration in his life when it comes to fishing plus Don Moss — both saying they have fished together for a lot of years on the river.
Tribal member Nakeezaka Jack said he had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the workshop, “it’s really important for us to learn how to do this so we keep traditions alive and pass it down to the next generation.” This is what the ancestors did and what will keep everyone tied to our homelands, said Jack.
LCPD spear pole workshop participants tie hooks.
Fifteen-year-old Jace Racehorse, Shoshone-Bannock tribal member said, “the class was pretty good because this is how the ancestors did it and to keep culture alive, so we won’t forget.” He added that he would like to see more classes like this so younger people can learn, and to be more self-reliant.
The workshop was made possible by partnership with S’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ (House of Welcome) at the Evergreen State College. Linley B. Logan who is in his twelfth year as the Northwest Heritage Program Artist in Rez manager. Logan says they have done 50 workshops in tribal communities from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. They have a budget for six workshops in their fiscal year that runs from June to June. The budget cost covers for instructors, supplies and meals.
“This is a really opportunity to engage in community and also connect with community in regard to community strengthen with their own culturally based artistic traditions,” Logan said.
