The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will host an all-day ceremony Sept.
22 to celebrate the history of their ancestors, the earliest inhabitants of Mount
Hood.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience the traditional culture of
the Warm Springs, Paiutes and Wasco tribes at the eighth annual
Confederated Tribal Celebration at Skibowl’s west side. The event celebrates
the travels to the huckleberry fields near Mirror Lake for a late summer
harvest. Some rode, but many walked from their homelands in the lower
valleys to gather the food of the forests.

“This land is culturally significant to the members of the Confederated Tribes
of Warm Springs and we are honored to celebrate their heritage here each
September,” said Kirk Hanna, owner of Mt. Hood Skibowl.

Eight years ago, Hanna established a permanent cultural exhibit for the tribes
in what was once the Outback Lodge at Skibowl. The building was rededicated
as the Wiwnu Wash (translates as huckleberry patches) Mt. Hood Tribal
Center.

“What Kirk has done for our tribes is enormous,” said Delson Suppah,
coordinator of the tribal celebration. “He has given us the opportunity to tell
the truth about this land.”

Suppah traveled to the slopes at Skibowl as a child.

“It touches me when I think about my mother, grandmother and aunts
walking up the hills to pick wild huckleberries, carrying baskets while we kids
ran and played around,” he said. “By hosting this annual celebration, Kirk is
acknowledging that all citizens need to honor and understand the true history
of the first inhabitants of this land. People will get to learn about the history of
our tribal elders.”

The ceremony kicks off with the arrival of a dozen tribal members on
horseback in full ceremonial regalia of handmade buckskin, beads and
feathers. The riders will leave Skibowl East at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Skibowl
West for the 10 a.m. opening ceremonies.

Following the symbolic arrival, the day’s events will include comments from
tribal elders about the history of the area. There will be a Living Village, tribal
dancing and drumming, a salmon bake and tribal arts and crafts venders from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 100 tribal members will participate in the celebration.

A cultural exchange will take place whereby coaches from Interscholastic
Mountain Bike teams will provide riding lessons to Warm Springs students.
Skibowl has a 30-year history operating the premier mountain bike parks on
Mount Hood. After, bike team members will join in the tribal dances.

The noon meal features salmon on sticks, corn on the cob, baked potato,
salad and fry bread. Cost of the meal is $25 for adults and $10 for children 12
and under, and can be purchased on site.

Schedule of Events
8 a.m. – Living Village (Tee Pee) and setup
9:30 a.m. – Riders leave Eastside for Westside
10 a.m. – Wa Shut, prayers and welcome from Kirk Hanna
11 a.m. – Ladies from Cultural Heritage in Wiwnu Wash share culture and
tradition with guests
Noon – Salmon Bake
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Dance exhibition/drummers; Interscholastic Mt. Bike
Racing coaches offer biking lessons; Bike team participates in dancing
5 p.m. – Closing Ceremony