July 15th Umatilla To Wellpinit

   As the morning starts I'd like to thank the people and the community of Umatilla. Many people who represent their society have taken time out of their lives to teach college students and my high school classmates. Wenix Red Elk a mother, active community member for her people and a great teacher, has opened her home to us and I am thankful for everything she has done for three or so day.
   Wenix Red Elk requested us to check out the damn and the river flow heading to the Washington Border. I got to learn many things on how electricity works. One important resource in the pacific northwest is inexpensive and abundant hydroelectricity generate by Colombia river.
   As we leave the town we have a pit stop to wash our laundry because we are all running low on clean clothes. Four hours out of the day we were just relaxing in the laundry mat washing and drying our clothes and posting blogs.
   We arrive at the camp and we had dinner. Today was another fun travel.

July 14th

  Make your voice be heard from all around the region. You have a voice, use it. Our stories passed on to us from our ancestors are what make us the person we are today.

 Today is the last day in Umatilla. Wenix Red Elk has a dinner planned for us and the community. I really appreciate the things she has planned out for us and the activities she had us take part in. I've learned that all the tribes have the same way of life. As a women you cook for your visitors, you introduce yourself and your parents or grandparents. Wenix is a women of hospitality for cooking a meal for all the students and staff.

Before the feast was taken place. We went to Wenix's sister, Acosia Elk ( a pow-wow dancer and Yoga Instructer). Acosia had beautiful ways of using tradition in yoga and bring out yourself in your own way through stretching your body "connecting your body to the ground, the core of earth and reaching within to release the trauma from our ancestors) as she said. This trip out of both places we have traveled to in this passed week. I find this part of the trip to be the best one yet.

July 13th

Always remember were you started and never forget the ones who helped you get there. Today was one of the best part of my trip so far.

Wenix Red Elk was our host for the trip in Umatilla. Our group drove over to the agency to talk about the meaning of their traditional foods. I learned something new.

Our longhouse goes by Salmon, Deer, roots, then berries. Umatilla is similar but instead of having the deer represent the meet they use Elk first. She presented to us that the plant they take care of, are off the reservation and to keep vegetation alive and healthy is to buy more land back and it’ll be in the tribes hand to keep their tradition going without having to lose their traditional plants and culture.

It is similar to the Yakama reservation because we have huckleberries on our reservation but not enough to feed Children, women, men, Hunter, fishers, and/or visitors. So when we have to camp 3 days picking our big sister (Huckleberries) or as Hilnú we have to go off the reservation. After learning how national resources is important to them, we drove outside the town to a small Plant Nursery. Gail Redberg the Native Plant Nursery Interim manager showed our group of students the plants she’s is growing organically without hurting the plants. Redberg explained that "plant production is important because one day climate change can change the way ALL plants grow". An example that I can know why her guess is starting to happen is because The Toppenish Creek Longhouse has feasts to honor the traditional foods that keep us healthy, open minded, and connecting back to Mother nature. Past years we know by January when our first root feast is. However for the past 2 years we could not determine when the roots are ready. In March we still had snow on the ground but that is usually when the roots are ready. Today’s activity was amazing and I do plant on make a garden for my home to keep in mind that the vegetables we buy at our local store are sprayed by toxins.

July 12th Deschutes To Umatilla

  This morning is a travel day to Umatilla Reservation. Packing
up and leaving feels good because I get to leave with a good spirit and good
Intentions and more knowledge. Majority of the morning was difficult because everyone had to upload their blogs and some laptops weren’t working. We then went to Starbucks and connect to the Internet and I was the first one to finish.

  So I just browsed the Internet for internships for high school students. We made it to Umatilla and I thought we would be on a campsite but we’re in someone back yard. I liked the idea because birthday wouldn’t be much of a issue for dirty shoes.

July 11th

July 11th Day 3
Time Written: 9:50 PM

Place: Deschutes National Forest

　
The morning started with breakfast and a group game that I ended up being horrible at. Our first scheduled event was going North Twin Lakes, we hiked up and down removing plants that were pointing out in the trail. I had the most fun when I was able to saw a stump and I did not notice how fun it is to be outside and volunteer. It impacted me because that doesn't just help me understand how the little things count helping the environment, but helps other people around the world who enjoy being outside.

The next event we were able to move old trees to the creek to help protect willow trees when they grow over time. I was kind of exhausted having to help carrying the trees because I had walked quiet distance back at the other Lake.

My favorite part of the day was swimming in the Lake. I tried to go swimming out to the middle but this is the first time in the year to go swimming and I did not want to risk my life trying to reteach myself to swim.

Other than the long day I had it was fun and I enjoyed the time spent with new people. Although in my most humble way I am kind of fed up with the cold night and hot days and I did not even pack well but I've went camping but it was just around 2-5 days and not to, two weeks straight. I am ready for day four.



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As the day ends I took a picture of the trees reaching as high as they can to touch the starts.

July 10th

July 10th Day 2

Time Written: 9:02 PM

Place: Deschutes National Forest

　
Today was basically ''my'' first day of this field trip. The ride over was just beautiful. I knew that these two weeks were going to be fun. This morning started off with a really good breakfast by our two new cooks. The first activity on our agenda seemed kind of boring at first (just wait til' the middle) because we were heading to Lava Lands in Deschutes National Forest.

As the day was starting to begin driving to our destination I noticed we are surrounded by hills that are big, small, pointy, curvey, even snow on some of the taller mountains. When we arived at the Lava Lands Deschutes National Forest, this wonderful man who was the Lead Ranger named Jim greeted us. We then sat and listened to many people who are into helping their forest in many ways. Not just why they help but why they want to take a huge role in their enviroment. Today's event was wonderful.

July 9th Home To Deschutes

As the morning starts by packing for my two week journey with new faces and personalities, I am excited to see what is to come. I woke up this morning full of joy knowing this will be the best summer yet, although I haven't even done anything all summer since it started. I spent two weeks buying things that I may need on my trip. I've traveled before, many times actually. But this trip, its different and I cannot wait to head out today. To me this trip is different from the others because we'll see other peoples way of life and how they life on a daily basis. How nature takes a big role in the environment. Can't wait