Paqspya (White Hawk)

Blog Moved

2006-03-10T23:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone...I'm very thankful to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. Paqspya will come to an end (unless my son eventually wishes to use it). As I mentioned before, Paqspya is my son's name, and as such, I feel I should leave that for him and publish under my own name. In hindsight, I'm not even sure why I used his name for so long. Anyway, it's time to move on. For all my readers, I respectfully request you to update your links and visit my site by clicking beow:

Sulustu - Where the Worlds Come Together

My 35th Birthday

2006-03-09T21:06:00.000-08:00

Me and the kids on my 35th birthday.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I'm still playing catch-up from things I forgot to post earlier. I celebrated my 35th birthday a few days ago with a simple family dinner. My mom and my sister joined my little family and ate a delicious strawberry-raspberry cheesecake (my favorite). My kids got me a totally retro Pac-man video game to play on our television. Way cool!

Loon Lake, Washington

2006-03-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

The Old School House at Loon Lake.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Artistic representation of a loon by the old school.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Still catching up; the other day I gave my aunt a ride to Wellpinit from Loon Lake. It was a beautiful day, though a new winter storm was just beginning to settle in.

Little Falls

2006-03-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

Water spilling over Little Falls Dam
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Little Falls Dam.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I haven't posted in a few days, so I"m catching up. I stopped by Little Falls Dam the other day and stood amazed at the power of the river pouring over the spillway. Our tribe has a lot of history at this place. Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my family driving over the old bridge by the dam.

The First Amendment

2006-03-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

The McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum recently published the findings of a disturbing survey showing a general lack of knowledge among Americans regarding the five basic protections of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Only one out of every 1,000 people surveyed could name all five freedoms, whereas 22% of Americans could name all five Simpsons.

This information is quite shocking, especially during a time when so many Americans worry about losing basic constitutional rights and protections. Ironically, I’ve heard people from both sides of the political divide accuse the other of undermining American values, and yet I wonder, if so few people can actually name our basic freedoms (about 0.1%), how much of the national debate is based on a reasoned interpretation of the United States Constitution, and how much is based on emotion?

By the way, as a social studies teacher and a Simpson’s fan, I am one of a few Americans who can name all five Simpsons AND the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

For review, I present the First Amendment in its entirety:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum operates a website and offers an interesting First Amendment quiz. Check it out by clicking below:

McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum

For more information on the study click below:

USA Today

Crash

2006-03-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

Michael Anthony Peña in Crash.

As a matter of coincidence, my wife and I watched the movie "Crash" from Neflix just as the film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Neither of us had planned to watch the awards, but only happened to catch that portion of the show when the award was made. We were literally turning off the television to watch the movie when we saw the award.

We originally watched the movie because my mom recommended it, and Rhonda said Oprah had good things to say about it (I suppose Oprah's word is pretty darn near Gospel truth with my wife, so how could I resist?)

I'm sure most everyone who's going to see it has already done so, but I have to say the film was quite thought-provoking and troubling, all at the same time. It's a disturbing reminder of the prejudice and bias within all of us. I can't really say anything of substance about what I saw, except to say I found myself identifying with the characters in a deeply emotional and sometimes soul-wrenching way. In fact, I chose the image above of Michael Anthony Peña precisely because in that moment I no longer saw the characters on the screen, rather I saw myself holding my baby Whitney. Rhonda screamed during that scene, and I just sat there and cried. It had such an impact, and left me wondering how deeply racism still affects us all.

Whitney's Talk in Primary

2006-03-05T18:03:00.000-08:00

McKenna and Whitney in primary.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Whitney gave a talk in primary today based on a poster we have hanging in our dining room. The poster has a depiction of Jesus with the words, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." I thought it is a very appropriate message for our day. You know what they say about words out of the mouths of babes...

ARMS Banquet

2006-03-04T23:21:00.000-08:00

Stacey Womack, Founder of ARMS.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Ophelia Araujo-Islas, Director at ARMS in Spokane.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Nancy McLaughlin, Spokane City Council,
Master of Ceremonies at ARMS Banquet.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

My wife and I attended a benefit banquet for ARMS, Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing issues of domestic violence and abuse from a Christian perspective. It primarily serves women, but it also offers services for men who become perpetrators of violence against women and children. It helps everyone affected by abuse to stop the cycle of violence.

Rhonda's longtime friend Ophelia Araujo-Islas is the director for the Northeast Washington region of the organization.

The banquet featured testimonials from women who survived abusive relationships and found inspiration and strength from the organization. It also featured music and a video presentation. I was very moved by the power of the message and the power of Ophelia's faith in God. ARMS is growing and will one day reach many thousands of women and men nationwide.

Angela Plays the Harp

2006-03-04T23:14:00.000-08:00

Angela Merchant plays the harp.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

My sister-in-law Angela Merchant played the harp for tonight's ARMS Banquet while eveyone ate dinner and visited with one another. I think she must have felt a little insecure. At one point she asked me if everyone could hear and if people noticed her mistakes, but I think everyone loved her music. I heard rants and raves from several people. Angela playing the harp truly is a heavenly sound.

Diversity Breakfast

2006-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Saint Aloysius Catholic Church at Gonzaga.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

The Interfaith Council at the Diversity Breakfast.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Kateri Caron of the Spokane Interfaith Council invited me to attend Spokane's Diversity Breakfast yesterday morning. The event took place on the campus of Gonzaga University, across the way from Saint Aloysius Catholic Church. Several local businesses and organizations took part, including Interfaith Council, the City of Spokane, Spokane Public Schoold District 81, and others. In addition to several thoughtful talks on diversity, interculturalism, and personal leadership, I reconnected with important people from my life, including Gordon Watanabe (who spoke at the event), Esther Louie, and others. I even got to hear a short presentation from Spokane's new mayor Dennis Hession.

David Thompson, the MAC, and the Elk Cafe

2006-03-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

The Elk Cafe in historic Browne's Addition.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Interior of the Elk Cafe.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I visited the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Browne's Addition, Spokane. I've been working with the museum to complete a kind of internship in Plateau Salish curriculum. I'm very excited about the project as a possible creative outlet for my limited cultural knowledge.

After I set up my work space at the museum, I took a few minutes to visit some of the current exhibits. I was especially impressed with the David Thompson exhibit, which featured an authentic birch bark canoe, handwritten journal entries from his exploration of the Pacific Northwest, portraits of Native people he met along the way, and taxidermied samples of animals he observed. I felt a spirit in that place, perhaps something from the people he encountered who would have been forgotten to history if he hadn't written about them.

During the lunch hour, I walked from the museum to the Elk Cafe. I really wish Rhonda could have joined me for lunch. The Elk Cafe is a wonderful little place to eat. It has such a cozy, friendly atmosphere; it's just someplace I love to go.

Rachel's Baby

2006-03-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an intense day...I had meetings all day at different locations around the city, and then spent the evening with my niece Rachel at the hospital as she delivered her baby. I got to be present for the birth, and even though I've witnessed several births during my life, it still brings tears to my eyes. What a beautiful experience!

More Pictures from Chewelah

2006-03-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Chewelah Cemetery.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

What is this thing?
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I really like this shot of the mystery brick structure.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

On my way home from work this afternoon, I took my time and stopped in Chewelah to take a few pictures. I stopped along the roadside and photographed this really weird brick structure that looks to me like it used to be a giant bread oven, or something like that. Who knows what it really is? Whatever the case, I find something vaguely appealing about it.

I also stopped at the Chewelah Cemetery and photographed this statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I'm not Catholic, but something about Catholic religious art moves me. I think perhaps I relate to it on an ancestral level, from when Catholicism blended with ancient Native American religion.

The Injustice of History

2006-02-28T20:47:00.000-08:00

Mural on the Stevens County Court House.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

A mural stands at the entrance of the Court House in Colville, Washington honoring the pioneers of Stevens County, but I'm assuming it primarily honors the white pioneers of Stevens County, while generally ignoring the Native American pioneers who established this country more than 10,000 years ago. I find the depiction quite ironic, especially since it shows an image of a Native American looking on as white settlers flood the land; but then it goes on to say:

"To the beautiful Colville Valley in 1825 came those hardy pioneers who through their fortitude, perseverance, and industry have wrought from the earth its vast mineral wealth, have hewn from the forests the lumber with which to build and from the soil have reaped an abundant livelihood, making this a thriving, prosperous, progressive community.

"Honor to the pioneers who broke the sod that men to come might live."

This statement, while worthy of respect in its own limited way, fails to acknowledge an entire nation of people who pioneered this land many millenia before 1825; kind of like Columbus when he "discovered" a continent already inhabited by millions of people.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

2006-02-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

My mother-in-law purchased a copy of Close Encounters of the Third Kind for my birthday (upcoming next week). I have to say this was one of my favorite childhood movies. It became engraved on my memory when I saw the little boy carried away by the aliens, and I saw the boy's mother running across a field screaming, "Barry! Baaaarry!" I was just a litte boy myself when I first saw this film, and so the boy sharing my namesake had a deep impact on my psyche. All these years later, I still find myself moved by this scene, and especially the scene of their tearful reunion at the end of the movie.

My children and I watched this movie together for the first time yesterday evening, and they were equally intrigued by the little boy named after their father. So there you have it; this was a total retro experience for me, and another generation of Close Encounter fans for my kids.

Colville, Washington

2006-02-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

LDS Church in Colville.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

South Elm Street in Colville.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I made a long and solitary drive this morning north to my work site in Colville, through the morning fog and occasional showers. Winter snow is still visible in nearby mountain tops, but the morning drizzle brings a message from the coming spring, though I have a feeling the border between winter and spring this year will be hazy at best, with no clear way to differentiate winter rains from the proverbial spring showers.

When I arrive at the community college in Colville, I park in the faculty lot across the street and take a moment to remember the LDS Church just a stone's throw away. I find a certain amount of irony that I'm now working across the street from a place with so many memories from my past. When I was still in high school, my father lived in Kettle Falls, only 8 miles north of Colville, and on Sundays I used to catch a ride into town and attend services in the Colville Ward. The people were so amazing and friendly. I have so many warm memories of that place.

My father never really appreciated my membership in the LDS Church. He used to ridicule me brutally, and somehow confused Mormonism from something out of the Holy Roller movement. If he would have ever attended he would have seen Mormons share very little in common with anything remotely Pentocostal. I would characterize "Holy Rollers" as the rock stars of Christendom, and Mormons as the librarians. Of course, my father never let reality deflate his one man comedy act. I'd come home on Sunday from attending LDS services and the jokes would start, peppered with shouts of "Hallelujah!" and fervent hand-waving.

I think most of my family regarded my membership in the LDS Church as some kind of joke, until I announced after 6 years that I was going to serve a full-time mission. When I left for Guatemala, my family's attitude shifted dramatically. It was like they finally said, "Wow. He was serious about this religion thing." After that, my father befriended the missionaries and developed a whole new respect for me as his son. My mission changed the way my family views me.

Jehovah's Witnesses

2006-02-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

Publication from the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.

I thought about making a surprise visit to the Brentwood Ward at the LDS Church down the street; a cameo appearance of sorts, but I was feeling sort of under the weather and two of my children were also not feeling well. Three of us stayed home and watched movies instead of going to church.

God must have sensed our absence because he sent a messenger with words from the Bible. About half way through our movie, we heard a knock at the door. Dakota answered the door and then said a man wanted to talk with me. I didn't want to respond; I was still wearing pajamas at 1:00 in the afternoon, my hair was still unkempt from the night before, but I felt obligated.

As soon as I looked out onto my front porch, I recognized my visitor as a representative from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, also known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. He wore a suit and carried a small, black briefcase. He held a Bible and several pamphlets in the other hand.

Right away I informed him we were feeling sick in our home, but I would welcome any literature he cared to share with us. He offered me the pamphlet you see above about life in a peaceful new world.

You can always identify literature from the Jehovah's Witnesses by its idyllic scenes from a paradisiacal world; lions lying down with lambs, children of various ethnic backgrounds are playing with bears, someone carrying a basket of fruit, snow-capped mountains in the distance. They promise peace and deliverance from the chaotic, violent world we see around us today. Truly, I find their message faintly appealing, if it weren't for the socially rigid and dogmatic system I know follows if a person joins their movement.

My grandmother is Jehovah's Witness, and several of my closest friends from high school. In fact, most Jehovah's Witnesses I know make ardently loyal friends if you take the time to get to know them individually; and fierce opponents if you dare compete with them for souls (as I did as an LDS missionary in Guatemala). I almost became Jehovah's Witness at one point, but something deep inside me convinced me otherwise. It's quite ironic that I once felt drawn to deeply conservative religions, like Mormonism or the Jehovah's Witnesses, and now I find myself at the complete opposite extreme of the conservative-liberal scale.

Despite differences in opinion regarding doctrine and biblical interpretation, I still find a soft spot in my heart for those who preach the word of God door to door. If I hadn't been feeling sick, I probably would have invited the man to stay a while, if nothing more than to give him a brief moment's rest and a little friendly encouragement.

Deep Creek

2006-02-25T18:07:00.000-08:00

A Centennial Trail bridge crosses Deep Creek.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

A large stone trapped in the roots of a fallen tree.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

My sister Michelle suggested we visit Deep Creek to take pictures for our blogs, so we took off in her car, heading north past Seven Mile Road. At first I thought she was going the wrong way. "Isn't Deep Creek in Airway Heights?" I asked, but as we arrived, the signs indicated we arrived at the correct location. After a few minutes hike, we ran into a couple of guys who said this is indeed the same Deep Creek. We were both right.

There was no water in the creek; apprently it all gets diverted for farming further upstream. Even so, the scenery was amazing. The water cut deep channels through the basalt and left towering rock formations, caves, and natural tunnels. I never knew such a place existed in the Spokane area. I really want to go back on a sunny day and bring my little family.

We got a few pictures, but the sky was overcast and didn't lend itself to effective photography.

Eagle Spirit

2006-02-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

Eagle Statue on Dishman and Appleway.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Ever since I received an eagle knife during the dance, I've been meditating on the possible meanings behind that animal. I've been seeing eagles all over the place; for example, I saw some real eagles flying over the highway near Colville, others depicted in art, and still others formed from patterns on the rocks in the sweat fire, or the bark of a tree, like some people report apparitions of the Virgin Mary. What can it mean?

I saw this eagle on the corner of Dishman and Appleway. I was in the valley yesterday afternoon to meet our former foster son, but his new family must have forgotten our appointment. We waited for more than an hour before I finally left. I was feeling kind of sad, but I felt suddenly impressed to drive a different route, and then I saw this eagle. I know it must seem overly simplistic or trite to find meaning in the chance meeting of a statue on the road, but seeing that eagle cheered me up considerably. It made me feel like someone was still watching out for us, even in the midst of sadness.

Addy, Washington

2006-02-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

An old barn in Addy, Washington.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Abandoned Buildings in Addy, Washington.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

I stopped in beautiful Addy, Washington on my way home from work today. Actually, the town is kind of pleasant. Though it is obviously not a tourist destination by any means, I kind of like small towns. It reminds me of what you might expect of a backwoods sort of place; a main street with false-fronted buildings, a grange, a family diner, several abandoned buildings, and good, down-to-earth people.

Meeting at the MAC (Again)

2006-02-22T22:58:00.000-08:00

Buildings in downtown Spokane.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Division Street at Sunset.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

I met with Kris Major of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) to discuss an upcoming internship with the museum. I plan to develop curriculum to address Native American cultures, while supporting state standards. This project will serve as a graduation requirement for my master's at Whitworth College.

On my drive home, the sun was setting and cast a warm glow over the streets and buildings. A couple of those pictures appear above.

Toothless McKenna

2006-02-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

Whitney and McKenna pose with toothless smiles. :)
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

McKenna finally lost her two front teeth. Her teeth were loose for almost four months, but she refused to wiggle them, or let anyone touch them at all. Rhonda threatened to pull them against her will, and I sometimes teased her that I wiggled them in her sleep, but in the end, we allowed her teeth to fall out naturally. You know, she always hated any kind of pain, or even threat of pain. It's a wonder her teeth fell out at all.

Of course, now she matches Whitney, who lost her front teeth more than a year ago. Of course, they are quite cute together with their toothless grins.

An Unusual Gift

2006-02-22T22:41:00.000-08:00

My cousin gave me a knife with an eagle carving on the handle.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

During the winter dance I received an unusual gift from my cousin Gabby Corral, a decorative knife with a beautiful eagle carving on the handle. Usually people give away things like blankets or scarves, so I was a little surprised to receive a weapon. Nevertheless, I'm very intrigued by the potential spiritual implications of his gift.

Winter Ceremonies

2006-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

The Green House at Wellpinit
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Those of you who follow my blog faithfully know I post almost every daily, and no doubt notice I missed the last week. My family holds winter ceremonies every President's Day weekend in what we call the "Green House." It's an ancient ritual and requires a complete consecration of time and attention. In fact, it seems time does not exist when the spirits and the visible world come together.

1998 Ford Ranger

2006-02-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

1998 Ford Ranger
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

My wife bought me a used Ford Ranger yesterday, well, the money was in our joint account from unexpected funds I received a while back, but she did write the check and claimed it was my Valentine's Day present. Happy Valentine's Day indeed! Needless to say, I was quite pleased, but of course, nothing I do for her will ever compare to this.

Canadian Money on SpoVegas

2006-02-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

A recent post I wrote caught the attention of local blogger SpoVegas. He said I wrote a "neat little entry [...] about neatly colored Canadian moola." His post goes on to tell a humorous story about exchanging U.S. currency for Canadian Loonies. Of course, I find the story more satisfying than usual because it's always flattering to get noticed in a positive way. His blog presents further evidence I'm not simply writing into the ethers. ;)

Canadian Money: It's Colorful

SpoVegas

Changing Fortunes

2006-02-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

Faceted Glass Beads from the Czech Republic.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Oh what a day we had! My daughter Whitney woke up every hour on the hour last night crying about a killer ear ache. I'm not sure I got any sleep at all. I worried about falling asleep at the wheel during my drive to Colville, so I called in sick. Besides, I needed to take Whitney to the doctor. Before I had even called to make an appointment, Dakota came upstairs coughing up a lung. Ah the joys of parenthood! It turns out both Whitney and Dakota have bronchitis, and Whitney has a severe ear infection. Fortunately they received the treatment they needed and are now sleeping soundly for the first time in days.

I didn't get much of a chance to do anything, but I did buy beads for give-away items at the dance this year. I'm very excited to see the beads sparkling with all my prayers.

My sister and I talked lately about my changing fortunes. What makes bad things happen to people? On the other hand, why have things suddenly gotten better for me? Does it really matter what we pray for? Has it really made a difference for me to take my thoughts and feelings to the lodge? I think it must, and preparing these items to give away makes me feel just how blessed my family has been in the last few months.

A Spiritual Connection

2006-02-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

The moon rising over Radium Hot Springs.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

A picture of me with the Columbia Valley in the background.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Several times during our trip, I took the time to meditate alone in the mountain trails and hills. I feel a spiritual connection to this land I cannot quite explain. It feels as though I have some kind of ancestral connection to this place, or at least a connection to the spiritual ancestors of my religion. Sometimes my dreams bring me back and connect me to the spirits of this land.

Radium Hot Springs

2006-02-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

The entrance to Kootenay National Park passes through an opening in the mountainside.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Radium Hot Springs is within the boundaries of Kootenay National Park.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Frost and ice form above the heated water at Radium Hot Springs.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Rhonda and the kids in the heated pools.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Rhonda and Whitney bathing at Radium.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Radium Hot Springs was by far the most significant stop for me during our entire trip. Of course, the natural beauty is absolutely stunning with its sheer cliffs covered with evergreen trees, but more importantly, my father and I visited these pools many years ago and created a warm memory I will not soon forget.

Official literature made available to tourists states simply that the pools were used by First Nations people more than two centuries ago for healing, but I always sensed a spiritual presence in this area. I may never know the true meaning of this place, but I find clues from time to time in my dreams. The spirits of this land remain with me, even when I travel a great distance away. Every year I feel drawn back, but only this once did I actually succeed in returning.

I'm so glad to have this chance to visit this place again and share this memory with my wife and children.

As sort of a novelty, I found out they named this place Radium Hot Springs because the water contains higher levels of radiation than any other spring in Canada. Fortunately, the radiation does not rise to a high enough level to be harmful to humans.

Charter Flight

2006-02-13T01:03:00.000-08:00

Dakota on board the Cessna.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Our pilot John.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

A view of the valley from above.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

An aerial view of the Shuswap Indian Reserve.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Dakota and I chartered a small, 3 passenger Cessna out of Invermere with a pilot named John. It was really a touristy thing to do, but we really enjoyed it. The flight lasted about a half an hour and took us over both Fairmont Hot Springs and Radium Hot Springs.

Lake Windermere

2006-02-13T00:52:00.000-08:00

A massive sheet of ice pushes upward at the north shore of Lake Windermere.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

McKenna and a sunny day at the beach on Lake Windermere.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Dakota walking on water.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Invermere

2006-02-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

Rhonda and the kids at Invermere, British Columbia.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Indian Baths

2006-02-13T00:31:00.000-08:00

The so-called Indian Baths near Fairmont Hot Springs.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

The natural springs literally flow from the hillside.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Just before we arrived at the hot pools at Fairmont Hot Springs, we stopped at a small stone structure overlooking the entire valley. They call this place the "Indian Baths," or the "Historic Pools." The water literally springs out of the hillside and drips into several tubs inside this building. The Indian Baths are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round. They are free to the public, but considerably less maintained than the commercial site. We didn't bathe in the pools here, but we did enjoy the hike, as well as the magnificent views of the water emerging from the mountain, causing steam to rise into the air.

Moonrise over the Rockies

2006-02-13T00:22:00.000-08:00

The moon rises over the Rocky Mountains...
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Every night we watched the moon rise over the Rocky Mountains to the East. The sky was unusually sunny and clear for this part of the season, which we readily enjoyed. Even though the temperature was relatively cold, it felt like springtime to us. It was a wonderful cure to the seasonal affective disorder I mentioned earlier.

Big Horn Sheep

2006-02-13T00:16:00.000-08:00

Big Horn Sheep grazing near the resort at Fairmont.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

When we arrived at the pools at Fairmont Hot Springs, we saw three big horn sheep grazing in a grassy area near the resort. They stood calmly as people passed, some taking pictures (as I did). They seemed totally unconcerned for the activity of humans. In fact, they remained in that little field for the entire time we swam in the pools; a little over 3 hours.

Hot Pools at Fairmont

2006-02-12T23:52:00.000-08:00

The Hot Pools at Fairmont.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Sunset over Fairmont Hot Springs.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

During our first full day in Canada, Rhonda and I took the kids to the hot pools at Fairmont, which are reportedly the largest in Canada, with divided sections of varying temperatures. The kids liked this particular hot spring becuase it had a cooler section for them to swim in. I enjoyed it because it had a hot section for relaxation. As we sat in the hot water, we watched an amazing sunset cast against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

Condominium at Fairmont Hot Springs

2006-02-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

The moon rises over our condo at Fairmont Hot Springs, BC.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Several years ago my wife and I purchased a timeshare (with what money, I don't know). We've held onto our humble little share through thick and thin with hopes of one day realizing our dream of traveling with our children. Well, we finally decided to use it for a much needed vacation to British Columbia. We drove north into Canada through Sand Point and stayed near Fairmont Hot Springs. It was absolutely wonderful! I hope to post several photos from our trip as soon as I get a chance.

Fairmont Hot Springs

2006-02-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

Sunset over the hot pools at Fairmont Hot Springs.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

I'm sending tis post from Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia. I haven't been here since I was about 18 years old. I forgot just how magnificent it all is. I'll post pictures when we get back to the States.

Gold Fever

2006-02-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

This is the largest chunk of gold we found in comparison to a penny.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Several weeks ago, I dreamed the spiritual powers told me to give away five small chunks of gold at the winter dance. I might not usually talk about these things publicly, except for the interesting lessons I've learned already in the process of obtaining gold.

At first I struggled to think where a person might obtain gold in raw chunks as I saw them in my dream, but only two or three days later, I met a guy in Colville who pans for gold as a hobby. He told me a guy in Alaska sells dirt from a gold mine guaranteed to have at least a few nuggets. He showed me the website, and I put down my money.

This afternoon I came home from work and saw my package from Alaska arrived by Fed Ex.

Dakota and I followed the instructions and literally panned for gold in our bath tub, and would you know it, we actually found a few small chunks! We got to experience the thrill of the gold rush from so many years ago, at least on a limited scale. But we also got to experience the stress associated with that peculiar yellow rock. It takes a lot of tedious work to gather all the little flakes out of the pan, and on at least two different points, both Dakota and Whitney dumped the vial and lost some of the chunks. I got mad at first until I stopped and thought about the insanity of it all. When I really stopped to think about it, the words popped into my head, "This is the little yellow rock that makes men crazy."

Then I felt a little troubled; I mean, why did the spirits tell me to gather this thing, much less give it away to the people, especially if it distorts common sense and reason? I'm going to have to pray about this a little more before I finish...

Canadian Currency

2006-02-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

Image Source: Bank of Canada.

I went to the bank in Colville to obtain Canadian currency for our trip to Fairmont Hot Springs this weekend. Of course, I always enjoy holding foreign money in my hands; it's so much more attractive than the U.S. dollar. I brought it home and showed my kids. I must say they were equally fascinated by the novelty of holding relatively large Canadian bills. Well, I decided to post a casual comment about the money on my blog, and post a picture of Queen Elizabeth II from the $20 bill. I'll be damned if the scanner didn't send me to a website about making counterfeit money! It also refused to make the copy (which I suppose ultimately saves me a lot of hassle later if someone decides to bother me about it). It was such an innocent novelty to me, and yet after I made the futile attempt to copy the queen's picture, I realized just how serious a matter it is in today's world; kind of like the time I took a picture of the U.S. Federal Building in Spokane and got stopped by a federal officer. I'm sure my sister is laughing her head off as she reads this, because in my naivite I tend to attract these kind of awkward situations.

In the age of domestic spying, I thought I'd better make a public repudiation of copying bank notes of any kind, even for benign purposes (just in case the nice folks in Canada are reading this). The moral of the story is: don't copy money.

Just to prove my sincere repentence (even though I never actually succeeded in copying the money), I include an approved photograph from the Bank of Canada, complete with instructions for legal use:

Conditions for use of photographs in image gallery

Images in this gallery can be used or reproduced for personal or public non-commercial use, free of charge, as long as the following conditions are met:

the photographs are reproduced accurately and without alterations,
the Bank of Canada is identified as the source,
it is not implied that your particular use of the photographs is done in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of, the Bank of Canada.

You must obtain the Bank’s written permission to reproduce any other images of bank notes, regardless of how these images are obtained, by submitting a request.

To learn more about the laws and policy that govern the creation and use of images of bank notes, please consult the Bank of Canada Policy on the Reproduction of Bank Note Images.

Bank of Canada Currency Images.

Prueba en Español

2006-02-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

Yo quería saber si se puede escribir artículos en español usando los medios disponibles en Blogspot y Windows XP. En mi pantalla de computadora, se ve las letras muy bien, completas con acentos y tildes, pero muchas veces me he dado cuenta de que los email que escribo en español me regresan con marcas muy extrañas en lugar de los acentos. Vamos a ver lo que pasa.

History of the Chewelah Tribe

2006-02-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

The Catholic Church in Chewelah with the
mountains in the background.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Driving through Chewelah, Washington three days a week carries my mind back to matters of personal family history. Many of my ancestors came from the Chewelah Band of Indians, which some historians claim was really an off-shoot from the Kalispel Tribe of Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Western Montana. Alice Sherwood Abrahamson of the Chewelah Band gave a fascinating history of her tribe, with a direct connection to my family tree.

Alice Sherwood Abrahamson recounts the story of her grandfather Paul Sheshetah and his immediate family members. He lived with his parents, three brothers, and one sister on the banks of the Pend Orielle River near modern day Cusick, Washington. By the time she committed her story to writing, she had already forgotten the names of Sheshetah’s family; or perhaps she never knew the names to begin with. We may never know for sure.

Apparently one of Sheshetah’s brothers was mistaken as the offender in an incident involving a young woman, and the other young men of the tribe killed him before the family could bring the matter to council. The brothers intended to seek revenge, but Sheshetah’s father removed his family before the matter escalated into further violence. They left the Cusick area and settled in a swampy valley to the west, the site of present day Chewelah, Washington. They were among the first people to settle in the area.

Originally, Sheshetah was known only by his Indian name, but on September 24, 1841 Father Jean Pierre DeSmet established a mission nearby and baptized many of the local people. Sheshetah received the Christian name Paul. While he adopted the Catholic religion, he apparently continued to practice many of the ancient indigenous forms of spirituality. Alice said he had a song and held healing rituals at winter ceremonies. She said he was also a Blue Jay, but claimed no memory of the meaning behind the ritual.

Old Man Camille and Paul Sheshetah

Alice went on to explain many other details of daily life among the Chewelah Indians, and even described many of the families living among her people. She mentioned my ancestors Steven and Joseph Moses, among others; however, she never explicitly offered a direct link between her family and mine.

I discovered the link between our families several years after I first read Alice’s family history.

The Spokane Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs maintains a record of real estate transactions from the founding of the Spokane Indian Reservation in the 1880s to the present. It especially keeps track of the original allotments given under the Dawes Act. Most tribal members died without leaving any kind of last will and testament, so the real estate records almost always ended up in probate court to determine any and all eligible heirs to the original allotments. These records are an untapped genealogical treasure.

Some years ago, I spent the afternoon at the BIA looking up case files from those of my ancestors I had already identified. Many times I found nothing of interest in the files, but sometimes I found written documentation of “new” ancestral lines. The Ellen Moses file (#241) was perhaps the most exciting of all, and provided the missing link between Alice Abrahamson and my family line.

According to documents found in her file, Ellen Moses described her husband’s family tree through a translator to the probate judge (her husband was my ancestor Joseph Moses). Joseph’s grandfather was named Ch-oll-kin. He had five children: Sol-low-stew (Joseph’s father), Stutlemetz, Sheshetah (who married Sophia), Ch-a-sal-ea-wha, and Quil-quil-cha-a-nee.

It took a moment for this new information to really sink in. I knew from documents I had already received from Father Connolly that Joseph’s father was named Sulustu (Sol-low-stew). I also knew from Alice Abrahamson’s family record that Sheshetah indeed married a woman named Sophia. Suddenly I realized I found the link. The whole family Alice described in her paper was in fact MY family! Even the number and genders of the children match.

Of course, this new information explained why my family lived among the Chewelah Band of Indians. We were originally Kalispel and only later absorbed into the Spokane Tribe (this was common in those days).

As I put the pieces together, I realize my ancestor Sulustu most likely received baptism the same day as Paul Sheshetah and was named Moses by Father DeSmet.

So as I drive through Chewelah, I remember my family history, and I realize how much I still need to do to make this information available to my family. This entry is my first attempt in this direction.

Superbowl of the End Times

2006-02-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me on a personal level will be surprised to learn I watched the Seahawks play the Steelers in Superbowl XL. Yes, I'm sure more than a few people would have paid money to see Barry Moses watching football. Others would regard this as a sign of the end times; but before you cash in on the great apocalypse, just remember I grew up surrounded by football, and while I resisted it all these years, I just couldn't escape the gravitational pull of my home team playing the mother of all games (I lived in Seattle for 8 years during my childhood, so if I had to claim allegiance to any team, I would have to claim Seattle).

To be quite honest, I even surprised myself. Since my earliest childhood, football represented everything I hated about American males; the beer, the aggression, the cursing. It represented everything I was NOT. I was always quite the sensitive, artistic, and creative young man, and I always assumed footballers were some kind of alien species, or at least a foreign race.

And yet there I was, watching the Seahawks lose the ultimate game, jumping up and down from my seat and wanting to curse out loud. We were guests in our friend's home, so I managed to refrain myself (their pastor was also a guest in their home), but it was like the energy of the moment reached through the television and took control of my body. By the time the game ended and I finally accepted the defeat of Seattle's team, I found myself pacing around the house wondering what the hell just happened to me. Had I really just watched the first football game in over 20 years? Did I actually enjoy the game? The answer to these questions may very well shatter my cherished self-perceptions and cause me to re-think my assumptions about what it means to be ME.

Wow! Maybe these really are the end times after all! ;)

Old Friends Meet in Guatemala

2006-02-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

Adam Wiltse with his parents in 2004.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

As many of you know, I once served a mission for the LDS Church in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. My religious affiliations changed, but I still hold many fond memories of friendships and experiences from that time in my life.

About a year and a half ago, Adam Wiltse (Rhonda is best friends with Adam's mom Madonna) received his mission call to the Guatemala City Central Mission. Of course, I was very excited to know he was going to the same country. His mission call inspired me to gather all my pictures and create an album. We had Adam and his parents over for dinner and told stories about Guatemala.

Since then, I received a couple of letters from Adam, and then I got word a couple days ago that Adam is now serving in the same ward where Juan Carlos Samayoa currently serves as bishop. Samayoa was my first greeny. I always had a lot of respect for him because of his dedication to what he believed. We only worked together for about a month, but we became fast friends for the rest of the mission. How interesting for them to meet, especially after not seeing Samayoa for over 12 years. I wonder what they'll say about me. I'm sure it's all good!

Juan Carlos Samayoa
(Photograph from Noti Xela, 1992)

Chris at the Airport

2006-02-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

Chris Lammer.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

At the end of my day, just before driving to Wellpinit, I received a telephone call from my old friend Chris Lammer of Boise, Idaho. I met him years ago when I was actively involved with Spectrum Trainings, Inc. Since then, we fell out of touch and had not seen each other in about 5 years. As it turns out, he was waiting for a flight at the Spokane Airport and asked if I could stop in for a brief visit. I just happened to be heading that way, so I agreed.

As we visited, he told me about all the twists and turns of his life and asked me how I'm doing. Then I realized how much changed for me in the last 5 years since I saw him last. How could I rightfully tell the story before he had to board his plane? More than anything, I realized just how far we've come...and that felt good.

Spokane International Airport.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

After I left Chris to board his plane, I got a few photographs of the airport terminal from the parking garage. I probably would have taken more pictures, but I suddenly got a creepy feeling that some Homeland Security guy was watching me from a closed circuit television screen in a seedy office someplace in the underbelly of the airport and was at that moment dispatching officers to question me. Yeah, I guess airports are not good places to take lots of pictures. It could be construed as suspicious activity, like the time I took pictures of the federal building at night, or photographed my son in the Social Security Office. Hmmm.

2006-02-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Talking With the Enemy

2006-02-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

The online version of the Christian Science Monitor posted a remarkable series addressing the very topics we discussed at our Camp PEACE meeting; "Talking With the Enemy: A series to help Americans bridge the bitter red-blue divide." It brings together a collection of authors to promote the creation of dialogue, not polarization. The series offers thought-provoking analysis of our current national divide and practical tips for avoiding alienating others in the public square. I appreciate this series because it doesn't require people to abandon cherished beliefs and personal convictions, whatever those might be. It simply helps people move beyond ideology and find the humanity in others.

Christian Science Monitor: Talking With the Enemy.

PEACE Curriculum

2006-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Sara and Kateri at Interfaith Council.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Rhonda and I met Kateri and Sara to discuss Camp PEACE curriculum. Once again, we struggled with the issue of what makes a peacemaker. What skills do we want students to gain by attending our program?

The question of peacemaking resides at the heart of international politics and social movements. Essentially, we asked how people can express their own cherished values and beliefs without attacking others. Obviously, no one can fully answer these questions during a single 90 minute session, but we finally agreed on a few general themes. For example, peacemakers should know how to listen deeply to the experiences and viewpoints of others without necessarily surrendering their own values. They should also know how to speak about their values without attacking. We also agreed people need to learn to let go of attack altogether. It’s entirely possible to outwardly embrace diversity and still use it as a weapon of attack.

I’m not sure how well we defined our goals and objectives, but I found it meaningful to discuss these issues in a significant way. I left feeling humbled and inspired.

Greek style statues at the antique store...
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Greek discus thrower...
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

After we left, Rhonda and I briefly visited an antique store on Ruby Street. We actually enjoyed fantasizing about everything we would like to buy and taking pictures of re-creations of great works of art.

I liked this little guy because he reminded me
of the moods I get every now and then...
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Transcending Extremes

2006-02-02T02:49:00.000-08:00

I launched this blog almost one year ago and chose to carefully avoid divisive commentary on such contentious national issues as abortion, gay rights, or executive power; though privately, I embrace a steadfast commitment to my personal ideals. I admit to holding a liberal bias to just about any social issue facing our present age, and I also admit it’s not always easy to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes I look at the state of things today and I just want to scream.

I never wish to alienate anyone, and yet I notice my blog often lacks any real substance or depth because I tend to avoid dissension altogether. Perhaps the real issue has less to do with whether or not to engage controversial topics, and more to do with how to engage controversy in a respectful way toward those who may disagree with my views.

Extreme political ideology (liberal or conservative) tends to leave us with a nauseating diet of meaningless half truths, criticism for the sake of attack, and blind insult. In the so-called culture wars, morality and personal values occasionally become beating sticks by which to suppress anyone who holds an opposing view. For example, we sometimes hear liberals champion the cause of diversity and inclusion, but do they always respect the right of conservatives to hold contrary views on things like abortion or gay rights? Likewise, we often hear conservatives bemoan the decline of Christian values in America, while they denounce from their pulpits the very souls Christ sent them to save. I believe the words of my brother-in-law Mike Merchant when he says accusation of others always begins with self betrayal.

The question of tolerance and compassion became very real for me several months ago as I began to design a curriculum for Camp PEACE.

At first, Camp PEACE didn’t challenge my bias at all because the student group I facilitated in December shared many of my liberal viewpoints. For example, one young man talked about being harassed and beaten up on several occasions at school because he’s gay. Some of his attackers were Christian and told him he was going to hell. As he told his story, I felt tears well up in my eyes with a burning sense of righteous indignation. A young Buddhist girl shared a similar story of harassment where students at her local high school cornered her in the hall and told her she was a heathen and an atheist for accepting the Buddha and not Jesus Christ. She was humiliated and frightened by her fellow students’ apparent effort to “save” her. Yet another student broke down and sobbed as she talked about harassment she received when her fellow students found out she belongs to the Unitarian Church. She was told she was going to hell and that she was not a patriotic American because of her beliefs.

As I heard these accounts, I realized discrimination and bias still exert a powerful influence over our community, even as many conservatives I know personally try to minimize its validity. On the other hand, I felt deeply troubled because I know several others in the group felt overpowered by the liberal majority at our December encampment. They didn’t feel safe to express their views with the larger group.

As Kateri and I discussed the dynamics of the camp afterwards, I mentioned my observation and she agreed. I told her I would like all students to respect their peers regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc., and while I acknowledge a liberal bias, I would never want to be the one to make a student feel invalidated because he or she holds a conservative worldview. I want our kids to expand their perspective, but I would not want our parents to feel like I was pressuring their children to abandon their cherished values and beliefs.

This brings me to a very timely question: how can we get liberals to embrace tolerance and diversity, even if that means allowing conservatives to hold contrary views? Likewise, how can we get conservatives to embrace compassion and religious freedom, even if that means allowing liberals to hold unorthodox or alternative views about such touchy topics as God or human sexuality? In short, how can we create a world where everyone can truly live according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, and still hold the deepest honor and respect of those who disagree?

Perhaps we can start by rejecting simplistic notions regarding our opponents. Seriously, is it really true that liberals lack any real faith in God and are hell-bent on destroying Christianity, America, and the family? It’s ludicrous, but we hear this all the time. Likewise, is it really true conservatives oppose liberals because they secretly long for world domination or a one-religion state? No! Maybe a few outlying fringe groups really represent these views, but by and large, I believe most Americans really value faith, values, family, equality, and fairness.

I’m the first to admit just how deeply I struggle with this issue in my own life. It’s easy to criticize or even demonize our political and religious opponents. It’s harder to love those who reject our views. In this way, I think the words of Jesus really do speak to our times. How many of us truly love our enemies? And how many of us truly love our enemies, even if they hold extreme social, religious, or political views of a differing stripe? With a few notable exceptions, I believe most Americans generally miss the point.

Kindness is the only religion that matters, and when we fail to love our brother, do we address our own weaknesses first, or the do we accuse the weaknesses of others?

For my own part, I know I’m weak and all too often, I engage in the controversies embroiled about us, but in the end, I grow weary of political debate. Of course, civil discourse is essential to democracy, but only if it remains civil. When I stand true to my convictions regarding human dignity and worth, I realize I can remain true to my convictions without belittling the values or beliefs of others.

I wish to remind my readers of something I quoted several months ago. They say before Siddhartha Gautama gained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha, he first lived a life of luxury as a prince. Then he spent several years living in abject self-denial and poverty. One day he was meditating on the banks of a river when he overheard a conversation between a father and his son on a passing boat. They were adjusting the strings on a lyre, and the father said if the strings are too tight, they will break. If they’re too loose, the instrument cannot play musical notes. In that moment, Siddhartha realized that enlightenment cannot come through extremes of indulgence or abnegation, but rather arises naturally as we master the “middle way.” We miss the point if we become attached to extremes.

I believe enlightenment (or salvation, or whatever you want to call it) will happen when we let go of attachments to either extreme conservatism or liberalism. Rigid conservatism imprisons the soul, and excess liberalism corrupts good morals and common sense.

I believe also Jesus expressed this idea when he said the way to heaven is strait and narrow. Many people think the way is narrow because the moral standards are so exacting that only the chosen few show enough discipline to follow it. I reject this notion. I believe Jesus says the way is narrow because he knows most people never let go of attachment to extreme views. Time and again, Jesus promotes abundant living and good works, and yet he liberates us from the binding, legalistic rules of our conservative past. Jesus was a conservative when he upheld the timeless connection to spirit. He was a liberal when he overturned the social conventions of his day in favor of individual choice and worth. In real fact, he transcended both, just as the Buddha did 500 years before, and just as I hope to do today.

Highway to Colville

2006-02-01T23:36:00.000-08:00

Canadian Geese near the highway to Colville.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

My internet was down for a couple days, so I didn't get to post anything new to my blog. Even if I had the chance, there's not too much I would say. I've been working all week at my new job and enjoying the beautiful scenery between Spokane and Colville. In fact, I stopped this afternoon and took a photograph of a large green field filled with Canadian geese. It really was quite spectacular to see. Oh, and by the way, the job has been fun too.

Errands in Downtown Spokane

2006-01-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

Chief Garry of the Spokanes
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Rhonda and I took several errands this afternoon in and around downtown Spokane. At one point, I had the opportunity to photograph the historic Spokesman Review Building, along with a new addition across the street. The newer portion features a series of busts from important personalities in the history of Spokane. I was pleased to find Chief Garry or the Spokanes among the prominent citizens of our community. In the latter part of the afternoon, we filed taxes and witnessed a spectacular sunset.

The Spokesman Review Building
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Sunset colors over Northwest Boulevard
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

Paul's New Blog

2006-01-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

Paul Merchant
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

My brother-in-law Paul launched his own personal blog this week, the Official Site of Paul Merchant. Paul says my blog inspired him to create a journal of his thoughts. Accordingly, it gives me great honor to include his link on my page. I'm very excited to see what he will have to say.

Pizza and a Movie

2006-01-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

River Park Square in downtown Spokane.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Well, nothing of interest happened today except Rhonda's dad took us to see a movie and have pizza at River Park Square in downtown Spokane. We saw the new kid's movie "Nanny McPhee," which they absolutely adored and I tolerated. I will admit; however, I did fantasaize about hiring Nanny McPhee to whip my kids into shape (just kidding).

Rhonda's grandma joined us for pizza and a movie, but was none to pleased. She's returning to Arizona but doesn't want to go. I'm feeling very sad for her as she begins to lose control of important life choices (she's 90 years old). I sit awake sometimes thinking about what to do to help her, but I can't seem to think of any happy solution.

Dakota cried all the way home convinced he was about to die of an apendicitis attack. However, he got to playing a little later and was miraculously cured.

Noteworthy Events

2006-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Every cloud has a silver lining, even a cloud as dark as Steve's passing. For obvious reasons, we gave our complete attention to the funeral and grieving, but other noteworthy events transpired over this last week.

People always say funerals bring families together like nothing else. On the one hand, it's good to see folks again; while on the other hand, we shouldn't have to wait for tragedy to strike to rekindle family bonds. Even though we generally lament the distance, I think we all agree visiting loved ones in the midst of loss is better than not seeing them at all.

Rhonda with her father and brothers.
(left to right) Ron Merchant, Rhonda Moses, Mike Merchant, and Paul Merchant.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses

I love everyone in the family, but two people in particular stand out:

Glenda's older sister LaDonna flew in from Boise to spend the week with our family. Her visit was particularly touching because everyone else came for Lanith and the kids, but LaDonna came for Glenda. Her visit made Glenda's grieving more bearable. We even laughed and shared many wonderful moments as a family. Not to mention, my kids absolutely loved LaDonna from the first moment they met her. Maybe they attached to her because of her spirited personality, or maybe because of her resemblance to Glenda. Whatever the reason, it felt so wonderful to see my children throw open their hearts to such a wonderful woman. It brought cheer to my heart, and Glenda's.

Anthony also made an important visit. We all know how much he struggles and how he tends to stay away, but when he heard about Steve, he put aside his crazy lifestyle and really stepped up for the family. So many people expressed their love and support for him, including uncle Mike and Ezekiel Sanchez from the Anasazi program. It brought tears to my eyes to see Anthony and Zeke together...I hold out so much hope for Anthony to make a better life for himself and to break free of the bonds of addiction and self-doubt.

Overall, my heart expanded so much in the presence of so much love and the expression of such tender feelings. Family really is forever.

In other "news," the Community Colleges of Spokane recently hired me as an adjunct faculty member in the Adult Basic Education program in Colville, Washington. I'm so excited to be involved with such a wonderful employer. Not to mention, the Spokane Tribal TANF program just invited me to teach Salish classes at their Spokane and Wellpinit centers once a week. After so many years of struggle, things are starting to look up.

I also had a meeting at Whitworth College yesterday to discuss my final project for graduation. I will be testing a pilot program to change the way primary and secondary education graduate students obtain their degree. As it stands now, students have to complete a curriculum project and three comprehensive exams. Unfortunately, most students object to taking the exam portion because they feel it simply repeats exams they already took. Working with Sharon Mowry and Vernice Hunnicut at the college, we will pilot a new program that will replace the comprehensive exams with a Philosophy of Education paper, a poster presentation, and an oral presentation. I am so excited to participate in improving Whitworth's program. I'm also humbled to sit with such esteemed people as Sharon and Vernice and to have them listen seriously to my contributions.

As a side note to all these changes in my life, I have the opportunity to drive through Colville and Chewelah three times a week. I love seeing the beautiful mountains that are so deeply connected to my family and tribal history. The other day, I stopped at the Indian Cemetery in Chewelah and felt a rekindling of my interest in genealogy.

We have been blessed beyond measure. God is good.

2006-01-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

This is how I imagine Steve looking down on us from Heaven. I created this photograph of Steve using Photoshop Elements. The background was an original photograph from the site on Mount Spokane, near the place where Steve died.

2006-01-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

Steve's final resting place was in "Deseret," an LDS section of Greenwood Memorial Terrace. By some mercy of God, Steve was buried next to Grandpa Great Jim Merchant, even though someone else had originally purchased that plot.

Steve's Funeral and Burial

2006-01-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

Today was a difficult day for the entire family; we held funeral services for Steve Merchant in Spokane Valley, Washington, and then had a graveside service at Greenwood Memorial Terrace, in Spokane.

It was a beautiful service, characterized by touching anecdotes from his life, personal testimonies, a beautiful slide show by Paul Merchant, singing of traditional hymns, reading of lyrics written by Steve, and a performance of songs he also wrote. People from all across the United States arrived, overflowing the chapel and filling the gymnasium all the way to the back.

Steve will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

2006-01-21T22:00:00.000-08:00

Steven Charles Merchant
February 7, 1964 - January 19, 2006

Funeral Service Planned for Steve Merchant

2006-01-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

Funeral services for Steve Merchant were announced today by the Merchant family. Services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 21022 East Wellesley.

2006-01-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

The Prophesy of Circling Raven

2006-01-21T21:27:00.000-08:00

As Mike, Ron, and I drove up to Mount Spokane (before we picked up Clayne), I recounted the story of an early Spokane prophet who saw a vision of the Creator on the mountain. I quote the story from Robert H. Ruby and John A. Brown*:

"A fresh Spokane grave in the plague year 1782 held the remains of the little son of Yureerachen ("Circling Raven"), a shaman brother of the chief of the Upper Spokanes. Yureerachen, anguished at the death, blasphemed the Creator. "Why," he sobbed to his chieftan brother, "did He take my son, who has committed no crime, and leave bad people on the earth?" One day his chieftan brother told him, "All right, we will be as animals; we will disband our laws. First, you must go to the top of the [Spokane] mountain and fast four days and nights, then come back the fourth day just before noon. If you find no proof of our Creator, we will then disband our laws and live like animals." Clad only in a breechcloth, Yureerachen went to the top of the mountain. He built a fire, prayed, beat sticks, cried, and sang. On the fourth day, before dawn, in a burst of light, he heard the voice of the Creator. "Look down the mountain into the future of your people," spoke the Creator. Overwhelmed, Yureerachen knew in an instant that he had to bring word of this vision to his people. But he also knew the time to do so was not at hand, for in mourning the recent loss of their loved ones, they would never believe him. What should he tell them?

Yureerachen raced down the hill to affirm to his chieftan brother and the other people his own faith in the Creator. The rest of his story, a prophecy, he kept to himself until the time should come to reveal it. One day, about the year 1790, there was a defeaning blast, the air clouded, and the ground became covered with a flour pumicite. The people, well versed in stories of the earlier volcanic catastrophe, were stricken with fear by the "dry snow" mantling the earth. It was as though an evil hand were completing a sinister cycle on earth, from ashes to ashes. They thought the end of the world was at hand.

Yureerachen felt it was the proper time to prophesy. First, he calmed his people with assurances that the Creator was not ending their existence on earth. "Soon," he said, "there will come from the rising sun a different kind of man from any you have yet seen, who will bring with them a book, and will teach you everything, and after that the world will fall to pieces." When the people pressed him for details, he said white men would come.

I find it intersting that grieving drove Yureerachen to pray on the slopes of Mount Spokane. Today my grieving also brought me to the mountain where once God appeared to our people.

*Ruby, Robert H. & Brown, John A., The Spokane Indians: Children of the Sun. Norman, Oklamhoma: 1970.

Steve's Last View of Earth

2006-01-21T20:35:00.000-08:00

I sat down with my back to the tree where Steve passed away and took this amazing photograph. I say this photograph is amazing because this is the last thing Steve would have seen before passing into the Other World. Steve loved the mountains and the out of doors. As I sat there, I thought if Steve really got to choose the place to leave this world, Mount Spokane is the perfect place.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Into the West

2006-01-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

Prayers on the Mountain

2006-01-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

Rhonda's oldest brother Mike Merchant called me up this morning and invited me to visit the site of Steve's passing on Mount Spokane. Of course, I eagerly accepted the invitation. More than anything, I desired to honor that place made holy by Steve's living spirit.

Mike Merchant, Ron Merchant, Clayne Perrins, and I drove to Selkirk Lodge near the summit of Mount Spokane. We only had one snowmobile, so Mike and Ron rode up first while Clayne and I visited in the lodge. After 40 minutes or an hour, they returned, and then Mike and I rode the snowmobile up.

We rode several miles on a well groomed trail and then split off onto a more difficult trail. Finally, Mike stopped and we walked the rest of the way up the hill. It was very steep and covered in thick snow.

After a very difficult climb, we finally reached a small tree marked with yellow and orange ribbons. Of course, the tree isn't really that small; it's simply covered by 9 or 10 feet of snow. When the snow melts in spring, the "little" tree will be quite a bit taller than it seems now. The ribbons marked the very tree Steve leaned against during his last moments of life.

As I approached the tree, I had a distinct feeling of holiness fall over my body, followed by waves of grief. I burned juniper at the tree as a prayer for myself and then sang several prayer songs from my tribe while I wept. I also tied a beaded necklace for myself and a pendant for Glenda.

When we first arrived, the sky was foggy and overcast, but as I sang, the sun emerged with brilliant light. I sang to the sun and to the west and thanked Creator for Steve's life and all the blessings I enjoy on a daily basis. I almost felt like a director of souls, telling Steve through my songs and prayers that we will all be alright and he is free to move into the Other World.

As I ended my prayers, I simply whispered, "Go in peace, brother," then walked back down the mountain.

2006-01-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

When we arrived at the summit of Mount Spokane this afternoon, a thick fog rolled in and covered the sky. The trees looked haunting and yet beautiful in the low clouds and fog.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Steve's Passing

2006-01-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

My sister wrote a brief email chiding me for writing such an uninspiring obituary for my brother-in-law Steve Merchant. It's true, I wrote something for just the barest of informational purposes and didn't give even the smallest hint of feelings or personal experience. I'd like to remedy that now.

I would like to respect the privacy of his widow and children by not giving too many details of his passing. However, I think it would be appropriate to include a basic outline of the events surrounding his death.

On Thursday afternoon, Steve went snowmobiling on Mount Spokane with two friends. He attempted a particularly difficult run through the trees and down a steep hill. His friends lost track of him and went back to look. They found him laying with his back against a tree with his snowmobile still running. He was already gone.

Rhonda, Glenda, the kids, and I first heard the news from Mike, who heard second hand reports about Steve having a heart attack. We called everyone we could think of who might give us a more authoritative account of what really happened. We spent hours calling and waiting before Rhonda was finally able to contact Lanith (Steve's wife). I really thought Rhonda was going to tell us everything was alright, but after several minutes she finally said, "He didn't make it."

It felt like a bomb hit our house. We all burst into uncontrollable sobbing, especially Glenda. I felt sad for myself, but I kept thinking no parent should ever have to bury their child. Glenda was beside herself; screaming and totally inconsolable. It was so hard to witness a mother losing her son. As long as I live, I hope I never have to see that again.

Thankfully, Val and Patsy O'Donnal, Bob Dodd, Jean Nibarger, Mike and Julie Norris came over to console us. They gave us blessings of comfort and left us with a feeling of strength.

For me, I felt absolutely dumbstruck between the similarities of Steve's passing and my father's passing 12 years ago. Both men were in their 40s. Both died suddenly and unexpectedly of heart attacks. Both died in the month of January. Steve died doing what he loved most; snowmobiling on Mount Spokane. My father died what he loved doing most; wardancing. It was just too much; I started having flashbacks of losing my dad, and then losing my aunt. Now this...

This was certainly one of the most difficult days of our lives.

2006-01-20T23:53:00.000-08:00

Steven Charles Merchant
February 7, 1964 - January 19, 2006

Steve Merchant Passes Away

2006-01-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

Steven Charles Merchant was born on February 7, 1964 in Boise, Idaho; the second child of Ron and Glenda Merchant. He passed away unexpectedly on the slopes of Mount Spokane during a snowmobile outing on January 19, 2006. He was only 41.

Steve is survived by his wife, Lanith Merchant; six children: Cassidi, Mandolin, Brindy, Bailey, Tucker, and Sadie; one granddaughter, Chesney; his parents, Ron and Glenda Merchant; his grandmother, Uella Merchant; three siblings, Michael Merchant, Paul Merchant, and Rhonda Moses; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He will be dearly missed by all.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at his stake center, though I'm currently uncertain of the address. As soon as I learn the address, I will post it here and in other media sources. All are welcome to attend.

2006-01-20T23:11:00.001-08:00

2006-01-20T23:10:00.000-08:00

A Moment to Reflect

2006-01-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

After hearing the devastating news about Steve, I took a few moments to myself and climbed the hill overlooking his house. I referred to this place as "Temple Hill" in a previous post because of the peaceful and holy feelings I get when I'm there. Plus, Steve's house is located on "Temple Road." It all fits in my mind.

The day had been overcast and gloomy since early this morning, but when I reached the summit of the hill, the sun emerged from behind a cloud and shone magnificently, casting a warm glow over the landscape below. I was blessed to get a few great photographs before the sun went back into hiding. As I walked back down to the house, I saw a red-tailed hawk and a bald eagle flying in circles around one another and whistling. It was an incredible sight! I felt so comforted and blessed to witness beauty of the sun and the animals.

In a way, Steve lives on through beauty, spirit, and nature.

2006-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

Job Interview

2006-01-20T23:02:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in several days, which is quite unusual for me, but our lives have had some pretty extreme ups and downs. I interviewed the other day for a position at the Community Colleges of Spokane. It looks very promising. More on that later.

2006-01-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

2006-01-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Water Recedes (sort of...)

2006-01-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

My kids and I went back to Pine River Park to see the flooding. The water receded somewhat, but still covered the park grounds in many places. Unlike the other day, we were able to walk to the bridge on relatively dry ground, but we still saw many structures partially submerged in the flood waters. Anyway, it was fun to share the sights with my kids in person.

2006-01-17T20:25:00.000-08:00

Footprints in the Snow

2006-01-17T20:21:00.000-08:00

Down by Pineriver Park, my kids found a set of very strange footprints. They reminded me of cat prints, but they formed an equal pattern in the snow, side by side, rather than a regular, alternating walking pattern. We got a nice picture anyway.

2006-01-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

2006-01-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

Today's Holiday

2006-01-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

My kids had no school today because of the Martin Luther King holiday. My daughters played outside and found a huge, round chunk of ice inside a sled they left in the yard. Whitney is so goofy; she sat outside and chewed on the ice like a giant popscicle. The weather finally turned cold once again and brought a light blanket of snow.

2006-01-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

Settlers of Catan

2006-01-16T21:11:00.000-08:00

Rhonda received the Settlers of Catan for Christmas. Our friends Madonna and Loren introduced us to the game a few months ago, and we've been hooked ever since. The object of the game is to build the most settlements, cities, and roads before everyone else. Players receive a variety of resources depending on where they build settlements. It reminds me a little bit of risk, excpet no one tears down what you build. Anyway, we played the game twice tonight, and I won both times. :)

2006-01-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

The Sun Returns

2006-01-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

I looked out my window this morning and said, "Eee gad! What is that bright, blinding object in the sky?" Then I remembered the sun who disappeared weeks ago behind a constant covering of grey clouds and rain. I figured I had to honor the sun today, considering I whined about his absence for so long. Unfortunately, weather forecasts predict the sun will vanish once again for days or even weeks to come. We just got a very brief, but blessed reprieve from gloom.

2006-01-15T17:34:00.000-08:00

2006-01-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

Flooding at Pine River Park

2006-01-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

In spite of the sun providing a brief respite from the constant rain, local rivers continue to flood. I drove down to Pine River Park this afternoon to see the rising waters firsthand and found it flooded worse than I expected. The waters of the Little Spokane River completely covered the park under at least a foot of water. I decided to brave the brown, frigid floodwaters to get the best possible pictures of the damage.

2006-01-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

The landing at Inchelium, Washington shrinks as the boat ferries me across the Columbia River. Today's drive was little more than a scenic ride around the places from my youth, and yet it also felt like a pilgrimage of sorts through my physical and spiritual ancestry.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Twelve Years and a Day

2006-01-13T23:40:00.000-08:00

Twelve years and one day ago, I buried my father. These last twelve years have seen some of the hardest times I've ever had to experience, and yet somehow I feel blessed through it all. As I prayed tonight, I felt like these twelve years are the closing of an era or major chapter in my life. This first day after the conclusion of the previous chapter marks the beginning of new and better times. As I drove home from the sweat, I felt genuinely different than ever before. Somehow I felt older and wiser, as if one day can really change a person. In reality, these years changed me. As painful as it was, I'm better for everything I lived.

2006-01-13T23:26:00.000-08:00

Native Americans honored Kettle Falls throughout more than 9,000 of continuous human habitation. Now the only thing remaining is a historical marker over the floodwaters of Lake Roosevelt.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

2006-01-13T23:25:00.000-08:00

This photograph shows the interior of Saint Paul's Catholic Mission at Kettle Falls, Washington. Oral histories from Native people in this region recount how Catholic missionaries forced people to bury sacred items under the floor of this building.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Saint Paul's Mission at Kettle Falls

2006-01-13T23:24:00.000-08:00

Years ago, my father lived in the small town of Kettle Falls, Washington, not far from the historic falls and Saint Paul's Catholic Mission.

Kettle Falls holds at least two painful memories for Native Americans in this area. The first was connected to Saint Paul's Mission. Soon after Catholic missionaries arrived in this area, they built a mission above the falls named for Saint Paul and began converting Native people to the religion of Rome. The priests denounced the ancient spiritual ways of the Indian people and forced many of them to abandon the old ways. Oral histories passed down from tribal elders recall how the priests forced many people to bury their medicine bundles and other sacred relics under the new church. Many many of them got sick, went crazy, or even died without their connection to the spiritual medicines of the past. Still others died of the white men's diseases.

It's interesting to note that Kettle Falls was a sacred site to Native peoples for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans. The decision of Roman Catholic missionaries to build a mission or church over an indigenous sacred site echoes a pattern of cultural domination followed by the church from the earlies times. It's no different than building the Chatres Cathedral in France over ancient sites dedicated to the goddess, or building the Basilica of Guadalupe over the ancient Aztec temple dedicated to the mother goddess.

The second painful memory at Kettle Falls is directly tied to the construction of Grand Coulee Dam in the 1930s. The dam was viewed as a triumph of American engineering, and yet it completely destroyed the entire economic system of indigenous people throughout the region who depended on the falls for salmon. Furthermore, the United States displaced entire villages along the shores of the Columbia River without providing compensation of remuneration of any kind. As the floodwaters engulfed the falls, Native Americans gathered for a "Ceremony of Tears" to bid farewell to a spiritual elder who had fed the people for thousands of years. Today, the falls remain silent beneath the surface of "Lake Roosevelt." It feels like a tomb for a forgotten way of life.

2006-01-13T23:23:00.000-08:00

The floodwaters of the Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt completely submerged Kettle Falls after the construction of Grand Coulee Dam in the 1930s. This photograph shows the area of old Fort Colville now flooded with water.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Colville, Kettle Falls, Inchelium, and Wellpinit

2006-01-13T23:22:00.000-08:00

I had a job interview at the Colville Center of the Community Colleges of Spokane to teach GED classes in their adult basic education program. The interview went very well...look's promising. Afterwards, I had lunch at Cafe al Mundo on Main Street in Colville, then drove up to see old friends in Kettle Falls. I also stopped and had a spiritual moment to myself at Saint Paul's Mission. From there, I took the scenic route to Wellpinit, following the Columbia River southward to Inchelium and crossing the river on the Gifford Ferry. Once I reached Wellpinit, I sweat with my uncle Pat, then visited my ya-ya Norma. It was a very full day, and very rewarding in its own right.

2006-01-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

Graduate Student Advisory Board

2006-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Several months ago I was invited to serve on the Graduate Student Advisory Board at Whitworth College. We met today for our regular, bi-monthly meeting. We talked about a variety of policy issues at the college, but of note, I agreed to write an article about Dr. Thomas Lickona for the graduate studies newsletter. Dr. Lickona is nationally known for his work with Character Education programs around the country.

We also discussed upcoming graduation ceremonies in May. I announced my intent to graduate and acknowledged I have attended some form of higher education more or less consistently for the last 12 years. In fact, I registered for classes at Spokane Falls Community College the same week I buried my father on this date in 1994. As I contemplated finishing this major step of my life, I couldn't help feel just a little emotional. What a blessing to see the end in sight; it's been a long haul.

2006-01-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

2006-01-11T21:11:00.000-08:00

Fig Tree Photograph

2006-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Several months ago I wrote about visiting Midnite Uranium Mine on the Spokane Indian Reservation with Deb Abrahamson. I published a photograph of Deb standing inside the open uranium pit. Well, today I picked up the January issue of the Fig Tree and saw my photograph of Deb on the front page! They actually published my picture and gave me credit on the front page of their newspaper. I was thrilled.

By the way, the Fig Tree article addressed the clean-up of radiactive waste on the reservation and Deb's efforts to educate the public. Deb Abrahamson leads a non-profit ogranization called the S.H.A.W.L. Society, dedicated to healing Native American Sovereignty, Health, Air, Water, and Land.

To read the full article, click below:

SHAWL Society in the Fig Tree.