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| Volume XXV, Number 9 | July 2, 2004 |
The first project of the Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida begins with a big splash
By Robert C. North Sr. and Amber Giehtbrock
SNAKE RIVER, IDAHO — On June 13, a project under the auspices of the newly established Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida took a maiden voyage. The Ultimate Warrior Challenge in Snake River, Idaho was created as a prevention project to encourage Seminole youth to expand their knowledge.
Austin Billie and Herbert Jim from the language department, Coordinator Robert C. North Sr., Thommy Doud from the preschool program, Angie Margotta from the Seminole Police Department, and Amber Giehtbrock from family services went to supervise and experience with six youth a taste of what it was like for their native ancestors.
The young warriors in training included Robert C. North Jr., Catlin Jim, Damon “Leon” Pewo, Neko Osceola, Catherine Jumper, and Nick Jumper. The whole group learned about cooking with a Dutch oven, fly fishing, rafting on the rapids, hiking, setting up camp, writing skills and coping without technology.
The youth were exposed to the ancestral Nez Perce sacred lands where they learned the importance of respecting the old Indian camps and places of worship. Each of the youth participants was asked to contribute skills for the benefit of the overall group. Herbert Jim, out of respect for the ancestral Nez Perce people, conducted several ceremonies. Jim spoke in the Miccosukee language while teaching the youth about Seminole history, legends, basic medicines and stories.
All of the youth responded well to all of the daily challenges presented to them. They caught several fish on each day of the journey down the Snake River. Although most of them were thrown back in the river, many of the bigger fish were saved to augment the evening’s dinner.
Each morning the entire camp would wake up with the sun and spend time in prayer, thanking God for the beautiful day, and further asking for protection for the day’s journey.
A few of the older youth were able to master the art of kayaking, captain the “oar boat” and learn basic river navigational skills. On the fourth day, one of the crewmembers caught a seven- foot long sturgeon. The sturgeon’s existence dates back to prehistoric time and is a real privilege to look at. The sturgeon was also released back in the water; the guides guessed that this particular sturgeon was approximately 30-years-old and had not gained its full length.
Several hiking trips were made along the course of the river trip to sites where ancient people painted or etched petroglyphs and pictorgraphs. The youth learned basic ecology, geology, and geography, and were encouraged to write in their journals daily.
The total course of the river trip was 79 miles, and took five days to complete. Because of the remoteness of this trip in Western-Central Idaho, the Seminole youth could concentrate on all of the teachings and experience remote camping while respecting the forces and gifts of nature that God has created.
In a relatively short period of time, the participating Seminole youth learned basic survival skills physically, mentally and spiritually. The youth learned to respect the necessity of following the rules of the river for basic survival. The adult participants on the trip shared countless stories and knowledge to encourage the youth to follow their dreams and aspirations.
On the second to the last day a special ceremony was conducted by Jim to honor the great Nez Perce Chief Joseph. The youth learned how Chief Joseph was forced to flee from his homelands while the U.S. Army perused him to try to make him stay on a reservation. Chief Joseph lost many of his people and livestock in the process of fleeing from the U.S. Army.
Many thanks go out to all the sponsors for this trip; Max B. Osceola Jr., Hollywood Council Representative and Chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, David DeHass, Hollywood Board Representative, Joel M. Frank and staff for the proposal writing and funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Eagle Security Group, Inc., South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine and CloudNorth, Inc.
From the hearts of many, good job, and well done to the youth, staff, outfitter and our council and board representatives.
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