The Puyallup Tribal News had a rundown of last week’s event marking the 40th anniversary of the raid on the tribal fish camp on the Puyallup River:
To open the memorial event, children from the Grandview Early Learning Center’s daycare gave a Welcoming Song. “This day has been a long time coming,” said Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Herman Dillon afterward, as Connie McCloud, cultural coordinator for the Tribe, stepped up to the podium to give a moving and beautiful opening prayer.
“There aren’t too many words to express this time,” she said, a day to express gratitude for “our people – our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles – who saw us through to this time to make this acknowledgement for the sacrifices our people have given.” She urged the youth in attendance to pay attention to who was there and what they were saying. “Listen to the stories and remember that our ancestors’ sacrifice is part of who we are.”
