Captive Returns Home: The Story Of Wetxuuwíitin – ‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 42 – With Chairman Samuel Penney

Learning About Tribal Ways Of Life:

Sueann: Do you feel like in recent years tribal needs and concerns are getting more attention than in the past?

Sam: Well, I think it varies depending on [the] administration. I was first elected in 1989. I currently am serving my 10th three-year term. So over those years, you know, some secretaries might be favorable to tribes, others not — just depends on the administration. Right now, we have an administration that’s favorable to the interests of the tribes and [is] trying to involve the tribes more and more. One of my nephews is senior advisor to one of the departments at the Department of Commerce, regarding fisheries. So we have people within the administration that understand the tribal interest, you know, the tribal values, and hopefully that will move us along getting some of the things done.

A collection of items found in the Northwest — available at The Nez Perce National Historic Park in Lapwai, Idaho

Sueann: Is it hard to explain tribal values to non-Natives?

Sam: It is. You know, sometimes it’s continuous. I mean, you know, I hear a lot of the tribal members say, “Well, we educate, then we re-educate.” And then, you know, if a new administration comes in, you start all over again. And we do provide trainings or information to whoever requests it. 

Sueann: But what about just the average Joe? How does a person learn about tribal ways of life and what is sacred to you so they can better understand it? 

Sam: Well, I think we are making progress as far as getting Native American teachers in the classrooms. And I think that’s really helped. And the tribes in the area. Nez Perce Tribe has been involved in several advisory boards. I’ve been personally involved with the advisory board to the president at WSU, advisory board at U of I and at LCSC. So we talk about a number of things, not only recruitment and retention, you know, housing, all those things, but we also talk about some of the academic programs that were offered. A good example, I guess as far as culture, is that at Lewis and Clark State College, now you can take Nez Perce language as a language requirement for credit. 

Keeping The Language Alive:

Sueann: How have the Nez Perce been able to hold on to culture if there’s been all these outside forces trying to dismantle it? 

 

Sam: The best example I can think of right now is the Nez Perce Language Program. You know, we have elders, some that have since passed in the last few years, that were strong advocates to teach the Nez Perce language. A lot of them did it on their own. 

 

Sueann: Wow. And I saw they have a dictionary.

Wetxuuwíitin’ collection exhibit at the Nez Perce National Historic Park

 

Sam: Yeah, and there’s a gentleman named [Haruo] Aoki who did a Nez Perce dictionary that a lot of people use. And then the language staff developed a Nez Perce tribal app [and] you can download the app. So children, young children, I’ll use my grandchildren as examples, still very young [and] they’re being taught Nez Perce language. And then we have that generation where, you know, including my mother, there was a whole group that often wondered, ‘Well, why didn’t they teach us more Nez Perce language?’ But, you know, they were of that generation where they were punished. You read accounts where some were, you know, whipped, actually whipped, for speaking their language. So after I thought more about that, you know, I think they just didn’t want us to have to deal with that. But I think with the revitalization of the Nez Perce language, you know, my grandchildren, I say they probably know more Nez Perce language than I do. ‘Cause they started that young.

 

Sueann: Young. Yeah. Language is such a binding factor for culture, for sure.

*Question and responses were edited for length and clarity