Email From Warren Seyler (May 1, 2019)
The first two photos were from the Fort Spokane Boarding School, although some of the tactics used to drive all things tribal from within us (whipped for Speaking Salish and ect.) the knowledge the FS BS instruction did help folks learn about farming and gardening that was helpful as the Spokane's were assigned allotments and began farming and ranching of their own. One of the things the children were instructed in was gardening, the Fort Spokane Boarding school had huge, magnificent gardens and orchards, later as Day Schools opened up (Enterprise, Jim Hill area, Wellpinit, Martha Boardman, and ect.) and the FS Boarding School closed, almost every tribal family at their home planted and reaped what they sowed. Unfortunately some of this came as they were unable to leave the reservation as they did before without extending problems to harvest the roots of their ancestors gardening replaced these food groups.
The third photo is of the a garden grown near where the Presbyterian Church of Wellpinit now sits.
The forth photo is of Albert Sam with the Wellpinit Fair building (built around 1917) in the back ground, this building was a center for gathering for many years, the Wellpinit Fair as it was called up until the early to mid 1970's was began as a fall gathering encouraged by the Indian Agent to promote and highlight the harvesting of crops. The upper story of this building was where the reservation folks would bring to show off their finest, gardening, quilting, basketry, bead work, and other efforts. Over the years one of Albert Sams roles was to be the auctioneer towards the end of the Fair. Albert Sam would gather the people and if those that brought stuff to sell he would be the voice of the auction selling the garden produce and other items.
The first fair that was centered around harvest was at the Day School no. 2. John Wynne in an interview told a story of this 1914 Fair. The first fair wasn't very large at first but grew as the years progressed, these early fairs all focused on farm and gardens. Later fairs included other more, of that time, modern events; square dancing and such. In the beginning gambling and war dancing was not included, but these came later. ( I will attach John Wynne's Story also) the tribal gathering for gambling and dance occurred elsewhere, one of these sites was down below Rejewski's, a place called the race track, near where John Stevens family group lived. John would have been Joe Flett's great uncle.
The fifth photo is of a Spokane family farm.
Sixth and seventh photos are of Pierre Sockentickum and his wife Elizabeth, the one with a child, the child is Paul Riemer. Their home/farm with the large gardens were some of those flooded over by the rising waters of Grand Coulee, his place was down below the 'A' Frame area (or just down from the Detillion Bridge).
The last photo is the Orchard and garden area at Fort Spokane.
Included in the email was this attachment about John Wynne
The email continued with a comment from Diane Covington:
Lemlemts Warren. I was told about watermelon fields between Cornelius cemetery and Cornelius campground near the A-frame but that's all I knew about tribal gardening. Cory said there used to be a school there way before our time.
Warren's response and more pictures followed!
Diane, Yes on the watermelon fields, one of the things tribal elders of that area talked about was the "Watermelon Feasts" that were held, those fields I believe was Pierre Sockentickum and others like the Walawitsa family (not sure of correct spelling, Marsha Wynecoop's mothers people). The school there was also a church called the Spokane River Presbyterian Church, I will attach photos and one of their flyers. This church's congregates originally came from the Deep Creek Colony as it was name, Chief Garry's bell plays a roll of both of these churches, as Garry's farm was taken in Hillyard the Bell was move to Deep Creek, as the colony was pressured to move to the Westend of the reservation the bell too was moved, then as Grand Coulee flooded this church out the bell now sits in the Wellpinit Presbyterian church's cemetery. I know this information isn't gardening but you mentioned the church.... :)
Hope your having a wonderful day,
