2023 PEOPLE OF THE BIG RIVER FIELD CLASS

 Things i did not know about Spokane:  -There are no salmon left here: I would absolutely be deavastated if we(yakama) had no salmon, and we are getting close to that, unfortunatley.  -The mine here was used during the wartime and it was mining Uranium. The mine is currently closed, but there is restoration going on in a closed area for replanting trees Restoration: We did fieldwork in an area where the creek was forced to be straight and unnatural, and now it is being restored to provide back to what it once was. We did water survey of trees, watered them, in a restoration project.  In the afternoon, we scaled a wall. Okay, no it wasnt a wall, but it was a incline down a hill to get to the creek that was surveyed every five meters and it was hard to get down to, to do. I am a History major, it was not my "thing". I did go back halfway, but only because that hill. Haha. It was, interesting. I did enjoy the day though, tiring, it was still fun. Tomorrow, is home. Pack up time

 Packed up this morning and we were ahead of scheule from being used to the regular hours now. Packed up and took the long drive to Spokane. There are showers, bathrooms, power plug ins, and HEAT.  ITS HOT, thick air and humid. Im going to express it is suprising there are not more funding for this program and class, or, more support from the University to be able to support more classes like this throughout the summer. I know that there are basic necessities that are provided, but i feel it can be better. Such as, use of the Yakama Nations camp, if possible. Or volunteering groups working with the youth worker through WIOA, to have the camp get funded and fixed up for use, through the science class, or, the environmetal sect. Im just not feeling like it is getting the full potential it deserves.  I have been a teen, once, and went to a program funded by the University of Washington, called the Science and Tribes Educational partnership:(S.T.E.P.)  It was years ago, but the camp consis

July 18 th :  This morning started off at 6:20 am. I wanted to be up at least ten minutes before the actual time we have our instructor come through to tap the tent with a “good morning”. It is pretty much a “good morning” check to make sure we are awake. If you don’t answer, they will come back until you answer. Walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night isn’t so bad here than it was at Deschutes. Deschutes, was a private campground where it was locked at the gate at night, no other people around, and the reality of bears was constant. So constant, and closed, we had to take out our garbage everyday, as well as include anything that had a scent left in the vehicle, or, given to our instructors to store in the R.V. or on the surburban. This morning we started around 7 to wake up. Today is more comfortable. I am enjoying the days as they go on here. It is not so cold nor is it too hot. Last week before this trip I had many weather warnings of a tremendous heat wave that was

 Day 9. It has officially been a week as of saturday. Left to go to the Harris Park camp. It was impossible, the arrival there. It felt like a death ride. Not the drivers, the route. The app the drivers were using took us a turn, too early;  all the way around, adding nearly an hour and a half, instead of going straight , which would have been 15 minutes. It was NOT FUN. Even seen a vehicle off the side of one of the ravines. Dirt road, winding crazy, through mountains size of the unin gap, and road as narrow! It was crap! Im not going to not express how I did not like that ride at all. it wasted the gas. lol. Darn app!  After getting into Harris park, it was really nice. the ground wasnt so bad, the last two was uneven, unlevel, on rocks and dechutes, was gravel. Here, was dirt. it was nicer! it wasnt as much mosquitoes, and there were deer and turkeys runnning around. We had  a late dinner and will continue tomorrow.   

 Im sore. Im not necessarily tired, just feel like a horse being broken in. Sore mucles, lots of needed stretching. Haha. Ive been stagnant personally since starting school. I left a job full time to pursue what ive always wanted, to get a degree. Im a history major and i have my Native American studies minor, (thank you atwaii Dr.Sol), ((and Blake, of course))  Im going to pursue something great. Im almost done and now, what next. Im really reflecting, being out here off grid, its been a long time since i didn't have to make dinner, plan, cook, clean up, im a mother, i love my kids. But as a woman in this day and time: ITS MENTALLY STRAINING. I am married, but having this class, i can self reflect. I am me, myself, and I , for two weeks, and I havent been like this since 2010.  From the time a woman goes to bed, to her waking up, she has to manage everything. Think about it. She has to get dressed, clean herself up, get ready, then, be up enough early before the kids, get the dres

 I highly reccomend if you get a chance to visit the obsidian mountain in Oregon, please GOOOO!!! Its A M A Z I N G!!! Walking around in that area reminds me of walking on glass. The pieces of Obsidian are GIGANTIC!! IT A WHOLE MOUNTAIN OF OBSIDIAN! Its beautiful. I enjoyed that mim-hike, it wasnt really a hike either, more like a walk-around. It was fun. Geting back to camp though, i packed up what i could to get  ready for tomorrow. Its time to leave Dechutes and those forsaken evil mosquitoes. i hate that when they bite, you can definitly feel them prick your skin.It feels like the skiniest sliver, Ugh. lots of big spray and layers. Tomorrow. move out tomorrow. 

 Its nice having a private campground. Its a closed one on account of the sick trees, which can fall down anytime so we have to be careful. Its nice though, we lock it every time we leave or come back. Ive packed solar energy lights for my lights. i dont have a problem with them, ive also brought my own solar battery with a plug in, and a solar charger. highly reccommend. It charges my phone fast, but not in the heat. im still burnt so i keep reapplying my salve.   This morning, we got up and ate breakfast. We got out and about on time. We went to meet Marlo and her co-worker in the area called moonstone BOPU area to help survey. i found the first one. So far, ive been lucking out on finding the first fo stuff. I should get myself a ticket at this point! I didnt find anymore, but i got my first sun birn in nearly 15 years onmy shoulders. Im ok though, i bought some aloe vera gel thats good for burns, bites, and it has lidocaine in it so it soothes. dollar store (+25).  The plant looks

Camp day set up in Dechutes. It was a long drive to get here. First, we stopped a couple times for gas and restroom breaks on the way. As a group, walmart was the excitement on the way. We needed a store for supplies, area for gas up spots, and to be in a service area.   We parked way in the very back, It was a very busy area! I was able to facetime my family and that was a tear jerker! Because we all are in need of comfort food, we all chose something for dinner sides. We all chose a different hotsauce! Hotsauce is a nessesity! Some other things were needed too including stocking up for dinner. Food goes bad and must be eatin or tossed. After the stop off, we had to meet with the Ranger station to get our keys to our campground. While there, we got some cool goodies. There was a basket of a bunch of Smoky the bear stuff we all raided. They had just filled the basket the day before. Got bookmarks, pins, rulers, stickers, pamplets, whistles, and other odds and ends. Lets just say we got

Today got up early before 6 as usual to get breakfast at 6. Its a line going thorugh for breakfast. I have gotten up early enohg to enjoy some coffe, cream, and the quiet before the mess hall gets filled up. Its been nice mornings because i havent had to make my own coffee yet. I brought my coffee and a reusable  pod filter to use. I wish id brought something else better, but its what ive got. I meant to do my own filter,tea bag style, but couldnt find my stapler, since its literally the same thing. but didnt do that. But i did bring my own cream,sugar, and coffee. I was prepared!  It was pack up and move day. The blow up bed roll is highly irritating. Im having trouble putting it away. My tent wasnt no trouble though, not too bad. I found the top of my tent Underneath, so i had it the whole time, it was chilling for three days. haha. I also brought the covers for my 10X10, including the top, just not the frame. So i thought i lost the top of my tent at home, but it was UNDER my tent.

 Today was very busy: had to fill all my water bottles: and pack my stuff for the day We left and drove bout a half hour out from our campsite. There was access from a "private ranch" to enter. This, I have in the hyphens, because during the times of the wild wild western expansion, thanks, to that era of Presidents, the areas that are now state parks or private areas orignially, belonged to native tribes and were vanquished, stolen, during the treaty of 1855. Its still the same timing, my tribe, the Yakama, had signed as well. The exact area, is about midway of the narrows and meyers canyon. The narrows, is exactly the name, the geological area is slanted up, from lava, that was around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. Its truly a beautiful area once you learn the history of it.  Since we arrived for just  a few days, Brennan Van Alder Werlt, was our guide for the day, and the other few days as well. His name is Dutch, and he graduated from the University of California and recieve

After getting dinner yesterday, we went into the geology camp main brick building to meet with Oregon State University. I admire they have found thier passion for Geology in the field.  Evening meeting is 7:00 every day, to follow up on what is the plan for the next day's scheduled. ther is a chalk bord that said "welcome heritage University" when we got there. It was a really nice unison welcmoe from 26 people including the Kitchen staff. It was nice.  The Main Professor, instructed his students and let us know we were to go with Brennan tomorrow. It was "day off" for the staff, so there was on our own dinner.Lunch was out after, to prep for the next day. I think that has excellent organization, its essentially a henry ford line, and you pick what you want. Mostly, its either peanut butter & jelly, your choice of jam, ham or turkey, lettuce, tomato, the mayo, fixins, and snacks, such as sunflower seeds, fig newton, jerky, and other random sides, like a bag

 BLOG 2: DAY 1: It is evening. it took nearly 4 hours to arrive at the geology camp, and two pit stops. I have not seen biggs juntion in oregon for well over three years. it made me sad to see its only a convenience store now.  Along the ride: it was fun having mutiple conversations with my group about horror movies. Along the way. we decided the safest way of arrival, how we would all survive, and why as well as where you SHOULD NOT GO along the way. it was very enteratining to discuss the way movies were, the difference in thrillers and how some have a morale or no answers at all. It was funny discussing it. I suppose growing up talking about paranormal activity and experiencing it all differently on a reservation is very different elsewhere. it would be considered "folklore", not for us, we know and see it firsthand.  A light rain sprinkled us getting here, but we were able to set up our space. granted,( it was not cleared) we all had to rake out an area that no one stayed

 Today is day one. I got to the campust right at 10:05: i am leaving behind my daily life for outdoors. i leave behind my husband,my two kids, 10,and 7. I packed my own skillet, snacks, and my family came back to give me 2 mcchickens and my diet pepsi i forgot in the fridge. I brought my own tent, chair, all the clothes on the list, plus my extra thing i needed. I feel a little dissapointed i left my pancake mix, didnt prep my buscuit mix, left my gravy packs, and: didnt bring a pre-made mix of frybread dough for myself, or, cake mix, to make something sweet. im extra, but thats ok. it makes me content.Ive got my coffee and creamer, my mini skillet, spatula, potholders, and other things.  I did bring my own battery pack 12 volt to charge my devices:  and prepped a whole pack of pancakes for my kids and froze it, even did parchment sheets. i hope that lasts. Im positive though, it will be lots of rice and chicken, from my husband.  I look forward to the research: My grandpa grew up on t