Warm Springs tribes face loss of a sacred burial rite (fwd link)

Tue Sep 2 16:23:17 UTC 2008

Warm Springs tribes face loss of a sacred burial rite

By Lauren Dake / The Bulletin
Published: September 02. 2008 4:00AM PST

WARM SPRINGS — At daybreak, Neda Wesley stood at the edge of the grave.

She watched as her friend’s remains vanished under a blanket of dirt. Like
countless other funerals, Wesley attended as a neighbor and community member.
But the 70-year-old, fluent Sahaptin speaker served another purpose as well.

They call her an echo.

When the medicine people speak, Wesley translates their words into Sahaptin so
they can be passed on to the creator. Wesley is glad she can send friends into
the next world, the way they would want.

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