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Show Page 4 The Gunnison Valley Gazette Thursday, June 26, 2008 The Outdoor Report See Bald Eagles Pow Wow The only kind of Pow Wow I’d ever been to was one with merit badges. Beyond running wild on BYU campus, the three things I remember most are shakes at some malt shop dive made famous by a cheesy made-for-Mormon movie called The Phone Call, getting kicked out of the Lee Library for exuberant use of a whoopee cushion, and crushing pennies on the train tracks up Spanish Fork Canyon on the way home. I was worried that mine would slip off, so I taped it down with duct tape. Unnecessary. For the record, the trips weren’t entirely wasted. I did earn a few merit badges and ultimately became an Eagle Scout. I know, I know. Satan’s wearin’ mittens. I think my favorite merit badge was Indian Lore. Not because it was fun. It wasn’t. Cycling and camping and canoeing were more fun, except when Clint Foster swamped our canoe and soaked all of our gear. Indian Lore was my favorite because it was one of the few that I “earned.” Don’t get me wrong. I know knots and first aid. I met all of the requirements. Just. Let me explain. For Indian Lore, I read a few books and slapped my wickiup together, presented it to the counselor and gave the palm up, ‘give it here’ gesture. Neither my mom nor I could understand why he was concerned about our “authentic” Indian dwelling. I mean, come on, its mud and twigs, right? At least, that’s what we thought. It’s not our fault the counselor happened to be a BLM archaeologist. He was no Indiana Jones, but he took his Indian lore quite seriously. And yes, the plural pronoun is appropriate, because WE built a wickiup, inaccurate though it may have been and WE wanted our dang merit badge. Brother Miller wasn’t amused. He invited me to come back to his house, where he proceeded to teach me about the five indigenous Utah tribes and their cultures. Ute. Paiute. Dine’ (Navajo). Shoshoni. Goshute. He took me up Nine Mile Canyon and showed me ancient Fremont petroglyphs. He even taught me the difference between a pictograph and a petroglyph (the former is painted, the latter carved). It was cool, but honestly, I bided my time, nodded when spoken to, and in the end, gave the palm up, ‘give it here’ gesture. What did you expect? I was a kid. And remember, I didn’t say it was my favorite at the time. It wasn’t until I ended up studying Native American Studies in college that I began to appreciate Brother Miller and his no-nonsense retelling of the Cremation of Sam McGee. Sorry. That doesn’t really apply, but once at a Klondike campout, he made us all want to climb into the fire to get away from the monotone “…the night on the marge of Lake Lebarge…” Just too much for any twelve-year old to bear. So yes, I studied cultural anthropology at USU. I emphasized in folklore (sidenote: while a worthy academic pursuit, folklore doesn’t pay much). And I learned a great deal about the rich native culture and heritage to be found here. It’s all around us, in our art and architecture. It’s an integral part of our community and identity. And yet, its often stereotyped and misunderstood. It has been said that we dislike what we do not understand. When I was a kid, I went to Pow Wows to learn. It’s time to do it again. The Heber Valley Pow Wow is a traditional Native American Pow Wow with participants coming from all over the country. Dancers, singers and drum groups—many nationally recognized—will compete and perform at the event. This gathering of art and music rekindles the old ways and helps preserve a rich heritage. Words to describe a Pow Wow could be ‘colorful,’ ‘authentic,’ ‘vibrant,’ ‘rich,’ and ‘lively.’ If your life is missing any of these adjectives, then the Pow Wow is the place for you. And for those in the family who lack the adventurous spirit, and don’t enjoy the dancing, drumming, singing and food, remember—the Pow Wow even comes with its own Mountain Man Rendezvous. You can always trade goods with a trapper and watch their demonstrations of skill. Heck, you can even go see the Antique Tractor Show in nearby Wallsburg. If it makes you happy, it tickles me pink. So for great entertainment, a unique cultural experience, games, food and fun, stop by the Heber Valley Pow Wow at Soldier Hollow this weekend, June 27-29. It’s only $6 per person, with children under six scampering in for free. Same price as a movie, and the concessions are probably cheaper. Salt Lake City -- You can see two adult bald eagles -- and their two baby eaglets -- during free field trips in June. The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the field trips on Thursday, June 26 and Saturday, June 28. The trips will leave at 6 p.m. each evening from the Department of Natural Resources, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City. There’s no cost to attend the field trips, but reservations are required. To reserve a spot call Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR, at (801) 538-4771. Participants will follow Walters in their vehicles, traveling on mostly paved roads to the viewing site near the southeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. Walters will have some spotting scopes and binoculars, but if you have your own binoculars or a spotting scope, please bring it. “Also, dress for warm weather, The First Word and Last Name in Log Homes! Think Satterwhite for Log Homes, Rough Lumber, Timbers, Animal Bedding and Firewood Come help us celebrate the addition to our RV Center at a Saturday June 28 8 am to 4 pm for-Stop by burgers! s in! gs & Ham • Hot Do ryone who come ift to eve ree Generator! G e e r F • 11 a.m. g for a F • Drawin ic Q&A from 9 to al Clin • Technic 85 East Center Street, Gunnison 528-7161 Into all the World Come see the new addition and our selection of: Two elders from Gunnison go halfway around the world to serve as companions. Elders Sam Judd (left) and Justin Pickett (right) are serving in the South Africa Cape Town Mission. Sam is the son of Robert and Cindy Judd and Justin is the son of Kim and Kay Pickett. new er 500 s, v o e v r We ha d 4-wheele e s u d an and . cycles motor choose from o t rs scoote • GAS SAVING Yamaha Scooters • NEW Yamaha Rhino 700’s • Street Bikes, Four Wheelers, Dirt Bikes • New and Used Trailers for all of your camping and hauling needs. Come c he “Get Ou ck out the t an Special d Ride” s with 0 % Financi ng! Freedom RV & Sports Center 528-7513 435 South Main • Gunnison NEED A LOAN? Is Your Credit Low? Well Just Pick Up The Phone 396 S Main • Gunnison 528-7244 Sponsored by Don’t break the bank, Just to reach your clients. 1-877-741-5353 Mortgage, Refinance, Debt Consolidation, Car, Student & So Much More An Advisor Is Waiting To Help You Hwy 89 Northeast of Gunnison Open Monday - Saturday Shanelle Winn ACE Paints Sporting Goods Whirpool Appliances Bald eagles first nested at this northern Utah site in 1996. Two eaglets have been raised each year during seven of the past 12 years. During the remaining six years, three eaglets were raised successfully each year. “That’s a total of 32 eaglets over a 13-year period,” Walters says. “This Great Salt Lake eagle pair is extremely productive.” Walters says the success the eagles have found illustrates the quality and the importance of the streamside and lake habitat in the greater Great Salt Lake area. “Habitat within the greater Great Salt Lake area is important to these eagles and many other species of wildlife,” he says. “Everything possible should be done to protect and preserve it.” In addition to the northern Utah site, biologists know of 11 or 12 other active bald eagle nest sites in Utah. “And there could easily be more nest sites we haven’t found yet,” Walters says. 528-5001 The Outdoor Report is Sponsored by: is sponsored by: Theall Scouting Newsis sponsored is Sponsored by Into the World by and bring some mosquito spray and sunscreen,” he says. You can leave the viewing site anytime during the evening. If you attend one of the field trips, there’s a good chance you’ll see the eaglets make some of their first flights from their nest and back. Walters says the eaglets should be learning to fly by the time the trips are held. By the end of June, the eaglets should be about 11 to 12 weeks old. Walters says the eaglets and their parents will probably remain at the nest site until early July. Then they’ll leave the nest site and fly to other areas, probably outside the state. Walters says bald eagles often nest at the same site every year. The adult eagles you see on June 26 or June 28 could be the same pair that has nested at the site since 1996. Before this pair of eagles, 1928 was the last time biologists documented bald eagles nesting in the northern part of the state. New advancements in Dental Implants. Our NEW 3D Imaging means No Incisions & Fast Recovery. First 7 to schedule this week receive FREE sonicare toothbrush ($139 value) THIS SIZE AD to 200,000 subscribers in 40 Utah Newspapers for 1 insertion = $315.00 Call your local newspaper to advertise statewide. Advertise your business in the Gazette, Call Mark at 528-5178! |
