ABSTRACT
As a member of the Okanagan and Wenatchi Tribes of the Confederation of the Colville Indian Reservation, I have a distinct view of the need to return the Ancient One to rest. The teachings of our people have strict guidelines to follow for the ones who have passed on before us. We take earnest care in respecting their remains so as not to disturb their spirit or their resting place. Elders, grandparents, and ones who have passed on receive the utmost in respect and care according to our traditional values. Unfortunately, our recent history has forced our culture to deal with an unfamiliar and unpleasant task of reburying ancient (and not so ancient) relatives, because of encroachment from outside forces. Road projects, bridges, dams, and other public actions have forced our people to move gravesites, unearth our loved ones, and relocate them to another area out of the way of contemporary uses.
