SIJOHN: Mourning a terrific loss
SIJOHN: Mourning a terrific loss
The community lost a valuable resource and true friend in the recent passing of Coeur d’Alene Tribal historian and cultural leader, Cliff SiJohn. Cliff was not only the cultural director located at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Casino, but also willingly participated in community events and activities throughout the communities of North Idaho.
He brought a message of traditional Native American culture, ways, and values to the outside community.
I had the opportunity and pleasure of working with Cliff’s uncle, Henry SiJohn, as part of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and later with Cliff on events at and for the Human Rights Education Institute.
We did a series of “First Peoples” programs together with author and historian Jack Nesbitt and Dr. Rodney Frey, University of Idaho Native American Studies, at the Human Rights Center in Coeur d’Alene in 2005, followed by other events and activities where Cliff provided tribal blessings.
I could call Cliff to request information on an area tribal history and Indian place names and even how to conduct a dedication and blessing for the erection of a reconditioned totem pole. He would have done it himself, but had a conflict with another ceremony, so need to know what animals were on it, in what order, and where on the property it would be placed to relay a proper blessing.
We had a chance to fish together with his wife, Lori, at a “secret” fishing hole where he blessed the day and the fish and thanked the creator and the fish as well for sharing their strength and character with us.
Cliff and I grew up here at the same time, were in the service at the same time in much different places, and had a chance to work for our respective communities. I learned a lot and gained a whole different appreciation of the natural world we here are blessed to live in because of his knowledge and sharing.
Along with many others I will miss Clifford SiJohn and what he brought to the entire community will be missed by all.
(You can get a glimpse of a young Cliff singing and drumming in the videos at the Sacred Encounters exhibit at the Cataldo Mission and at the “David Douglas — The Collector” exhibit by Jack Nesbitt at the MAC in Spokane.)
J. A. “SANDY” EMERSON
Coeur d’Alene