Chamber: The gathering place
In this week’s article, I am asking for your help with an important issue that is escalating in our beautiful region. To start, I want to express my deep sadness and total outrage over the recent incident in McEuen Park, where youths from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe were verbally harassed. Such behavior is utterly unacceptable, and it is imperative that our community stands together in solidarity to denounce hate in all its forms.
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, as the indigenous people of this land, have been exemplary stewards of our beautiful countryside long before the arrival of settlers of European descent. According to the North Idaho College website, “for untold centuries, the people of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe gathered to hunt, fish, play games, dance, feast, and swim in the area where Lake Coeur d'Alene feeds into the Spokane River. Hnya'pqi'nn (pronounced "hin-yap-keehn-un"), or the "gathering place," saw much activity, especially in the summer months, by the Coeur d'Alenes, who were known as a peaceful and diplomatic people.” The site continues to outline history with, “In 1997, North Idaho College and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe joined hands to formulate the Nine Points Agreement, which honors the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and identifies ways to support Native American students and cultural programming on the college campus. The history of Yap-Keehn-Um comes full circle as North Idaho College and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe respect and honor the history of this land. North Idaho College has become not only the educational center of North Idaho but also remains a gathering place for all people.”
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