Enumclaw artist thanks city and community for support

Note: The following statement was read by Bob Charlo to the Enumclaw City Council on Monday, October 26, 2009 as he presented the city with a framed print of “Nespelem” as a thank you gift for his plaque on the city’s Walk of Fame.

First, allow me to introduce myself, in the proper and correct manner.

My name is Bob Gene Charlo ... a proud full blood Indian and enrolled member of the federally recognized tribe of the Kalispel people.

My reservation is located in the northeast comer of Washington state.

My people and my ancestors are still there in the same area that has been ours since the beginning of time.

My mother was Rose Mary Abrahamson Seymour Charloe, a Kalispel woman.

My father was Emmett Charloe of the Cayuga/Seneca people of upper New York State, They were forcible march to Oklahoma during the dark ages of our American Indian history, my fathers agency is now located in Miami, Oklahoma.

My grandparents were John and Isabelle Abrahamson of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.

I suppose you are wondering why I tell this, well that is the old way of a true human being to introduce themself in a forum such as this.

Believe it or not, you just learned a lesson in American Indian history. I stand before you as a piece of living History, and you as city council have contributed to this area’s history by honoring an American Indian on this year’s Enumclaw Walk of Fame, 2009.

Now, let me thank all that were involved in this event.

First and foremost, the Honorable John Wise. the Mayor of the city of Enumclaw.

By this selfless act of kindness and compassion, he has forged a new relationship with a neighboring community. And it has not gone unnoticed, the Muckelshoot Monthly has done a couple of articles on the dedication of the plaque and how the city has come forward to have such an honor given to a person that is of American Indian decent.

Also I would like to thank the staff at Enumclaw’s city hall.

City Clerk Marcia Hop-kins. Administrative Assistant Maureen Burwell and Media Services Manager Jon Funfar. It was with their patience and understanding of what I wanted to bring to the community, what I wanted everyone to experience that day that truly made it a day that we all, who were there, will remember.

Of course I would like to thank the people who came to speak on my behalf.

Dr. Jim Barchek, former Enumclaw School District Superintendent, this man has always understood the importance of this event for me and without hesitation said yes when I asked me to do this. Besides, I saved his Christmas tree one year so he couldn’t refuse me.

Raul Anaya. This man of Mexican decent, who assisted me through my year’s at the University of Washington truly has a kind and good heart.

Francis Cullooyah. Kalispel tribal elder, my brother in heart and soul, he is the person in my life and many others who live on the reservation, turn to when we need a good and positive presence in our life.

And of course, Sharon Calvert, a Muckleshoot tribal elder. Without her strong belief in me, most of this would not be possible, I truly owe her more than my life everyday.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these gentlemen for their service and sacrifices for this country and for their communities.

• VFW Post #1949

• Milton Till

• Al Zarb

• Al Lau

• Paul Rossman

•The American Indian Inter-Tribal Warrior Society; Steve Plaster ( Lummi Tribe) U.S. Army, Vietnam; Sonny Bargala, (Muckleshoot Tribe) U.S. Army Vietnam.

• Robert Sison ( Nisqually Tribe) U.S. Navy Cold War

• Joe Lewis (Yakama Tribe) U.S. Air Force, Cold War

•Sidney Williams (Umatilla Tribe) U.S. Army, Cold War

•Warren Gohl (Winnebago Tribe), U.S. Army, Vietnam

•Art Lopez (Yakki Tribe) U.S. Army, Vietnam

Don Munroe and Ken Gopher III of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, and Nelson Jim, of the Yakama Tribe, who sang a warriors welcome home honor song, which Don felt was appropriate for the occasion.

Joseph Mellon, of the Colville Tribe, for honoring me by leading the four eagle feather staffs into the ceremony and (smudging the stone and myself) the flag from my tribe, the Kalispel tribal flag, and the Muckleshoot flag, and the Lummi flag. Along with the American flag, and the POW flag.

The Northwest Inupiaq Dancers, with the Inupiaq Elvis are old time friends and many of them traveled great distances to be here that day.

Eighteen Kalispel Tribal Elders traveled from my reservation in northeast Washington state in their Cadillac bus to be here and many other friends came too.

I wish a heartfelt thanks to Francis Culloovah’s family, his wife Wilma and daughter Kavlee. who traveled here with him to drum and sing for me that day. They sang an honor song that has not been heard or sang for many years.

All this for an image that I took back in 1992. Even this image has a lot of history to it. Since the photo has come into being, it has traveled to most if not all of the U.S., it has been to Chile in South America, and it has been in numerous exhibits from the Seattle Art Museum to the Portland’s Center for the Performing Arts to Galleries around Santa Fe New Mexico and the museum at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

I have donated the image to countless causes, fund raisers for schools, veterans groups, animals groups, arts organizations and art auctions, if there was a cause or need to raise funds or money this photo fills that need.

There is a reason for this photograph. It has been given as a gift many times over, one poster has presented to an medal of honor awardees from WW II and to soldiers fresh home from Iraq. I probably have given this image away, for one reason or another, more then I’ve sold.

The most profound comment given to me by someone who was moved by the image was a gentleman who had been on Iwo Jima told me what the image represents to him. That it was not the American flag that was flying over the Indian teepee but the other way around, the American Indian teepee was supporting the American flag.

Then he asked me if I was aware of iconic image of the flag raising on that island Iwo Jima. I said who wasn’t? He told me if I looked at my photograph, that he saw the soldiers in the shape of the teepee and that the American flag is at the same angle as the flag in that photo. His oldest daughter was with him and assisting to get around, after he turned to walk away, she told me that he has trouble getting places and rarely speaks of the war but he had to come and find me to tell me that, so she was really surprised by him making such an effort to do that.

Hopefully you’ll think of how history has come to visit you this night and you will remember some of words you’ve heard.

I give this photograph in the spirit in which it was taken. To the city of EnumcIaw, the Mayor John Wise, Marcia, Maureen, and Jon who have honored me with their friendship, and all who attended the event on *July 25, a gift for a gift is the Indian way ....

Thank you ... Great Spirit ... Thank You for this moment, Thank You for this day ... Take care, enjoy and be well... my new friends

B. Charlo

Kalispel Nation

* The day and the plaque was dedicated to the memory of Karl Anquoe (Kiowa), 1952-2009

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