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Lisa
Earl gifts the little ones with special T-shirts. Their smiles
and hers made for a wonderful giveaway at Grandview
Early Learning Center.
(photo by Matt Nagle - The Puyallup Tribal News)
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The little kiddos at Grandview Early Learning Center had a bit
of early Christmas gift-receiving fun on Dec. 7 when James Rideout
and his sister Lisa Earl visited the school with a free T-shirt
for every student. And these were no ordinary T-shirts the
front bears an original Coast Salish design of two salmon in a yin-and-yang
formation in the cycle of life, artwork donated by Warrior Brand
Clothing Company and created by James Rideout and Warrior Brand
owner Gordon Murphy. On the back of the T-shirts, the words Water
Is Life in English and Lushootseed provide a timely and important
message. Thus, the giveaway was of cultural significance as well,
which was highlighted every time James Rideout and Lisa Earl taught
the children how to pronounce the Lushootseed word on their T-shirts.
Its my way of giving back, James Rideout said.
Not everybody can go to Standing Rock so its a way to
stand in solidarity not only for Standing Rock but also our own
home and the LNG controversy we have here. Water has always been
our life.
The giveaway provided a healing experience for James Rideouts
sister Lisa Earl, who lost her daughter Jacqueline Salyers (also
James Rideouts niece) this past January when a Tacoma police
officer shot and killed her. Lisa Earl worked at Grandview for more
than 20 years, and she often commented throughout the giveaway that
day about how much she loved that job and misses seeing the little
ones every morning.
I wanted to help my sister heal by bringing her back with
the children. Outfitting all those children, thats healing,
her brother said. With all the support that was given to my
niece and my sister, it was just a small way to give back and Im
thankful. Its the concept of us all working together and supporting
each other in solidarity and healing.
James Rideout is reaching out to the broader Puyallup community
as well by planning a candlelight vigil to honor all of our loved
ones no longer with us and to have a healing dinner for everyone
to enjoy at the Tribal Youth Center on Thursday, Dec. 29, starting
at 6 p.m.
All of us are hurting and grieving in some way, shape
or form coming together in the community is important. We
need more social community time so I took the Christmas opportunity
to find a way to come together, heal and have a dinner, he
said.
James Rideout envisions that the evening will be cleansing for the
Youth Center itself, given the number of funerals that have been
held there. Bringing the community together and filling the center
with joyful, loving energy will help dispel any darkness remaining
and help begin 2017 on a fresh note built on the strength of a closely-knit
Tribe.
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