~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Juan Island, Wash. newspaper
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Chester Cayou, respected Swinomish leader
**As a child, Chester Cayou experienced the abuses of the residential school system. As a World War II Army draftee, he witnessed the brutality of war.
Yet, he never lost faith in the capacity of humankind to love. He saw it in his culture, in everyday expressions of caring, in commitment and hard work to meet the needs of others.
There were acts of compassion and courage that inspired him – inspired him as much as the natural beauty of the islands from which he hailed. Like that morning on the battlefield, when he couldn't move his legs because of exposure to the cold, and his buddies carried him to safety as enemy troops advanced into the area.
He was widely known for his teachings, particularly to young people, about the importance of loving, caring and sharing with one another. He often shared those teachings when he greeted canoe families to Swinomish during the annual Canoe Journey.
His teachings were adopted as the theme – "Loving, Caring and Sharing Together" – of the 2011 Canoe Journey, which will be hosted by Swinomish. And that was how Chester Cayou was remembered Aug. 31 at his funeral, which filled the La Conner High School gymnasium to capacity.
"Your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs," the memorial program read. "Today and tomorrow, all our lives through, we will always love and cherish you."
Cayou, whose traditional name was Qw-Tee-Sa-Luq, passed away in his Swinomish home Aug. 27, 15 days after his 88th birthday. He had been in declining health and had a stroke.
Prayer service was Aug. 30 in the Swinomish Gymnasium; the funeral was the next day at the high school. Interment followed at the Swinomish cemetery.
Pallbearers included Swinomish Senator Leon John, Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon, and Tulalip Councilman Glen Gobin. There were eight pallbearers, 14 honorary pallbearers, and a Veterans Honor Guard from Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, Tulalip and Upper Skagit. Also in attendance: British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point, the first First Nations person appointed to that position.
"Chet Cayou was one in a million," Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby said. "He served his country and his people his entire life. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not just about the Coast Salish lifeways and language, but also carried a boots-on-the-ground perspective of Europe in the last years of World War II.
"Generations of Swinomish kids grew up calling him ‘Grandpa Chet.' We will miss him dearly. … No words adequately express the loss felt by the tribe, of this honorable World War II veteran."
Senator Cayou grew up on Stuart Island, the son of General Scott Cayou, Lummi/Saanich/French; and Sara Jack, Saanich.
Senator Cayou's grandfather, Louis Cayou (1834-1900), was one of the first non-Native settlers of Orcas Island. His uncle, Henry Cayou (1869-1959), was one of the islands' most successful fishermen, served on the San Juan County Commission and ran for state Legislature.
He attended a residential school on Kuper Island, reef-netted in the San Juans, sacked lime at Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co., and served as an Army paratrooper in Europe during World War II.
He arrived at Normandy Beach shortly after the D-Day invasion, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and served for six months in the occupation of Berlin. In 2004, he received the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, awarded by Congress on behalf of the French government, on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
After military service, he fished, worked in a shake mill, built campsites and trails for Thousand Trails campground and resort, maintained state parks in the area, and planted trees on the Swinomish reservation, where he and his late wife, the former Velma Stone, made their home and raised their family.
In 1984, he was elected for the first time to a five-year term on the Swinomish Senate, or council. He was chairman of the Fish and Game Commission for nearly two decades, chairman of the Veterans Committee, a longtime member of the Budget and Personnel committees, and a member of the Law and Order Committee.
He was an honorary Swinomish police officer, and was active in the Swinomish Smokehouse, Swinomish Veterans and the VFW.
In March 2009, he was unopposed for a sixth Senate term. At the time, he was 86 but tireless in his desire to make a difference in the Swinomish economy, environment and daily life.
"I wish to further my position with the Swinomish community as a Swinomish senator," he told the Swinomish magazine Kee-Yoks during his campaign. "I have served on the Senate for 25 years and have participated in achieving great accomplishments for our tribe. I feel that my experience and knowledge will continue to support the improvements for our community for our future generations to come."
Even after declining health kept him from regularly attending meetings, Swinomish leaders consulted him regarding issues of the day.
At a dinner Aug. 29 in the Swinomish gymnasium, Sheldon, the Tulalip chairman, talked of Senator Cayou's sense of humor, his cultural work in the region, and his work as a legislator. Because of his cultural knowledge, varied experiences, and knowledge of the region's indigenous history, Senator Cayou was often sought out by researchers and writers. He shared information about the region's marine health for an award-winning documentary, "March Point."
Father Patrick Twohy, who knew Senator Cayou since 1985, said he was like a giant cedar in the forest "to which we'd go to experience love without any limit."
"He was truly a beautiful and kind man. All felt in his presence the kindness and wisdom that had been passed down among his people for thousands of generations. He absorbed the best teachings from his parents and grandparents and lived them out."
Former Lummi Chairman Darrell Hillaire said Senator Cayou was "the last of his kind. He was a leader of the Swinomish people on the council. He was also a fisherman, leader of his family, a leader on the Smokehouse floor."
Hillaire said Senator Cayou was, in each role, consistent in his personality and in his mission: "To teach, with humility, that here's a better way."
Senator Cayou is survived by his 2 sons, 4 daughters, 1 sister; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in passing by his wife, Velma; sons, Fred and Donnie; grandchildren, Wayne Bob Jr., Cassandra Cayou, and Curtis Bailey; and his parents and two brothers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Juan Island, Wash. newspaper
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Chester Cayou, respected Swinomish leader
**As a child, Chester Cayou experienced the abuses of the residential school system. As a World War II Army draftee, he witnessed the brutality of war.
Yet, he never lost faith in the capacity of humankind to love. He saw it in his culture, in everyday expressions of caring, in commitment and hard work to meet the needs of others.
There were acts of compassion and courage that inspired him – inspired him as much as the natural beauty of the islands from which he hailed. Like that morning on the battlefield, when he couldn't move his legs because of exposure to the cold, and his buddies carried him to safety as enemy troops advanced into the area.
He was widely known for his teachings, particularly to young people, about the importance of loving, caring and sharing with one another. He often shared those teachings when he greeted canoe families to Swinomish during the annual Canoe Journey.
His teachings were adopted as the theme – "Loving, Caring and Sharing Together" – of the 2011 Canoe Journey, which will be hosted by Swinomish. And that was how Chester Cayou was remembered Aug. 31 at his funeral, which filled the La Conner High School gymnasium to capacity.
"Your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs," the memorial program read. "Today and tomorrow, all our lives through, we will always love and cherish you."
Cayou, whose traditional name was Qw-Tee-Sa-Luq, passed away in his Swinomish home Aug. 27, 15 days after his 88th birthday. He had been in declining health and had a stroke.
Prayer service was Aug. 30 in the Swinomish Gymnasium; the funeral was the next day at the high school. Interment followed at the Swinomish cemetery.
Pallbearers included Swinomish Senator Leon John, Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon, and Tulalip Councilman Glen Gobin. There were eight pallbearers, 14 honorary pallbearers, and a Veterans Honor Guard from Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, Tulalip and Upper Skagit. Also in attendance: British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point, the first First Nations person appointed to that position.
"Chet Cayou was one in a million," Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby said. "He served his country and his people his entire life. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not just about the Coast Salish lifeways and language, but also carried a boots-on-the-ground perspective of Europe in the last years of World War II.
"Generations of Swinomish kids grew up calling him ‘Grandpa Chet.' We will miss him dearly. … No words adequately express the loss felt by the tribe, of this honorable World War II veteran."
Senator Cayou grew up on Stuart Island, the son of General Scott Cayou, Lummi/Saanich/French; and Sara Jack, Saanich.
Senator Cayou's grandfather, Louis Cayou (1834-1900), was one of the first non-Native settlers of Orcas Island. His uncle, Henry Cayou (1869-1959), was one of the islands' most successful fishermen, served on the San Juan County Commission and ran for state Legislature.
He attended a residential school on Kuper Island, reef-netted in the San Juans, sacked lime at Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co., and served as an Army paratrooper in Europe during World War II.
He arrived at Normandy Beach shortly after the D-Day invasion, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and served for six months in the occupation of Berlin. In 2004, he received the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, awarded by Congress on behalf of the French government, on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
After military service, he fished, worked in a shake mill, built campsites and trails for Thousand Trails campground and resort, maintained state parks in the area, and planted trees on the Swinomish reservation, where he and his late wife, the former Velma Stone, made their home and raised their family.
In 1984, he was elected for the first time to a five-year term on the Swinomish Senate, or council. He was chairman of the Fish and Game Commission for nearly two decades, chairman of the Veterans Committee, a longtime member of the Budget and Personnel committees, and a member of the Law and Order Committee.
He was an honorary Swinomish police officer, and was active in the Swinomish Smokehouse, Swinomish Veterans and the VFW.
In March 2009, he was unopposed for a sixth Senate term. At the time, he was 86 but tireless in his desire to make a difference in the Swinomish economy, environment and daily life.
"I wish to further my position with the Swinomish community as a Swinomish senator," he told the Swinomish magazine Kee-Yoks during his campaign. "I have served on the Senate for 25 years and have participated in achieving great accomplishments for our tribe. I feel that my experience and knowledge will continue to support the improvements for our community for our future generations to come."
Even after declining health kept him from regularly attending meetings, Swinomish leaders consulted him regarding issues of the day.
At a dinner Aug. 29 in the Swinomish gymnasium, Sheldon, the Tulalip chairman, talked of Senator Cayou's sense of humor, his cultural work in the region, and his work as a legislator. Because of his cultural knowledge, varied experiences, and knowledge of the region's indigenous history, Senator Cayou was often sought out by researchers and writers. He shared information about the region's marine health for an award-winning documentary, "March Point."
Father Patrick Twohy, who knew Senator Cayou since 1985, said he was like a giant cedar in the forest "to which we'd go to experience love without any limit."
"He was truly a beautiful and kind man. All felt in his presence the kindness and wisdom that had been passed down among his people for thousands of generations. He absorbed the best teachings from his parents and grandparents and lived them out."
Former Lummi Chairman Darrell Hillaire said Senator Cayou was "the last of his kind. He was a leader of the Swinomish people on the council. He was also a fisherman, leader of his family, a leader on the Smokehouse floor."
Hillaire said Senator Cayou was, in each role, consistent in his personality and in his mission: "To teach, with humility, that here's a better way."
Senator Cayou is survived by his 2 sons, 4 daughters, 1 sister; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in passing by his wife, Velma; sons, Fred and Donnie; grandchildren, Wayne Bob Jr., Cassandra Cayou, and Curtis Bailey; and his parents and two brothers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Juan Island, Wash. newspaper
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Chester Cayou, respected Swinomish leader
**As a child, Chester Cayou experienced the abuses of the residential school system. As a World War II Army draftee, he witnessed the brutality of war.
Yet, he never lost faith in the capacity of humankind to love. He saw it in his culture, in everyday expressions of caring, in commitment and hard work to meet the needs of others.
There were acts of compassion and courage that inspired him – inspired him as much as the natural beauty of the islands from which he hailed. Like that morning on the battlefield, when he couldn't move his legs because of exposure to the cold, and his buddies carried him to safety as enemy troops advanced into the area.
He was widely known for his teachings, particularly to young people, about the importance of loving, caring and sharing with one another. He often shared those teachings when he greeted canoe families to Swinomish during the annual Canoe Journey.
His teachings were adopted as the theme – "Loving, Caring and Sharing Together" – of the 2011 Canoe Journey, which will be hosted by Swinomish. And that was how Chester Cayou was remembered Aug. 31 at his funeral, which filled the La Conner High School gymnasium to capacity.
"Your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs," the memorial program read. "Today and tomorrow, all our lives through, we will always love and cherish you."
Cayou, whose traditional name was Qw-Tee-Sa-Luq, passed away in his Swinomish home Aug. 27, 15 days after his 88th birthday. He had been in declining health and had a stroke.
Prayer service was Aug. 30 in the Swinomish Gymnasium; the funeral was the next day at the high school. Interment followed at the Swinomish cemetery.
Pallbearers included Swinomish Senator Leon John, Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon, and Tulalip Councilman Glen Gobin. There were eight pallbearers, 14 honorary pallbearers, and a Veterans Honor Guard from Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, Tulalip and Upper Skagit. Also in attendance: British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point, the first First Nations person appointed to that position.
"Chet Cayou was one in a million," Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby said. "He served his country and his people his entire life. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not just about the Coast Salish lifeways and language, but also carried a boots-on-the-ground perspective of Europe in the last years of World War II.
"Generations of Swinomish kids grew up calling him ‘Grandpa Chet.' We will miss him dearly. … No words adequately express the loss felt by the tribe, of this honorable World War II veteran."
Senator Cayou grew up on Stuart Island, the son of General Scott Cayou, Lummi/Saanich/French; and Sara Jack, Saanich.
Senator Cayou's grandfather, Louis Cayou (1834-1900), was one of the first non-Native settlers of Orcas Island. His uncle, Henry Cayou (1869-1959), was one of the islands' most successful fishermen, served on the San Juan County Commission and ran for state Legislature.
He attended a residential school on Kuper Island, reef-netted in the San Juans, sacked lime at Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co., and served as an Army paratrooper in Europe during World War II.
He arrived at Normandy Beach shortly after the D-Day invasion, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and served for six months in the occupation of Berlin. In 2004, he received the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, awarded by Congress on behalf of the French government, on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
After military service, he fished, worked in a shake mill, built campsites and trails for Thousand Trails campground and resort, maintained state parks in the area, and planted trees on the Swinomish reservation, where he and his late wife, the former Velma Stone, made their home and raised their family.
In 1984, he was elected for the first time to a five-year term on the Swinomish Senate, or council. He was chairman of the Fish and Game Commission for nearly two decades, chairman of the Veterans Committee, a longtime member of the Budget and Personnel committees, and a member of the Law and Order Committee.
He was an honorary Swinomish police officer, and was active in the Swinomish Smokehouse, Swinomish Veterans and the VFW.
In March 2009, he was unopposed for a sixth Senate term. At the time, he was 86 but tireless in his desire to make a difference in the Swinomish economy, environment and daily life.
"I wish to further my position with the Swinomish community as a Swinomish senator," he told the Swinomish magazine Kee-Yoks during his campaign. "I have served on the Senate for 25 years and have participated in achieving great accomplishments for our tribe. I feel that my experience and knowledge will continue to support the improvements for our community for our future generations to come."
Even after declining health kept him from regularly attending meetings, Swinomish leaders consulted him regarding issues of the day.
At a dinner Aug. 29 in the Swinomish gymnasium, Sheldon, the Tulalip chairman, talked of Senator Cayou's sense of humor, his cultural work in the region, and his work as a legislator. Because of his cultural knowledge, varied experiences, and knowledge of the region's indigenous history, Senator Cayou was often sought out by researchers and writers. He shared information about the region's marine health for an award-winning documentary, "March Point."
Father Patrick Twohy, who knew Senator Cayou since 1985, said he was like a giant cedar in the forest "to which we'd go to experience love without any limit."
"He was truly a beautiful and kind man. All felt in his presence the kindness and wisdom that had been passed down among his people for thousands of generations. He absorbed the best teachings from his parents and grandparents and lived them out."
Former Lummi Chairman Darrell Hillaire said Senator Cayou was "the last of his kind. He was a leader of the Swinomish people on the council. He was also a fisherman, leader of his family, a leader on the Smokehouse floor."
Hillaire said Senator Cayou was, in each role, consistent in his personality and in his mission: "To teach, with humility, that here's a better way."
Senator Cayou is survived by his 2 sons, 4 daughters, 1 sister; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in passing by his wife, Velma; sons, Fred and Donnie; grandchildren, Wayne Bob Jr., Cassandra Cayou, and Curtis Bailey; and his parents and two brothers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
San Juan Island, Wash. newspaper
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Chester Cayou, respected Swinomish leader
**As a child, Chester Cayou experienced the abuses of the residential school system. As a World War II Army draftee, he witnessed the brutality of war.
Yet, he never lost faith in the capacity of humankind to love. He saw it in his culture, in everyday expressions of caring, in commitment and hard work to meet the needs of others.
There were acts of compassion and courage that inspired him – inspired him as much as the natural beauty of the islands from which he hailed. Like that morning on the battlefield, when he couldn't move his legs because of exposure to the cold, and his buddies carried him to safety as enemy troops advanced into the area.
He was widely known for his teachings, particularly to young people, about the importance of loving, caring and sharing with one another. He often shared those teachings when he greeted canoe families to Swinomish during the annual Canoe Journey.
His teachings were adopted as the theme – "Loving, Caring and Sharing Together" – of the 2011 Canoe Journey, which will be hosted by Swinomish. And that was how Chester Cayou was remembered Aug. 31 at his funeral, which filled the La Conner High School gymnasium to capacity.
"Your life was full of loving deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs," the memorial program read. "Today and tomorrow, all our lives through, we will always love and cherish you."
Cayou, whose traditional name was Qw-Tee-Sa-Luq, passed away in his Swinomish home Aug. 27, 15 days after his 88th birthday. He had been in declining health and had a stroke.
Prayer service was Aug. 30 in the Swinomish Gymnasium; the funeral was the next day at the high school. Interment followed at the Swinomish cemetery.
Pallbearers included Swinomish Senator Leon John, Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon, and Tulalip Councilman Glen Gobin. There were eight pallbearers, 14 honorary pallbearers, and a Veterans Honor Guard from Lummi, Nooksack, Swinomish, Tulalip and Upper Skagit. Also in attendance: British Columbia Lt. Gov. Steven Point, the first First Nations person appointed to that position.
"Chet Cayou was one in a million," Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby said. "He served his country and his people his entire life. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, not just about the Coast Salish lifeways and language, but also carried a boots-on-the-ground perspective of Europe in the last years of World War II.
"Generations of Swinomish kids grew up calling him ‘Grandpa Chet.' We will miss him dearly. … No words adequately express the loss felt by the tribe, of this honorable World War II veteran."
Senator Cayou grew up on Stuart Island, the son of General Scott Cayou, Lummi/Saanich/French; and Sara Jack, Saanich.
Senator Cayou's grandfather, Louis Cayou (1834-1900), was one of the first non-Native settlers of Orcas Island. His uncle, Henry Cayou (1869-1959), was one of the islands' most successful fishermen, served on the San Juan County Commission and ran for state Legislature.
He attended a residential school on Kuper Island, reef-netted in the San Juans, sacked lime at Roche Harbor Lime and Cement Co., and served as an Army paratrooper in Europe during World War II.
He arrived at Normandy Beach shortly after the D-Day invasion, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and served for six months in the occupation of Berlin. In 2004, he received the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, awarded by Congress on behalf of the French government, on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
After military service, he fished, worked in a shake mill, built campsites and trails for Thousand Trails campground and resort, maintained state parks in the area, and planted trees on the Swinomish reservation, where he and his late wife, the former Velma Stone, made their home and raised their family.
In 1984, he was elected for the first time to a five-year term on the Swinomish Senate, or council. He was chairman of the Fish and Game Commission for nearly two decades, chairman of the Veterans Committee, a longtime member of the Budget and Personnel committees, and a member of the Law and Order Committee.
He was an honorary Swinomish police officer, and was active in the Swinomish Smokehouse, Swinomish Veterans and the VFW.
In March 2009, he was unopposed for a sixth Senate term. At the time, he was 86 but tireless in his desire to make a difference in the Swinomish economy, environment and daily life.
"I wish to further my position with the Swinomish community as a Swinomish senator," he told the Swinomish magazine Kee-Yoks during his campaign. "I have served on the Senate for 25 years and have participated in achieving great accomplishments for our tribe. I feel that my experience and knowledge will continue to support the improvements for our community for our future generations to come."
Even after declining health kept him from regularly attending meetings, Swinomish leaders consulted him regarding issues of the day.
At a dinner Aug. 29 in the Swinomish gymnasium, Sheldon, the Tulalip chairman, talked of Senator Cayou's sense of humor, his cultural work in the region, and his work as a legislator. Because of his cultural knowledge, varied experiences, and knowledge of the region's indigenous history, Senator Cayou was often sought out by researchers and writers. He shared information about the region's marine health for an award-winning documentary, "March Point."
Father Patrick Twohy, who knew Senator Cayou since 1985, said he was like a giant cedar in the forest "to which we'd go to experience love without any limit."
"He was truly a beautiful and kind man. All felt in his presence the kindness and wisdom that had been passed down among his people for thousands of generations. He absorbed the best teachings from his parents and grandparents and lived them out."
Former Lummi Chairman Darrell Hillaire said Senator Cayou was "the last of his kind. He was a leader of the Swinomish people on the council. He was also a fisherman, leader of his family, a leader on the Smokehouse floor."
Hillaire said Senator Cayou was, in each role, consistent in his personality and in his mission: "To teach, with humility, that here's a better way."
Senator Cayou is survived by his 2 sons, 4 daughters, 1 sister; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in passing by his wife, Velma; sons, Fred and Donnie; grandchildren, Wayne Bob Jr., Cassandra Cayou, and Curtis Bailey; and his parents and two brothers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
