Fields Gregory P. - Rights remembered: a Salish grandmother speaks on American Indian history and the future

As I wrote this book, I truly followed a desperate trail. Alone, I would never have made it. With the help of my sister, Mary Ellen Hillaire, my father, Joseph R. Hillaire, my grandfather, Frank Hillaire, my mother, and all my brothers and sisters, I remain encouraged, even at the end. You see, my entire family was with me, spiritually. Their words did not haunt me; they helped me. The Great Spirit played the most important role in this enormous task. There were times when I thought, no; this should not be done. But the messages began to sound better and better, so I continued. Friends and relatives in this world encouraged me. Never disregard heartfelt encouragement. It seems to clear the littered pathway to your goal as if by pure magic.

With this book, I reach out to those strong, healthy, and curious future generations and encourage them to never give up. The strength of our ancestors remains with us. All we have to do is discover it and continue to the end of the trail. My focus remains on our Indian youth: children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I see amongst them very talented people, surging forward with sacred curiosity. They have the qualities that our ancestors saw in earlier generations. Hope will help carry you, and persistence pays offnot that you will get richer and richer, but that your hearts maintain a steady path forward.

As you read my book, keep my message clear in your mind. My prayer is for more land and for the rights of Indian people across America. Please study the philosophy of our elders. In addition, study the philosophy of the few U.S. officials who cared, but who couldnt get very far with their hopes for us, because of Indian policy and law.

There are two sides to making a law strong for the people. One side is the character of the people who make the law; the other side is the strength of those who carry the law through barriers in behalf of the people. Setting policies and ensuring that policies are appliednationally, and in your own localityis a challenge. Some of us were born without that particular talent. Therefore, we must watch for the individuals who can face the challenge. We must review their strengths, courage, tenacity, and their capability to carry the ball, and like the champions they are, make the scores needed to get us to the right place.

I chose to investigate the U.S. government documents because of my fathers encouragement. My sister followed in his footsteps; in her lifetime, she too conveyed important messages to, and on behalf of, our Indian people. I chose my father and my sister as role models because of their ability to communicate to relatives, friends, and the population at large. For over forty years, I carried my research documents with me from place to placethinking about them, placing them in perspective, absorbing images of the past, present, and future, in my efforts to tie them togethertrying to make sense of that world of words. And that took time and patience. Not once was I tempted to throw anything away. The messages were loud and clear: messages about land, law, survival, timidity, and questions about how things could be set right.

Our treaty rights are, first of all, rights that we have reserved. I hope that this book will help show how our Indian leaders have remembered our rights, and I hope it will help Indian and non-Indian citizens and leaders to remember our history and our rights. Laws and policies are extremely important, like gems and jewels in a treasure place. Perseverance is the key, and love is the light.