Melinda the Intrepid

                         I got to know the American Yakama Indians up close and personal!   You won't believe their strange lives in the modern world. Join me for part one here but don't miss PART TWO : shape shifters, out of body experiences, and some crazy stuff.    Oldest son Brad, left, me center, Austin on rt, back in those days           It was 1996, and my youngest son, Austin, and I lived in the moderate-sized town of Yakima, in the high central desert area of Washington State, in the north western part of the US.             The growing city was surrounded by mountains, many of which were old dormant volcanoes.  There was Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.            They all formed the sides of a gr...

        Here continues the second part of the intriguing tale of the Yakama Indian Nation.  There's a shape shifting Coyote, out of body travel, Medicine women who see the future and a duezy of a joke on an Indian Agent.   If you missed Part One, read it first.  Yakama Indians see life and the Great Spirit in every living thing, such as this tree.                       Even today, once a year there’s a huge Fourth of July POW WOW on the Yakama Nation Reservation, in White Swan, where Indian-only riders compete in racing tournaments.   The public is always invited to watch (and spend their money there.)   There is great food, traditional dancing in authentic Native costumes to the beat of a circle of tribal drums, and lots of fun.                   ...