Skookum

I've lived my life in the lands of the Chinook jargon
Without knowing that I used some of the words

I was born and raised
Down in the lands of the Kalapuya people.
If I ever met one,
I probably thought they were from somewhere else.

Now I live in the high country
Up the Towarnehiooks from it's mouth above Celilo Falls
Almost to it's source:
Up near the high lakes of the Molalla tribes;
West of the Paiute;
Before the land drops to the south
Into Klamath country.


I come from many tribes,
Most forgotten,
And none from here.
My father's fathers were Kemi Saami
In the high lakes and forests of their country.
They lived among the siida families
Where were known as Kitka
Before the Swedish crown told his people
To populate the north
And turned my ancestors into christian Finns.

Now the Saami that remain on their land
Are mostly above the arctic circle. 
Many of those that became Finns
Left to settle here along the Wimahl
From Celilo Falls down to the ocean.

Skookum, in the Chinook jargon,
Describes something that is strong,
Dependable, reliable or enduring.
It's used much like my English ancestors use 'stout',
And a little like my Finnish ancestors use 'sisu'.
I've lost the Kemi Saami word,
Though I have gone looking.