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High Rock

About Me

OUR GROUP

High Rock is a powwow drum group comprised of tribal youth throughout Washington and Oregon. Currently, our singers residing on or near the Yakama Indian Reservation practice weekly at Toppenish, Washington on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Our singers throughout other Indian Reservations as far away as the Colville, Coeur D'Alene, Nez Perce, Siletz, Swinomish, Umatilla and Warm Springs practice with local/family drums close to them and meet up with us at powwows throughout the year. High Rock was started in March 2005 by members of the Midnight Echo youth drum group from the Nisqually, Chehalis and Skok Indian Reservations and students of the Wahelut Indian School and evolved as we gained singers from the other areas throughout our powwow travels. Midnight Echo remains their own group with most of their original members.

OUR DRUMS
Two drums currently carry the High Rock name on behalf of our singers. The original is made from a 32" x 16" slat-frame purchased in 2004 from Toppenish Bead & Pawn, stained dark blue. The newer drum is made from a 29" x 10" maple hoop-frame wrapped in Pendleton blanket material. Both are covered with buffalo hides purchased from Rick Gartland (Red Eagle trading). All of our drumsticks were made by Jim Roberts using popular contemporary methods (fiberglass reflector poles, various padding and dyed leathers, and then decorated with sign vinyl or electrical tape). The larger drum will eventually belong to Terrell Jack (Tulalip) and the smaller drum will eventually belong to Damien Shippentower (Yakama) and be renamed when his group branches off from High Rock. The new group will be called Painting Bear.
ASSOCIATED DRUMMERS
we see at various times throughout the year:
Issiashelukas Alibadi (Everett, WA), Michael Bigby (Bellingham, WA), Nathan Brown (Bellingham, WA), Ron Butler (Siletz, OR), Jalen Calvert (Goldendale, WA), Matt Clements (Warm Springs, OR), George Clements (Warm Springs, OR), Jo-Jo Creed (Kelso, WA), Levi Dale (Kelso, WA), Richard Dougherty (Molalla, OR), Kiowa Dougherty (Molalla, OR), Mason Dougherty (Molalla, OR), Everson Eaglespeaker (Yakima, WA), Kendall Edwards (La Conner, WA), Trent Heath (Beaverton, OR), Jovon Heath (Beaverton, OR), Osprey Gibbons (Dallas, OR), True Gibbons (Dallas, OR), Jovani Gibson (Wapato, WA), Dale Green (Harrah, WA), Keoni Heemsah (Harrah, WA), Samuel River Jim, (Goldendale, WA), Warner Jim (Celilo Village, The Dalles, OR), Bryan Jim (Celilo Village, The Dalles, OR), Nuku-Nuku Krause (Spokane, WA), Justin LaLiberte (Warm Springs, OR), Martin Lopez (Portland, OR), Dustin Miles (Seattle, WA), Neil Morning Owl (Warm Springs, OR), Jonathan Nomee (Worley, ID), Michael Raye Rounds (Nespelem, WA), Marlin Suppah (Salem, OR), Jackson Taylor (Albany, OR), Jordan Taylor (Albany, OR), Tristan Valdez (Shoreline, WA), Issac Villatorres (Portland, OR), Sulkanim Washington (Tahuya, WA), Shaolwis Washington (Tahuya, WA), Joseph Washington (Tahuya, WA), Aaron Winishut (Warm Springs, OR), Tommy Lee White Plume (Lapwai, ID), Noah Yallup (White Swan, WA)
ELDER/ADULT ADVISORS
whom we wish to acknowledge for their help over the years:
DRUM LEADS ... Henry "H-Bomb" Aleck (Small Town), Rod Begay (Chute Number Eight), Willard Bill (Flickertail), Robert Brien (Windy Point), Ron Butler (West Coast Boys), Dan Cayou (Indian Chrome), Raymond Cree (Cree Star), Octave Finley (Drum Hoppers), the late Darnell Greg (Rez City), Steven Iyukes (Golden Eagle Jr's), Roger Jackson (Lonesome Creek), Rodney John (Eagle Heart), Slim John (White Swan Intertribal), Gus Kaklahmet (Spearfish USA), J.J. Menninick (Red Tail), Jeremy Miller (Northern Bad Medicine), Brycene Neaman (Northwest Medicine Horse), Harold Paul (Four Directions), Johnny Sam (Parker Dam), Mathew Warbonnet (War Bonnet), Nathan Williams (Deception Pass), Ted Williams (Toppenish Creek)
OTHERS ... Harold Belmont, Gilbert Brown, David Browneagle, Rocco Clark Sr., Mayor Jesse Farias, Judge Hamilton Greeley (ret.), Judge Lorintha Umtuch, Fred Hill Sr., Willard Hillaire, Frank & Janet George, Mary Jack, Sam & Bernice Jim, the late Ron Morning Owl, Thomas Morning Owl, Soy & Sharon Redthunder, Allen Sr. & Rose Retasket, Lee & Angela Sorrel Horse, Charlie Sitting Bull, Walt Swan Jr., Craig Young.
MIDNIGHT ECHO SINGERS
who became the original High Rock March to August 2005:
Neil Blueback, Mylan Choke, Kyle Franklin, Gabriel High Eagle, Marquise Hopgood, Christian Pillsbury, Rikki Sutterlict, Michael Sutterlict, Ernie Sutterlict, Jason Slighte, John Sanders, Scott Sanders, and some of the "old group" from long ago.
GROUP COORDINATOR:
Jim Roberts (Lakota/Chippewa)
3206 Butterfield Rd,
Yakima, WA 98901-1133
(509)910-1500 (preferably after 7pm Pacific Time or on weekends)
Ironically it costs me to send texts even at night during my "free minutes" so if you text me I might try to call you back instead of texting you. email: [email protected]
VETERAN (YEOMAN), UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
(Polar Operations & Marine Safety)
Jim has previously assisted with the Monroe/Sultan School District Skykomish Valley Indian Education Program NATIVE SPIRIT youth drum (2004-2005) and taught drumming for the Tacoma School District Indian Education Program for part of the 2006-2007 school year, led the MIDNIGHT ECHO youth drum from 2004-2005 and established HIGH ROCK with help from members of that group. Jim also sings with Northwest Medicine Horse, Battle Horse, Cree Star, Parker Dam, drumhops with several other groups (don't we all?) and will be the leadsinger of the newly forming DD-214 drum of the Yakama Nation Warriors Association (the membership form is still on his desk). Jim has also been a committee member for the Sauk-Suiattle Celebration of Generations Powwow (2004 & 2005), was founding Chairman of the Skykomish Valley Powwow (2005, first year), and is currently a committee member for the Pow-wun-putt Powwow. On the web, Jim is the Webmaster of www.powwowtime.com and a forum moderator on www.powwows.com .

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 02/02/2007
Band Members: YAKAMA REZ:
Skylar Culps
Julian Gardee
Jovani Gibson
Michael Gil
Keenan Paul
Darrell Sampson, Jr.
George Strong
Donovan Tainewasher
Zachary Tainewasher
Trumaine Yallup
Charles Yallup Jr.
Noah Yallup

COLVILLE REZ:
Leland Adolph
Casey Cleveland
John Lowery
Ryan Moon

NEZ PERCE REZ:
Malique "Beeker" Higheagle
Kieth Kipp
Daniel Lagmay
Kishaun Vaile

WARM SPRINGS REZ: Gavin Begay
Damian Frank
Phillip Holiday
Ezra Post
Charles Scott
Tom Tias

UMATILLA REZ:
Brian Yallup

AROUND WASHINGTON:
Nathan Brown
Skylar Campbell
Joe Creed
Kendall Edwards
Tyler Sisan

AROUND OREGON:
Martin Lopez
Matt Clements
Trent Heath
Jovon Heath
Taylor Jackson

Influences: Northern Wind, Crazy Horse, Porcupine, Cheyenne Creek, Stoney Park, Battle Horse and various local drums
Sounds Like: "I'm hungry!" "I'm thirsty!" "When's it our turn?"
Record Label: Registration Table
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Why the Gang Lifestyle goes against Native Tradition

Are drop-outs and down-and-outers really worthy to be considered the continuation of ancient warrior societies? We think not. That is why we encourage youth to stay out of gangs, stay clean and sober,...
Posted by on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:51:00 GMT

Nespelem 4th of July Celebration

Actually, the Nespelem 4th of July Celebration is about a week and a half long and ends with the powwow. This gave us a chance to go to two 4th of July powwows this year. Last weekend was Wild Horse. ...
Posted by on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:26:00 GMT

W-W-W-W-Wild HORSE!! Powwow 2009

Well another hot powwow weekend came and went, starting out with myself, Darrell Sampson Jr and DyRoman Johnson leaving Wapato around 2:00pm on Thursday. Oops, I should have put in a few more bucks at...
Posted by on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:20:00 GMT

Pi-ume-sha Treaty Days at Warm Springs

Pi-ume-sha Treaty Days Powwow was awesome. We wanted to hit up Muckleshoot Veterans Powwow this year, but they were the same weekend once again and thought the choice was tough we always have a go...
Posted by on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:27:00 GMT

Delta Park Powwow, Portland, OR

Well we set up @ Delta for the third year in a row. It rained hard Friday evening -- and it was an outdoor powwow. Luckily the Bow & Arrow Club was able to blow $4,500 at the last minute on a big top ...
Posted by on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:47:00 GMT

Adams School District Powwow

Saturday, May 23, 2009 we went to the Adams School District Powwow at White Swan Middle/High School football field. Singers present were Jim Roberts, Darrell Sampson Jr, Garrett Begay, Keenan Paul, Te...
Posted by on Sun, 24 May 2009 00:34:00 GMT

Suquamish Renewal Powwow

Well, we went to Suquamish last weekend and it was a good powwow in an awesome new building, the Suquamish Community House. It sorta reminded us a little of Simnasho Longhouse inside, with all the woo...
Posted by on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:02:00 GMT

Evergreen-BattleGround-Vancouver Indian Ed. Powwow

This weekend the plan was to hit both the Fife-Milton Title VII Powwow at Surprise Lake Middle School, Milton, WA and the Evergreen-Vancouver-Battle Ground Title VII Powwow at Covington Middle School,...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:55:00 GMT

The BIG Powwow at Oregon Fairgrounds Arena

Well we were one of 24 drums total at the Gathering of Oregon's First Nations and it turned out to be one of the biggest non-contest powwows you'll see in this region. There were also special performa...
Posted by on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:29:00 GMT

Nixyaawii New Years Powwow

We just returned from Nixyawii New Years Powwow at Pendleton, Oregon. This year's powwow was held in the Pendleton Convention Center, located on the west side of the Pendleton Round Up Grounds, in fro...
Posted by on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:26:00 GMT