Grace Elting Castle

Happy Labor Day to all the hard working men and women in the seafood industry who put food on tables across the country. Whether you're harvesting on the ocean, processing or packaging items for distribution, maintaining the equipment, providing the supplies, or play some other part in the process of bringing nutritious protein to the world - we thank you for all you do!

Unbelievable!

Cindy Wheeler Elting

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Grace Elting Castle updated their website address.

Hope you've checked out my novel! "A Time to Wail, An Indian Country Novel". On Amazon, B&N, and graceeltingcastle.com.

If you wonder if reviews help authors, or if you haven't ever written one, please read this short piece by Nancy Herkness, Author.

I loved the book, but how do I write a review?   Reviews on Amazon and other websites are so important to an author. They help other readers find books that you enjoyed. If you loved the book, please consider writing a review! “But I’m not…

For all those who are coming to this page, please know that I have a group page called "Stories in My Head" that focuses on my current writing project---a mystery novel based in Siletz, OR, featuring history of the tribes forced to live at the Siletz (Coast) Reservation in mid-1850s. Please visit the Stories in My Head FB page. I would love to have you join us.

Let's make sure all the cities, corporations and small businesses that draw water from the Siletz River are included in this new mandate from the Oregon Health Authority! So far I haven't seen any of them listed. 😱

Oregon will require drinking water systems to test for algal toxins 150 to 200 public water systems that draw from surface water sources with a history of toxic algal blooms must test for cyanotoxins starting in July.

6/21/18: I can't figure out what FB has done with some of these pages, but if you have landed on this page and are interested in following my posts about my novel-in-progress and other writing projects, please see page called Stories in My Head. Join the fun. We have over 300 members.

Roadkill: It's what's for dinner under new Oregon law Some folks in Oregon might not want to ask, when served an elk burger or a venison steak, where the meat came from.

How to Contact the People Who Sent Militarized Police to Standing Rock

Put a whole squash in your slow cooker and in no time, devour a creamy dinner everyone will love Filled with savory flavors and easy to make, this recipe is sure to make it onto your fall must-make dish list.

First, my apologies to any readers who may be descendants of the men who are discussed and pictured in the article posted here. For many years I have researched the US government's collection of Indian (Native American) heads for research. I first became aware of the horrid project while trying to locate the body of an elder's beloved relative. Finding "paper proof" of what I suspected to happen to the man, an honored graduate of Carlisle and young leader of his tribe, was impossible then. I continue to monitor everything related to the topic in the attempt to prove once and for all that the man was murdered for his brain. This was, and is, the kind of project that comes to a person and never leaves. It was never about money on this type of case. A person goes into a lifetime commitment like this with full knowledge that there is no monetary return. The "return" is knowing that work continues to honor the life of the person(s) and maybe, just maybe find definitive answers for the descendants. The two such cases I was gifted with have nothing to do with the men in the article accompanying this post, but it is vital information for today's people to know of this atrocity so it cannot happen ever again. Peace to all! http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/06/15/four-more-heads-indian-trophy-room-164780

Announcing the publication of my latest article, "Tribal Weavers, Siletz Indians continue the traditional art of weaving baskets from local materials." in the May-June 2016 issue of Oregon Coast Magazine. Illustrated by historical photos, the article explores the history of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and introduces the current interest in, and dedication to, the creation of the famous "Siletz Baskets." The magazine is available at Oregon stores or contact the publisher at 1-541-997-8401.

"Horrifying": Lost Bones, Damage and Harassment at Ancient Sacred Site “Horrifying” is how Lydia Johnson described the ordeal her Shoshone community has faced in recent weeks.

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My "to read" pile of books is taller than I am and there's also a long list of books I want to read,Wyoming so anything published in 2015 had a difficult time attracting my attention. Those few that did went to the bottom of the list. However, a few weeks ago I discovered that Gerry Spence, whose work as a criminal defense attorney has inspired me for years, published "Police State, How America's Cops Get Away With Murder." (St. Martin's Press 2015). This is Spence's 17th book and though I haven't read all of them, I think ths is probably his best. Spence is a trial lawyer, a former Wyoming prosecutor turned criminal defense specialist whose work on high profile cases is well-known worldwide. As he states in the beginning pages, "I've defended the poor, the forgotten, the lost, and the damned for over sixty years in the courtrooms of America. Over my career I've shut out a haunting question I wasn't prepared to face: Are we safe from our own police? Have our police become killers on the loose who cover up thei crimes--and too often there's no one to stop them?" He explores and explains this question by delving into the specifics of some of his most famous and challenging cases: Randy Weaver in the mountains of Idaho; Brandon Mayfield in Portland, Oregon; Fouaad Kaady in Clackamas, Oregon; John Singer, Salt Lake City, Utah; Imelda Marcos in Washington, D.C; Geoffrey Fieger in Michigan; Dennis Williams, Chicago, IL; Albert Hancock in Wyoming. When the reader is captured and distraught at what happened, almost happened and could have happened in all of these stressful trials, Spence wraps up the book with a powerful epilogue that clearly states that "We need the police." He wants no misunderstanding about that, but he also wants us to listen to what he's experienced and learned in his 80+ years. Over the years I've followed closely each of these cases. I know or have met several of the people mentioned in the book. I knew Dennis Williams personally,and through that knowing I identified with the rest of the men and families in Spence's book. I trusted his reveals and comments because what he shared about Dennis was true, insightful and supportive. I have been waiting to finish reading the book before recommending it to all of you. With the current situation in Oregon's Malheur Refuge takeover by out of state ranchers and followers with a beef against the U.S Government---and the rush to judgment by Facebook writers and others---I not only recommend the book, I URGE you to read it for a better understanding of what POWER (often known as the U.S Government) can do to those with limited or no power.

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For those who still don't realize that stealing the bones of ancestors is sick, disgusting and illegal---this happened. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/print/2015/12/21/national-park-services-grave-robber-man-pleads-guilty-stealing-remains-162834

National Park Services Grave Robber: Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Remains Thomas Munson, 76, of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin will plead guilty to embezzlement and theft charges in connection with an accusation that he stole several ancient Native American remains from the Effigy Mound Monument federal museum in Iowa. Munson, former National Parks Service superintendent of…

This is SO wrong! Every artist of any genre should be protesting this government interference in an exhibit of ART. Making a decision to pull the work of an artist from display is no different than banning a book except that most banned books can be accessed. This action in Washington state prevents all of the attendees from enjoying Leonard's work. Please share this post so that people are aware.

FBI interferes with Exhibit of Work by the Renowned Native American Artist Leonard Peltier State agency in Washington state caves after Leonard Peltier labeled a cop killer Published November 14, 2015a TUMBWATER, WASHINGTON—An art exhibit commemorating National Native American Month at t…

Truth. If only we taught this in our schools, the rest of US history would make sense. No one would be proud of the hsitory, but at least everyone would know the truth. Instead we teach gulllible little children that Washington could not tell a lie. The backlash is that Native Americans (Indians) who eventually know the truth can easily grow a hatred for white people. We can't grow as humans if we continue to lie and hate.

Thank you , Dr. King

I'm reading about the way people from The Phillippines were treated during the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, MO. This information in this article is very similar.

How Many Americans Know About Human Zoos? Well, they should!

I've been reading Bill O'Reilly's book, "Killing Jesus". Just yesterday morning I read about Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Then I attended the 30th Birthday party for my grandson and look who I met: Marc Antony just home from a videographer project in Utah with his lady hunter sharing a moment with a ladybug niece. Marc and Cleopatra ready for the ball---or a battle. No sign of Julius who someone arranged to have killed. Reading is a powerful hobby, but I never expected the characters to come alive just hours after Ty and Rihana Cary were at my house. Life is always interesting in this family.

It is not unusual for people to scoff at my concern over the looting of Native American (Indian) graves or sacred sites. It doesn't stop me from trying to keep people informed. This is another article about the pain and suffering felt by the people whose heritage and ancestors are disrespected in the most evil of ways. http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/10/14/california-md-indicted-21-felony-counts-was-hoarding-30000-indian-artifacts-162074

California MD Indicted on 21 Felony Counts Was Hoarding 30,000 Indian Artifacts

This is a much discussed topic. I am not sure about the reference to Emmitt Smith. I haven't seen the TV program referenced, but there isn't, so far as I know to date, a DNA test that would show whether or not he was Cherokee. Perhaps his did not show any Native American DNA, but that's not what was written here. Other than that, this is a good article for discussion purposes. No offense to the people who believe their grandmother was a Cherokee Princess, but be sure to read this opinion piece.

Why Do So Many Americans Think They Have Cherokee Blood? It is one of the most popular myths in American genealogies. Millions of Americans think they have Cherokee ancestry. It is a nice thought but is almost always erroneous. In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8...

I've been working long hours on my novel in preparation for a big writing conference. Have to be in the right mood and attitude to learn as much as I can from all the amazing writers who will speak there. Hope to meet some more fellow writers from across the nation! Wish me luck and good contacts. So thankful for those who take the time to read my posts.

Yesterday I traveled one of Oregon's most scenic highways between Eugene and Florence. A major part of the road parallels the beautiful Siuslaw River. When I'm traveling alone, I love to listen to the radio, but this day I didn't want any "news" programs. I'm sick of the Trump reports we've heard for weeks and knew this week we'd mostly have Pope news. I needed something light. . I must remember to be careful what I wish for! I turned to the NPR station. Who knew there could be an entire program, complete with 'culture experts,' to argue the pros and cons of pumpkin spice? Seriously! As my former investigation partner used to say, 'you can't make this sh... up' :-) It wasn't simply do you or do you not like pumpkin spice or what's so great about pumpkin lattes. No, they ventured into a discussion of the 'whiteness' of the love of the spice and whether Black women are being overlooked or mistreated by the lack of emphasis on their love of pumpkin spice. I got lost in their rhetoric so I can't begin to explain or understand what they were so eager to present. My mind shut down very soon. I love pumpkin pie, always been my favorite, but discussions of pumpkin flavored sausage and the religious concerns over adding pumpkin spice to tofu go far beyond what I loved about sociology classes decades ago. By the end of the program I had begun to notice the leaves in the trees along the river were already changing---to a lovely pumpkin color. I'm sure those 'experts' would be concerned that the yellow and green leaves are feeling discriminated against. By the last sentences of that program I felt sticky and uncomfortable, rather like I'd been dumped into a tub of pumpkin pulp. I may never eat a pumpkin pie again!

Those who have read my latest article in Oregon Coast Magazine about three Siletz men who attended Chemawa Indian Boarding School may be interested in this: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/06/29/punched-gut-uncovering-horrors-boarding-schools-160867

‘Punched in the Gut’: Uncovering the Horrors of Boarding Schools Read about the president of the Boarding School Healing Coalition's journey of learning untold secrets from boarding school survivors.

For those who have been waiting for the current issue of Oregon Coast Magazine---I found it at the Bi-Mart store on Royal Ave in Eugene last night so it should b available in several Oregon locations.

It's always exciting when people "Like" this page as it lets me know that they're interested in one or more of the issues and life events that I love to share with my readers. Four more joined this week! Thank you!