Taken home...

Louise Martin is no longer with us.

Today her funeral will be held at the Kalispel Tribe of Indians Community Hall.

I didn't know Louise well but what I knew of her stands imprinted on my heart.

I first met Louise at pow wow several years ago. During our initial introduction, she made an instant, memorable impression. A respected and beloved tribal elder, the expressions of delight on her face that day, as the fancy dancers danced and the stick games grew in intensity, remains burned in my mind. Unrestrained joy and happiness are the only words I can think of to describe that expression. It's also still difficult to fully convey that initial sense, an instinctive and powerful one I felt, that I was in the presence of a woman whose ready smile and open friendliness was a mere snapshot of the giant wealth of humanity before me. A portrait all wrapped up in the smallest, most delightful package.

Throughout the tribe, and in the local community, Louise was known for her infectious welcoming, her generosity, and yes, even her love of patronizing one of the tribe's gems, the Northern Quest Casino. The casino, located down in Airway Heights, Washington, is a favorite hang out among tribal members, the elders, and residents of Pend Oreille County. Both first nation members and locals socialize, enjoy delicious food, and take advantage of a full service entertainment facility offering many different options for those so inclined to enjoy Kalispel hospitality. Although nearly 70 miles off the rez, Northern Quest stands proudly as the tribe's well run and successful winning ticket.

Casino revenues have lifted the Kalispel's from impoverished times toward prosperity. Mindful of history though, the tribe is always giving back to the greater local community, remembering that poverty is never limited in its poison. If anyone in the community suffers, all suffer. As a result, since opening the Casino, the Kalispel's have kept local non tribal school districts afloat, given donations to area non rez projects, and the Kalispel's are widely regarded throughout Pend Oreille County as among the best neighbors anyone could want. This is a unique story in Indian Country and its one that doesn't get told that often. I think that is why today is somewhat sad for me, because I will miss Louise and knowing that I won't see her again, is a loss that makes everything seem just a bit different. Louise truly represented the tribe's endless heart.

I've witnessed many occasions where I have seen the tribe's heart on display. At the community 4th of July Celebrations, at pow wow, and in other examples of generosity, the tribe is striving to lead through their open arms. The same was true of Louise, who on another occasion, gifted us with a memory I won't ever forget. After my initial pow wow introduction to her, we ran into Louise several months later.

One cold snowy winter night, my friend Lane and I were at the Northern Quest Casino, trying our hand at Lady Luck. Lane wasn't doing so well. He'd been out 21'd at Blackjack, out flushed at poker, and so far, Texas Tea, Battleship, and the Yhatze slot machines weren't doing him much better.

After loosing several hundred credits in one spin, on yet another machine, Lane looked at me disgustedly and said "Tim, I've had it with this machine. Let's find another one."

We began touring the casino, walking down aisles of gaming machines, listening to a wide variety of winning jackpots, spinning dances with chance, and other symphonies dedicated to all things trying your luck. That's when we spied Louise, playing her hand at "Little Green Men". "Little Green Men" is a slot machine designed around UFO invasions and alien abductions, and the game offers several bonus rounds a player can achieve, with various choices that are wickedly amusing for players to win. Louise was doing ok on her machine, but as we sat down next to her, we became the center of her attention. Her wide, welcoming grin was ours to claim, and we basked in her affection. She was genuinely glad to see us and she and Lane struck up an easy, animated conversation.

As Lane began playing his "Little Green Men" machine, with each of his spins, Louise encouraged him. Still the luck thing just wasn't happening. Much to Louise's amusement, Lane tried kissing the machine. Lane prayed over the machine. He begged. Even I did a little dance in the aisle to try to summon Lady Luck. But after progressive spin after progressive spin, it seemed obvious that lady luck was preoccupied with other gamblers elsewhere in the Casino. Yet Louise never gave up on us. With each spin, she led our cheering section.

Finally, as funds dwindled, Lane looked at Louise and begged, "Louise would you please bless our machine. Please?"

A huge, glowing smile was her response. The small elderly woman slowly leaned over Lane's machine, and gently and deliberately her fingers traced a pattern over the screen. She whispered words that neither of us understood, and then when she'd finished, she leaned back, somewhat shyly and grinned. Nodding at Lane, she signaled that indeed our machine was now blessed by none other than one of the tribe's elders.

Lane turned and looking at me, he smiled. "Alrightly then! Come on big money. Please. Give some lovin to Lane J..." He rubbed his hands together as if preparing to devour a delicious feast.

With an exaggerated flurry of his wrists, he hit max bet. Everything was on the line. Louise leaned toward us. I hunched down closer to the screen. Our hearts raced with anticipation and excitement. Lane hit the spin button and then held his hands up to his mouth.

We waited as the screen danced and various symbols appeared. No one was breathing. This was it. Lane was gonna hit the jackpot, the big time, and he would dance and scream and carry on in the aisle. I could visualize the whole scene. Happy days are here again.

In one fell swoop Lady Luck raced by and claimed everything.

Stunned, we sat there, the three of us, staring, near lifeless. Nothing remained. All of Lane's credits were gone. Louise shook her head as if this just couldn't be. Lane remained frozen, his unbelieving gaze refusing to acknowledge that with just one spin, he had done so much damage to his finances.

Louise turned back to her machine and hit spin.

Nothing.

Recovering, Lane stood up and looking down at Louise, smiled. He bent over and gave her a hug. She shrugged, smiling, all the joy returning and dancing in her eyes. "Next time Lane. Next time we'll have better luck. Next time." She reassured him.

We nodded.

We left Louise, and slowly walked down the aisle toward the casino exit. I turned one last time and saw her there, she still playing "Little Green Men" under the flashing lights of the Casino. As we made our way out into the cold winter night and the spitting flurries in the parking lot, I did not know there wouldn't be a next time. Even now it seems a bit hard to accept. Because in my mind I will always associate the Northern Quest Casino and Pow Wow with Louise Martin. Although Lane and me have returned, sometimes winning with a big "Wahoo", other times losing with an "aw shit!", we never shared another tribal blessing with Louise. Regardless of our fortunes, I will always see Louise in my mind when I think of such things, a small joyous woman whose face danced with life, whose eyes twinkled like the brightest stars and who with so much generosity, blessed us in ways that at the time we could not fully comprehend. Indeed her memory blesses us still.

We will miss you Louise.

To read another story about Lane, click here:
http://www.highmountainranch.com/TalesFromtheRoad/changinglanes.html