Thomas MorningOwl (Pilot Rock) is a cornhusk weaver, drum maker, and traditional dancer. He has spent his life learning those traditional Umatilla skills as well as healing arts and language skills.
Bio
Thomas MorningOwl (Umatilla/Blackfeet) resides in Pilot Rock and had a very traditional upbringing. His grandmother spoke only Umatilla, Yakama, and Nez Perce—never English. He has spent his life learning traditional skills such as cornhusk weaving, drum making, healing arts, dance, and language skills. He learned the traditional ways in the traditional manner: whenever he wanted something, he was told that he had to do it or make it himself. There was advice along the way, but it was his responsibility to accomplish his goal. As a result, MorningOwl is well-versed in innumerable traditions and took part in the Oregon Folklife Program’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. MorningOwl, who practices the Washat religion, teaches the Umatilla language and also speaks some Nez Perce and Walla Walla. He is also a drum maker, and makes sewn-on and laced drums. He prefers the former, which involves sewing deer hide onto the drum frame. This is a more labor-intensive process but it results in a longer-lasting drum. MorningOwl also knows many of the old traditional dances specific to the local tribes. He explains that these rarely danced “folk dances” include the bear, cougar, eel, butterfly, eagle dances. MorningOwl, who was raised in the old style, calls himself a “professor of Indian things.” He says “It’s very hard to be an Indian,” and notes “Art is everything—it is all around us.”
