|
|
Article: CIVILIZATION `BACKFIRED,' SAYS 100-YEAR-OLD NEZ PERCE.(News)
- Article from:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Article date:
- July 21, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Thomas Peterson turned 100 Friday, and as the oldest member of the Nez Perce Indian tribe, it was time for celebration and a little reflection.
On Saturday, friends and family members from throughout the West gathered at Chief Leschi High School here, bearing food, gifts and best wishes.
For Native Americans, centenarians are especially a treasure, a link to traditions and an otherwise inaccessible past.
But Peterson, who has lived the past 20 years in Tacoma, plays down the significance of his birthday. The celebration wasn't his idea.
``The children, they started that,'' he said. Peterson's hearing has faded and he's a little ...