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Dot said the transplant is a “drastic, high-risk” surgery, but if something isn’t done the outlook for the next year “isn’t good.”
Dot ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎤᏂᏁᏟᏴᏍᏗ ᎾᎿ “ᎤᎶᏒᏍᏗ, ᎤᏦᏍᏗ” ᎠᏥᏰᎸᏍᏗ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎾᏛᏁᎸᎾ ᏱᎩ ᏫᏓᎧᏃᏗ ᏑᏕᏘᏴᏓ “Ꮭ ᎣᏍᏓ ᏱᎩ.”
“If they can’t find a match soon enough, they said if he ended up in the hospital, they’d medical transport him up there and they have the machines called ECMO’s (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) that basically can breathe and help his heart pump until they can find a match,” she said.
“ᎢᏳᏃ ᏄᏂᏩᏛᏓ ᏱᎩ ᎤᏠᏯ ᏗᏙᎵᎦ, ᎠᎾᏗᏍᎬ ᏧᏂᏢᎩ ᎤᏂᏴᏗ, ᏅᏬᏘ ᎬᏗ ᏯᏂᏴᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏚᏂᎭ ECMO’S (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) ᏧᏙᎩᏓ ᎾᎿ ᎬᏩᏬᎳᏕᏍᏙᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ ᎤᎾᏫ ᎦᏌᏙᏯᏍᎩ ᎨᎳ ᎠᏂᏩᏗᏍᎬ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
Now, Robert said, they’re waiting for the call and trying to prepare for recovery after the surgery.
ᏃᏊ, Robert ᎠᏗᏍᎬ, ᎠᏂᎦᏘᏯ ᏂᏓᏳᎾᏟᏃᎮᏗ ᎠᎾᏛᏅᎢᏍᏗᏍᎪ ᎤᏗᏫᏍᎬ ᎤᏂᏰᎳᎸᎢ.
“You’ll be in the hospital for at least two months after the surgery then back and forth,” he said.
“ᏧᏂᏢᎩ ᎠᏯᎡᏍᏗ ᏔᎵᎭ ᎢᏅᏓ ᎠᏥᏰᏝᎶᏅ ᎠᎴ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎡᏙᎯ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
Dot said the hospital has advised them to save $20,000, which includes the jet price, boarding and any other things they may need while in Cleveland.
Dot ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏧᏂᏢᎩ ᎤᏂᏃᎯᏎᎸ ᎾᎿ ᏧᎾᎵᏏᏅᏙᏗ ᏔᎵᏍᎪ ᏯᎦᏴᎵ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏠᏯᏍᏗ ᎾᎿ jet ᎤᏣᏅ ᏧᎬᏩᎶᏗ, ᏩᏂᏁᎸᏃ ᎠᎴ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᏓ ᎤᏂᏂᎬᎬ ᎾᎿ ᏩᏁᎲ ClevelandᏂ.
“Our insurance will cover up to $10,000 so that means we’ve got 10 more to get.
“ᎣᎩᎾᏚᏓᎸ ᏍᎪᎯ ᏯᎦᏴᎵ ᏲᎩᏂᎩᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏍᎪᎯ ᏯᎦᏴᎵ Ꮟ ᏦᎩᏂᏩᏛᏗ.
We’ll do whatever we have to do,” she said.
ᎢᎦᏲᎩᎾᏛᏗ ᏃᏍᏓᏛᏁ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“If it gets to the point where we have to start selling the house, the cars and everything else to keep him alive that’s what we do.
“ᎢᏳᏃ ᎣᏍᏗᏁᎸ ᎣᎩᏂᎾᏗᏅᏓ ᏱᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᏗᎦᏚᎴᏂ ᏱᎩ ᎠᎴ ᏂᎦᏓ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᏓ ᎾᎿ ᎤᏗᏫᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᏃᏍᏓᏛᎦ.
Then you don’t have anything to come back to so that’s kind of hard, too.”
ᏝᏃ ᎪᏇᏍᏗ ᏱᎦᏍᏗᎭ ᎣᎩᏂᎷᎯᏍᏗᎢ.”
She said after the surgery Robert would be on medications before being weaned off some of them.
ᎠᏥᏰᎳᎶᏅ Robert ᏃᏊ ᏅᏬᏘ ᎤᏙᏗ ᏱᎩ ᏝᎦ ᎤᏍᎦᏃᎵᏃ ᎠᎦᏲᏝᏍᏗ ᏅᏬᏘ ᎬᏗᏍᎨᏍᏗ.
“We’re going to have a medication expense between $350 and $400 a month.
“ᏅᏬᏘᏃ ᏓᎵᎬᏩᏢᏍᎬ 300 ᎠᎴ 400 ᏏᏅᏓ ᎨᏒᎢ.
He’ll gradually get off some of them, but it’s not like we don’t have a pretty big hurdle in front of us, but you have to take the hurdle,” she said.
ᏙᎢᏃ ᎦᏱᏅᏓ ᎢᎦᏓ Ꮭ ᏩᏙᏙᏗ ᏱᎨᏎᏍᏗ, ᏙᎯᏃ ᎤᎪᏗ ᏃᎩᎾᎵᏍᏓᏁ ᎠᏎᏃ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏲᎩᎾᏛᏗ.” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
Robert said he’s been on the transplant list since 2006 but because his health has been better than others he hasn’t had to be moved up until recently.
Robert ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎠᎦᏘᏴ ᏧᏂᏁᏗ ᏗᎧᏬᎳᏕᏍᏙᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎤᎾᏫ 2006 ᏂᏛᎬᏓᎴᏂᏍᎩ ᎣᏏᏊᏃ ᎨᏐ ᏏᏃ ᎠᏂᏐᎢ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎢᎬᏩᏍᏗ ᎠᎦᏘᏯ.
“I had a heart attack in 2005, and that day I forced myself to work.
“ᎠᏆᏓᏅᏛ ᎠᎧᎾᏪᎷᏅ ᎾᎿ 2005 ᏥᎨᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎾᎯᏳ ᎢᎪᎯ ᏍᏓᏯ ᏓᎩᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎸ.
I thought I had a sinus infection.
ᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬ ᎤᏴᏢ ᎠᎩᏂᏱᏍᎬ ᎨᎵᏍᎬ.
Well, kept getting worse and I was going to the bathroom and I couldn’t walk down the hallway.
ᎠᏎᏃ, ᎠᎩᏣᏙᎬ ᏙᏱ ᎤᏁᏓᏍᏗ ᎨᎵᏍᎬ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎩᏄᎸᎲᏍᎬ ᎦᎳᏅᏛ ᏩᎩᎶᎯᏍᏗᎢ.
So we went to Claremore Indian Hospital and they sent me to Hillcrest (Medical Center), and Hillcrest is the one that told me in 2005 I had a heart attack,” he said.
ᎦᎴᎼ ᎣᎩᏁᏅᏒ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᏧᏂᏢᎩ ᎠᎴ Hillcrest ᏂᎬᏮᏔᏅᎢ ᏧᏂᏢᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᎿ ᎬᎩᏃᎯᏎᎸ 2005 ᎤᏕᏘᏴᏌᏗᏒ ᎠᏆᏅᏛ ᎠᎧᎾᏪᎷᏅᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“In 2006 I was on the list. This is how long I’ve been waiting.
“ᎾᎿ 2006 ᏂᏧᎦᏘᏲ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎾᎪᎯᎸ ᏂᏥᎦᏘᏲᎢ.
They ain’t going to give you organs if you’re doing as good as...me. I can still walk a little ways.
ᏝᏃ ᏱᏗᎬᎾᏓᎲᏏ ᎣᏏ ᏱᏅᏛᏁ ᏧᎾᏆᏍᏗᏓ….. ᏏᏃ ᎢᏴᏓ ᎦᏂᎩᏍᎪ.
Take my own shower.
ᎠᏋᏌ ᎦᏓᏬᏍᎪ.
You’re not going to do the surgery unless something absolutely major happens.”
ᏝᏃ ᏱᎬᎾᏓᏰᎳᎩ ᎬᎿ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏳᎵᏍᏔᏂᏙᎵ.”
Jackson said later when he visited Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis he was informed that he would also need a double-lung transplant.
Jackson ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎣᏂ ᏚᏩᏛᎯᏙᎵ Barnes—Jewish ᏧᏂᏢᎩ ᎾᎿ St.Louis ᎬᏩᏃᎯᏎᎸᏃ ᎤᏂᎬᎬ ᎢᏧᎳ ᏗᎧᏬᎳᏕᏍᏙᏗ .
“It seems like every year I go down and down further and further.
“ᏄᏫᏍᏙᎢ ᏏᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏳᎶᏏ ᏩᎦᏙᎢ ᎡᎳᏓ ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
I came in the house the other night and I couldn’t hardly walk,” he said.
ᎠᎩᏴᏟᏢ ᎦᎵᏦᏕ ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᏄᏒ ᏥᎨᏒ ᎠᎴ ᏎᎦᏨ ᎦᎢᏒ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“People don’t understand when you can’t breathe how much your body hurts.”
“ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ Ꮭ ᏯᏃᎵᎪ ᏲᏄᎸᎲᏍᎬ ᎧᏬᎳᏕᏍᏗ ᎢᎦ ᎣᏪᎯᏍᏓᏁᎲ ᎥᏰᎸᎢ.”
Robert said he tries not to dwell on his conditions but live life the “best” he can.
Robert ᎠᏗᏍᎬ Ꮭ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎢᎦ ᏯᏓᏅᏖᏍᎪᎢ ᏄᎵᏍᏓᏁᎲᎢ ᎠᏎᏃ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎰ “ᏫᏓᏤᏢ” ᎢᎬᏩᏛᏗ ᎨᏒ ᎾᏛᏁᎰᎢ.
“If I want to go to Pryor and get an ice cream cone I will,” he said.
“ᎢᏳᏃ ᏯᏆᏚᎵ ᎠᏇᏅᏍᏗ ᎧᏩᏲᎢ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏅᏓ ᎦᏁᏍᏓᎳᏗᏍᏔᏅ ᏯᏆᏚᎸᎯ ᏫᏥᎩᏍᎪᎢ, ᎠᏗᏍᎬ.
“I don’t say that I don’t think about it, I do, but I don’t do it all the time.
“ᏝᏃ ᏂᎦᏓᏅᏖᏍᎬᎾ ᏱᎦᎦᏓ, ᏂᎦᏛᏁᎰᎢ, ᏝᏍᎩᏂ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᏂᎦᏛᏁᎰᎢ.
I don’t let it ruin my life because if you did that you’re going to live in misery.”
ᏝᏃ ᏯᏆᎵᏍᎪᎸᏔᏃ ᎡᏍᎦ ᏯᏮᏁᏗᎢ ᎬᏅᎢ ᏂᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᎢ ᎥᏍᎩ ᏱᎾᏛᏁᎳ ᏂᏓᏤᏢᎾ ᏲᏓᏅᏔ.”
Ice passes on loom weaving knowledge
Ice passes on loom weaving knowledge
Ice, of Briggs, became an employee of the Sequoyah Indian Weavers in the 1940s when she was 15 years old.
Ice Z, ᎠᏥᎾ ᏗᏡᎬᎢ ᎡᎯ, ᏧᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎯ ᏄᎵᏍᏔᏅᎢ ᎥᎿ ᏏᏉᏯ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ ᏗᏅᏍᎩ 1940s ᏂᏛᏓᎴᏂᏍᎩ 15 ᎢᏳᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏥᎨᏒᎢ.
She became interested in weaving after watching weaver Lucille Hair.
Lucille Hair Ꮓ ᎤᎦᏙᏍᏛᎢ ᏕᎬᏍᎬᎢ ᎾᎯᏳᏃ ᎤᏚᎸᎲᎢ ᎤᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ.
After a time, her curiosity brought her back to watch the loom weavers.
ᎤᏬᎯᏍᏔᏅᏃ, ᎤᎦᏛᏓᏁᎲᏃ ᎢᎤᎷᏨᎢ ᏧᎦᏙᏍᏙᏗᎢ ᏗᏅᏍᎩ.
Bill Ames, a man from New York who ran the SIW, approached Ice and asked if she would like to learn.
Bill Ames, ᏄᏯᎩ ᏂᏓᏳᎶᏒᎢ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎤᏂᎩᏍᏗᏗᏒᎢ SIW, ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎤᎷᏤᎸᎢ Ice ᎠᎴ ᎠᎦᏛᏛᏅᎢ ᎢᏳ ᏳᏚᎵᎠ ᎤᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ.
She did not hesitate and was employed that day.
ᎥᏝᏃ ᏳᏬᎯᏕᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎾᎯᏳ ᎢᎪᎯ ᎠᏥᎾᏢᏅᎢ.
Her first woven piece was a blanket.
ᎢᎬᏱᏃ ᏗᎿᏬᏍᏙᏗ ᎤᏬᏢᏅᎢ.
“I just loved it when I first started.
“ᎠᎩᎸᏉᏔᏅᎢ ᎾᎯᏳᎢ ᎠᏆᎴᏅᎯ.
What got me interested, mostly, was (I) just got in there and started.
ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏃ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᎩᎬᏛᏅᎢ, ᏭᎪᏛᎢ, ᎠᏆᎴᏅᎲᏊ.
I didn’t have to ask any questions,” Ice said.
ᎥᏝ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎠᏆᏛᏗ ᏱᎨᏎᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ Ice.
She said loom weaving consists of using a wooden loom, stringing or threading a warp and using shuttles on the loom to create a design.
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎢᎧᏃᎮᏍᎬᎢ ᏓᏅᏍᎬᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎬᏙᏗ ᎠᏓ ᎪᏢᏅᏔᏅᎢ ᏗᎫᏣᏛᏗᎢ, ᏛᏏᎳᏛᏍᎬᎢ ᎠᎴᏱᎩ ᎥᎬᏗᏍᎬᎢ ᏥᏳ ᎥᎿ ᏓᏏᎳᏛᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏗᏟᎶᏍᏙᏗᎢ.
Ice said she only uses four designs when weaving.
ᎢᎧᏃᎮᏍᎬᏃ Ice ᎾᏍᎩ ᏅᎩᏊ ᏱᎦᎢ ᏗᎬᏟᎶᏍᏙᏗ ᏕᎬᏍᎬᎢ.
“I use plain weave, hit and miss, herring bone and diamond.
“ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏂᏓᏟᎶᏍᏛᎾ ᏂᎬᏁᎰᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᏧᏓᏅᏛᎢ, ᏧᎾᎶᎢᏓ ᎠᎴ ᏅᎩ ᏧᏅᏏᏯ.
That’s all I do,” she said.
ᎥᏍᎩᏭ ᏂᎦᎣᎢ ᏂᎦᏛᏁᎰᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
Ice said SIW employees were paid by “piece work.” Once an item was completed John Ketcher, of the Sequoyah Vocational School and former Tribal Councilor, inspected it.
Ice ᎢᎧᏃᎮᏍᎬᎢ SIW ᏧᏂᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎯ ᎨᎦᏈᏴᎡᎲᎢ “ᎪᏢᏅᏗᎢ” ᏳᏂᏍᏆᏓᏃ John Ketcher, ᎥᎿ ᏏᏉᏲᎢ ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᎴ ᏗᎦᎳᏫᎩ ᎢᏳᎵᏍᏔᏅᎢ, ᎠᎪᎵᏰᏍᎬᎢ.
He was able to spot a flaw instantly, and if it was not good, the weaver had to re-create the piece.
ᎩᎳᏊᏃ ᎢᏴᎢ ᏯᏕᎶᎰᎯ ᎨᏒ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏳᏍᏗ, ᎠᎴ ᏚᏳᎪᏛᏃ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ ᏱᎩ, ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏗᎬᏍᎩ ᎢᎤᏬᏝᎯᏐᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ.
Once items passed inspected, they were shipped to New York to be sold.
ᎾᏊᏃ ᎣᏍᏓ ᏱᎬᏁᎸᎢ ᏱᎩ, ᏄᏯᎩᎢ ᏗᏜ ᏱᎾᏅᏂᏗ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎥᎿᏃ ᎢᏴᎢ ᏫᏓᏂᎾᏕᎬᎢ.
She said at the time, along with the Briggs weaving hall, there were weaving halls ran by Ames in Bull Hollow, Peavine and Jay.
ᎢᎧᏃᎮᏍᎬᎢᏃ ᎾᎯᏳᎢ ᏥᎨᏒᎢ, ᎠᏥᏃᎢ ᏗᏡᎬᎢ ᏗᏅᏍᎩ, ᎯᎸᏍᎩᏃ ᏂᏚᏓᎴ ᏕᎪᏢᏒᎢ ᎥᎿ Bull Hollow, Peavine ᎠᎴ ᏜᏱᎪᎢ.
Ice worked for the Briggs SIW until 1960 and again in 1964 until it was shut down because of robberies and a lack of weaving material.
Ice Z ᎥᎿ ᎠᏥᏃᎢ ᏗᏡᎬᎢ SIW ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎸᎢ 1960 ᎤᏕᏘᏴᏌᏗᏒᎢ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏏᏉ 1964 ᏩᏂᏍᏚᎲᏍᎬᎢ ᏱᎪᎯᏓ ᏂᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗᎭ ᎠᏂᏌᎲᏍᎬᎢ ᎠᎴ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎬᏔᏂᏓᏍᏗ ᎧᏂᎬᎬᎢ.
She continued to loom weave on her own and only created made-to-order items.
ᎠᏎᏃ ᏂᎬᎯᎵᏐᎢ ᏕᎬᏍᎬᎢ ᎤᏩᏌᏊ ᎠᎴ ᎬᏂᏳᏃ ᎩᎶᎢ ᏳᏔᏲᏟ ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᎾᎯᏳᏃ ᎪᏢᏍᎪᎢ.
She said loom weaving remains the same as the art form has not evolved much from the time she started.
ᎢᎧᏃᎮᏍᎬᏃ ᏓᏅᏍᎬᎢ ᎠᏏᏉ ᎤᏠᏱᏊ ᎥᏝ ᎥᏍᎩ ᏱᎦᎢ ᎤᏓᏁᏟᏴᏓ ᏱᎩ ᎾᎯᏳᎢ ᏗᎬᏩᏓᎴᏅᎢ.
I would like to pass it on, and all I want to hear from them (students) is ‘I learned this from so and so, and I taught so and so.’
ᏯᏆᏚᎳ ᎩᎶ ᏥᏰᏲᏗ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᏆᏚᎵᏍᎪᎢ ᎠᏆᏛᎪᏗᎢ Ꮎ (ᏗᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᎩ) ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏥᏕᎶᏆᎡᎸᎢ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ Ꮎ ᏥᏰᏲᏅᎢ.”
That’s all I want to hear from them.
ᎥᏍᎩᏊ ᏱᎦᎢ ᏯᏆᏚᎳ ᎠᏆᏛᎪᏗᎢ ᎥᏍᎩ ᎾᏂᏪᏍᎬᎢ.
I just want to pass it on.
ᎠᏆᏚᎵᎠ ᏗᎦᏥᏰᏲᏗᎢ.
I don’t want it to die,” Ice said.
ᎥᏝ ᏯᏆᏚᎵᎠ ᎤᏂᏲᎱᏎᏗᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ Ice.
“If they want to learn and I know it, and I am able to teach them, I would like to teach them.
“ᎢᏳᏃ ᏳᎾᏚᎵᎠ ᎤᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᎴ Ꮓ ᏯᏆᏂᏔ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩᏊ ᏱᏕᎦᏥᏰᏲᎲᎦ, ᏯᏆᏚᎳ ᏗᎦᏥᏰᏲᏗᎢ.
I think it would be important for them to learn all of the traditions so that they can survive if hard times come.”
ᏂᎨᎵᏍᎬᏃ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏗᏳ ᎤᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᎦᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎬᏩᏂᎦᏛᎴᎢᏍᏗᎢ ᎨᏎᏍᏗ ᎢᎸᎯᏳᎢ.”
As a UKB citizen, she also received that tribe’s Tradition Keeper Award for loom weaving in 2014.
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ UKB ᎨᎳ ᏥᎩ, ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎠᏂᏍᏓᏢᎢ ᎢᏳᎾᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᎢ ᎠᎾᎵᏏᏅᏗᏍᎩ ᎠᎾᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗᏍᎬᎢ ᎤᏂᏁᎸᎢ ᎠᏓᏁᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏕᎬᏍᎬᎢ ᎢᏳᏰᏟᏗ ᎾᎯᏳᎢ ᏥᎨᏒᎢ 2014.
She also worked for Briggs Schools for many years as a teacher’s assistant and bus driver.
ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏥᎾ ᏗᏡᎬᎢ ᏧᎾᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗᎢ ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᏁᎸᎢ ᎯᎸᏍᎩ ᎢᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ ᎠᏍᏕᎵᏍᎩ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏂᏲᏟ ᏓᏯᏅᎯᏙᎯ ᎠᎯᎵᏙᎯ.
In her spare time, she likes to clog dance at the senior citizens center in Tahlequah.
ᎪᎱᏍᏗ ᏄᏓᎴᎢ ᎤᏛᏅᏗ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ ᏱᎩ, ᎤᎸᏉᏗᏃ ᏗᎴᏅᎢ ᎤᎵᏍᎩᏍᏗᎢ ᎥᎿ ᎤᎾᏓᏂᎵᎨᎢ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎤᏁᏓᏍᏗᎢ ᏗᎪᏢᏒᎢ ᎥᎿ ᏓᎵᏆ.
Chance finds passion in creating soap
Chance finds passion in creating soap
“I was trying to figure out how to put medicinal herbs into something that the average person can use and so I came up with soap.
“ᎦᏁᎶᏗᏍᎬ ᎠᎩᏩᏛᏗ ᎠᏉᏢᏙᏗ ᎯᎠ ᎢᎾᎨ ᎤᏛᏒᏅ ᎾᎿ ᏴᏫ ᎤᏅᏙᏗ ᎠᎴ ᎣᏟ ᎠᏉᏢᏗᎢ.
(I) started making soap using herbs that are good for skin healing from like Native cultures, that’s how I came up with the company name Indigenous,” she said.
ᎠᏯ ᎠᏆᎴᏅᎲ ᎪᏢᏍᎬ ᎣᏟ ᎬᏗᏍᎬ ᎤᏛᏒᏅ ᎾᎿ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎢᎬᏁᎯ ᎣᏁᎦᎸ ᏂᏓᏳᏓᎴᏅ ᎠᏁᎲ ᎤᏃᎯᏳᏒ ᏄᏍᏛ ᎠᏁᎲ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᏂᏓᏳᎵᏍᏙᏓᏅ ᎯᎠ ᎦᏅᏙᏗ ᏕᏥᏲᎥ ᏁᎰᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“Everybody’s got to use soap so the average person is now incorporating medicinal herbs into their daily routine, which is pretty awesome.”
“ᎾᏂᎥ ᎤᏅᏔᏅ ᎯᎠ ᎣᏟ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏃᏊ ᎤᏩᏙᏢᏅ ᏅᏬᏘ ᎤᎬᏩᏟ ᎾᎿ ᏂᎪᎯᎸ ᎨᏒ, ᎾᎿ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎠᏌᎻ.”
Chance said her soap is made locally in Kaimuki, which is a neighborhood in Honolulu.
Chance ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎤᏬᏢᏅ ᎣᏟ ᎾᎿ Kaimuki, ᎾᏍᎩ ᎾᎥ ᎢᏳᎾᏓᎵ Honolula.
She said there are no chemicals, fragrances or aesthetic colors in the soap, which makes it healthier for skin.
ᎠᏍᏗᎬ Ꮭ ᏧᏓᎴᏅᏓ ᏗᎵᏍᏔᏅ ᏱᎩ, ᎤᎦᎾᏍᏗ ᎦᏩᏒᎩ ᎠᎴ ᏧᏬᏚᎯ ᏧᎵᏑᏫᏓ ᎾᎿ ᎣᏟᎢ., ᎾᏍᎩ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎢᎬᏁᎯ ᎾᎿ ᎣᏁᎦᎸᎢ.
“Sometimes when people buy soap the first thing they do is smell it, and if it’s a fragrance or it’s a chemical that you’re smelling; it’s already not good for you.
“ᎢᏴᏓᎭ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᎤᏂᏩᏍᎪ ᎣC ᎢᎬᏱ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎾᎾᏛᏁᎲ ᎠᎾᎵᏒᏍᏗᏍᎪ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎦᏩᏒᎬ ᏃᎴ ᎠᏑᏯᎾᎢ ᎾᎿ ᏱᏣᏩᏒᎩ; ᎦᏳᎳ Ꮭ ᎣᏍᏓ ᏱᎨᏐ ᏨᏙᏗᎢ.
You’re just poisoning yourself already,” she said.
ᎡᏍᎦ ᎿᏓᏛᏁ ᏨᏌ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“Ours are made from plants and plant oil.
“ᏦᎩᎭ ᎪᏢᏔᏅ ᎤᏛᏒᏅ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏛᏒᏅ ᎪᎢ ᎤᏓᏁᏅ.
So even the essential oil that you smell, it’s healing through your olfactories so when you smell them I think the body intuitively knows which one you should use for your body because plants and people resonate with each other.”
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎪᎢ ᏥᏣᏩᏒᎪ, ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏓᏅᏫᏍᎩ ᏂᏓᏳᏓᎴᏅ ᎾᎿ ᏤᎲᎢ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᏣᏩᏒᏥ ᎨᎵᏍᎪ ᎯᏰᎸ ᎤᏅᏙ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏨᏙᏗ ᎯᏰᎸ ᏅᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎤᏛᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᏓᎾᏙᎵᎪᎢ.”
She said her best selling soap is ‘Aina, which was inspired by Hawaii.
ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎣᏍᏗ ᎦᎾᏕᎬ ᎣᏟ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎯᎠ ‘Aina, ᎠᎢᎾ, ᎾᏍᎩ Hawaii ᎤᏂᎸᏉᏔᏅᎯ.
“We usually…put it on any skin irritations, and it helps obstruct any impurities from the skin or helps to heal,” she said.
“ᎢᏴᏓᎭ…..ᎣᏥᏅᎵᏰᏍᎪ ᏱᏚᏇᏃᏘᏏ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᏕᎵᏍᎪ ᏣᏁᎦᎸ ᎤᏗᏫᏍᏗᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“That one is kind of a lighter soap and people with eczema and psoriasis they love that.
“ᎾᏍᎩᎾ ᏌᏊ ᎢᏳᏓᎴ ᎦᏌᎦᎯᎨ ᎣᏟ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏂᏴᏫ ᎾᎿ eczema ᎠᎴ psoriasis ᎢᏳᎾᎵᏍᏓᏁᎯ ᎠᏂᎸᏉᏗᏍᎪ ᎯᎠ.
It’s actually our best selling soap.
ᎾᏍᎩᎾ ᏙᎯᏳ ᎤᎪᏛ ᎣᏥᎾᏕᎪᎢ.
We’ve been in business for 13 years, and every month it’s our best selling soap.”
ᎣᎦᏓᎾᏂ ᏦᎦᏚ ᎾᏕᏘᏯ ᎦᏲᎦᎴᏅᏓ, ᎠᎴ ᏏᏅᏓ ᏂᏕᎦᎵᏍᏔᏁᎬ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏭᎪᏛ ᎣᏥᎾᏕᎪ ᎣᏟ.”
Chance said when creating the soaps, purified Hawaiian water, sodium hydroxide and vegan fats are mixed together then the company goes through an extra step that sets them apart from other soaps.
Chance ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᎿ ᏳᏬᏢᎾ ᎣᏟ, ᎠᎵᏢᏗᏍᎪ Hawaiian ᎠᏑ, ᏐᏗᏯᎻ hydroxide ᎠᎴ ᎤᎳᏦᎯᏓ ᏂᎦᏓ ᏗᎵᏍᏔᏅ ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏱᏄᏅᏁᎳ ᏃᏊ ᏓᏂᎲᏍᎪ ᏓᏂᏟᏏᏍᎪ ᎾᏃ ᏗᏐᎢ ᎣᏟ ᎨᏒ.
“After you mix those together a typical bar of soap can be made.
“ᏃᏊᏃ ᏂᎦᏓ ᏱᏓᎵᏍᏔᏂ ᎡᎵᏊ ᎣᏟ ᎪᏢᏗ ᎨᏐᎢ.
So (can) anything you find commercially, but we go the next step, and it’s called super fatting and after the soap is blended the reaction has already happened called saponification.
ᎾᏍᎩᏍᏊ ᏂᎦᎥ ᎤᏂᎿᎥᎢ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᎯᎠ ᏃᏣᏛᏁᎰ, ᎠᎴ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏂᏪᏎᎰ ᎤᎪᏓ ᎤᎵᏦᎯᏓ ᎠᎴ ᎣᏂ ᎣᏟ ᎣᏍᏓ ᎠᏑᏰᏓ ᎾᎿ ᏂᎦᎵᏍᏗᏍᎪ ᎯᎠ ᎾᏂᏪᏎᎰ saponification.
It’s when the water, sodium hydroxide and fat mixed together,” she said.
ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏑ, ᏐᏗᏯᎻ hydroxide ᎠᎴ ᎤᎳᏦᎯᏓ ᏗᎵᏍᏔᏅ ᏂᎦᏓ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬ.
“After the saponification process happens we add the healing herbs and oil.
“ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎢᎬᏁᎶᏅ ᎾᎿᏃ ᎣᏥᏢᏍᎪ ᎠᏓᏅᏫᏍᎩ ᎤᏛᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎪᎢ.
So those actually end up staying on the skin.
ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏱᎬᏔᏂ ᎣᏁᎦᎸ ᎤᏓᏅᎵᏰᎣᎢ.
It’s not a whole lot that stays on the skin because you wash it away but there’s a trace amount that stays on the skin.”
ᏝᏃ ᎤᎪᏓ ᏱᎨᏐ ᏱᏓᏑᎴᎯ ᎠᏓᏅᎦᎵᏍᎪ ᎦᏲᏟ ᎤᏓᏅᎵᏰᎣ ᎣᏁᎦᎸᎢ.”
Chance said Indigenous is “organic” with its ingredients and how the business is ran.
Chance ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᏁᎰ ᎾᏍᎩ “ᎤᏛᏒ” ᎾᏍᎩᎾ ᎠᎾᏑᏴᏍᎪ ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎠᏂᎾᏕᎪᎢ.
“We grow organically.
“ᎤᏩᏌ ᎤᏛᏒᎢ.
For 13 years I have just grown by my means.
ᏦᎦᏚ ᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᏙᎦᏛᏏ.
We don’t spend money on advertisement.
Ꮭ ᎠᏕᎳ ᏲᏨᏗᏍᎪ ᏙᏥᏃᏣᎸᏍᎬ.
We donate $400 worth of soap every month to people all over,” she said.
ᎣᏣᎵᏍᎪᎸᏗᏍᎪ 400.ᎠᏕᎸ ᏧᎬᏩᎶᏗ ᎣᏟ ᏏᏅᏓ ᏂᏕᎦᎵᏍᏔᏁᎬ ᎾᎿ ᏴᏫ ᏂᎬ ᎠᏁᎲᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ.
“It’s kind of like an organic business in a way on all levels.”
“ᎾᏍᎩᏯ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎤᏩᏌ ᎤᏛᏒ ᎣᏥᎾᏕᎪ ᏂᎦᏓ ᎨᏒᎢ.”
She added the soaps are sold online and in about 150 stores in Hawaii and about 12 stores in the rest of the United States.
ᏃᎴᏍᏊ ᎤᏃᎮᏢ ᎾᎿ ᎣᏟ ᎠᏂᎾᏕᎪ ᎠᏏᎳᏕᏫᏒ ᎠᎴ ᏯᏛᎾ 150 ᏓᏓᎾᏅ ᎾᎿ Hawaii ᎠᎴ ᏔᎳᏚ ᎢᎦ ᏓᏓᎾᏅ ᎠᎹᏰᏟ ᎨᏒᎢ.
She said ISC only sells seven types of soaps with a few different types made during the holidays.
ᎠᏗᏍᎬᎢ ISC ᎦᎾᏕᎪ ᎦᎵᏉᎩ ᎢᏳᏓᎴ ᎣᏟ ᎠᎴ ᏄᏓᎴ ᏂᏓᏅᏁᎰ ᎾᎿ holiday ᏱᏚᏟᎵᎶᏟ.
She said a standard bar of soap is five ounces, costs $8.50, is designed to fit in your hand and can be used for 30 showers.
ᏌᏊ ᎣᏟ ᎯᏍᎩ ounce ᎨᏐᎢ, ᏚᎬᏩᎶᏛ 8.50, ᎠᏎᎸ ᏦᏰᏂ ᎤᏠᎯᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᏦᏍᎪᎯ ᎢᏳᏩᎪᏗ ᎬᏙᏗ.
She said there is also a one-ounce mini soap that is $3.
ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᏍᎩᏊ ᎤᏂᎭ ᏌᏊ ounce ᎤᏍᏗ ᎣᏟ ᎾᎿ 3.00 ᏧᎬᏩᎶᏗ.
Chance said the philosophy for the business is “we are all indigenous.”
Chance ᎠᏗᏍᎬ ᎾᎿ ᎢᎦᏪᏍᏗ ᎣᎦᏓᎾᏅ ᎾᎿ “ᏂᎦᏓ ᏂᏕᎰᎢ.”
“Every single person has a culture and so once you start connecting back to whatever your culture is, life has so much more of a purpose,” she said.
“ᏂᎦᏓ ᎢᏗᏏᏴᏫᎭ ᎢᎩᎭ ᏱᎦᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ ᎠᎴ ᏯᎴᏅᎯ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᎾᏛᏁᎵ, ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲ ᎤᎪᏙ ᏧᎬᏩᎵᏗᏯ ᎨᏐᎢ,” ᎠᏗᏍᎬ.
“Everyday you wake up and you have so much more of a purpose, and so I guess that’s the philosophy behind Indigenous is we are all indigenous.”
“ᏧᏙᏓᏋᏓ ᏯᏱᏥ ᎢᎩᎰ ᎤᎪᏓ ᎠᏛᏗ, ᎠᎴ ᎾᏍᎩᎠᏎ ᎢᎦᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗ ᎢᎩᎲ ᎾᏗᎦᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏂᎦᏍᏗ.”
For more information, visit www.indigenousoap.com
ᎤᎪᏛ ᎠᏕᎶᎯᏍᏗ ᏲᏚᎵ, visit www.indigenoussoap/.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled:
ᎡᏥᎸᏉᏗᏳ ᏗᏕᏚᎿᎢ ᏗᏥᎳᏫᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᎡᏥᎸᏉᏗᏳ ᎢᏥᎦᏴᎵᎨᎢ ᏩᏥᏂ ᎾᏅᎾᏛ ᎨᏥᏁᏤᎸᎯ ᏗᏥᎳᏫᏦᏅᎯ, ᎢᏣᏛᎪᏗ, ᎯᎠ ᎪᏪᎵ ᏫᏨᏅᎥᏏ.
Circumstances of late occurrence have troubled our hearts, and induced us at this time to appeal to you, knowing that you are generous and just.
ᎰᏍᎩᏂ ᎥᏝ ᏱᎪᎯᎩ ᎤᏓᎴᏅᎲ, ᏰᎵ ᎤᏓᏅᏖᏗᏳ ᏃᎦᎵᏍᏓᏁᎭ, ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᎢᏣᏓᏙᎨᏣᏘᏳ ᎣᏥᎦᏔᎲ, ᎿᏉ ᏗᏥᏅ ᏬᏣᎦᏔᎲᏍᏓ, ᎢᏨᏯᏓᎪᎵᏍᏓᏏ.
As weak and poor children are accustomed to look to their guardians and patrons for protection, so we would come and make our grievances known.
ᎤᏂᏦᏍᎩᏂ ᎢᏳᎾᏛᎿᏕᎩ, ᎠᎴ ᏗᏂᏩᎾᎦᎳᏉ ᏗᏂᏲᎵ ᏣᎾᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗᏍᎪ ᎢᏳᏍᏗ ᏃᏣᏛᏁᎵᎦ.
Will you listen to us?
ᏓᏍᎩᏯᏛᏓᏍᏓᏁᎵᏧ?
Will you have pity upon us?
ᏓᏍᎩᏯᏙᎵᏥᏧ?