By Puyallup Tribal News Staff.
A Puyallup Tribal Member 55 years of age and older is recognized as the Honored Elder as part of the monthly Elders Luncheon.
Puyallup Tribal Member Dennis LaPointe was recognized as September’s Honored Elder on Sept. 18. He received a cedar hat from Elders Wellness Center Executive Director Vernetta Miller and was blanketed by Puyallup Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Anna Bean and Councilman Fred Dillon.
Each Honored Elder is recorded, describing their life experiences. The following is LaPointe’s story in his own words.
Dennis LaPointe
“I feel that the Tribe is doing some good things and doing things for some of the Elders. I think it’s a good thing.
“I knew I was coming here today, and I wondering what the heck I’m going to say, but I thought about it. The truth is, I lived here all my life except for two years in the military. So, 70 years I’ve been in Tacoma. And that’s with probably within a five-mile, maybe 10-mile radius. It’s been where I’ve lived all my life, and I did two years in the Marine Corps, ‘72 to ‘74.
“I came home and did my tour and got out. And I came home and I tried a few schools. It didn’t work for me. And then I found that, I went to the Tribe and asked for a job, and I got a job from some of the administrators here. I have 28 years, actually, with the Tribe. I had 10 years at our Fisheries Department and 12 years at Chinook Landing Marina. I managed that, six years as a shellfish monitor.
“I wanted to tell my children, since this is going down. I love them, and they saved me. As a young man, I was not doing so good. But I had my kids, and they got me straight. I have three. One has passed already.
“I don’t know how many (grandkids) I have. I have two great-grandchildren I haven’t even met yet. I had a son from a woman in Montana, and it didn’t work, but I think he was in his late 30s when he contacted me. But he passed, he’s already gone.
“Yes, Jamie (daughter), she is a court administrator for the Tribe. And I have my son, Dennis Jr., and I have my daughter, Desiree. She may make it. I’m not so sure, but she said she would.
“I wanted to probably say things about my fishing experience. I didn’t go on to the river until about ‘76. I enjoyed it because, well, first it was monetary reward at the end of the day, but most of it, people look out for each other. They actually look out for each other down there, and it’s only an annual thing. So, I enjoy seeing my friends again, having haven’t seen them for a few months. That’s always good.
“But I really wanted to say that I’ve worked for the Tribe for 28 years. Fisheries, the Marina and the Shellfish Department. And they’ve always treated me good, the Puyallup Tribe. So, I retired from there and I’m looking for a home again.
“When somebody comes around to history or able to look at it, I have some beautiful family and I love them all. And my other family is the Puyallup Tribe, who’s helped me for many, many years. I have an entire family right there.”
