Agnes Baker Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Agnes Emma Baker-Pilgrim is a Native American
spiritual elder
from Grants Pass, Oregon
. She is the oldest member of her tribe, the Takelma
. She is also the Granddaughter of the first elected Chief of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
- Jack Harney. Through her work as an indigenous elder stateswoman, Agnes gained international recognition as the Elected
Chairperson of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
Grandma Aggie, as she is affectionately known, has had a rich and varied working life ranging from working for the Indian Health Service
as a physician's Assistant, an alcohol and Drug Counselor
, a Scrub Nurse, a Logger
, a Singer, a Bouncer
, a Barber
in a Jail
and a Stock Car Racing Driver.
Thrice married, Agnes had three daughters and three sons. Agnes also has eighteen Grandchildren, twenty seven Great Grandchildren and a Great Great Great Grandchild.
In 1982 Agnes was seriously ill with cancer
. Agnes claims that she asked the Creator
to let her live as she had lots of friends and family who relied on her, and that, she had a lot left to do in the world. Ever since that time she has had a transformation and gravitated to a very spiritual type of life - even though Agnes admits to have initially being reluctant to travel her spiritual path as she doubted her worthiness for this task. However, since vowing to heal mother earth and sacred places, she has earned her position as Spiritual Elder and fulfilled her vow through many contributions.
tribe, as well as many other Western Oregon Indian tribes, to welcome and bless
the returning salmon
each year. However, for 140 years, due to the loss of traditional ways because so many Takelma
had died on the reservations, the ceremony was not continued. In 1994, to revive the ceremony, Agnes and her late husband Grant Pilgrim, brought back the ceremony
. Due to Agnes' contribution in reviving the ancient ceremony, Agnes is known as the 'Keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony'
A great deal of interest has since been shown by the National Geographic magazine
and the World Wildlife Fund and Martha Stewart
due to the unprecedented increase in salmon seen in the river since the ceremony has been performed.
The ceremony is annually held on the bank of the Applegate River
in Southwest Oregon
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world. Agnes is the oldest of the Grandmothers and was elected
as the council's Chairperson
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
and related edict
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' when new lands had been discovered. The Grandmothers visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees have still yet to be revoked.
Agnes considers the International Council of 13 Grandmothers not to have come together by accident, coming at the eleventh hour to be "a voice for the voiceless."
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
spiritual elder
American Indian elder
In American Indian education, within each tribe elders, "are repositories of cultural and philosophical knowledge and are the transmitters of such information," including, "basic beliefs and teachings, encouraging...faith in the Great Spirit, the Creator"...
from Grants Pass, Oregon
Grants Pass, Oregon
-Rogue River:The Rogue River runs through Grants Pass.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,003 people, 9,376 households, and 5,925 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,885 housing units at an average density of 1,303.3 per square mile . By 2008,...
. She is the oldest member of her tribe, the Takelma
Takelma
The Takelma were a Native American people that lived in the Rogue Valley of interior southwest Oregon, with most of their villages sited along the Rogue River. The name Takelma means Along the River.-History:...
. She is also the Granddaughter of the first elected Chief of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Confederated Tribes of Siletz
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in the United States is a federally recognized confederation of 27 Native American tribal bands that once inhabited a range from northern California to southwest Washington.-Tribes:...
- Jack Harney. Through her work as an indigenous elder stateswoman, Agnes gained international recognition as the Elected
Elected
Elected is the latest EP by Dutch Progressive metal project Ayreon. It was released on April 25, 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and on April 28 in the rest of Europe...
Chairperson of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
- a group of spiritual elders, medicine women
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
and wisdom keepers since its founding in 2004.
Personal life
Agnes was born on September 11, 1924 having been delivered by Elizabeth Juliana Tole Harney, Agnes' grandmother who was a midwife. Her family were poor in the depression and survived with no electricity.Grandma Aggie, as she is affectionately known, has had a rich and varied working life ranging from working for the Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service is an Operating Division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . IHS is responsible for providing medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives...
as a physician's Assistant, an alcohol and Drug Counselor
Intervention (counseling)
An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one, or often many, people to get someone to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis, or other serious problem. The term intervention is most often used when the traumatic event involves addiction to drugs...
, a Scrub Nurse, a Logger
Lumberjack
A lumberjack is a worker in the logging industry who performs the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees principally from virgin forest...
, a Singer, a Bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
, a Barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
in a Jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
and a Stock Car Racing Driver.
Thrice married, Agnes had three daughters and three sons. Agnes also has eighteen Grandchildren, twenty seven Great Grandchildren and a Great Great Great Grandchild.
In 1982 Agnes was seriously ill with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Agnes claims that she asked the Creator
Great Spirit
The Great Spirit, also called Wakan Tanka among the Sioux, the Creator or the Great Maker in English, and Gitchi Manitou in Algonquian, is a conception of a supreme being prevalent among some Native American and First Nations cultures...
to let her live as she had lots of friends and family who relied on her, and that, she had a lot left to do in the world. Ever since that time she has had a transformation and gravitated to a very spiritual type of life - even though Agnes admits to have initially being reluctant to travel her spiritual path as she doubted her worthiness for this task. However, since vowing to heal mother earth and sacred places, she has earned her position as Spiritual Elder and fulfilled her vow through many contributions.
Sacred Salmon Ceremony
An ancient ceremony was held by the TakelmaTakelma
The Takelma were a Native American people that lived in the Rogue Valley of interior southwest Oregon, with most of their villages sited along the Rogue River. The name Takelma means Along the River.-History:...
tribe, as well as many other Western Oregon Indian tribes, to welcome and bless
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
the returning salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
each year. However, for 140 years, due to the loss of traditional ways because so many Takelma
Takelma
The Takelma were a Native American people that lived in the Rogue Valley of interior southwest Oregon, with most of their villages sited along the Rogue River. The name Takelma means Along the River.-History:...
had died on the reservations, the ceremony was not continued. In 1994, to revive the ceremony, Agnes and her late husband Grant Pilgrim, brought back the ceremony
Ceremony
A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin.-Ceremonial occasions:A ceremony may mark a rite of passage in a human life, marking the significance of, for example:* birth...
. Due to Agnes' contribution in reviving the ancient ceremony, Agnes is known as the 'Keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony'
A great deal of interest has since been shown by the National Geographic magazine
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
and the World Wildlife Fund and Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
due to the unprecedented increase in salmon seen in the river since the ceremony has been performed.
The ceremony is annually held on the bank of the Applegate River
Applegate River
The Applegate River is a long tributary of the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon. It drains approximately . Rising in northern California, it soon crosses the border and flows northeast then northwest to meet the Rogue about west of Grants Pass...
in Southwest Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
Konanway Nika Tillicum (All My Relations) Youth Academy
While studying psychology and Native American studies at Southern Oregon University at the age of 50, Agnes co-founded the Konanway Nika Tillicum (All My Relations) Youth Academy.The International Council of 13 Grandmothers
In 2004, Agnes was approached by The Center for Sacred Studies to serve on the International Council of 13 Indigenous GrandmothersInternational Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is a group of Spiritual Elders who came together in 2004 to form an international alliance of indigenous female elders...
. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world. Agnes is the oldest of the Grandmothers and was elected
Elected
Elected is the latest EP by Dutch Progressive metal project Ayreon. It was released on April 25, 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and on April 28 in the rest of Europe...
as the council's Chairperson
The Council has been active in protecting indigenous rights and medicines, promoting ancient wisdom. The Grandmothers have also petitioned the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to revoke a 15th Century Papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
and related edict
Edict
An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are currently the only persons who still issue edicts.-Notable edicts:...
s which brought about a culture of 'rape and run' when new lands had been discovered. The Grandmothers visited the Vatican City in order to hand-deliver their request. However, these medieval decrees have still yet to be revoked.
Agnes considers the International Council of 13 Grandmothers not to have come together by accident, coming at the eleventh hour to be "a voice for the voiceless."
External links
- Agnes' Official website
- International Council of 13 of Indigenous Grandmothers Official Website
- "Grandma Aggie" interviewed on Conversations from Penn State
- Official website for documentary
- Konanway Nika Tillicum (All My Relations) Youth Academy
- For The Next Seven Generations Film Trailer
- The Center for Sacred Studies
- Turtle Island Storyteller, Grandmother Agnes talks about water
- Conversations from Penn State - Interview with Grandmother Agnes
- Statement of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers
- Future Primitive interview with Agnes