Inchelium Reflections: Kopsland history, and a young boy learning from the Sinixt

My mother was only 3 months old when she, her 2 sisters and parents first moved into the old Inchelium area in the late summer of 1920. When my Grandparents Ole and Ora Kopsland relocated near the old Inchelium area, with them was my Grandpa’s brother Fred Kopsland and their 3 daughters, Carman, Virginia and my mother Barbara Kopsland.

Arriving at the Colombia River, in August of 1920, my Grandpa Kopsland and his brother constructed a raft that would allow them to cross the river and settle near old Inchelium.

Ole and Ora Kopsland continued to live in old Inchelium and later in new Inchelium until 1958. After selling the “O K Store” and their adjoining house they relocated to a small manufactured house located about a half mile west of the O K Store location.

My mother, Barbara Kopsland Johnson graduated from the Inchelium High School in 1937, but just before that she and my dad were married in 1936. Now living in New Inchelium my sister Sharon was born in May of 1939 and I was born in 1940. During these years my dad, (Sam Johnson) operated his own truck line, operating between Inchelium and Spokane. Our family subsequently moved to Oregon in late December of 1949, when I was in the middle of the 3rd grade.

Spending time with the Elders

During my initial years going to school in Inchelium, after starting the First Grade in the spring of 1946, I continued to attend the Second Grade and then after starting the Third Grade there in Inchelium in 1948 we subsequently moved to Oregon in January of 1949. During all the years living in Inchelium our little house was the small green house that was located just off the road to Twin Lakes and about 200 yards west of the O K Store.

It was during these 3 years that several times the Tribe Elders would come to my Grandfather’s O K Store and hold what could be called “Teaching Sessions” with the young boys who lived in our little town of Inchelium.

As I remember these “Teaching Sessions”, they always took place in what we call the “Back Area” of Grandpa’s store. In this same area was a Pot-Belly type stove where the Elders would set up their chairs and we boys would be sitting on the floor at their feet. I’m sure that due mostly my age; I remembered these sessions listening to the Elders more as them telling us stories and not so much as a teaching event.

These times spent with the Elders (“The long Hairs”) would normally occur 2 or 3 times a year and only the local boys living within Inchelium and I would attend. As I remember these sessions, the Elders would talk to us for 4 or 5 hours each time and I learned much later, that these sessions were totally conducted in the Sinixt language.

Ron T. Johnson, the grandson of the late Ole Kopsland, lived in Inchelium until age 9, before moving away. If you'd like to contribute an "Inchelium reflection," please contact IncheliumHistory.com at inchelium@gmail.com!