12 • THURSDAY, October 28, 2010 • TRIBAL NEWS • puyalluptribalnews.net
Tribe mourns loss of two of its members Donald Matheson
McKenzie “Mac” Alexander Turnipseed
Oct. 14, 1924 – Oct. 18, 2010
Oct. 31, 1947 – Oct. 14, 2010
By Matt Nagle mnagle@puyalluptribalnews.net Donald Matheson, Puyallup tribal member, was a man of many talents – tribal elder, former tribal chairman, fishing rights activist, author, visionary, family man – the list reveals a full life well lived. He was the nicest and most unassuming man you could ever hope to meet – humble, yet a hero in how he spent his years for the betterment of all people. Donald always had great stories to tell about his life, stories that reflect the development of our country and that of the American Indian, particularly those of the Puyallup Tribe. At the top of Donald’s accomplishments was his war record at home and abroad. Overseas he dodged bullets to keep America free. Here at home he dodged bullets as well, of sorts, in his lifelong efforts to improve the lives of his own Native people to make them free. He attended grade school in Fife, graduated from Fife High School and played on the junior high and high school football teams. Donald was athletic as a young man, and played baseball on the Fife Reds team in his youth. He was drafted into the front lines of the Army during World War II and served from 1943-1946. He was ordered to fight with the 103rd Regimental Combat Team against the Japanese in the Philippines where he participated in one of the most heralded battles of the Philippines campaign, the battle for Ipo Dam. During the battle, several grenades exploded right where he was holed up, just seconds before he left the post to assist a comrade under heavy fire. And again while on patrol he came under direct fire from a machine gunner. Five bullets hit his body and all of them were blocked by his equipment, lodging into ammunition clips and a knife he was carrying. When the battle for Ipo Dam ended, the Japanese forces were decimated and Don was decorated for bravery along with his fellow soldiers in the regiment under the recommendation of their commander. Toward the end of his tour of duty, the 103rd Regimental Combat Team sent Donald to school where he excelled in electronics. He learned Morse code and worked on radios and operated a switchboard in Tokyo. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Once he returned to the states he continued his education, earning a bachelors degree in music from the University of Puget Sound. Donald worked at Boeing for 18 years as an engineer until he was swept up in the company’s massive layoffs during the 1960s. It was during these years that he turned his full attention to his Tribe, which was on the brink of resurgence as it stood up for its fishing rights. Donald, with Reuben and Frank Wright, were the first to fish in violation of the state’s ban on gill net fishing. With other Puyallup and Nisqually leaders, Donald helped form the Survival of the American Indian Association of which he was president and his wife, Pauline, was secretary. The association organized demonstrations, raised legal fees to bail Native fishermen out of jail and helped to keep the issue in the public’s eye. Donald also helped form a group called The Renegades with his brother Joe Matheson, his sons Paul and David, and his nephew Charlie Cantrell. The Renegades put on dances at local reservations to raise bail money for jailed Tribal fishermen. In 1979 Donald retired from the Puyallup Tribal Council and in 1980 he moved to Worley, Idaho where he lived out the rest of his life. He passed his knowledge on to his kin as he could. He knew a wealth of traditional Native dances, songs and ceremonies. He had great respect for the power of these, spending a lot of time with tribal elders to find out why they sang these songs and danced these dances, and what it all meant. He received training from other tribes as well – the Iroquois, Sioux, Navaho and Hopi, to name a few. He possessed extensive knowledge of so many subjects and cultures, both white and Indian, and had a deep interest in spiritual mysticism, which fueled his writings. A recognized healer and spiritual leader for the Tribe, he wrote three books on prophesies, with “Native Light: The Road to the Right,” published by Xlibris (www.xlibris.com), being his latest.
By Matt Nagle mnagle@puyalluptribalnews.net McKenzie “Mac” Alexander Turnipseed passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Arizona on Oct. 14. A respected member of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and a true family man, Mac made many friends and business allies in the Tacoma area, and around the country, during his 63 years. He will be greatly missed by those who knew his friendly smile, love for life and constant willingness to help anyone in need. That’s the kind of man Mac was – if he couldn’t give someone money to help them out, he’d give them a job so they could earn their way and feel better about themselves. Mac was a very spiritual man, not religious, and he “walked his talk” every day – a leader and inspiration to his co-workers and family by being an example of compassion and kindness. At work he treated his staff like family such that his employees stayed working for him year after year, some for decades. He enjoyed taking them to baseball and football games and often threw parties just to do something nice for them. “Mac Daddy,” as many called him, loved fast motorcycles, beautiful women and a good cigar. He was an avid motorcycle rider and built exotic Harley-Davidsons for which he won awards for his designs. He started a motorcycle group called The Daves and went to biker rallies like Sturgis every year. He loved the freedom of being able to jump on his bike and just go. Riding was a feeling for him; it made him at one with nature to be on the road with no car to enclose him, feeling the wind on his face. Mac loved the outdoors, and played a serious game of golf. He was most at peace at his house on the lake in Lakewood, where he threw memorable 4th of July parties. Halloween was especially fun for Mac, being that Oct. 31 was also his birthday, and he’d celebrate with friends at home and at work. Mac was held dear by the closely-knit Turnipseed family. He loved his mother, Bertha Turnipseed, with all his heart, and made taking care of her his top priority. After leaving the Air Force in the mid-1970s, Mac went home to help his family with their commercial fishing business, which was under attack during the infamous Fish Wars of the ‘70s. Mac stood by his people during these more turbulent days for the Puyallup Tribe, and got involved in a lot of Indian political fights over the years, whether it was gaming, whiskey, gambling, fireworks or fishing. He ran several times for Tribal Council and his participation in the election made for some very tight races. Mac was dedicated to community service, and worked closely with his mom Bertha, owner of the successful B.J.’s Bingo in Fife, which Mac helped build from the ground up. Always on the lookout for ways to give back to the community, Mac took great pride in helping his mom distribute free winter coats to area school children, courtesy of B.J.’s Bingo “Coats for Kids” program. He used to say he would buy brand new shoes for every child in school if he could figure out a way to do it. He was a key organizer of the bingo hall’s annual post-holiday food drive, to restock local food bank shelves depleted during Thanksgiving/Christmas. He did Toys for Tots every year as well because he believed every child should have a toy at Christmastime. Mac was born on Oct. 31, 1947 to Bertha Jane and Pernelle Raymond Turnipseed. He is survived by his mother Bertha, son Patrick, daughter Shawn Lynn and grandchildren Benjamin, Brittney and Nichole. Other members of his family include brothers Michael, David, Conrad, his sister Connie, their spouses and many nieces and nephews. He was laid to rest on Oct. 21 following services at the New Horizon Christian Center in Fife (5600 Valley Ave. E.) at 11 a.m. As Mac was a cancer survivor and gave to cancer charities, those who may wish to make a donation in Mac’s name should do so to a cancer charity of their choice.