Thursday, July 21, 2005
Maintenance Man
At a Veterans Day dance I attended many years ago on the Lummi Indian Reservation, I remember asking my hosts who the silver-haired dancer with the Stars & Stripes breechcloth was. "Smitty Hillaire," they remarked. "He's behind almost everything good that happens here, always helping people who try to accomplish something for the well-being of the tribe. He's rarely in the spotlight, but if you ask almost anyone who is, they'll say they owe a debt of gratitude to Smitty for keeping everyone's spirits up when they got discouraged. He helps keep us together."
