| Agnes Baker Pilgrim | |
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Agnes (with friend)
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| Tribe | Takelma, Confederated Tribes of Siletz |
| Born | September 11, 1924 Lodgson, Oregon |
| Native name | Taowhywee (or Morningstar) |
| Nickname(s) | Grandma Aggie |
| Known for | Chairperson of International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. Agnes brought back the 'Salmon Ceremony' to Oregon after 150 years. |
| Education | Taft High School (Lincoln City, Oregon); Southern Oregon State College. |
| Spouse(s) | Grant Pilgrim |
| Parents | George Wentworth Baker, Eveline Lydia Harney Baker |
| Relatives | George Harney (Grandfather & first elected chief of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz) |
Agnes Emma Baker-Pilgrim is a Native American spiritual elder from Grants Pass, Oregon.[1] She is the oldest member of her tribe, the Takelma.[2] She is also the Granddaughter of the first elected Chief of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz - Jack Harney.[3] 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.[4]
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Agnes was born on September 11, 1924[5] having been delivered by Elizabeth Juliana Tole Harney, Agnes' grandmother who was a midwife.[6] Her family were poor in the depression and survived with no electricity.[7]
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.[8]
Thrice married, Agnes had three daughters and three sons. Agnes also has eighteen Grandchildren, twenty seven Great Grandchildren and a Great Great Great Grandchild.[9]
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.[10] 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.[11]
An ancient ceremony was held by the Takelma tribe, as well as many other Western Oregon Indian tribes, to welcome and bless the returning salmon each year.[12] 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.[13] In 1994, to revive the ceremony, Agnes and her late husband Grant Pilgrim, brought back the ceremony.[14] Due to Agnes' contribution in reviving the ancient ceremony, Agnes is known as the 'Keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony' [15]
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.[16]
The ceremony is annually held on the bank of the Applegate River in Southwest Oregon[17]
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.[18]
In 2004, Agnes was approached by The Center for Sacred Studies to serve on the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. These thirteen Grandmothers are internationally known Keepers of Wisdom, Medicine Women and Shaman and come from all four directions of the world.[19] Agnes is the oldest of the Grandmothers and was elected as the council's Chairperson[20]
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 edicts 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.[21]
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."[22]