Governor's Heritage Award - Andrew George

Andrew Joseph George of Brownstown, Yakama Indian Reservation, was a treasure trove of Palouse and Nez Perce traditions. George knew the history of his Palouse and Nez Perce ancestors, including the tribe’s songs and stories. When George was a child the U.S. Army relocated him to the Nez Perce Reservation. Living on the reservation surrounded George with traditional Native people, who taught him the songs, spiritual beliefs and practices, and epic stories of their ancestors. For much of his adult life, George traveled to Native communities around the Northwest to share his knowledge of anapukstwa, the lore of the ancient ones. George also shared this knowledge with non-Native peoples and was a source for information in several books about Plateau Indian culture. George saw himself as a peacemaker between young and old, between Native peoples of different tribes, and between Natives and non-Natives. George was extremely valued by his community and passed away in 1989.