Restoration of the Spirit – The Klamath Tribes

Songs are an integral piece of identity for the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Paiute people of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Traditional song is a form of art that guides the community’s way of life from the time tribal members are brought into the world until they leave this earth and begin the next walk. Like many other Native Nations across the continent, the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Paiute people (known collectively as The Klamath Tribes) have experienced colonial and historical traumas. These experiences have threatened the existence of this crucial art form to the point that it is important, now more than ever, for these songs to be saved and shared before they disappear forever. The Restoration of the Spirit project aims to teach traditional song knowledge with the community. In doing so, the project will continue a process of restoring these songs into the everyday lifestyles of Klamath, Modoc, and Paiute people, particularly the youth, so that the songs may be preserved for generations to come.