Prayer service Monday, funeral Tuesday for Chester Cayou; had deep roots in the San Juan Islands

Chester Cayou, a long-time Swinomish leader whose family ties to the San Juan Islands dated back centuries, has died. Mr. Cayou, who was of Lummi, Mitchell Bay and Saanich ancestry, died Friday at his Swinomish home. He was in his 80s and had been in declining health since suffering a stroke.

August 30, 2010 12:24 am
From right
From right

This version corrects the location of the funeral service in the third paragraph

Chester Cayou, a long-time Swinomish leader whose family ties to the San Juan Islands dated back centuries, has died.

Mr. Cayou, who was of Lummi, Mitchell Bay and Saanich ancestry, died Friday at his Swinomish home. He was in his 80s and had been in declining health since suffering a stroke.

Prayer service is Monday, 7 p.m. in the Swinomish Gymnasium; funeral is Tuesday, 10 a.m., in the La Conner High School gymnasium. Pallbearers will include Swinomish Senator Leon John, Tulalip Chairman Mel Sheldon, and Tulalip Councilman Glen Gobin.

Mr. Cayou was the son of General Scott Cayou and Sara Jack. His grandfather, Louis Cayou, was one of the first non-Native settlers of Orcas Island. His uncle, Henry Cayou, was one of the islands’ most successful fishermen, served on the San Juan County Commission and ran for state Legislature.

Mr. Cayou grew up on Stuart Island with his Chevalier relatives, attended a residential school on Kuper Island, reef-netted in the San Juans, sacked lime at Roche Harbor, and served as an Army paratrooper in Europe during World War II.

After military service, he fished, worked in a shake mill, built campsites and trails for Thousand Trails, maintained state parks in the area, and planted trees on the Swinomish reservation, where he and his late wife, the former Velma Stone, made their home and raised their family.

Although he experienced the abuses of the residential school system and, as an Army soldier, witnessed the brutality of war, he became widely known for his teachings to young people about the importance of loving, caring and sharing with one another. He often shared those teachings when he greeted canoe families to Swinomish during the annual Canoe Journey. Swinomish will host the 2011 Canoe Journey and the theme is “Loving, Caring and Sharing Together,” in honor of Mr. Cayou and his teachings. Mr. Cayou’s granddaughter, Aurelia Washington, is 2011 Canoe Journey chairwoman.

In March 2009, he was unopposed for a sixth five-year term on the Swinomish Senate (at Swinomish, the council is known as the Senate). As a senator, Mr. Cayou served on the Senate Budget Committee, Fish and Game Commission, Law and Order Committee, Personnel Committee and the Veterans/Cemetery Committee.

“I wish to further my position with the Swinomish community as a Swinomish senator,” Mr. Cayou said in a Swinomish magazine during his last campaign for reelection. “I have served on the Senate for 25 years and have participated in achieving great accomplishments for our tribe. I feel that my experience and knowledge will continue to support the improvements for our community for our future generations to come.”

Even after his stroke kept him from regularly attending meetings, Swinomish leaders consulted him regarding issues of the day.

At a dinner Sunday in the Swinomish gymnasium, Mr. Cayou was remembered for his sense of humor, his cultural work in the region, and his tireless work in Swinomish government. Because of his cultural knowledge, varied experiences, and knowledge of the region’s indigenous history, he was often sought out by researchers and writers. He shared information about the region’s marine health for an award-winning documentary, “March Point.”

As of 2009, Mr. Cayou had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. One of his children, Sophie Bailey, is also a senator.