Rep. Denham honors Jazz@8, Me-Wuk tribe

Summerville High School’s Jazz@8 choir and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians were recognized Thursday for their contributions to the Capitol Christmas Tree event with Congressional Record Statements.

The official accounts of Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, were made at the Dec. 19 session of Congress to speaker of the House John Boehner and described each group’s efforts and contributions.

Denham visited Summerville High School on Thursday and spent nearly an hour with students, thanking them and praising their performances at the lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, at the White House and at the Library of Congress.

Afterward, he had lunch at the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Administration building.

The day was part of Denham’s overall effort to thank those involved in the Capitol Christmas Tree project, according to his communications director, Allie Brandenburger. For 2011, the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree was selected from the Stanislaus National Forest.

Denham also presented the Jazz@8 Choir with a signed photo of them with Denham at the tree lighting ceremony.
“You guys did such a great job,” Denham told students. “You represented us with distinction. It was a huge honor for me to have you all there.”

Denham said he heard positive remarks from fellow politicians, including Boehner and President Barack Obama.

“It puts us on the map,” Denham said, explaining most people think of California in terms of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“You guys stood out with distinction. Getting to perform at the White House and Library of Congress, that does not happen often,” Denham said.

Senior and Jazz@8 member Max Kohl thanked Denham for the opportunity to go to Washington D.C.

“It was the best part of high school. It was the greatest time I ever had,” Kohl said.

Denham engaged in numerous questions with students ranging from his stance on Internet piracy laws, the removal of troops in Afghanistan, his favorite songs, books and football teams, the climate between Democrats and Republicans and the GOP race.

Following his trip to the high school, Denham and his district director Bob Rucker visited the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Rancheria to thank the group who harvested, blessed and traveled with the Capitol Tree all the way to Washington.
Since 1970, when the tradition began, 2011 is only the fourth time California has been selected to send a tree to the Capitol.

The Me-Wuks blessed the tree before it was harvested and laid it in a cradle without breaking a branch in frigid 17-degree weather, the Congressional Record given to the tribe said.

The tribe also harvested and blessed their own tree, a 20 foot tall White Spruce, handpicked by the tribal elders to donate to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

It is the first time a Native American tribe from California has donated a tree to the museum, the Congressional Record said.

The tribe also sent members to dance in the Library of Congress.

“Their performance marks the first time that a Native American tribe has danced in the historic building,” the record said.

Denham also gave special recognition to tribal governmental affairs specialist Reba Fuller, “who worked tirelessly on the project and traveled with the tree until it was properly placed.”

It is the first Congressional Record the tribe has received, Fuller said.“

It was an honor,” Fuller said. “I cannot say enough about Congressman Denham.”

Fuller said Thursday that Denham listened to tribal members’ comments and concerns.

“He stepped forward with a positive attitude and listened to the people for a change,” Fuller said.

Without him, the dancers would not have had such an opportunity, she said.

“He was open minded and to us, he went the extra mile,” Fuller said.