The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/23/08 Section: News

Nick Faas, left, was a senior in philosophy and descendant of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

He is remembered for being a young man filled with energy and spirit, a dancer who sang, loved and lived dancing.

Nicholas Larry-Lee Faas, a senior in philosophy at Oregon State University, passed away in a motor vehicle accident last week.

Yesterday, memorial services were held for Faas in a tribal ceremony in Grande Ronde, collaborated by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

The love, friendship and compassion that Faas gave to those who knew him was honored at the ceremony. "Nick wasn't officially a tribal member, because he was one generation too far removed," said Jacob La Plante, a close friend of Faas and a senior in sociology.

Faas is a descendant of the Petite family and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "The elders of the tribes got together and made a traditional cedar grave-marker for Nick, and they haven't done that for anyone - period. It is a huge honor," LaPlante said.

Cedar is one of the most valuable and usable materials in Northwest coastal tradition. Carving cedar was a hobby for Faas that he shared with his grandfather.

"The effort and craftsmanship would have deeply moved Nick," said Molly Matthews. Matthews is a director at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for the Youth Education Program, with which Faas interned.

"There was a beautifully touching, traditional burial song and chant, and in the silence when it was done, it was as if a weight had lifted," said Katherine Allen, a senior in pre-construction engineering and a close friend of Faas.

During his involvement with the Confederated Tribes, Faas became involved with the Grand Ronde/Chinook Canoe Family, and made an annual six-day tribal canoe journey to the Muckleshoot Tribe in Auburn, Wash.

Members of his "canoe family" shared traditional canoe songs with the mourners.

Faas' fearlessness and loyalty to others was a part of his daily life. "He was flat-out willing to do whatever to make people smile," La Plante said.

La Plante told of a time when he was dared to jump in the Pacific Ocean at 1 a.m.

"It was freezing - middle of January, Oregon Coast freezing - and I didn't want to do it," La Plante said. "But Nick said, 'C'mon, dude. I'll do it with you!' and we just jumped. He didn't have to be asked to do anything."

Continued...

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