Clifford Allen Sr., (aka Seelupaauyeen) passed away peacefully in his home Sunday, June 30, 2019. He was 84.
Clifford was born in 1934 with a midwife near Spalding Church. His parents were Mark Allen Sr., and Irene Wilkinson. His paternal grandparents were Johnny Tah-os-wah-tos Allen and Emma He-mon-tah-lote Allen. His maternal grandparents were Amos Wilkson and Mary Nelson Morris. Clifford had 11 brothers and sisters. He was a descendant of Seelupaauyeen, a warrior from the 1800s, and obtained permission to claim the name as his own to show honor for the family.
Clifford completed his sophomore year at Culdesac High School before being asked to help on the family farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1952. He was a paratrooper and stationed with the 82nd Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged in 1955 having obtained the rank of corporal. Cliff worked at logging, farming, truck driving, road construction and heavy equipment operating. He worked on Dworshak and Lower Granite dams and all dikes surrounding Lewiston.
In 1970 he was appointed to the Idaho State Human Rights Commission by then Gov. Cecil Andrus. He was proudly elected as a permanent elder to Spalding Church in 1974. He served on NPTEC in 1976 and also taught federal treaties at Lewis-Clark State College and lectured at local public schools and universities. His life was about serving his people and he served as chairman for various committees including the TERO commission, the Fish and Wildlife committee and on the JOM (Johnson-O’Malley Program) at the Lapwai School District. He was chairman of the Columbia Basin Fishery Alliance and served as adviser to the Pacific Marine Fisheries.
Clifford, collaborating with then-attorney Mary Linda Pearson, drafted the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission regulations and bylaws that are still guiding the river tribes to this day. A proud moment was when he served as adviser to the U.S. on the U.S./Canadian treaty negotiations including the water rights of the Columbia River.
He was preceded in death by brothers Mathias Chick Allen, Francis Jeep Allen, Phillip G. Allen, John Allen, Cyrus Stewart Allen and Nelson Allen; sisters Viola Allen Corbett, Elizabeth Allen, Elsie McKay and Delphine Rose. Clifford is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sylvia Shillal Allen as well as 12 children, 44 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Clifford married Attilia Hunt and produced two children, Dr. Jake Allen (wife Gail) of Michigan, and Sandra Maroney of Florida. He married Virginia Shillal and produced eight children including Clifford Jr. (Lillian) Allen of Lewiston, Lawrence F. (Laura) Allen of Pendleton, Ore., Mary V. Allen of Monroe, Wash., Desiree E. Coyote of Pendleton, William T. (Bobbi) Allen of Lewiston, Judy J. Allen of Tulalip, Wash., Terrence L. (Tracy) Allen of Pendleton, and Misala Peo (Lawrence) Nelson of Polson, Mont. Clifford married Sylvia and they produced two sons, Sheldon R. (Geneva) Allen of Culdesac and Calvin D. Allen of Culdesac.
Anyone who met Cliff knew that he stood and fought for treaty rights for all Indian nations throughout the Northwest, and as far as Hawaii and Canada. But his biggest accomplishments he felt was family and its continuance, the circle of life, the umbilical cord. He once said that we do not die, our spirits are inherited by our children and he would say to look at his children’s faces and you will see him. Yóx kaló. That is all.
Public viewing will be at the Pi-Nee-Waus at 5 p.m. today. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Pi-Nee-Waus.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Wednesday, July 3, 10:00 AM
- Location
-
Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center
99 Agency Rd.
Lapwai, ID 83540
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Condolences
Caroline Derksen
More than a decade ago I had stopped at an historical marker high above a river in Washington (I think).
By chance, Mr. allen was there as well 0, we started talking - soon he was explainibg to me that the X on treaties had not meant agreement. Having taught history up in Kitimat, BC close to the Haisla Nation I was intrigued by his explanation. He gave me his card and in subsequent years I would do some research on the topic. Every few years I meant to write him sbout what I had lesrned. Today looking through old papers I found his card and my research - I decided to look him up - that's when I learned that he had died in 2019,
Although we only met for an hour at the side of a road,
I always remembered Mr. Allen , his dignity and perserverance in carrying on his quest for helping people understand the truth in historical events that dealt with first nations. He seemed to me to be an exceptional person. Please extend my condolences to Mr. Allen's family.
Caroline Derksen
carolinederksen@telefonica.net
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 12:26 PM
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