Callie Lee Lara was born December 24, 1952, in Hoopa, and she began her spiritual journey on June 30, 2024. As a Hupa and Karuk person, Callie dedicated her life to preserving the philosophy and teachings of her people. At a young age, her grandmothers exposed her to the beauty of ceremony through storytelling, songs, and connection to the natural environment. She identified as Natinixwe, a spiritual being on a human journey from the villages of Tsewelnaldin, Medildin, and Chimikaniinaach. She would often say, “My ancestors from these places live through me. When I speak Hupa, work on ceremonial regalia, gather materials, or engage in ceremony; those ancestors within, come out, and are born again.”

Callie understood the formulas of an ancient people, who had survived colonization, and shared lessons to revitalize ceremony and to keep us connected to the natural environment, to our ancestors, and to each other. She was a dancer, a singer, and was among many contributors of ceremonial prayer items. She brought life to countless men’s and women’s ceremonial regalia. Often, a ceremony is filled entirely with pieces that she created. She has shared these skills of gathering and regalia-making with numerous young women throughout the community and was an instructor and life-long student of the Hupa language and often resorted to language for a deeper meaning of life. She was a writer who often expressed her cultural understanding through poetry and story.

Callie attempted to walk softly about the world, and although she was a gentle person, she was instrumental in monumental changes to bring our people back into balance with the world and lay a foundation for future generations. Yet, her most impactful influences may have been as a devout mother, grandmother, aunt, wife, and friend. Callie lived in partnership with her husband of 50+ years, Walt Lara Sr. Their home was known as a “safe place” for their children, grandchildren, and nieces/nephews. They welcomed family members (and even a few non-family members) with open arms for both short and extended stays when needed. Callie knew that it was important to keep family together so she would travel miles to Palm Springs, Idaho, and Arizona to ensure that her children were connected with their siblings and cousins. She was an exceptionally hard worker who spent many joyous days with family surfishing on the beach, stripping salmon, gathering seaweed, smoking sturgeon, gardening, and canning.

Callie managed to break cycles of trauma and reintroduced bonding through love, kindness, and respect. Further, through her experiences, working for the Child and Family Services Department at United Indian Health Services, the Hupa Culture, Language and Education program at the Hoopa Valley Tribe, and for the Department of Health and Human Services, Callie acquired many skills while also shifting the paradigm to nurture space for Indigenous knowledge. As “a human being on a spiritual journey”, Callie’s impacts continue to be tremendous. Now that she has begun her spiritual journey, she wanted to remind her husband, children, grand-children, nieces, and nephews that she will continue to live within them. Whenever they engage in ceremonial activity, walk the trails in the forest, weave baskets, or speak their language, she will come out and will be born again. Me che nai kiwil dichiwin il, “those within come out and are born again.”

Callie is preceded in death by her father, Richard McClellan; second father, Byron Hostler; mother, Patricia Tsewelnaldin; grandparents, Nancy Nixon, Henry McClellan, Ella Johnson, Emma Norton, and Jack Norton Sr.; daughter, Wakatunyia Nancy Lara; nephew and her “boy” Mikyo Jackson; nephew/grandson, Byron Hostler III; and niece, Lacey Mae Jackson.

She is survived by her husband, Walter Lara Sr.; her children, Kishan and Sammy Cooper, Keduescha and Everett Colegrove, Roberta Lara, Elizabeth and Greg O’Rourke, Lorraine Lara, Willie Lara, and Walter and Joy Lara; her grandchildren, Walter III, Kipoon, Jasper, Lucinda, Lau-Lei, Ernie Jr., Chucheesh, Charlene, Kisdyante, Louis “Mussie”, Princess Jintcon, Everett “Bronc”, Nijonda, Teh-sa’a:n-xwe, Tasahce Se:wenah, and Eco-cate’; her great grandchildren, Keyoh, Moreck Walt IV, Keechpooh, Ellie Su, Millie Lu, Caleb, Eli, Isaac, Albert, Louis, and Aurora; siblings, Richard and Kathy McClellan, Holly and Malcolm Frederick, Patricia Joseph, Byron Steve Hostler, and Cheri Buck; special friends, Kendall Allen, Sandy Schwenk, and Wanda Lincoln; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

The family would like to thank Teresina Obie, Snickles Perry, Dr. Martinez, and Susan Welsh for their dedicated assistance to her care.

On July 3, a viewing will be held at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., a graveside service will be held at the Marks Family Cemetery in Oosamich. A reception will follow at Sumeg Village.

Services will be officiated by her nephew, Thomas Joseph Jr. Pall Bearers are her nephews, Jasper Hostler, Andrew Lara, Jimmy Eller, Mah-vic Masten, Justin Woods, Michael Lawrence, Floyd Moore and Tino Luna.

Honorary Pall Bearers are Everett Colegrove Jr., Greg O’Rourke, Sammy Cooper, Kenneth “Bombie” Hurtado, Dr. George “Pordie” Blake, Raymond McQuillen, Jesse James, Jim McQuillen, Tyke Billings, Willie Pink, and Victor Bjelacac.

“May you walk gently about the world”- Callie Lara

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