Tillamook Treasure

(The grandfather fashioned his Indian marionette in the likeness of his granddaughter Julie (Suzanne).)

 

Oregon legend has it that 16th century Spanish sailors, beaching their launch on Manzanita beach, carried a treasure chest of gold doubloons up Neahkahnie Mountain for burial. This Tillamook Indian tale has been passed down through generations. A tale first told by a tribe’s girl, as she and her elk witnessed the killing of a manacled African slave digging a hole for the bounty and ultimately his grave. The dead slave was left to spiritually guard the treasure and protect its location. Because of the strong Indian spiritual beliefs, the grave and treasure has not been disturbed for hundreds of years and is still located somewhere in the Neahkahine Mountains.

   

Julie is a lonely fourteen-year-old girl who is up-rooted by her family and moved from California to a beautiful Oregon seaside town to be with her estranged Grandfather (A last resort to keep the family together after her dad loses his job). The family has trouble adjusting to their new life and Julie is once again forgotten and ignored. She seeks the wisdom and guidance of her Grandfather and his good friend, Standing Elk, one of the last of the local Native American tribe. The two men make their living performing puppet tales with marionettes in the local theatre. This makes for a great escape from loneliness and Julie becomes intrigued with their reenactment of the Tillamook Treasure legend.

 

One particular morning, Julie was walking on the beach when a sudden encounter with a large Roosevelt Elk startles her out of her depression. She notices how beautiful, majestic, and peaceful this creature is. A mystical bond forms between the two. The Elk becomes Julie’s silent, watchful guide and protector, and reveals to Julie an old Spanish coin in the sand, under it’s hooves.

 

The elk, the coin, the tale… It all must be true. There is treasure to be found! This becomes the driving force as Julie sets out to discover the treasure and finds it to be more than she could have ever hoped.

http://tillamooktreasure.com/

Music Credits