Herbert Whitish

Looking at Herbert Whitish, chairman and health director of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, you d never dream he s ill. Members of his tribe and family have no idea he ssuffers with chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivities, and loss of his ability to participate in activities he once enjoyed. The day his photo was taken for this publication, he was too ill to participate in the interview, which was later accomplished by telephone. 

Two passions shape his life his family and his tribe. His sense of duty provides him with the will to persevere despite poor health. 

I look at my people and they have so many needs. I have to keep going in order to help them achieve what they rightfully should have. My work and my family have kept me going through this illness, through the days when I find myself so tired I fall asleep in the office. 

Out of ninety tribal people who live here, five have chronic fatigue. That s a pretty large group for a small area. You wonder why mostly reservation people are sick in this area, although we don t know for sure that there aren t a lot of other people in the area who are also ill. All we can talk about is what we know, and what we know is tribal. 

When I m out in public I have to avoid perfumes. Certain scents are overwhelming to me. My sinuses instantly begin to hurt, I get a severe headache and a nauseous feeling rushes over me. It s unbearable at times. 

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Herbert Whitish Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington... 

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