On the Klamath Indian Reservation in the 1900’s, fourth grade was the highest level available to Indians. Nevertheless, Dibbon Cook got a broad education, learning to hunt, find wild vegetables, and fish for salmon. He repeated fourth grade four times, just to learn everything he could.
Eventually, Dibbon attended the Sherman Institute, an Indian boarding school in Southern California and the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. His plans to attend Kansas University failed when he returned to the reservation to help his family.
Dibbon never wasted his education or his time. For about 50 years he served as the elected Klamath Tribe secretary. Before the tribe was terminated, Dibbon attended congressional hearings to oppose the action. Dibbon remained in Sprague River and lived to see Congress reinstate the Klamath Tribe in 1986.
Dibbon and his wife raised two daughters and three nephews. Dibbon ran a leather repair shop, served on the PTA and the Chiloquin School Board, and in his 70’s he helped organize the Klamath culture camp, demonstrating his energy, talents, and community commitment. When he died at 98, Tribal Chairman Allen Foreman described Dibbon’s contributions as “incalculable.”
Sources: Foster, Doug. “Tribal Elder and Diplomat: a Tribute to Dibbon Cook.” Southern Oregon Heritage Today, October 2002, vol. 4, no. 10, pp. 8-15; Cook, Dibbon, interviewed by Doug Foster May 23, July 7, July 18, 1994. Southern Oregon Historical Society Oral History 559.
