Kellen Jones | Manson Native, Chief Wapato John Descendant, Author of Addiction X

Episode 82 of Small Towns Unscripted features one of our most fascinating and meaningful conversations yet as Nicole and I sit down with Kellen Jones, a 37 year old Manson native, father of two daughters, self published author, and counseling student at Grand Canyon University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Counseling.Kellen is the great grandson of Bill Evans, one of the most respected and well known members of the Chelan and Entiat Tribes, whose dedication to preserving the history and culture of his people left a lasting legacy. Chief Wapato John, often referred to as the Godfather of Lake Chelan, was Bill Evans' great grandfather, making him one of Kellen's direct ancestors.Together we explore the remarkable life and legacy of Chief Wapato John and the important role he played in shaping the Lake Chelan Valley. After coming to the valley from the Entiat area in the late 1800s, he is credited with planting some of the first apple trees in the region using seeds brought from the Walla Walla area. Although he never learned to read or write, he became a successful businessman by conducting business through pictures and symbols, proving that vision and determination can overcome tremendous obstacles.One of Chief Wapato John's greatest contributions was his commitment to faith and unity. He founded the first church at Mill Bay in Manson where both Native Americans and white settlers worshipped together. At a time when integration was uncommon, the church became a powerful symbol of acceptance, shared faith, and community. We also discuss his son, Chief Peter Wapato, and his grandson, Louis Wapato, who became one of the first Native American attorneys from the Wapato people.Kellen shares stories of growing up between Wenatchee and Manson, splitting time between his mother in Wenatchee and his father, Jamie Jones, in Manson. He talks about spending much of his childhood outdoors, the differences between growing up in Wenatchee and Manson, his family roots including his grandfather from Louisiana, and the experiences that shaped the man he is today.We also explore Wapato Heritage: The History of the Chelan Entiat Indians by Tom Hackenmiller, an incredible book preserving the stories, photographs, illustrations, and history of the Chelan and Entiat people. Kellen brings treasured family heirlooms into the studio, including more than 100 year old Bibles that belonged to Bill Evans and Bill's brother, offering a tangible connection to his family's remarkable past.The conversation then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing our communities today, mental health and addiction. Kellen hopes to one day open a counseling practice in the Lake Chelan Valley and believes there is no one size fits all approach to recovery. We discuss individualized treatment, holistic approaches to healing, the role of pharmaceutical medicine, emerging research surrounding psychedelic assisted therapies including psilocybin, DMT, ayahuasca, and ibogaine, and society's contrasting views of alcohol and marijuana.Kellen also introduces his self published novel, Addiction X: The Beginning, the first book in a planned series. Written through the eyes of a college student working in a treatment center, the novel challenges conventional thinking about addiction and recovery while encouraging readers to recognize that every person's path to healing is different.One of the most powerful moments of the episode comes when Kellen shares the dream involving his ancestor, Chief Wapato John, that inspired him to quit drinking alcohol and completely change the direction of his life. It is a moving story about faith, purpose, and personal transformation.We also briefly touch on the historical events surrounding the Chelan Falls Massacre as documented in Wapato Heritage by Tom Hackenmiller and discuss why preserving the history of the Chelan and Entiat people is so important for future generations.This episode is about history, heritage, faith, family, resilience, recovery, and the courage to change. Whether you are passionate about Lake Chelan history, Native American heritage, mental health, addiction recovery, or simply enjoy authentic conversations with remarkable people from our communities, this is an episode you will not want to miss.Kellen leaves us with one simple but powerful message for anyone waiting to make a change in their life.Do it today.We hope you enjoy Episode 82 of Small Towns Unscripted.