. HM
November 1988
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE
GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON
TRIBE CELEBRATES CREATION OF RESERVATION
i i
I Celebration marks new beginning
as Tribe begins work towards dream
of gaining self-sufficiency.
An estimated 300 members and friends of the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde gathered to celebrate a
new beginning on October 22, 1988, with the reestablish
ment of the Grand Ronde Reservation.
The 9,811 acre reservation, located on the coast range in
Yamhill County, was signed into law on September 9,
1988 by President Reagan.
"I am confident, in every way, that the creation of this
reservation will contribute to an improved standard of
living for the entire area," said Tribal Chairman Mark
Mercier in opening remarks.
Mercicr praised the efforts of Senator Mark Hatfield
and Representative Les AuCoin.
"Every member of our Tribe and all Oregonians are
indeed fortunate that these two legislators team up as
often as they do," said Mercier.
Mercier also praised AuCoin, who attended the celebra
tion, for his work to make sure all sides would gain
from the creation of a reservation, and for working to
bring a better life and jobs to the west valley communi
ties. "He went to bat for us for sewers, for housing, for better
roads, for jobs in our mills, but most important to the
tribe, he went to bat for our heritage," said Mercier.
. "You have worked with great dignity, great diligence,
great patience, and you deserve to be proud of that .
effort," Les AuCoin told the Grand Ronde members.
"It has been a long and difficult journey, but the journey
of the Grand Ronde's trail of tears is now finally over,
once and for all," said AuCoin.
INSIDE:
Job Announcement ..p. 2
Tribe receives grants p. 3
Reservation Days: What will they.
bring? p. 5
JOMAdult Education Survey
Results p. 4
Respecting yourself p. 12
T
0
Les AuCoin presents a letter and pen from President
Reagan to Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier and Council
Secretary Kathryn Harrison.
"That trail of tears began in 1856 when the white man
moved the individual tribes off their ancestral lands. We
began our effort to end that journey on September 14,
1983, with the introduction by Senator Hatfield and
myself, of the Grand Ronde Restoration Act. And
today, on October 22, 1988, we mark the end of that trail
of tears," AuCoin said.
"I don't think there is a tribe in the land that has
compromised more," said AuCoin, who presented the
Tribe with a letter from President Reagan and the pen
used to sign the Reservation Act.
With a handdrum and rattles made of deer hooves
Nelson Wallulatum, the chief of the Wasco Tribe from
Warm Springs, lead in the singing of two songs given to
his people from Grand Ronde Tribes in exchange for
salmon and the opportunity to fish at sites belonging to
the Wascos.
"Over the many years, these people have wandered away
from their mother earth, " said Wallulatum. ..."so a
return of a part of mother earth is very significant," he
said.
"Your many years of hard work, hard effort certainly
has reached a time of celebration," said BIA Portland
Area Director Stanley Speaks.
Speaks and BLM representative, Paul Vetterick,
presented a plaque to the Tribe showing the tribal lands
and a certificate confirming the transfer of the reserva
tion lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
"In this saga, there were many profiles of courage," said
Gordon Mcpherson, an attorney and former Grand
Ronde resident, who praised the work of the many
people involved with the reservation effort.
Fred Cooper, president of Cooper Consultants, pre
sented Mark Mercier with a totem.
"The totem is a perpetual symbol of the outstanding
deed one makes, usually on the behalf of his people.
May it remind you of the responsibility you have to
make decisions which are right and with respect for the
future generatons who will manage your lands," said
Cooper.
Cooper also presented the Tribe with a framed copy of
the front cover of the Reservation Plan which has a
photograph of Suzette Simmons.
The Tribal Council presented special plaques to Repre
sentative Les AuCoin; Senator Mark Hatfield; Ken
Smith, consultant; Gordon McPherson; Peter Murphy
Jr. of the Murphy Company and the tribal staff for their
work with the reservation effort.
On Friday, October 21, 1988, the Tribe also hosted a
dinner for the many people who worked to make the
reservation a reality during the past five years.
Confederated Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Post Office Box 38
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT 2
GRAND RONDE, OREGON
NOVEMBER 6, 1988
GENERAL COUNCIL MTG.
12 NOON
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED