Smoke Signals March 1990 Page 4
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT:
HOW IT WORKS FOR YOU
Part four of this scries will focus on the signifi
cant happenings that took place is Tribal history
following termination and up to restoration.
KM Surviving the effects of termination was just the
beginning of a long road of recovery by the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The success story of the
Tribe is one of perseverance and determination.
Tribal members moved away from the reservation after
the 1954 Termination Act in hopes of finding a better
economic environment. Grand Ronde quickly became a
garden of poverty and despair. In 1961, seven years
later, the Tribe began to try to begin a process of
reestablishment with the formation of a Cemetery
Corporation.
The Corporation was officially founded in 1951.
Support for this effort was provided by the remaining
Tribal members in the community and grants from the
state and county authorities. The Cemetery Committee
also acted as an enrollment Committee . The Tribes'
land had been reduced to 7 12 acres of cemetery. At
one time the land totaled 69,000 acres. In 1968, termi
nation as a policy was repudiated by the United States
government. Yet, it would take the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde 21 years to gain restoration status.
Statistics show that the Tribe lost, on the average, over
700 acres of land per year from 1857 (two years before
Oregon became a state) to 1954.
"Once we were happy and free in our own
lands, we were seldom hungry for there was
plenty for everyone. Land was always regarded
as a living entity and sacred to my people but, it
became important, too, to the white invaders. "
-Kathryn Harrison
According to restoration testimony by former Tribal
Council Chairman Marvin Kimsey, the restoration effort
got under way in 1972. The Tribe received a grant from
the United States Government to conduct a census in
1973. In 1975 the Tribe reorganized and became a non
profit business corporation. According to information
provided from NA.P.O.L.S. attorney Ed Goodman the
Tribe also adopted a Constitution at that time. When
the restoration effort began membership statistics were
established and updated. Regulations on blood quan
tum were established as well.
The Tribe became incorporated in hopes of attaining
funding so that they could continue the process of
restoration. For three years the Campaign for Human
Development provided the Tribe with the funding
necessary to pay for a restoration coordinator. Three
consecutive grants were also obtained from the Admini
stration for Native Americans. Those grants provided
support to upgrade and train Tribal staff members.
Also, the Chiles Foundation at one time supported a
successful Tribal greenhouse project. 1975 also marked
the beginning of the Tribes' relationship with the Native
American Program Oregon Legal Services.
In October of 1983 Kathryn Harrison (who at that time
was vice-chair of the Tribal Council and the Tribes'
Community Organizer), Frank Harrison (the son of
Kathryn and Council member), Jackie Colton (who had
served the Tribal Council since 1976 as secretary
treasurer and had been the Tribes' planner since 1981),
Karen Harrison (daughter of Kathryn and the Tribal .
student representative) and Marvin Kimsey (former
Council Chairman and was at that time serving the
Tribe as an Executive Director), all traveled to Washing
ton D.C on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde. The purpose of the trip was to seek restoration
of the Tribe to a federally recognized Tribal status.
Kathryn Harrison, a descendant of the Molallas a
band of the Kalapuyas began the testimony before the
United States' House Interior and Insular Affairs
Committee (I J A) with her recollections of the hard
ships she had witnessed befall her fellow Tribal mem
bers over the years. "Once we were happy and free in
our own lands, we were seldom hungry for there was
plenty for everyone. Land was always regarded as a
living entity and sacred to my people but, it became
important, too, to the white invaders," said Kathryn
Harrison as she shared her memories with members of
Congress. She went on to explain how in 1856 the "Trail
of tears" began for the people that would eventually
become the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "In
a massive military roundup towards the north, our
people were forced to leave their homes. Some tried to
escape and were shot, some children became orphans,
those who were too old or too weak to walk were
stacked into wagons like they were sticks of wood, and
no one was allowed to care for the sick or to bury the
dead."
Harrison's testimony detailed what became a trial of
strength just to survive. "And so it was, the soldiers
moved them and, our journey through the un-history
began." More soldiers then came to the so called
reservation promising to preserve and protect. They
also promised goods, foods, clothing, education and
health care for all Tribal members and land enough for
everyone to become farmers.
Kathryn Harrison
Harrison told the I.I A Committee how in 1954, the
Termination Act began what she called the Tribes'
second "Trail of tears." In her eyes it had been "a
disaster."
When Frank Harrison got his turn to testify he in
formed the Committee that 25 of the Tribes' members
suffered from chronic health problems, 24 were in
need of medical attention but could not afford it, and
51 of the members lacked adequate dental care.
According to figures Frank Harrison supplied to the
Committee, the average unemployment figure for all
Oregonians in 1982 was 113 which at that time was
considered high. For Grand Ronde members unemploy
ment averages reached as high as 37 in 1982. Also,
only 52 of the Tribes' members completed High
School compared to 75 who graduated on the average
statewide.
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Marvin Kimsey.
"In a massive military roundup towards the
north, our people were forced to leave their
homes. Some tried to escape and were shot,
some children became orphans, those who were
too old or too weak to Malk were stacked into
wagons like they were sticks of wood, and no
one was allowed to care for the sick or to bury
the dead."
- Kathryn Harrison
Marvin Kimsey enhanced the Tribes' chance for '
achieving restoration status when he explained how "the
unity of the Tribe had prevailed when all seemed in
doubt." He outlined how the Tribe wished to re
establish the trust relationship of the past with the
current government of the United States.
Kimsey also detailed how if the Tribe were to achieve
restoration, the benefits would be making an equal
impact on young and old alike. "Our students could also
benefit, after restoration, from assistance which enables
students to plan educational careers after secondary
school is completed. Many students entering college
have been unable to compete their studies due to lack of
funds."
Kimsey's most important contribution to the Tribe
could have been when he told the Committee that the
successful passage of the restoration bill before Con
gress would "restore the identity to the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde as a Tribe. It will correct
injustices against the Tribe, from the first land cession to
the final injustice of termination in 1954. Restoration
would allow us to participate on an equal basis with
other recognized Tribes in the areas of health, educa
tion, economic development and a betterment of the
Community in which we live."
Restoration followed one month later when a bill that
was supported by United States Representative Les
AuCoin and United States Senator Mark O. Hatfield
passed through the Congressional machine providing the
Tribe with recognition, dignity, identity, and the oppor
tunity for services that would benefit their families. The
foundation for Tribal Government as it exists within the
Tribe today had been established.