FAMILY FORUM
If the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is to main
tain a strong sense of tribal unity, our history must be told
and retold as was th e traditional way of the Indian. One
story began 136 years ago this month.
It was the time of the cold moon. In the Willamette
Valley, chiefs from various Kalapuya tribes had
been meeting frequently in council. The faces around
the campfire were somber and speeches were long. They
spoke of the many members of their families who had
died from the new diseases brought by the Americans.
They spoke of the game which had fled from their land
leaving their children to hunger. They spoke of Joel
Palmer, who the Great White Chief had sent to treaty
with them for their land.
Over the course of just a few seasons, hundreds of
Americans had invaded their homes. From these White
men, they learned more were on the way. Moreover, it
was known that even while Joel Palmer talked of buying
their land, other Americans talked of taking it and
killing all Indians.
Some said they should fight. Others said they must live
in peace with the White man. In the end, it was decided
they would sacrifice the Indian way of life to prolong the
life blood of their people.
Yatshaw, who became known on the Grand Ronde
reserve as Wapato Dave, was at these councils and many
more over the course of his lifetime. He was Chief of a
Chehalem band of Kalapuya people who lived near
Wapato Lake. He made many speeches to the United
States government agents on behalf of his people. After
each, it is said, Indians applauded him to show their
respect for the man and for his leadership.
Shelkeah, second Chief of the Kalapuya, was also part
of these great councils. Later, when the Indian agent
made everyone take new names, he would become Peter
Selkey, husband of Louisa.
He was a Yamhill man with a strong spirit power. His
Under The Cold Moon
people said his spirit power was thunder. When he
became angry, thunder roared and rain poured in great
quantities of water.
His people also said he had as his personal spirit power
the medicine of the deer. He used the gentleness of the
deer and the power of thunder to find his centering
place and the guidance of the Great Spirit.
Shelkeah was an excellant hunter. Anytime his people
wanted deer meat they would go to see him. There they
could buy meat.
Another of these great men was Joseph Sangaretta,
who was Iroquois and
phaned in 1835, he
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memories. He said
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going to die; a man, a child, a woman, he always knew it
first.
Hartless told how Sangaretta had two spirit powers.
One of them was a black man, the other an Indian like
us. They came to him in his dreams. When they came to
him, he always knew they were going to name someone
in his village who was going to die or become ill.
Sangaretta knew even as the medicine shaman doctored
these people who would live and who would die.
Chief Sangaretta rode south on January 22, 1855 to
treaty with Joel Palmer. With him rode nine other
Santiam Chiefes: First Chief Tow-ye-colla, Third Chief
la-ham, Pul-i-can, Te-na, Pul-kup-ti-ma, Sal-laf, Hoip-ke-nek,
Yep-tah, and Satinvose.
It is said the Willamette River was frozen hard enough
that year for a horse to walk on. So it must have been
with their hearts as they rode toward Table Rock where
they would rendezvous with Joel Palmer and place their
marks on a paper which would alter forever the Indian
way of life.
This article is dedicated to all the tribal chiefs who
struggled with a decision of such magnitude few have
known or will ever know. It is dedicated to my mother,
Marion Hallcr Davidson; my grandmother, Adeline
Menard Haller; my great grandmother, Flora Ncal
Menard; my great, great grandmother, Elizabeth
Sangaretta Menard; my great, great, great grandmother,
Nancy Pisk Sangaretta and to women of all tribes whose
blood and tears have intermingled in their struggle to
bring forth new life and raise their children in a world
which has lost the harmony of former days.
Courtesy of June Olson
Tribal Member
Editor's Note: Tins piece of history is told as it has been
passed on for many years. Now that it is published, it will
live forever as a reference to the history of the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde. If you have a piece of history
or even a current story celebrating tribal history, customs,
myths or legends, and would like to ensure future genera
tions' access to them, send Own in to Smoke Signals for
publication.
Community Encourager's Report
Community Council Selection
The selection of the Community Council for the
Community Decision Making process will be made by
the end of January. After this group is formed we will
have some orientation and training for them. Then we
will have a town hall meeting to develop a list of priori
ties for health care services for the new health clinic and
Human Services Building.
The Community Council members will also get
together with their focus groups at this time. They will
inform them as to what will be expected of them, how
long the group will exist and a timeline for the steps of
the process.
We want to reach as much of the tribal community as
possible with this process. If you have questions or
suggestions concerning this project, once again, I
encourage you to contact me at 1-800-422-0232.
As with the Community Council member selection, we
will have a name for the "Community Decision Making"
process by the end of January. For those of you who will
be submitting a name, I would like to thank you in
advance for your participation.
Michael J. Larsen
Community Encourager
Name That Clinic
The "Community Decision Making Process" is a new
project being implemented by the tribe. This is a clinic
planning project which invites input from the tribal
community. This project is currently discussed in the
Community Encourager's Report.
In order for the tribal community to associate the
Community Decision Making Process with the planning
of our new clinic, we invite you to name the project. So,
we are having a contest to think of a name for the clinic
planning project. This is an opportunity for the tribal
community to become involved with our clinic planning.
Rules for the contest:
-This contest is open to all tribal members, youth and
adult alike.
-Contest entries must be turned in or postmarked no
later than January 16, 1992.
-Enter as many times as you like. The name should
relate to the theme of "Community Based Planning for
Health Care".
The winner of the contest will receive a $50.00 gift
certificate from Fred Meyers.
So, come on tribal members! Let's be creative!
Mail entries to: The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR
97347, ATTN: Michael Larsen or drop them off at my
office located in the Tribal Government building at the
tribal offices.
CHRISTMAS PARTY A SUCCESS
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde had a great
turnout for the Christmas party on Dec. 15, 1991. It was
held at the elementary school. Lunch was served to
seniors and then to the children before Santa arrived
with his red-nosed reindeer; Rudolf.
Pictures were taken as little children spilled their heart
out to Santa, games were played and songs echoed
through the halls. It was a merry old time for everyone
who came and enjoyed the season's spirit. We want to
thank all that came and participated at the party and
hope everyone had Happy Holidays.