Smoke Signals
February 1993
Page 7
HISTORIC CAMPAIGN
Joseph Shangaretta was a Kalapuya
Chief, a soldier in the Cayuse Wars, and
he signed the Treaty of 1855. He was
president of the first Indian Council and
held many of his elected offices in the
Grand Ronde community over the course
of his lifetime.
This prominent tribal leader is
buried in the Holmes family cemetery in
an unmarked grave.
Recently, his descendants
organized a campaign to gather funds for
a headstone to mark this site for future
generations. The goal is to raise
approximately $3,000 by Memorial Day.
Special thanks to the initial contributors:
Cheryl Brooks, Daniel Haller, Linda
Murphy, and Bud Davidson, husband of
Marion Haller Davidson.
Ifyouwouldlike to make a financial
pledge or to obtain further information
contact June Olson at 1-800-422-0232 or
897-2279.
Some Historical Facts About Native Americans
Tribal Council Meetings:
Approved Actions
The following is a compilation of the motions
tentatively approved by Tribal Council for the January 6
meetings and January 13 meetings. Smoke Signals will
begin publishing approvals and decisions made by Council
in every issue.
January 6, 1993
Rules for conducting meetings were officially adopted by a
unanimous vote by Council
Council granted a request to fund the Senior Mealsite
$7,540 to insure uninterrupted services to the Elders through
the mealsite.
Council approved a FishWildlife recommendation to
appoint Shawn Hostler to fill FishWildlife Committee
vacancy.
Council adopted Resolution No. 00 1 -93 approving payment
for NAPOLS billings for the month of October, 1992 in the
amount of $2, 1 3 1 .50 and for the month of November, 1 992
in the amount of $300.83.
Council adopted Resolution No. 002-93 requesting the BIA
begin the process to put the front acreage of the Zimbrick
property recently purchased by the Tribe (legal description
will be used) into Trust.
Council consensus approval was given to become embers of
the West Valley Chamber of Commerce. Yearly dues are
$175.
Consensus approval was given for the two Health and
Human Services committee members to travel to Marysville,
Washington to attend the Northwest Portland Area Indian
Health Board quarterly meeting, January 1 1-13.
January 13, 1993
Council consensus wastoemploy Val Groutas sub-contractor
to prepare monthly General Council Meeting meals.
Council approved pursuing a BIA Technical Assistance
and Planning Grant by adopting Resolution No. 003-93. The
grant is in the amount of $35,000.
INDIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH LAND
Although their societies were different in form,
Indian nations shared one common factor their relationship
with the land and waters. Indians had a special feeling for
the land and natural resources. They felt that the Earth was
their mother, that the sky was their father, that fish, plants,
and animals were spirit beings and mountains and forests
were places where they could contact the spirit world.
Land was sacred as it sustained the Indians and
their culture. It was a link to their past. Land was never
actually owned, but Indians roamed over the face of the land
and "used" it. Rights for the use of a particular region of land
were considered tribal property by each tribe. They were
guardians or custodians of that land, rather than its owners.
The patterns of ownership and utilization which they used
concerning the land and waters were different from those
recognized by our present system of law, but were nonetheless
clearly defined and mutually respected. Although they didn't
subdivide and cultivate the land, they did recognize ownership
of plots used for village sites, fishing places, berry and root
patches, and similar purposes. They didn't subject forests to
wholesale logging, but they did establish ownership of tracts
used for hunting, trapping, and food-gathering. They did
"own" peaks and valleys for mountain goat hunting and as
sources of raw materials.
E
Without land, Indian people have no
soul no life no identity no purpose.
Control of our land is necessary for our
cultural and economic survival (Native
Brotherhood)
OREGON INDIANS AT POINT OF CONTACT
When the Europeans first entered Oregon and the
Pacific Northwest, they came in contact with many different
tribes of Indians. Indian people have occupied the lands in
Oregon for at least 12,000 years. According to some Indian
tribes they have occupied the land in Oregon from the time
of creation.
(At the point of contact) Oregon tribes had developed
a culture and customs based on the material resources in their
immediate environment. According the Oregon Indian
viewpoint, human beings were privileged to be able to eat
foodstuffs of nature and owed thanks to the spirits of the
natural world for providing them with a wealth of a variety
of plants and animals. Legends and traditions taught that the
land and all things of nature must be respected and protected
from overuse. In ceremonies and religious stories, Indians
honor the spirits offish, deer, and other animals, plants and
roots.
All game, especially salmon, had to be ritually
treated. The first Salmon Ceremony was important for
Oregon Indians. The first Salmon Feast was publicly held
over the first catch of each species at any place where the
salmon run was heavy. The ceremony included formal
speeches, and greetings and honoring were extended to the
salmon. The salmon was prepared and cooked in a ceremonial
way. Ceremonies such as the Root Feast, the Huckleberry
feast, and First Deer and the New Year were other ways of
honoring plants and animals.
They were designed to pay respects to the spirits of
nature. These ceremonies helped people keep a respectful
attitude toward the parts of nature their lives depended on.
These ceremonies are still carried out in many Indian
communities today.
The sweatlodge was an important feature of Oregon
tribes. Sweatlodges were used both daily and for special
ceremonies connected with healing and religion. The spiritual
or social importance of Oregon Indians continues today.
All groups of Oregon Indians had shamans (mental
health specialists, medicine people, spiritualist). Shamans
had powers of a curer and a cleanser. Trances, dreams, and
visions were all recognized as part of the process. Being a
shaman was a means of attaining status and prestige. A
shaman's in one's own lineage gave cause for one to be treated
with respect.
Contributed by Vernon Kennedy
Lakota Artist to Perform in Eugene
Kevin Locke, a nationally known Lakota Indian
artist and educator from South Dakota, will share his vision
ofbalance, joy.and diversity through the playingof traditional
Lakota Indian flute music, hoop dancing, and powerful
storytelling.
Awarded the National heritage fellowship by the
National Endowment for the Arts in 1990, Kevin Locke's
knowledge is rooted in the traditional as well as the modern.
Mr. Locke will be performing at 7:30 P.M.
Wednesday, February 10 at the Dougherty Dance Theater,
354 Gerlinger Annex, University of Oregon. For more
information, contact Randy Choy, Office of Multicultural
Affairs, 346-3477.
Siletz Newsletter
USDA UPDATE
By Margo Norton, USDA Director
January was a very cold month, and some of you
were not able to come pick up your commodities. Thank you
to those people who weathered the cold and were able to pick
up their food. And a big thanks to those of you who picked
up food for someone else.
February USDA will be concentrating on two topics
of healthy eating in Indian Country. The first topic will be
"Do you weigh too much?", and the second will be Heart
Cholesterol Awareness. We will be providing information
plus two recipes to help with your cholesterol.
I would like to thank Jean Azure from Chemawa,
Irene Holland from the Portland Area office, and Maxine
Rilatos from the clinic. These courageous people weathered
the storms to be on hand for clients in both Salem and Siletz
to take blood pressures, and answer questions about nutrition.
Please mark your calendar, they will be back March
2 in Salem and March 9 in Siletz. Come down and join us.