Tribal Life
Announcements
Please complete your
Housing Survey today
Housing surveys were mailed to
all tribal households in October. If
you have not completed your
survey, please do so before
November 10. The Housing
Department needs your input in
order to have the best information
possible inplanningforthe Tribe's
future housing needs. Remember,
there will be a drawing for four
fifty dollar prizes. If you have
returned your survey, thank you
for your cooperation!
Cemetery safer now
The access road to the Holmes
Family Cemetery has recently been
graveled, gated, and locked. The
road improvements may also be a
minor inconvenience for some
visitors, and they will need to obtain
a key for entrance. The locked
gate is to ensure the protection of
our loved one's grave sites. To
obtain access to the cemetery you
may contact Connie Holmes at
843-5 182 or Merle Holmes at 585-
4568.
Birthday wishes, love
Grandma:
Hope you have a special birthday!
We send love, hugs and kisses
your way Love, Stacia, Kylea,
Halona, Lee Jr., and Rylan.
USD workers thanked
To: Mary, Barbara, Lydia,
Vivian, Peggy, Denise, Sarah,
am, Kathy, Jackie, Yvonne, and
Kerrie, too, Human Services
Support staff.
Thank you so much for the lunch,
the flowers and gifts, you really
surprised me! I also want to thank
all of you for all the support you
give the programs and clients in
the Human Services Division.
Sometimes we dont acknowledge
it, but without the support you give
the Division, we wouldn't be able
to provide services to the
membership.
Again, thanks for everything. I
am looking forward to another
year, Teri
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Restoration Reflections :
Tribal members recall what it was like,
what happened, and what it's like now
When November comes each
year, the people whowere involved
in the Grand Ronde Tribe's
restoration vividly recall the trials,
disappointments, and successes of
the last 1 1 years.
Many people worked hard,
travelled back to Washington D.C.
to testify before Congress, and
waited for word to come on
restoration. Some of those
involved included: Marvin
Kimsey, Kathryn Harrison,
Margaret Provost, Merle Holmes,
Karen Harrison, and Jackie
Whisler. Here are some of their
recollections:
Jackie Whisler:
"My Dad, Dean Mercier, told
me in 1983 that you are an Indian.
You should be involved."
Jackie was in her early 20s when
she became part of the effort in
getting the Tribe restored.
"In the early days, we bought a
trailer for $50 from Russ Leno that
was converted into offices," she
said. "We moved the trailer to the
cemetery. Back then we were all
volunteers who did all of the work.
Gradually we began to get grants--one
here and one there-and we
began doing things.
"We had a lot of help from the
Congressional people, but the one
who was most helpful was
ElizabethFurse. She was working
for NAPOLS, and was a good
advisor. She told us exactly what
we had to do."
The next step after harrowing
winters in the old Leno trailer was
to build a garage. The offices
moved into the garage.
"I can remember the cold in the
trailerand the garage building. In
the winter if you left a half full
bottle of pop open on your desk,
the next morning you would find
three inches of ice sticking out of
the top," Jackie said.
"Back then, it would have been
hard to imagine that we could
have accomplished so many things
as we have."
Jackie also served on Tribal
Council for several years.
"I became involved mostly
because of my family. I wanted in
insure that my grandmother had
good medical care, and that my
kids would get an education. It
was older and younger people I
Smoke Signals
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Jackie Whisler
was concerned about, not me," she
said.
"I would never have conceived
that we (the Tribe) could have come
so far."
Kathryn and Karen Harrison:
Kathryn Harrison said that a good
team of people kept the vision of
restoration alive.
"We want-
ed some
"The termination of the
thing
Grand Ronde Tribe's status
was the ultimate insult of
their tribal sovereignty.., "
Congresswoman
for
genera
tions of
Elizabeth Furse
tribal mem
bers," she said.
She remembers that
there have been disagreements in
the last 1 1 years, but "there has also
been cooperation. We certainly got
folks' attention. Wekeptourvision
alive, and never lost sight of our
main goal which was restoration."
The people who worked
diligently for restoration have a
special relationship, a similar
closeness to that combat veterans
who have fought together.
"I kind of feel sorry for the people
who weren't involved," Kathryn
said. "They missed a lot."
She said that life was primitive,
and rough in the early 80s for Tribal
Council.
"We had to carry water, outdoor
his and her toilets. Each of the
seven desks in one room had a
heater under the desk. I can
remember how cold it was," she
said.
November 1994
Elizabeth Furse
Karen Harrison, Kathryn's
daughter, was a 17-year old junior
at Willamina High School when
she testified and recommended
tribal restoration before a
Congressional committee.
"Oh, I was nervous. I felt ner
vous, but proud," she said. Karen
wrote out her presentation, then
Elizabeth Furse edited
sit for her. Karen
"All
my life
I had
heard a-
bout termin
ation and what it
had done to us," Karen said.
"Recognition meant that at least
I'm an Indian. We were elated and
joyful when we were finally
recognized as a Tribe."
Mabel Gaston,Martha Mercier,
DaDowd, andShirley Flansberg:
The four seniors agree that the
Grand Ronde Tribe's Community
Center has become a focal point in
their lives, that the center would
never have been built if it hadnt
been for Tribal Restoration in
1983.
"It was the younger people who
were really involved in restoration.
I just decided to go along. At that
time I didn't think I would live
long enough to see it. I guess I
fooled myself," Ila Dowd said. "A
lot has happened and we are happy
with all the changes."
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piece
to the
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Martha Mercier, Ila Dowd,
Mabel Gaston, and Shirley
Flansberg.
Martha Mercier said that the
seniors like to visit and that the
Community Center provides a good
environment for that.
"Otherwise, I would be eating
home alone," she said.
The four women are regulars at
the center where meals are served at
noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday.
The 5,400 square foot community
center was completed in 1992. The
center housed administrative offices,
the dental center, and a multi
purpose meeting room. It has
become the focal point for tribal
activities.
Ila Dowd said that the health and
other services provided by the Tribe
are very important to elders.
A bus and van are available to
transport seniors to the Community
Center for meals.
Outing, tours, parties, games, and
recreational activities are also
offered
We have a lot of benefits, and a lot
to be grateful for," Ila said.
Shirley Flansberg, another elder
who is present at most tribal events
and activities echoed the thoughts
of other interviewed for this article:
"WeVe become Indians again."
Growth of a community,
Growth of a people:
When the Grand Ronde
Reservation Act was signed on
November 22, 1983, the lives of
many people were changed for the
better. It is appropriate the
restoration holiday falls on the same
week as Thanksgiving: We should
all be thankful to the people who
worked hard to restore our Tribe,
and those peoplewhokeepon giving
throughout the years.