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(Sramid Ronde baslketlball team makes
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By Oscar Johnson
For the first time ever Grand
Ronde's basketball team made the
national Indian tournament where
they made a valiant effort against
some tough competition.
Melvin Brisbois, Richard Brisbois,
Haa-nah. Mike, Issack Kentta,
Lenny Logan and Duane Many
Hides played a couple of tough
games in the first two days of the
National IndianAthleticAssociation's
(NIAA) 26th annual basketball
championship in Salem.
"This is almost a privilege just to
be playing in this tournament," said
Melvin Brisbois. "It's the most pres
tigious Indian tournament in the
country it's like the NBA playoffs."
The team did not bring home any
victories this year.
Their April 14 game against the
Chiloquin Kla-mo-ya ended in a 119
102 loss, despite strong scoring from
Mike and the two Brisbois'.
The following day, ManyHides,
team coach and sponsor, had to fill
in for Logan who was unable to take
time of from work.
With no extra players on the bench
to rotate, they were swept by the
mostly 6-foot and over Klamath
Sons, 91-60.
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This is almost a
privilege just to be
playing in this
tournament. Its the
most prestigious Indian
tournament in the
country its like the
NBA playoffs."
Melvin Brisbois
"We played with a lot of heart but
we just didn't have enough backup.
"We didn't have a bench," explained
ManyHides.
"What killed us was our shooting
wasn't there today," added Melvin
Brisbois. "It's a tough competition
here, you got to come ready to run."
NIAA's annual championship fea
tures women's and men's teams from
all over the country. Players say
teams scout for top players at the
competitions and many teams sport
ex-pro and college ball players.
Despite the stiff competition, the
Salem-based non-profit sports group
has a higher goal in mind.
For the last 26 years they have been
using sports to promote
the "Sacred Circle of
Family, Identity and
Health," by encouraging
players to be outstand
ing role models for Na
tive youths, according to
a statement released by
X. L. Kugie Louis, NIAA
director.
The Association is involved in 13
annual sports tournaments and also
helps tribes and communities estab
lish their own youth and adult sports
programs. Support' for NIAA usu
ally comes from events such as one
made by the Grand Ronde Tribe for
last months tournament.
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e spirit
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'You cant touch this!'
young powerhouse, Haa-nah
Mike (left front) defiantly faces
off two towering Klamath
opponents for the rebound at
last month's 26th annual Indian
basketball tourney.
Photos by Oscar Johnson
Masks: grant will finance gallery
continued from front page
seums, private collectors, Native art
ists and tribal groups and have a
variety of functions.
They range from artworks made
to sell to early pioneer collectors, sa
cred portrayals of the Spirit World
and modern artistic renditions of
Native and European faces.
At least one of the items, a mask
from Kitkatla, Canada, is kept at the
Vancouver Art Museum against the
will of Tsimshian tribal members
whose ancestors used it in sacred
rites more than 100 years ago.
Nevertheless, the exhibit is en
dorsed by 11 Native nations, accord
ing to Robert Joseph, chief of the
Kwakwaka'wakw tribe in Van
couver Island, British Columbia.
Most of the masks come from
coastal tribes residing from the
Olympic Peninsula and the Puget
Sound to Yakutat Bay, Alaska, in
cluding the Tlingit and Nuu-chah-nulth
nations.
The Museum is also featuring, "Ed
ward Curtis: The North American
Indian," a separate exhibit of vintage
photographs taken at the turn of the
century. It will be on display for the
same period as the mask exhibit.
Both exhibits bring Native art and
culture face to face with the
Museum's "Project for the Millen
nium." The $16 million project will
expand and renovate Portland's pre
mier place of art making room for
the Center for Native American Art.
Most of the Community Fund's
grant will help convert two floors of
the Museum complex's Hoffman
Wing into 8,000-square-foot of per
manent gallery space for Indian art.
The Center will also host a variety
of Native lectures, performances and
demonstrations as well as sponsor
related research, publications and
local Indian artists.
"The gallery featuring Native
American art of our region will be
designated the Confederated Tribes
of the Grand Ronde Gallery in rec
ognition of the Tribe's commitment,"
Museum Executive Director, John
Buchanan Jr., said in a statement
released last month.
Kwakwaka'wakw Spirit Dancers
of Secret Societies performed tradi
tional dances at the event showing
the customary use of some of the
masks on display. The dances had
been outlawed by the Canadian gov
ernment and missionaries from the
1800s to 1951, he said.
Grand Ronde officials are hoping
the Museum's new facelift will bring
in more distant tribal neighbors.
"It was nice to be able to have the
tribes from the north there," said
Kathryn Harrison, Grand Ronde
council chairwoman who was on
hand for the event.
"It's an investment for all children,"
she said.
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Sun mask (circa 1800s) represents the Sky World of northwest coast Nuxalk
peoples. It is one of more than 150 masks the Tribe's grant helped bring
the Portland Art Museum exhibit "Down From the Shimmering Sky."
"Down From the Shimmering Sky: Masks of the Northwest Coast"
Tuesday-Saturday, 10am. to 5pm. Sunday, noon to 5pm.
First Thursday of the month until 9pm.
Admission: $7.50 Students and Elders (55 and up): $6
Students under 18: $4 Kids 4 and under: free
These same hours and fares apply to the "Edward Curtis: The North American Indian" exhibit
Portland Art Museum 1219 S.W. Park Avenue
(503)226-2811 ww.pam.org