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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1999)
OR. COL E 78 .OB I July 1333 15, HASTA 1PQUA LALLA iPUYA . AlVER MCC A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe LlMZru JULY 15, 1999 Tualatin River waterfall named after Tribal Chief ( ( s . 1 : 6 f V "SO f , ' J; Don Day (left), archaeological site monitor; Leon Chip Tom, Council member; and Tony Johnson, language specialist join the Tualatin Riverkeepers at a site near Yamhill for the naming of Ki-a-kuts Falls. Thanks to the Tribe, Oregon Historical Society now offers visions of Eden By Oscar Johnson The Tribe's $225,000 grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund has helped bring "Willamette Valley: Visions of Eden," a new permanent exhibit to the Histori cal Society's History Center in downtown Portland. "This exhibit examines the his tory of the Willamette Valley and its development, and tells the story of the people who lived it," said Chet Orloff, Historical Society di rector. "But it also takes a special look at how individuals perceive and draw from the land in their own special way." The exhibit includes several in teractive hands-on components ranging from video stations with ar chival footage showing 'history in motion' to a recorded Native Ameri can story telling how Turkey Buz zard lost his feathers. Visitors can also experience shop ping as a pioneer at a Harrisburg supply store or learn the traditional Native times for hunting and har vesting in the Willamette Valley. More than 400 people turned out for the exhibit's June 30 grand opening. Kathryn Harrison, Grand Ronde tribal chair was on hand to address the crowd and express the importance of the Willamette Valley's history to decedents of its original in habitants. "I sometimes like to tell my grand children, I think I would have loved those days," she said after re counting the Tribe's early history. Noting the importance of such his torical places to the Tribe's tradi tion as Spirit Mountain, she added, "We don't even own it today but our memories are still there." The Oregon Historical Society History Center is located 1200 Southwest Park Avenue in Port land. The Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students, $1.50 for children and free for Society members and children under five. For more in formation call (503) 222-1741. By Oscar Johnson Grand Ronde tribal officials and Sherwood community environ mental activists last month gathered to name a recently rediscovered wa terfall after a 19th century Grand Ronde chief. Leon Chip Tom, Council member; Lindy Trolan, cultural resource spe cialist; Donald Day, archaeological site monitor and Tony Johnson, lan guage specialist, joined members of the Tualatin Riverkeepers in nam ing the approximately 100-foot falls after Chief Ki-a-kuts. The Wapato Lake, Tualatin Kal apuya leader signed the 1853 Wil lamette Valley Treaty ceding the vast territory that encompassed the falls before moving to the Grand Ronde reservation with his people. (See sidebar on page 2). The narrow scenic falls are nestled far out of human sight on once pri vately owned land ceded to the state Forestry Department in the 1940s following two forest fires that left it desolate and neglected. However, those who made the jour ney for the June 21 naming cer emony found little evidence of the tragic fires. Grand Ronde and Riverkeepers officials were joined by the media before hiking about a mile along a lush overgrown logging road and traversing down a scarcely visible trail about 15 miles west of the small town of Yamhill. Tom gave the blessing for the nam ing ceremony while Johnson trans lated the Elder's words into Chinook Wawa and sung a Spirit Song. Day followed by giving an offer ing of traditional herbs, honoring both the river and resident spirits. "We must remember that all places are sacred and all people are equal," Tom told those gathered for the event. "We must remember to con duct ourselves in a sacred manor." A group of five Riverkeepers stumbled across the falls in the sum mer of 1993 during an exploratory hike along the Tualatin River. FALLS, continued on page 2 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Service Requested PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Serials Dept. - Knigf R 1299 -UNIVERSITY OF 01 2 EUGENE OR 97403-1205 University of Oregon Library Received on: 57-23-33 2make signals SnnriD Do:jnz (SonsTrpurwim E&ns7;n: Bin: U&M '8? The BIA is conducting a special election of the membership. THE ISSUE: whether or not to amend the enrollment require ments in the Tribal Constitution. For questions regarding this special election, please call Ron Kortlever or Mary Bartels at the BIA, Siletz Agency Office at (541) 444-2679.
