Smoke Signals
4
Grandfather drum
caiai
ixnusniDGHiiiaTr
When we're singing
we're heping out
The people out there
are praying and we're
helping them carry
their prayers"
Dustin Harmon
Continued from front page
They are on the road most weekends
and consider it to be one of the best ben
efits of the beat.
In addition to drumming the timeless
base-beats that meter steps of tribe and
tradition, they trek the pow-wow trail
having fun, honing skills and making
friends.
"You make a lot of family and meet a
lot of friends," insists Mercier, who also
praises the "clean and sober" nature of the events.
"It'll take you places."
Whether Eagle Beak is invited as guest sing
ers, shows up at open festivities or enters regional
contests, the group travels the pow-wow circuit
at events as close as their own Grand Ronde back
yard or as far-off as Canada and California.
In May the group traveled to Merritt, British Co
lumbia to enter their third drumming contest ever.
Although Harmon says, "we're just now getting
the feel of it," the group took third place out of 23
contestants. ) ,
Most events only pay from $50 to $100 which,
if the group is lucky, will barely cover travel ex
penses. But they say the real pay can not be mea
sured in dollars and cents.
"The money is the bread and butter but the real
thing is having our people come up to us and say
'that was really good,"' says Dustin Harmon.
"When we're singing we're helping out. The
people out there are praying and we're helping
them carry their prayers," he adds. "There are
different levels of being a warrior and you have
to find your own definition, but for me it's help
ing people."
Eagle Beak began helping people with their
songs in 1995.
Many of the core members had been drumming
and singing with other groups for years bu,t four
years ago they decided it was time to dance to the
beat of their own drum.
"We had our own songs and we had different
styles so we wanted to go on our own," says Mer
cier. Since then the group has developed their own
distinct sound along with a repertoire of standard
and original songs to choose from.
They say their songs are either handed down
to them by Elders; given by composers, dancers
or other singers at pow-wows; or composed by the
group themselves.
"I remember a long time ago I was told by an
old champion that there are singers and song
makers," explains Shane Harmon. "And there
are some who have both gifts."
While most members focus on their gift of sing
ing, a few such as Mercier and the Harmons, bring
both gifts to the group.
While Harmon says his inspiration, "comes from
Grandfather," he says others such as Mercier are
just naturally "great at making fast songs."
"I've seen him sit down and think about his 18-month-old
daughter and sing," he recalls with ad
miration. "It just comes to him."
2.. fl
EAGLE BEAK SINGERS.
Standing: Dustin Harmon, Bobby Mercier,
and Richard SoHappy. Kneeling: Shane
Harmon, Joe Hostler, and Anthony Quinelle.
Photo by Dale Peterson Photography
Mercier says that by envisioning his daughter
a few years older in full regalia at a pow-wow, he
composes the music he sees her dancing to.
"Either way," he adds, "it all comes from the Cre
ator." By the time a new song is composed, however,
everyone agrees the finished product is entirely
an Eagle Beak group effort.
"Sometimes you bring a song to the group and
we all put it together," explains Quinelle.
"It's not just one person's idea," adds Dustin
Harmon. "We want everyone to get the credit."
This single-minded approach to making songs
shows a rare bond Eagle Beak members have de
veloped along the pow-wow trail. It is a closeness
whose roots seem deeper than mere friendship.
"We can get mad and not talk to each other but
when pow-wow time comes we're right back to
gether," says Dustin Harmon. "I love these guys
the closeness that comes from Grandfather just
keeps us together."
Many group members tell a similar story about
what eventually brought them together an
inner calling they felt as youths to 'sit down' with
Grandfather drum.
But like Quinelle, the youngest in the group,
virtually everyone warmly remembers the first
time they were asked to sit in with a group of
singers and how it made them feel.
"I've been dancing since I was little. Then I
was invited by the group to sit in," recalls the 17-year-old.
"These guys kept inviting me back. It
made me feel good. It's a love affair with the sound
of the drum and the voices."
The attention the group gives youths is as much
a part of their tradition as traveling the pow-wow
circuit.
Group members show that just as the older
youths of their adolescence noticed them, they are
also looking to see if any other young hearts beat
with a desire to sing.
"We watch these youths throughout the years,"
Shane Harmon says, as if challenging Raymond
Duran and Josh Holmes to rise to the occasion.
The two youths were invited to join the group's
rehearsal. 'That's why we asked them to sit down
with us today. We know they have it in their
hearts."
Tribal Council
seeks your input
Greetings to all adult tribal members,
The Tribal Council is seeking input from
tribal members regarding their interest in tax
deferral on two different tribal benefits that
are taxable. The first is the Elder Pension
Benefit, which is already being paid to adult
members age 55 and over. The second is the
distribution of a portion of the net revenues
from Spirit Mountain Casino.
Some members have indicated an interest in
such a deferral. However, deferral programs
bring with them significant administrative
burdens. The Tribal Council wishes to keep
the cost of administration down so that em
phasis is placed on programs that have more
direct benefits to tribal members. Prior to con
sidering tax deferral options, the Tribal Coun
cil wants to be sure a program to justify the
administrative burden and costs involved.
If you have no interest in deferring ben
efits from either of these programs for tax
purposes, you may simply disregard this
letter. However, if you believe that you would
have interest in deferring benefits from either
of these programs, the Tribal Council asks that
you respond by checking the appropriate box
on the response form below and mail it back
no later than September 15, 1999. The Tribal
Council will examine responses to determine
the level of interest, and may or may not pur
sue the development of deferral options.
Very Best Wishes,
Kathryn Harrison, Tribal Council Chair
Yes. I would be very interested in having
the Tribal Council consider adoption of a
deferred payment program for the Tribal Elders'
Retirement Benefit Program.
Yes. I would be very interested in having
the Tribal Council consider adoption of a
deferred payment program for the member dis
tribution of portions of the net revenues of gam
ing and other corporate ventures.
Comments:
Your Name:
Enrollment :
Return this form by September 15, 1999 to:
The Confederated Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Attn: Bob Saunders
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347