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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1999)
OR. COLL. E 78 CHASTA UMPQUA MOLALLA KALAPUYA ROGUE RIVER A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe October 15, 1999 m invSihrertoni raceircr es.ComiiniiuiiiDbf ( "H'Vv V, 1 3w V " 0 university of .0 y or uregon LiDrary Received on i 10-18-99 Sioke signals i si) V, ll'o, ' HOW MANY PRE-SCHOOLERS DOES IT TAKE TO FIT AROUND A 400-YEAR-OLD OAK TREE? The answer, it would seem, is the same number of tribal children enrolled at Twah Sunchako. They made a field trip to the Oregon Gardens the day the Community Fund grant was awarded. Photo by Tracy Dugan Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde ta) Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Service Requested Fox, James CSPeeial Co 1 1 . ) Kni9ht Library, UofO Eu9ene OR 37403 PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 The Grand Ronde Tribe has committed a gift of $266,000 from its Spirit Mountain Community Fund to the Oregon Garden Foundation for restoration and preserva tion of a spectacular 25-acre stand of native Or egon White Oak trees located on the grounds of the Oregon Garden in Silverton. A traditional Wil lamette Valley ecosystem dating back hundreds of years, this grove represents the rapid disappear ing stands of its type around the region. A major ity of the trees are between 250-300 years old and include the Garden's "Signature Oak," a massive tree estimated to be more than 400 years old. Spirit Mountain's gift will be used to preserve the trees for future generations and, in essence, will turn the clock back to a time that pre-dates the arrival of European explorers and pioneers. In vasive plants such as blackberries, ivy and scotch broom will be replaced with a more natural under story, and the creation of nondestructive trails and educational signage will encourage visitors to ex perience and learn about this rare treasure. "Our people believe that all living things are re lated " says Kathryn Harrison, Tribal Chair and Community Fund Trustee. She adds that the Tribe is deeply honored to be able to protect these an cient trees and restore this portion of the Grand Ronde homeland to the way it looked to Native Americans for centuries. "It will be very exciting to see the project actu ally finalized," said Ed Pearsall, Chair of the Com munity Fund and Tribal Council member. "The Oak Grove will look like it did well before any Eu ropean settlement took place in the area," he said. Jack Long, president of the Oregon Garden Foundation, expressed appreciation for the contri bution. "The Oak Grove is a spectacular natural element that will distinguish the Oregon Garden from any other garden in the world. The Oregon Garden Foundation is honored that the Spirit Mountain Community Fund is joining us in the stewardship of this unique feature of the Garden," Long said. The Spirit Mountain Community Fund was es tablished in 1997, as a way of continuing tribal traditions of sharing and giving back. Each year, the Community Fund receives six percent of the profits from Spirit Mountain Casino. The funds are used throughout the Northwest Region to pro vide financial assistance to a variety of commu nity and educational organizations and environ mental causes, particularly in the area of the wa tershed restoration. Other recent recipients of grants from the Spirit Mountain Fund include Life Flight, OMSI, Willamette University, Raphael House and the Perry Center for Children. The Oregon Garden is a world-class botanical dis play garden and major tourist destination under construction in Silverton. The Garden will show case Oregon's rich botanical and horticultural heri tage and will serve as an education and research resource for home and commercial gardening. The Oregon Garden Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization formed to develop the Oregon Garden as a joint venture with the city of Silverton. Construction of the Garden's 60-acre Phase One is well under way, with the Preview Season planned for the year 2000. Phase One will include major formal gardens, arboretum settings, natu ral wetlands, water gardens, acres of forest, an event pavilion, amphitheater and visitor education center, as well as the oak grove. The Oregon Gar den ultimately will grow to encompass 240 acres.