OR. COLL.
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78
CHASTA
UMPQUA
MOLALLA
KALAPUYA
ROGUE RIVER
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
October 15, 1999
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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.