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November L i I
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A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
November 1, 1999
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Under continuing legislative conflicts, 180 ancient Grand Ronde
grandmothers and grandfathers will finally return to Mother Earth.
By Amanda Siestreem
Last month, the Cultural Resource
Protection department successfully
reclaimed from museums the re
mains of 180 men, women, and
children who had been stolen
from their original burial places
and incarcerated in museum
vaults. These people represent
only a small fraction of ancestors
who still remain in various mu
seums, institutions and private col
lections all over the United States
and around the world. Current leg
islation may affect the Tribe's future
claims. However, in the face of this
great struggle tribal members pause
for a moment to bury these ances
tors and rejoice in a small victory.
Many ancestors will now be laid to
rest, but there is more work to be
done.
"Hundreds of thousands of Native
I
dead were taken from North Ameri
can Indian graves, burial mounds
and cemeteries," said Walter Echo
Hawk of the Native American Rights
Fund.
Such procedure was justified by
the scientific community's interest
University of Oregon Library
Received on: 11-02-99
Smoke signals
and the grave robbers' greed. No re
gard was given to the sacred nature
of a human burial, the culture in
which those burials were seated, or
the essential civil liberties intrinsic
to every human being.
"The major policy achievement and
The Cultural
Resource
Protection staff
recently made a
trip to Chicago's
Field Museum,
where they
inventoried
bone carvings
and paint bowls,
like the ones
seen here.
Photos by Lindy Trolan
the hardest-fought battle in the de
velopment of the repatriation laws
has been the humanization of Na
tive peoples the legal recognition
that we, too, have the human right
to get buried and stay buried, to re
continued on page 2
Oregon Commission names Kathryn Harrison
as one of three 'Women of Achievement'
Award recognizes Harrison's work on behalf of the Grand Ronde Tribe
Tribal Council Chairwoman Kath
ryn Harrison has been named one
of three "Women of Achievement" for
Oregon by the Oregon Commission
for Women.
Harrison earned the honor
through her work for the advance
ment of the Grand Ronde Tribe, in
cluding serving 19 years on the
Tribal Council and being the first
woman elected to chair the Council.
The commission applauded Harri
son's role in helping to turn things
around for the Tribe, including re
gaining federal recognition, negoti
ating an innovative gaming compact
with the state of Oregon and under
taking new social programs to assist
tribal members.
The commission also noted Harr
ison's work with non-tribal groups, in
cluding the Women's Political Caucus
and the League of Women Voters.
"The Commission for Women is
dedicated to diversity and improv
ing the lives of women in Oregon.
That's what makes this honor so
very special," said Harrison.
Harrison and the two other award
recipients Avel Gordly and
Katherine Huff O'Neil of Portland
were honored at a banquet held
Oct. 16 in the Oregon Convention
Center ballroom in Portland. The
Commission for Women received 26
nominations from most regions of
the state.
Gordly is a state senator repre
senting North and Northeast Port
land. She is the first African Ameri
can woman to be elected to the Or
egon State Senate. Katherine Huff
O'Neil, an attorney, is best known
for her work to promote the ad
vancement of women and minorities
in the legal profession.
Former Gov. Barbara Roberts was
the keynote speaker, and the event
was emceed by Margie Boule, a col
umnist at The Oregonian.
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
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During her acceptance speech,
Harrison described her personal
struggles as a daughter, wife and
mother, as well as the struggles
faced by the Grand Ronde Tribe and
other Native peoples. She talked
about her belief in God and her dedi
cation to her children she is a
mother of 10, grandmother of 11,
and great-grandmother of 12.
"It's an honor for me to be chosen
out of a field of so many women,"
said Harrison. "But a person doesn't
achieve anything alone. I work with
a good team that includes God, my
family, and my fellow Tribal Coun
cil members."
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Kathryn Harrison
"I have seen first-hand how Kath
ryn uses her deep-rooted belief in her
Tribe to bring substantial improve
ments to the Confederated Tribes of
continued on page 4
Projects right on schedule
The Elder Housing complex (pictured above) is coming right along, with a lot
of work already completed. Many Elders who choose to live in the complex
will have a great view of Spirit Mountain. Also scheduled for completion in the
next few weeks is the Community Center expansion. Photo by Kim Mueller
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