OR. COLL.
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe July 1, 2000 Iff (ff
Tribe's spiritual relationship wifth the
WSDDsimefiSe Meteorite is affirmed
By Brent Merrill
The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde have signed an agreement
with the American Museum of Natu
ral History in New York that will
ensure Tribal access to the Wil
lamette Meteorite in the future.
The Tribe sought access as a way
to preserve their religious, historical
and cultural relationship with the 15
and a half-ton meteorite other
wise known to the Clackamas people
as "Tomanowos."
. The meteorite has been displayed
at the museum for nearly a century.
"I can't begin to tell you how
much this means to us," said Tribal
Council Chair Kathryn Harrison.
"Since the termination of our Tribe
by the federal government in 1954,
we have worked hard to gather our
people together to share our unique
and important past. This agreement
goes even farther because it looks
towards our future. I consider it to
be one of the outstanding mile-
For the first time, the story of the meteorites
role in our culture will be
shared with the millions of
people who view it ...
we will continue our efforts
to reclaim our cultural and
traditional objects.9
Ed Larsen
Tribal Council Vice Chairman
' ?..
stones we've reached for our Tribal
members."
Once a year, Tribal members will
have exclusive and private access to
Tomanowos for ceremonial purposes.
According to museum personnel,
the meteorite is being displayed for
scientific and educational purposes.
As part of the agreement, both the
museum and the Tribe agree to drop
their claims regarding the Wil-
Grand Ronde Royalty gets
a little soggy at Rose Festival
"1 ,1
The Rose Festival drew thousands of people even in the rain. People from
around the state huddled together on the streets of Portland to keep dry and
warm on Saturday, June 10 to witness the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade.
Spirit Mountain Casino and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde won the
Queen's Award, a second place award given to floats longer that 35 feet. The
float called "Majestic Spirit," featured an elk family nestled in the grass. Tribal
members and casino employees spent hours decorating the float
Grand Ronde Royalty rode on the float, pictured above (L to R): Nikki Norwest,
Veterans' Queen; Kristy DeLoe, Sr. Miss Grand Ronde; Shylo Dizick, Miss Tiny Tot;
Ashley Bedortha, Jr. Miss Grand Ronde; and Jenny Bailey, Miss Grand Ronde.
i
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road -Grand
Ronde, Oregon 97347
Address Service Reauested
University of Oregon Library
Received on: 07-d5-000
Smoke signals
PRESORTED
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 178
1
.ibrary
N
lamette Meteorite. Also,
the agreement stipulates
that Tomanowos will be physically
returned to the Tribe if the museum
ceases to display it, or if the museum
ceases to exist.
A description of the meteorite's sig
nificance to the Clackamas and the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
will be placed next to the meteorite
"display in the Hall of the Universe.
Information about the meteorite's
significance to the Clackamas has
not been part of the exhibit in the
past.
The signing ceremony was held in
V the museum's Rose Center for Earth
. and Space.
Also present at the signing cer
emony were Tribal Council members
June Sell-Sherer and Ed Pearsall,
Tribal Intergovernmental Affairs
Specialist Justin Martin and Tribal
Attorney Rob Greene.
"It is an honor to sign this agree
ment with the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde," said Ellen V.
Futter, museum president. "This
resolution demonstrates the Tribe's
and the museum's enlightened and
progressive approach to discovering
the opportunities that lie within our
traditions. Our agreement reflects
mutual respect and understanding
and signals new possibilities for an
ongoing and fruitful relationship,
and I am pleased to announce that
the museum will establish an intern
ship program for Native American
young people with Tribal members
of the Grand Ronde as its first par
ticipants. It has been a privilege and
a pleasure to work with our friends
in Grand Ronde."
The internship program is in
tended to foster an open and recip
rocal exchange of information be
tween the Tribe and the museum.
Grand Ronde Tribal leaders see the
agreement between the Tribe and
the museum as a beginning. The
agreement represents a cultural
partnership.
Tribal leaders see gaining access
to Tomanowos as a victory.
"For the first time, the story of the
meteorite's role in our culture will be
shared with the millions of people
who view it," said Tribal Council Vice
PUT
tut 'Ti- " '
:
V,
, v
i '
The 15 and a half-ton meteorite
"Tomanowos" will now be
available to the members of the
Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde for religious and
ceremonial purposes annually.
For the first time, the story
of the Clackamas Tribe's
connection to the meteorite
will be told by the American
Museum of Natural History.
Beginning in the 1850s,
descendants of the
Clackamas Tribe became part
of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde.
Photo by Lindy Trolan
Grand Ronde Cultural Resources Department
Chairman Ed Larsen. "We just want
to thank the people of Oregon for
supporting us in our efforts to rees
tablish a connection with our his
tory. And, we will continue our ef
forts to reclaim our cultural and tra
ditional objects.''
Larsen said the Tribe made the
repatriation claim in an effort to gain
access and reestablish the Tribe's
connection with a culturally signifi
cant object. "We want the story to
be told," he said.
The museum was founded in 1869
and acquired the meteorite in 1906.
Tomanowos has been displayed since
that time.
Currently, the meteorite is the cen
terpiece of the new Rose Center of
Earth and Space in the museum's
Cullman Hall. The Rose Center is
also home to the Hayden Plan
etarium and the Gottesman Hall of
Planet Earth.
Beginning in the 1850's, the
Clackamas and 40 or more other
bands of Indians from throughout
Oregon, Northern California and
Northern Arizona were forced to
walk to the Grand Ronde Reserva
tion by the United States Calvary.
Clackamas descendants are today
part of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde.