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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2001)
TC0LL- V.-.. 78 .06 S66 CHASTA March 1, UMPQUA I 001 MOLALLA i MARCH 1, 2001 KALAPUYA ROGUE RIVER UMzru 503-879-5211 1-800422-0232 A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe www.grandronde.org (ft A View from the Tribe's New TovwIH is of mmm v;"v.s' -fv.;- .w - ABOVE IT ALL The Tribe's showcase Spirit Mountain Casino is seen here from 108 feet above the ridge directly north of the casino. The photo was taken from the Tribe's new communications tower. The new tower will enhance emergency ser vices in the area and allow Polk County and Yamhill County Sheriff's departments to communicate with each other when needed. Life Flight will also benefit from the new tower and commercial uses of the tower may become a reality in the near future. Story on page 4 Magic imi the Air,' Baskets odd the Table Class meets weekly in the Community Center. By Chris Mercier The trio of Tribal Governance Cen ter, Clinic and Community Center form a near-ghost town most nights of the week. Drive by on a Wednes day, however, and you'll likely no tice a soft light emanating from the Community Center. A mystical feel pervades the building, as if some magic is afoot. And in many ways, there is. Inside, three tables are set up in a U-shaped congregation. To a side sits Marion Mercier, quietly humming while weaving together some junkus. Kathleen Feehan and Tony Johnson chat idly in Chinook, methodically working their own basketry magic. Kim Mueller gazes intently at her present project, contemplating the next move. And the sagacious Mar garet Matheson floats among them, dispensing the occasional advice or word of encouragement. She drives up from Alsea every week to teach the virtues of basketry, and for the record her students appear to soak it all up indiscriminately. For ten months now this party has raged on every Wednesday. Evolu tionary, perhaps better than revolu tionary, would be a fitting title to this craft class, for one year ago they took Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Service Requested Serial Dept. - Knisht Library IS99 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE OR 97403-1205 filf PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 to the wilderness to procure their own materials. Spruce root, willow, cedar bark and rush are not typically thought of as basket-making material, at least not in the minds of us neo phytes, yet they've done the job, as a quick survey of finished goods would indicate. Some students have been pleased with their work, others claim continued on page 7 X 1 -rt J A 1,', U f m ft V J- . 11 Sioke signals J' REVIVAL OF GRAND RONDE BASKETRY At the most recent basketry class, Tribal members Connie Graves and Marie Schmidt show their baskets to Rebecca Dobkins of the Hallie Ford Museum at Willamette University. Dobkins selected baskets made during the classes to be displayed in an exhibit at the museum throughout the summer. Hallie Ford Museum is located at 700 State Street in Salem. Admission is $3. CO 0) E c o
