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CHASTA March 1,
UMPQUA I 001
MOLALLA i
MARCH 1, 2001
KALAPUYA
ROGUE RIVER
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503-879-5211
1-800422-0232
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
www.grandronde.org
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A View from the Tribe's New
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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
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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
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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.
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