Smoke signals., June 01, 2001, Page 6, Image 6

6 JUNE 1, 2001
Smoke Signals
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Tribal members
travel to New York,
reestablish ties in
private ceremony.
By Brent Merrill
The Willamette Meteorite, other
wise known as "Tomanowos" is a long
way from home New York City to
be exact. Although know one knows
where it actually came from, we do
know how it got to where it is today
in the American Museum of Natural
History. ' ' .. '
Legends tell us that Natives in the
Clackamas area, where the meteor
ite landed centuries ago, dipped their
arrows in the rainwater that collected
in the pockets of the 15 and a half
ton meteorite. The hunters did this
to help insure a good hunt.
Once settlers claimed the land, the
property owner of the site where it
landed so long ago inherited the me
teorite." Fences were put up and
Tomanowos became someone's prop- ;
erty. It was sold and then donated
to the museum in New York in the
early part of this century. There it
has remained.
When the Tribe's Cultural Re
sources Protection program laid claim
to the meteorite in September of
1999 under the Native American
Graves and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA) negotiations between the
museum and the Tribe began.
In a historic and unprecedented
agreement between the Tribe and
the museum, Tomanowos will remain
in New York educating the mil
lions of visitors who come through the
museum doors every year.
This summer, students from Grand
Ronde will also travel to New York
to take part in an internship pro
gram at the museum.
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A New York, Rock City - Young people from all
over the world visit the American Museum of Natural History in
New York to view the Willamette Meteorite on a daily basis.
The meteorite is used as an educational tool for millions of
young people and is the center of the museum's space display
in the Rose Center.
4 Paying Respect -Tribal Elders Leon "Chips" Tom
(left), Kathryn Harrison and Claudette Parazoo take their turn
at paying respect to Tomanowos during a private ceremony.
Harrison said she felt the reunion with the meteorite was long
overdue.
Recently, a group of Tribal mem
bers traveled to New York to be re
united with the meteorite. Some of
the group was skeptical, others felt
strongly that the visit was needed
and the reunion was long overdue.
Everyone in the group wondered if
the rock still had power.
"I felt the power when I was in the
presence," said F. Travis Benoist of
the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe,
Benoist traveled to New York with
the Grand Ronde group at the re
quest of Tribal Council. Benoist per
formed the first-ever blessing cer
emony for Tomanowos.
The ceremony was performed in
private as the museum closed the
doors to the Rose Center.
"The Power was still very strong,"
said Benoist.
Royalty Girls Experience Gathering of Nations
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Grand Ronde Royalty
Back row, left to right: Emma Leno, princess; Hope Lafferty, princess; Allison
Empey, princess; Brandi Little, princess; Kandi Little, 2000 Miss Grand Ronde;
Teresa Henry, 2000 Sr. Miss Grand Ronde; and Leonette Galligher, Royalty
Advisor. Front row, left to right: Nicole Haskins, princess; Maria Haskins, prin
cess; Leah Brisbois, 2000 Jr. Miss Grand Ronde; and Kimberly Roybal, princess.
':'"' pH5fos BY JOANN EMPEY
The Grand Ronde Royalty attended the 18th Annual Gathering of Nations Pow-wow
on April 26-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were thousands of Native Ameri
cans and visitors that attended the three day event. Drummers, singers and dancers
participated and competed for $125,000 in prize money.
Royalty is selling raffle tickets to help raise money to support their efforts of
representing the Tribe throughout the year. The drawing will be held at the annual
Grand Ronde Contest Pow-wow on August 17-19. Some of the prizes include: vaca
tion package for two worth $800 and $300 cash, DVD player, Pendleton blankets and
jacket, $100 cash, beadwork and much more. Tickets are $1 each. Contact a mem
ber of Royalty for tickets or call Leonette at 503-879-5017.