Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2001)
8 AUGUST 1, 2001 Smoke Signals IKteEs Amy! Weteraira Traditional event gets bigger and better every year. Continued from front page Committee, Marce Norwest organized the event. Norwest, who served in the United States Army in the early 1950s, is a Tribal Elder who has been organizing Veteran's events for many years. Norwest said the Veteran's Pow-wow is a cel ebration of freedom. "Honoring your Veterans is very important," said Norwest. "Freedom didn't come free we had to fight for it. If it weren't for Veterans we wouldn't have the freedom that we have today. "Most of our Veterans are Elders as well and they are dying off at a high rate," said Norwest of the many reasons Veterans are an honored popu lation in the Tribal community. Tribal Council honored Norwest and his wife Sharon for all the work they have done and con tinue to do for our Veterans. "I didn't expect that," said Norwest of being hon ored by council. "My wife said she didn't expect that either. She is kind of the (foundation) of our association she does all the bookwork. I've never asked council to try to pay her for all the work she does. When they asked her to come over she said she never dreamed that would happen. And, that is something that I will remember for ever. I'm very emotional and I had a hard time holding back and she did too. It was a great thing." Norwest seems tireless and along with a grow ing group of dedicated area Veterans (not all of them are Tribal members) keeps a busy schedule of events. Norwest said they participate in almost every event they are asked to appear. That can end up being 40 to 50 events a year. " He was impressed by the large turnout this year. "Most of our Tribal Council was there and that gave me a big lift," said Norwest. "We had Veter ans from all over the United States here. We all enjoyed ourselves and it was one of the highlights of my life you know. Working pow-wows, parades and other events with the Veterans and establishing a color guard that is now well known all over the Northwest has been a labor of love for Norwest. The man has a dream. And, it is a tough one to give up, but he said he sees that the day could be coming. "One of these years I would like to go to a pow wow and just watch one." D " TV ! fiJ - li Warrior Tribal member Deitrich Peters danced at the Powwow to honor Veterans. , V ', ) I . X y ) . 7 - 7 Y V o; A ( ( A ' " ri - , i ' . I U ill' olx-i. i - - - Flag Bearers Kenneth "Pee Wee" Robertson, George Berry and Carl Lambert carry the flags for Grand Entry. , .t-yry .., . ft , y ) x c t :.: " 1 1 If; J. I smii I 111 tp i Halona Butler and Ali Holsclaw crowned as the new Veteran's Royalty Queens for 2001-2002. Now We Have Two This year's Veteran's Royalty crowned at annual pageant. By Justin Phillips The Veterans now have something they didn't have last year two queens. At this year's annual Veteran's Pow-wow, Ashley Tuomi (the 2000-2001 Veteran's Queen) crowned Tribal members Ali Holsclaw and Halona Butler as the new Veteran's Royalty Queens for the 2001-2002 pow-wow season at the Grand Ronde Veteran's Pow-wow Royalty Pageant. The pageant took place at the Tribe's pow-wow grounds on Friday, July 13. Holsclaw, 15, and Butler, 8, will now represent the Grand Ronde Veterans over the next year. I've know these girls since they were real little," said Tribal Elder and Veteran's Committee Chair man Marce Norwest. "Just about every Pow-wow I've been to, they were there." Norwest said the Veteran's Royalty girls serve as role models for other young people who look up to them. Tuomi, who just turned 18, will attend Portland State University this fall. The majority of the Grand Ronde Royalty Court f i. ' l .: ia ' m I Ashley Tuomi (2000-2001 Veteran's Queen) was present at the pageant. Each of the Royalty girls congratulated the newly crowned queens. Sharon Norwest, Marce's wife, will be in charge of the Veteran's Royalty. Marce and Sharon are very happy with the two queens. "I'm sure, and there is no doubt in my mind that they are going to make the Veterans and the Tribe proud, because they are very dedi cated," said Marce. "We are very happy to have them." B
