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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2002)
2 SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 Smoke Signals Dear Toni Rose of the Sheridan Public Library, I was interested to read the Smoke Signals about the "issue" over the naming of your library. I assume your feeling "insulted" about the controversy results from your not knowing some facts that are implanted in the memories of some North west Tribes. My great-great-grandfather Tumulth (Tumalth) was hanged, along with eight other men of the Cascade Tribe at the direction of Phil Sheridan just after the Ft. Rains Massacre of 1856. You can read the details of this hanging and the massacre in a book written by my cousin, Chuck Williams. You might have this book in your library. The book title is "Bridge of the Gods, Mountains of Fire." On page 114 of this book, you can read the story that has convinced our family that Tumulth was wrongly hanged at Sheridan's directive. His eldest daughter Virginia had been with her father that day and she claimed that he had warned the whites of the massacre and had not participated in it. Later, as if in support of Virginia's story, the soldiers at Ft. Vancouver took up a collection "for the wrong done to her father." They gave her a bag of gold, which she kept most of her life until she spent it to buy a tombstone for her husband. Other sources for the massacre and the hangings can be found in the Oregonian newspaper of the day and in the Skamania County Pioneer Bicentennial Edition of August 27, 1976. Many of my family members (descendants of Chief Tumulth) are mem bers of the Grand Ronde Tribe, although I doubt many have shared our story. Still, I thought you might be interested in why the name Phil Sheridan evokes some unpleasant memories for many Tribal members. Although Dick Jordan commented that it's "time to forget all that stuff." I think one cannot tell people with a history like ours that it's time to forget. Yours truly, Marilyn Portwood Roll 2915 EDITORS NOTE: This letter was also sent to Smoke Signals for publication. Dear Smoke Signals, The following is just an idea, I am unable to attend community forums and intend no criticism. I am well pleased with the leadership and the benefits I enjoy. If war starts in the Middle East (Iraq), fuel supplies could become more scarce and more expensive. Obviously the casino could be affected. People would not be able to afford to travel. However, my real concern is not only immediate, it is the long term energy planning issues facing the Tribe. Shell Oil published a booklet about energy choices recently. In that booklet it said that there will start being fuel disruptions within the next 20 to 25 years because oil is running out. This opinion comes from an oil company. It took 25 years for cars to get this huge and for the public to forget the last oil shortage in the 70's, when the concept that small is beautiful and conservation was the key to sustainability. So my concern is this: 1. Is the Tribe doing everything it can in terms of energy efficiency? 2. Has the Tribe considered developing their own energy source? I have looked at the Renewable Energy Atlas of the West and it does not look like the Tribe is particularly well suited for wind or solar, but there might be options close by. Having their own energy source would be great security for the future both economically and as a source of power. As an investment, a power plant is a complicated issue but another ad vantage of renewable energy is that it does not use the water that a fossil fuel plant does, in fact a wind energy plant uses no water. The United States is starting to have some very contentious issues over water rights, Klamath Falls is just one example. Thanks, Judith Pettibone Roll 717 Dear Brent Merrill and staff at Smoke Signals, May I add my congratulations and best wishes for your recent awards in San Diego. You made your whole Tribe proud of your accomplish ments. You are doing a great job with your photos and keeping us in formed of Tribal happenings across the United States. Further, we all really loved the pow-wow calendar we received last year as it was our own pow-wow featured. The photos in it were the best! I have already thanked you about the new paper, the Council Forum, but please let me say again, that paper is so needed and appreciated by all of us. It's time had come and you are doing a great job with it also. We who live in other states, find ourselves gleaning every bit of information we can get our hands on about our Tribe. Thank you for all your hard work, Sincerely, Rosemary Jameson Roll 883 Dear Smoke Signals, Thank you for the great pictures and story regarding the Grand Ronde Pow-wow 2002. I have been honored and pleased to be one of those who are asked to judge the Grand Ronde Royalty candidates, not only for this pow-wow, but also for the Veterans' Pow-wow in July. Any one who is asked to judge others has a great responsibility to remain honorable to their choice, despite anger and frustration from those persons who may feel the choice is unfair. Every potential candidate is exceptional and it is difficult to choose, but that is why judges are selected to make the choice. It works the same forjudges of dance contests, drumming contests, etc. What the judges see, hear and feel determines the winner, every time. Our pow-wow is a national event and brings the best dancers, drum mers, and singers to our Grand Ronde Pow-wow grounds. That 22 Grand Ronde Tribal members stepped into the circle for competition is very won derful news. I hope the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com munity of Oregon will continue their August pow-wow each year. This is a public event, much enjoyed by many people. Thank you, again, Smoke Signals staff for the great story and pictures. Claudette Parazoo, Roll 2923 Dear Smoke Signals, I would like to thank the Reyn Leno, Jan D. Reibach and Bob Haller for helping pay for the candy for the parades we recently attended. I also want to thank Diane Lane, Dorothy Lawe, Mabel Gaston, Louise Coulson for riding in the parade with us. Thank you so much, Donna Casey, Roll 829 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232 FAX: 503-879-2173 DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Fri., July 19 AUG.l Mon.,Aug.5 AUG. 15 Tue., Aug. 20 SEPT. 1 Thurs., Sept. 5 SEPT. 15 Thurs.,Sept. 19 OCT.l Fri., Oct. 4 OCT. 15 Fri., Oct. 18 NOV.l Tue., Nov. 5 NOV. 15 Fri., Nov. 15 DEC. 1 Thurs., Dec. 5 DEC. 15 Mon., Dec. 16 JAN. 1 Printed on recycled paper. SMOKE SIGNALS ONLINE: www.grandronde.org ' '' BRENT MERRILL PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOREDITOR 503-879-2321 brent.merrillgrandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS PRODUCTION SPECIALIST 503-879-2190 iustin.phillipsgrandronde.org WILLIAM MERCIER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 503-879-2254 willie.merciergrandronde.org RON KARTEN PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 503-879-4663 ron.kartengrandronde.org PETATINDA FREELANCE JOURNALIST 503-879-1416 peta.tindagrandronde.org SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu nity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission. Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or email address must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be published unless re quested. SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are deter mined to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administra tion or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Members of: Native American Journalist Association Society of News Design SND The Associated Press
