Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2002)
2 si ;i i imbir ivi, 2002 POIV WOW 2002 Pow wow Highway Leads To Grand Ronde People come from all over, say they like it here. By Peta Tinda Tjhe Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Annual Con test Pow-wow, held August 16-18 in Grand Ronde, has become one of the most well-liked and best attended pow-wow's around. The combination of a beautiful setting, clean pow-wow grounds and traditional Indian hospitality had people coming from far and wide to attend the celebration. There were 309 registered dancers, 22 of whom were Grand Ronde Tribal members, and about 15,000 spectators on Saturday. "It's become a well known pow wow," said Tribal member Dana Ainam, Chair of the Pow-wow Com mittee. "We try to do the little things to help our dancers and drum groups. The community comes out to welcome everyone too." Jared Kipp, a Shoshone-Bannock from Ft. Hall, Idaho, came to the three-day event with six of his rela tives in two fully loaded pow-wow vans. Colorful shawls were hung from the coat racks in the van. "Last time we came, we liked it. It was nice and clean. The people here are really nice and friendly," said Kipp. With hundreds of dancers and many drum groups from all over Indian Country and as far away as Canada and New York, the Grand Ronde celebration is becoming on of the premier stops on the pow wow highway. John Mesplie, traditional dancer, drove five hours from Yakama, Washington. "It's a real good pow wow," said Mesplie. "Everybody I've met has been friendly. Nice people here." There were over 30 drum groups at the pow-wow, from all over the United States and Canada. They had fantastic names like Soaring Hawk, z, Four Directions, Red Wil low, Northern Cree, Southern Cree, Black Stone, Spirit House, Eagle Thunder, Wandering Boys, Cree Star, Screaming Eagle, and War rior Society. The chance to hear some of the best drum groups around was what brought Henry Ray Aleck, 20, of Yakama. Aleck sings with the drum group "Small Town Singers" and drove all day to hear two of his favorite groups, Black Lodge and Bear Creek. "That's what I'm into," said Aleck. "I heard they were here last year, but I missed it. So I thought I'd check it out." "It's a nice pow-wow," said Algin ScabbyRobe of the Black Lodge Singers, who came from White Swan, Washington to sing at the pow-wow. The Black Lodge Singers, who have released over 25 albums and "The community comes out to welcome everyone. " Dana Ainam (Leno) Chair of Pow-wow Commitee are one of the most well-known drum groups in Indian Country, were at the pow-wow for their fifth year in a row. It's the hospitality, ScabbyRobe said, that keeps his group coming back every year. "We're always impressed a lot," said ScabbyRobe. "They always take good care of us here, see that we have water to drink and a place to stay and vouchers to eat at the casino. These guys know what it T"1 C -i'VO. 1-4 "V ' ' 1 V i (o) j h rt - tl 2 1 5 takes to take care of a drum group. It's always a pleasure to be here in Grand Ronde." "We take the best care of the drum groups as we can," said Tribal member Bobby Mercier, a Pow-wow Committee member. "A lot of the drums are champion drum groups. To be able to bring that kind of talent to Grand Ronde is awesome." Another attraction was the first annual Grand Ronde stick game tournament, organized by Jeff Brisbois (see sidebar). Stick game teams came from across Indian Country to compete for cash prizes and fine embroidered jackets. The weather was beautiful on pow-wow weekend, contributing to the all time high turnout of dancers and spectators. A Parade was held on Saturday, with the newly elected Tribal Royalty, Vet erans' Royalty and Elders riding on floats and throwing candy to the kids. The Grand Ronde Tribe has come a long way since the first pow wow's were held down at the school grounds. Through a combination of good planning, hard work and community spirit, the Grand Ronde Pow-wow has become one of the top pow-wow's in the North west. B FVN- J r n, 1 CO ! 1 J Jl 3 4 Sr. Miss Grand Ronde Emma Leno Jr. Miss Grand Ronde Sheena Johnson Little Miss Tiny Tot Victoria Rios J. - MiMjkiikiiW. a .. I bvi v !f t 1 .WR F ... .1 ItL I 1 ,111 l.lt,l J wit- t , Dittr-Hc-l a riff 11 ;t; ' V Tin -ll I il IMI I '.si i''':3 '1-4 A J Tf I 1 ''V, 1 l! if; , LLjU V
