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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2003)
Tribal Council Candidates' Statements Inside JULY 1, 2003 TV7 A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe www.grandronde.org mm TT (SilfTnlHIAII iff w i v.- : 'ITS FT nrirvVH -r- .L J 1 1 1 HI J CM r' i fv'i vv? yt ; htpj tit I f . s ---2 V!" L I "'"last'"' f 4 !, ( ' M . I J x AC t Day Of Education Tribal Elder and Cultural Specialist Don Day, (above and left) adjusts his name tag before putting on a demonstration of traditional cedar plank-splitting with the help of Tribal member Dietrich Peters. The demonstration was part of the Oregon State University's Museum of Natural History's Annual Identification Day, held recently. Many Grand Ronde Tribal members have been re-learning the lost art of plank-splitting, in an effort to revitalize traditional skills and methods. No metal tools are used to split the logs. The planks are split with wooden mallets and wedges. When they get enough planks split, volunteers want to build a traditional long house for community and cultural gatherings in Grand Ronde. The Tribe's Longhouse project is scheduled for completion later this year. A staunch traditionalist, Day also attended the Northwest Indian Language Institute, a two week program aimed at increasing knowledge and use of Tribal languages (page 3). Tribal Elder Receives Honorary Degree From Portland State University Former Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters. By Peta Tinda Kathryn Harrison, Tribal Elder and longtime Tribal Chair, received an honor ary degree from Portland State University in recognition for her commitment to public policy and Tribal government. She was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters at the 2003 graduation cer emony, held in Portland. "My grandchildren called me and asked 'Can we call you doctor grandma?'" Harrison played a major role in the restoration of both the Grand Ronde and Siletz Tribes. Harrison was born in Corvallis, and lived through the great depres sion. She was orphaned when her par ents died of influenza when she was ten. Undaunted, she began attend ing Chemawa Indian School, where she graduated. Afterwards, she went to Lane Community College in Eu gene, and received her licensed prac tical nursing degree. She was the first Native American to ever gradu ate from the program. A picture of her still hangs in the hallway there. Harrison has long been known as a dedicated supporter of Native is sues, often traveling and putting in long hours to advocate Native con cerns, both at the state capitol in Salem and the Nation's capitol in Washington, D.C. She has also given many years of service to the local community, working for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde as a nurse, nutri tionist, a minority outreach worker and an alcohol and drug counselor. She raised her ten children by her self and knows well the challenges facing Native families and commu- 3 Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Ok tofcrfm rKOj. uu u&M srbitn rKtstw. 'cbs ns-j rimer tv nc nccrnu EUGENE OR ?4Q3-1235 nities. Harrison was also the first woman to be Tribal Council Chair and has held various elected posi tions in the Grand Ronde Commu nity for the last 22 years. In 2001, Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV) awarded her a Tom McCall Leadership Award for her ef- 0MaK1 forts. f Harrison is also a board member of PSLTs institute of Tribal Government, a component of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. Harrison currently serves as an ambassador to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and she previously worked on a group ap pointed by the governor for the Oregon Council for the Humanities. "I'm just so gracious," she said. "All I did was work. I was always blessed by my Tribe, my family and my God." i a c i- ro 4- 0) a Recognition Kathryn Harrison smiles with Marvin Keiser, Dean of Portland State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to the respected Tribal Elder and longtime Chair of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Harrison received her degree along with 3,800 others from 44 nations across the globe.