Tribal Council Candidates' Statements Inside
JULY 1, 2003
TV7
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
www.grandronde.org
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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
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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."
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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.