Smoke Signals 3
AUGUST 15, 2003
Grandfather Drum Is Just Part Of The "Eagle Beak" Family
Eagle Beak continued from front page
Ronde). "It's just like your grandpa or grandma; is
how it's to be treated. We call it our grandfather."
The Eagle Beak Singers, a tightly knit group of
local young men, most of them Tribal members, all
with a strong Grand Ronde connection, have been
listening, learning and doing what the Elders taught
since the group was formed in 1994.
The original members, all of whom are still with
the drum, are Shane Harmon, Dustin Harmon,
Bobby Mercier and Joe Hostler (Grand Ronde).
Most had sung in different drum groups previously
like Dancing Again Singers, from Siletz.
"We sang in a more contemporary, up tempo style,"
said Mercier, a Cultural Specialist for the Grand
Ronde Tribe and a self -described "song
freak," searching for and downloading
Native music on his laptop.
"So we hit a couple pow-wows and people
said that we had a good sound and that
we harmonized well together," said
Mercier.
After a few years, brothers Anthony and
Jesse Quenelle (Grand Ronde) joined the
group, then Richard Sohappy (Yakama)
and Lawney Havranek (Grand Ronde
Siletz) came on board.
Former members Dorian Soltiz (Warm
SpringsGrand Ronde) and Tyrone Ike
(Warm Springs) still sing with the group
and Tribal members Travis Mercier
(Grand Ronde) and Sam George (Grand
Ronde) have been sitting in recently,
learning songs. The group is always
happy to let anyone who's interested sit
in and learn, as long as they behave re
spectfully and follow the rules.
"We sweat a lot together," said
Sohappy. "We all know each other really
well. It's like a big family."
Eagle Beak has become one of the most well-known
drum groups in the Northwest and has fans all across
the country. They are ambassadors of the Tribe,
representing Grand Ronde wherever they go. They
know that when they travel, they are being watched
to see if they are well mannered and respectful.
"Everyone knows that when we go somewhere we're
always being watched, how we talk, how we act,"
said Hostler.
The group is asked to sings at schools, museums,
funerals, groundbreakings, Tribal Council events,
all kinds of government functions, and of course, pow
wows. "We don't ever say no," said Mercier. "We're al
ways more than willing."
They get their name from the design painted on
their first drum an eagle's head superimposed on
a mountain. They went to a pow-wow and the ring
announcer asked what their name was. Problem
was, they hadn't thought of one yet. So they just
said "eagle beak." The name stuck and has ever
since. They still have the painted drum. They take
it out every once in a while to play it.
"Now the name has come to mean like the eagle's
beak is where the sound comes out, that beautiful
sound he makes... that's how we sing, man," said
Mercier.
The drum they use today is made of red cedar, a
sacred wood. It is a full size pow-wow drum, over
two feet across. Buffalo hide is stretched on one side
and elk hide on the other. Numerous 1, 5, and 10
dollar bills have been rolled and tied to the strings,
as offerings, as well as braids of sweet grass and
sage bundles. It has it's own special carrying case
and it sleeps in the living room at Shane and Dustin's.
"He's always out in the living room, but we keep
him in his case, make sure he's warm and comfort
able," said Harmon.
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Formerly The Flying Guitars Eagle Beak performed at the Grand Ronde
Veterans' Pow-wow in July. From left are: Lawney Havranek, Anthony Quenelle, Rich
ard Sohappy, Shane Harmon, Bobby Mercier, Dustin Harmon and Sam George.
If you ask the members why they started singing,
they will all tell the same thing: that there was some
thing about the sound of the drum, something about
the singing for the people that made them feel so
good, they knew that they wanted to do it for the
rest of their lives.
They also will all tell you that they could not do it
with out the support they receive from their fami
lies, the wives and mothers who are always near.
"They take care of us, feed us and are a big reason
we've been able to do it this long," said Harmon.
"Yeah," said Mercier. "They've always been to
tally supportive. We do this for our families, so that
these good things, these songs and prayers will come
back on our families, one day when they're needed."
Most of the songs they sing are about coming into
the dance arena and dancing well for the people, ex
plained Mercier.
Other songs are sung to honor specific events or
people, like Veterans or Elders.
"Some songs ask the warriors to come out and pro
tect us, and by dancing their dance everything will
be okay," said Mercier.
The majority of the songs are sung in the Cree
language. The group can sing in the local language,
Chinuk Wawa, but are waiting for the right time.
Eagle Beak members are very dedicated. They
have to be willing to give up their weekends. They
must be on call at a moment's notice. When around
the drum, members must always behave in polite,
respectful manner. They must not drink or do any
drugs. To do so would disrespect the drum, and
everything it represents. It may even be dangerous.
Like many Natives, Eagle Beak members believe
that disrespecting a sacred object can bring sick
ness or misfortune.
"It's hard to explain," said Mercier. "People who
drink or use drugs have negative spirits on them.
It's very easy for that negative en
ergy to jump off and make some
body sick or something. So if
there's anyone like that around the
drum, we ask them to leave. We're
very protective of our drum."
"That's right," said Anthony
Quenelle. "Everything you put into
the drum, you get out of the drum.
Whatever comes out not only affects
you, but it affects everyone else, too."
There are other rules as well.
They do not set things on top of the
drum. They do not pass things
over the drum. The drum is placed
on a blanket so that it does not
touch the ground. Sweet grass and
sage are kept near so they can bless
it when needed. They even have a
blow dryer to dry it out so it sounds
best. When at pow-wows they must
always stay close, so they do not
miss drum roll call.
The group always helps out
whenever they go anywhere. They
talk to the Elders, shake hands with everyone, and
help clean up. It's all part of being in a popular
drum group and they know it's expected of them.
Fans have long wondered when the group will re
lease their first album. It's a matter of timing, said
Mercier.
"When the time is right, it will just happen. We've
got plenty of songs. We're just waiting for when
everybody is here, no one is sick, no one is out on fire
call and it will just happen."
Eagle Beak members all agree that the strict rules
and the hectic schedule are well worth the reward
they get singing for the people in a good way,
being positive role models for Native youth, travel
ing all over as representatives of the Tribe, and keep
ing alive the traditions of the Elders. They believe
that if they sing and dance and practice the old ways
then it will be good for the people, and they will al
ways be looked after.
"Drumming brings us a lot of joy... it gives us a
sense of identity, a sense of extended family. It's one
of the things that define who we are," said Harmon.
"It's all part of grandpa taking care of us."
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Tribal youth ages K-5 got a chance to learn
some basketball skills as well as score some
spiffy new t-shirts, courtesy of the Grand
Ronde Tribal Youth Education Department's
Annual Co-Ed Basketball Camp. Tribal
Recreation Intern Trinity Hall (right) put
together the event, with the help of volunteers
like Tribal Housing Development Coordinator
Duane Hussey, (above) and many others.
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Photos by Peta Tinda