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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2003)
AUGUST 15, 2003 Smoke Signals 5 Mini Pow-wow Gives The Girls An Extra Venue What started out as a practice turned into a family event. By Ron Karten At the Annual Contest Pow-wow this weekend, three lucky prin cesses will be crowned Queens: Little Miss Grand Ronde, Junior Miss Grand Ronde and Senior Miss Grand Ronde. And when that crowning comes, the winners will have worked hard for it. "Any girls that apply are made princesses," said eight-year-old Tribal member Nicole Haskins from Gresham, "but you have to show dedication for a year and follow the pow-wow trail for a year (to get picked as Queen)." Nicole would like to be named Little Miss Grand Ronde. She was taking a break from a mini pow-wow with her mom and sisters Tribal members all out side of the Community Center while the NPRA Rodeo was in swing at the Rodeo grounds down the road. What started out as a practice session turned into a mini pow-wow for the afternoon where the tables were pulled into a semi-circle and 20 or so visitors listened to the drums and enjoyed the princesses in practice. During the break, Nicole and her fry ft ' r Mm?: itr Hopeful Princesses of all ages participated in a recent mini pow-wow held at the Community Center, which gave the girls another chance to dress in regalia and dance an afternoon away. sisters, Valerie (seeking the Junior Miss title) and Maria (seeking the Senior Miss) and their mom, Carol, describe some of the regalia and the process that leads to further hon ors. Nicole described her Prayer Dancer regalia as being made with lids from Copenhagen tobacco. The name of a Tribal member is in scribed inside each one, before the metal pieces are shaped into the form of bells, which jingle as she dances. The idea is that the prayers "turn into smoke and get lifted up to the Creator to keep Tribal members away from drugs and alcohol." Valerie's regalia was for the Jingle Dress Dance but she de scribed some of what she has to know to become Queen. "Classes on etiquette," Carol said. "What does that mean?" "How to be a lady," said Valerie. "It's really fun," said Valerie, "but a lot of hard work, too. You get up really early. You do what you're asked," she said. "Who's on Tribal Council?" Carol asked her. She went down the list. "Who are the five Tribes of the Grand Ronde?" Carol asked Nicole. "Chasta, Umpqua, Molalla, Rogue River, Kalapuya." "How much land does the Tribe hold?" "Twelve thousand two hundred and twenty five acres." "How many members?" "Four thousand eight hundred." Maria wore Woman's Traditional regalia. She smiled as the questions came and went. She seemed to know that these were the right an swers. Inside, the drums were beating and the three melded onto the dance floor with many others who knew what they knew and danced like they danced, their arms and regalia flying out freely, like the wind. Cultural Coalition Planning Committee Meeting Held s f 0 i . . "iu is ' ' ' Planning Session Tribal members made their voices heard at the Cultural Coalition Planning Committee meeting, held at the governance center recently. The group hopes to develop a plan to access funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust Fund, established in 2001 to provide grants to Tribes and other cultural organizations. From left are: Elaine LaBonte, Marilee Norwest and Jocelyn Kirk. ffiETri iJSt m -J3 fiflfl' -'flsS1 . . HIM i j r, I' 1 ; 1 i " ' 1 ii - i J "l V 81 I . ; . o A i ..... I TY I 1 ' ill 0 4 - F l 'J Monkey Mania Polly Schuitz (left) of the Oregon Primate Rescue Program talks to the Tribal youth about the eating habits of monkeys on Friday, July 25 at the Tribal Gymnasium. Monkey Food Tribal youth Laurisa Logan, 6 (right) put sunflower seeds in an apple for monkeys at the Oregon Primate Rescue Program. The monkeys spend hours digging out the sunflower seeds and eating them. Schuitz said, "it's one good way to keep them occupied for a while." "5 j" ... 5 . "'- V' ; ..Jl.iTjig a. J..C.. '4 "St.
