DECEMBER 1, 2003
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Pleased Tribal Council member Ed Larsen smiles as he watches the festivities at the Tribes 20 year Restoration Celebration.
The event, held on November 22, was for Tribal members to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of the people who came before
them. Larsen said he was pleased at the large turnout, as over 600 people filled the auditorium.
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Entertainment Tribal member
Jan Micheal "Looking Wolf Riebach
donated his time playing the Native
American flute at the Tribes'
Restoration Celebration.
Restoration continued from front page
Spirit Mountain Casino the event
marked the anniversary of the
Tribes' 20th year of Restoration
then you were able to gather that
each had their own unique memo
ries of what Restoration was all
about.
Each speaker reflected on what
they remember about the days be
fore, during and after what turned
out to be the most critical few years
of Tribal history the years that
led to Restoration. The days, weeks,
months and what turned out to be
years of work that people endured
putting the pieces of the Tribe back
together again were just the begin
ning of what has become a modern
day Indian Nation, with all its
bumps and
bruises. But
also with all its
success and all
its dreams.
In the Resto
ration Video,
Tribal Chair-
am very proud to have been part of
the planning and decision making," ..
said Tribal member and former
Tribal Councilor Candy Robertson
of her days helping the early Res
toration efforts. "The success of our
Tribe is remarkable."
"We're the Red," said Tribal El
der and former Tribal Chair
Kathryn Harrison of our Indian
people today. "The world needs lots
of Red because that is strength."
Harrison reflected on the early
days of the Restoration movement
in Grand Ronde and said people
thought the Tribe was looking for
a hand out. She remembered dis
agreeing and answering back
thought our people had "paid in ad-
ifm- mi tZktm ftf iiipjiims'i m
woman
Cheryle A.
Kennedy said, "If we forget, it can
happen again." She was talking
about termination in 1954. The
only reason we are talking about
something like Restoration today is
because of termination.
On the big screen in front of a ca
pacity crowd of Tribal members,
their family members and invited
guests was Tribal Vice Chairman
Reyn Leno saying termination won't
happen again if he has anything to
do about it.
"We are doing the things that will
make sure that termination doesn't
happen again," said Leno in living
color.
Both of these Tribal leaders
learned their history from their
families.
"I have pleasant memories and I
vance, for what we were getting"
in the aftermath of being restored
to federally recognized status.
-Her memories still drive her to
day. The keynote speaker, former Con
gresswoman Elizabeth Furse, had
a private meeting with the archi
tects of Tribal Restoration, Marvin
Kimsey and Merle Holmes prior to
the event. When it came time for
Margaret Provost, Kimsey and
Holmes to be honored for their ef
forts for Restoration, they were not
present.
Furse then talked to the people
about her passion for the good
fight. Fighting for Tribal perspec
tives is what gets her going and she
puts her words into action as the
head of the Mark O. Hatfield Insti
tute for Tribal Government at Port
land State University everyday.
"I have had enormously success
ful relationships with Tribal gov
ernments," said Furse in her key
note address. "I feel extremely
proud. Nothing has made me
prouder than to have worked with
the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde Indians. Indian Tribes and
Indian people never forget their
history. When the word 'Grand
Ronde' is said faces light up.
Grand Ronde has given hope for
Tribes that are still struggling."
Tribal member Justin Martin,
Emcee for the event, came all the
way from Boston and Harvard
University to be at the Tribe's his
toric day. Martin read a list of
names of past
council members
as each had their
photo shown. Not
everybody liked
their photo this
year, but if that is
Restoration Cel
ebration Coordina
tor Charles
Haller's only mistake I vote
to spare his life.
Chef Richard Burr and Food
and Beverage Manager Toby
TenEyck prepared a meal of
salmon, seafood and traditional
elk and eel. A young couple
stood conspicuously close to the
dinner serving table so they
could eat first, forgetting the
rule that Elders always eat first.
Tribal members walked around
with posters that commemo
rated the day's events and the
peoples' past. Some kids used
them for light sabers and an- '
other kid had headphones on f
throughout the entire Restora- 2?
tion history video and all the
speaker's presentations. His s
mother sat quietly nearby, lis-
tening intently.
The folks from Michigan failed to
stir up an ado and turned out to be
just nice people who wanted to visit
with family and share in a good
meal.
People snuck out to have a
smoke. Some people snuck out to
play a nickel machine and others
needed to check the civil war score.
Restoration Governor Vic Atiyeh
didn't make it, but former Tribal
Chairman Mark Mercier shared his
thoughts about all that the Tribe
had achieved and he remarked that
he was getting older. Since he was
on the stage he didn't hear the
women in the audience remark on
his good looks.
"I can only wonder where the
Tribe will be in another 20 years ..."
said Mercier.
When I left, Crystal Gayle was
getting ready to play and I was
worrying what possible trouble
could be coming from the interview
Tribal Elder Dean Mercier was last
seen doing with that brand new
Statesman Journal reporter. I'm
sure I'll find out. B
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