4 AUGUST 1, 2004
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Elders from many Tribes come together.
By Ron Karten and Jack Ham
"I attend every one I can make it to," said Siletz
Tribal Elder Ed Ben. "I come here to visit some
of my old acquaintances. There's one I haven't
seen in five years."
For Coos Chief Ed Bower, Elder Honor Day is
"a tradition. This is a great hall of wisdom," he
said. "You've got more wisdom here than in the
state capitol."
Two hundred and three Elders from six Tribes
across the Northwest filled the Tribal gymna
sium for the two-day, 2004 Elder Honor Day.
In addition to Grand Ronde Tribal Elders, El
ders representing Siletz, Coos, Klamath,
Swinomish and Umatilla participated.
In preparation since the end of last year's
event, volunteers putting together this year's
event included Elders Arlene Beck, Chair of
Elder Committee; Cherie Butler, Vice Chair and
Louise Coulson, Secretary.
"It's a rejuvenation from year to year," said
Chief Bower.
Mandelas, lap robes and boxes with Native
objects, like dolls, inside went to the oldest
women attending. This year's honored included
Tribal Elder Nora Kimsey, 95, who was the old
est Elder in attendance. The oldest visiting El
der woman was Eva Watchman, a Umatilla.
Her age was not available.
The oldest men received lap robes, drums and
key chains. Grand Ronde Elder Albert Peters,
84, won for the home team and Bud Ingersall,
a Coos, won for the visiting Elders. His age also
was not available.
All in attendance received gifts and bingo win
ners received prizes including coffee pots, pic
ture frames and pillows.
"Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves," said
Beck.
Many volunteers worked in the kitchen to help
serve three meals over the period of the two-day
event. They served lunch and dinner on Friday
and breakfast on Saturday.
Included among attendees was Klamath El
der Mary Jane Sheppard, who has appeared in
two movies, "Sacred Ground" made in 1983, and
"Spirit of the Eagle" produced in 1990.
"We call her Miss Kla-mo-ya," said fellow Kla
math Elder Larry Baldwin. Kla-mo-ya is the
name of the Klamaths' casino. It represents the
three Native American Tribes the Klamath,
the Modoc and the Yahooskin Indians that
own the casino. These three Tribes are collec
tively known as The Klamath Tribes.
In "Spirit of the Eagle," Miss Kla-mo-ya was
one who "helped build the fires and gather the
wood," she said. In "Sacred Ground," she played
the Elder who threw rocks and hit the star, Jack
Elam, in the back. "I was the bad lady," she
laughed.
She said that her rocks hit him so hard that
he turned to the director and said, 'If you didn't
get that (shot) I won't do it again!" according to
Miss Kla-mo-ya.
Many described the meeting in terms of friend
ships, old and new:
"I can meet new people and see old ones," said
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Movie Star Klamath Tribal Elder Mary Jane
Sheppard, standing, and Pit River Tribal Elder Geneva
Barlese share a moment during Elders Honor Day. Not
so long ago, Sheppard appeared in two Hollywood
movies, "Sacred Ground" in 1982, and "Spirit of the
Eagle" in 1990.
Umatilla Tribal Elder Bertha L. Case.
"Just to be with everybody," said Umatilla
Tribal Elder Dilliam Van Pelt.
"It's great. We need this to (get to) know people
that aren't our own," said Grand Ronde Tribal
Elder Dorothy Lawe.
"We get to socialize with people from other
Tribes as well as my own," said Grande Ronde
Tribal Elder Gloria Sundahl.
"I like to help the Elders whenever I can," said
Grand Ronde Tribal member Linda LaChance,
who volunteered at the intake desk.
"To visit the Elders, see new faces and get to
gether," said Siletz Tribal Elder Donna Kessinge.
"To see all the people from Grand Ronde and
other reservations who are always happy to come
here," said Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Margaret
Provost.
Gifts Interested in the arts and crafts of Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Charlotte
Gray, second from the right, are from left, RaysonTupper (Modoc), Mary Jane
Sheppard (Klamath) and Shannon Sampson (Klamath) .
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Gathering Of Elders From left: Janet Phillips, Wilma Fenwick, Sharon
Hanson, Tom LaChance, Ruby Bigoni, Bernice Jensen and Pearl Lyons.
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Heavy Medal Mick Herron,23, serves America in the U.S.
Army. Due to his busy schedule, Herron is unable to attend Veteran
events in Grand Ronde. On July 26, lead Veteran Gene LaBonte
(right) honored Herron with a Veterans' medal and a Veterans'
Memorial t-shirt. Herron takes a moment to pose with his
family, (above) , and accepts his medal with pride.
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