Smoke Signals 7
DECEMBER 1, 2004
jribe Celebrates 2. 1 Years Of Restoration
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Young Dancer RainTeeman, age 13, from Eugene, gets help with his
Wapesha, or roach as it's called. The young Inupiat Traditional Dancer was just
one of many who came to the 2 1 st Annual Tribal Restoration Day Pow-wow held on
Sunday, November 2 1 at the Tribal gymnasuim in Grand Ronde.
By PetaTinda
"Everything has changed," said
Tribal Elder Russ Leno as he sipped
his coffee at the 21st annual Tribal
Restoration Day Celebration, held at
the community center in Grand Ronde.
ing the Tribe, downplayed his role.
"I just went and sat in... it was
great experience to be in D.C. I went
twice," he said. "The only thing is I
wish my folks were alive to see the
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"We never dreamed it would be this
good," said Leno. "Things were much
different then; we didn't have money,
no nothing. But we always had good
changes. . . I don't think they'd believe
me," he said.
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle
Kennedy welcomed the 200 or so
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Appearance Mescalero Apache "Gahe" or spirit dancers performed at
the Restoration Pow-wow. According to tradition, the dancers live in sacred
mountain and come forth to drive away sickness and evil and bring good
fortune. The towering headdresses and sacred symbols a cross or a star
symbolize protection from the spirits.
feeling that we would be restored."
Leno, who was one of the original team
of Tribal members who made the first
trips to Washington, D.C. in the early
eighties and began the work of restor-
Tribal and community members who
attended the celebration.
"We are very pleased to be able to
provide this gathering in honor of
those who worked so hard to restore
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Leaders Tribal Veterans Marce Norwest (right) and Eugene LaBonte led the
Grand Ronde Tribal Color Guard into the arena, followed by Tribal Veterans, the
Tribal Council and Tribal Royalty. Photos by Peta Tinda
the Tribe," she said.
Kennedy then acknowledged the
Tribal Elders, saying "it's wonderful
to see so many Elders here; they
worked very hard to bring us here
today."
She also thanked the former Tribal
Council members who were there.
Kennedy gave special thanks to the
main players in the restoration say
ing "Margaret Provost we owe a lot
of gratitude to her and she's still work-
Valley Native artifacts including rega
lia, baskets, trade beads and ancient
tools, such as mortars and pestles.
A genealogy scroll that listed the
Grand Ronde families dating back to
the original signers of the Willamette
Valley Treaty of 1855 was also on dis
play, giving Tribal members a visible
link to their ancestors.
Both Grand Ronde and visiting
Tribal Elders were given gift bags in
thanks for their coming.
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Family Ties Tribal member Wanda McCoy looks at the Tribal genealogy
scroll, which lists the various Grand Ronde families all the way back to the
original signers of the 1855 Willamette Valley Treaty.
ing," said Kennedy of Provost, who was
in the kitchen volunteering her time
to make sure everyone got fed.
"The others, Marvin Kimsey, who
worked so hard and Merle Holmes,
who we all know passed on this year.
We know restoration was part of his
vision," said Kennedy.
"And also Jackie Whisler and Jackie
Provost," continued Kennedy. "There
are so many people that helped in the
great effort. All of the women who held
bake sales and raffles to raise the
money to go on the trips to Washing
ton needed to gain restoration we're
here to thank them and tell them that
we are very grateful," said Kennedy.
Volunteers Jackie Provost and Da
kota Whitecloud coordinated the day's
events.
Tribal member Bobby Mercier gave
the invocation, giving thanks for the
chance to come together.
The restoration day attendees were
served a dinner of roast beef, salmon
and frybread.
The Tribal Cultural Resources De
partment set up a display of Willamette
When the meal was served, Tribal
Cultural Resources Manager June
Olson told stories from the Tribe's
early pre-reservation days. i
Afterwards, a pow-wow was held in
the Tribal gymnasium.
Tribal member Bob Tom was Em
cee for the celebration.
The turnout for the pow-wow who
included 50 dancers in regalia.
There were five drum groups:
Shona-Ay, Four Directions, The Three
Drum Singers, All Nations, Antelope
Spirit and Grand Ronde's own Eagle
Beak Singers, who sang the Veterans'
and Honor songs.
Tribal Elder Dale Langley, who is
old enough to remember when the
Tribe was terminated, said that they
each got $900 for the millions of acres
of ancestral lands that were lost.
"After that we never got nothing
and the government never gave us
nothing," said Langley. "Most of us
worked either logging or farming and
we ate a lot of deer meat. The things
we have today, I don't think it's owed
to me... but boy, it's a gift."