Smoke Signals 15
APRIL 15, 2008
Tribal member explains powwows in April issue of Highlights
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Children across the United States
will learn about powwows in April
thanks to children's magazine High
lights and Grand Ronde Tribal mem
ber Charlene R. Willing McManis.
McManis, 54, who lives in Worces
ter, Vt., wrote "Heartbeat of Mother
Earth," which appears on pages 10
and 11 of Highlights.
The article starts, "When I was
growing up on the Grand Ronde
Indian Reservation in Oregon in
the 1950s, there were no powwows
only a potluck at the Tribal Com
munity Center. Old men, dressed in
black pants and white long-sleeved
shirts, sat around the cafeteria
tables. Their large hands pounded
the tabletops in unison as their
voices sang in Chinook. A few el
derly women rose from their folding
chairs. They danced, holding their
lacy sweaters like shawls. Their feet
stepped to each beat of the make
shift drum. My cousins and I hopped
excitedly, as if the floor was on fire.
And the grandparents smiled."
From there, McManis' article
explains the history of powwows,
dancing, regalia, the powwow trail
and food traditionally served at
powwows.
McManis said it was interesting
"that I was able to answer any ques
tions regarding my piece and that
the questions gave me an insight to
views outside Native perspective. I
really appreciated the help."
, McManis said she was most sat
isfied to explain that powwow re-
-;v. !
Tribal member
Charlene R.
Willing McManis
galia should
not be called
costumes.
"We're not
dressing up
and playing
Indian," she
said.
"Indians
call their
clothing re
galia, not
costumes,"
the article
says. "Cos
tumes mean pretending. Indians
are not pretending to be Indi
ans." Now in its 62nd year, Highlights
is edited for children up to 12
years old. It is sent to about 2 mil
lion homes, schools, libraries and
professional offices, and has the
largest circulation of any children's
magazine in the country.
McManis is a career homemaker
and a theater consultant for middle
schools and high schools. She is
currently working toward a degree
in Native American education and
is on the Vermont Commission on
Native American Affairs.
She served eight years in the
Navy, where she met her husband,
a Vermonter. After he retired from
the Navy, they moved to Vermont,
where she has organized children's
programs including gymnastics,
musical activities, summer camps,
hot lunches and theater.
"Heartbeat of Mother Earth" is
her first published article. She is a
,0
hi
i Heartbeat of
Mather Earth
f
& f J
JMH Mr fW Mr trU
UK . J fc.wm . INI,, w.!W I
J gjE
Now in its 62nd year, Highlights is edited for children up to 12 years old. It
is sent to about 2 million homes, schools, libraries and professional offices,
and has the largest circulation of any children's magazine in the country.
member of the Society of Children's
Book Writers and Illustrators.
In her spare time, McManis
enjoys exploring Native American
subjects, issues and culture. She
also enjoys writing and creating
beadwork, sewing projects and
needlecrafts.
She has one grown daughter,
four grown stepchildren and four
grandchildren.
"It was a dream to publish an
article in Highlights, and I am very
honored that my writing piece was
chosen," she said.
McManis was born in Grand
Ronde in 1953, but left in 1957
when her father, Charles "Sid"
Willing, moved to Los Angeles
as part of the relocation program
following Termination. Her grand
mother was Maud Petite.
She has revisited Grand Ronde
twice since then.
McManis closed the article with,
"Powwows have also come to Grand
Ronde. Their first one was in the
late 1970s, after my family moved
away. It grew from a small gather
ing and now has more than 15,000
people. Some day I plan to go. I
doubt I'll see men pounding tables
or women using sweaters as shawls.
But I bet I'll see children hopping
to the drums and grandparents
smiling."
Wildlife Center dedication
J ci;
f FIS!!W?LDLIFE
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Above, Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom speaks during the
dedication ceremony for the new Wildlife Center at the Tualatin River
National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, March 29. Below, baskets woven
by Tribal member Connie Graves are part of the exhibit in the new
Wildlife Center at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.
Tribal history class
Tribal Cultural Protection Coordinator Eirik Thorsgard will teach a Tribal
history class from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Education
Building, Room 126. For more information, call Cultural Education Specialist
Misty Thorsgard at 800-422-0232, ext. 2320.
Under new regulations that took effect January 1, 2008, all successful bear
hunters are now required to check in their bear skull at an ODFW office within
10 days of harvest. (The check-in of non-hunting mortalities such as bears
taken on landowner damage complaints is also required.)
Previously, check-in was voluntary, but participation rates were too low to get
accurate data about Oregon bear populations.
Hunters need to take their bear's skull to any ODFW office during normal
business hours Monday - Friday (please call first to ensure someone is available
to help you). A biologist will pull a premolar tooth, measure other teeth, and
seal the skill. This process will not affect taxidermy plans. The bear skull must
be thawed prior to bringing it in to enable measurements and pulling
the premolar.
Accurate information is critical to establishing hunting seasons and managing
bears in Oregon. Thank you for your assistance)
tffitf tT J More Information
', 1 v1 http:www.dfw.state.or.us
V v'y tel. 503-947-6300 ( .
O C ' OREGON
. . . . . .
OKI (.ON 1)1 1'AKI Ml N I Ol I IMI AND W11 1)1 II I