Smoke Signals 1 1
OCTOBER 15,2008
Dear Smoke Signals:
On Sept. 28, 2008, more than 30 Native American inmates from Santiam
Correctional Institution and Mill Creek Correctional Facility gathered with
their families to honor and give thanks to Mother Earth in the minimum
security prisons' first-ever Change of Seasons ceremony.
"We give thanks to our Mother Earth every day for providing our food,
clothing and shelter; without her we would not be," said one inmate, "but to
honor her in this way, with your loved ones with you, the beat of the drum
and the songs lifting our spirits, this was unbelievably powerful."
What started out a simple idea 70 days prior unfolded into a successful
gathering of Native Americans from as close as the Grand Ronde Tribe to
as far away as the Choctaw Tribe in Tulsa, Okla.
The Creator blessed us with his presence from start to finish. Tribal
members and your families who put time and energy in donating gifts
and beads to make gifts, and those who put your energy into every bead in
your artwork for our giveaway, if you were unable to be here ..with us, your
energy and your art made you a part of this ceremony and we thank you
and appreciate you.
All of the inmates from both minimum security prisons wish to express
our special thanks to Mr. J. Etter, SCI security manager, and Chaplain Roy
for their energy spent in putting together and approving this ceremony on
such short notice. "Thank you."
A special thank j ou also to Mr. McFadden, SCI's Food Service coordina
tor, and to Mr. and Mrs. Presleigh, our Food Service manager, for their
time and energy in getting our deer, buffalo and salmon and helping in
preparation for lunch.
An honored thank you to the women of Red Lodge Foundation who vol
unteered their time to come share with us how important it is for us to
communicate with the women in our families.
Thank you to the Santiam Correctional officers who attended and super
vised for your respect of our ceremony. In all, this ceremony was a huge
success and we appreciate everyone and respect the part you played in
making it that way. Thank you.
Thank you Smoke Signals for your publication. 1
A-Ho Tilixum.
Guy Gibbons
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Troy Allen Purdy
Sept. 24, 1957 - Sept. 23, 2008
Tribal member Troy Allen Purdy, 50, had a brain aneurysm at
his sister's home in Crooked River Ranch, Ore., on Sunday, Sept.
21, and never regained consciousness. The family had gathered to
celebrate the 91st birthday of their stepfather, Pete Lanning, of
Redmond, Ore.
Troy was born in Cottage Grove, Ore., and moved to central Oregon
in the 1970s. He was living in Redmond at the time of his death, and
was attending college at Central Oregon Community College.
He is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Pam Reed, and daughter,
Stacia, of Redmond; as well as siblings Rhonda and Chester Purdy of
Crooked River Ranch; Nancy Frecl and stepfather Peter Lanning of
Redmond; and several nieces of nephews. He was preceded in death
by his mother, Lucille D. Lanning of Crooked River Ranch, and his
father, Marion M. Purdy of Cottage Grove.
A remembrance of life will be held at the Redmond Moose Lodge
at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
Memorials may be sent to the Redmond Humane Society.
Autumn Funerals was in charge of arrangements.
Voiattlh) Caonoe CD no lb
Every Friday 4- 5 p.m. Youth Education Building
Contact Lisa Lcno at 503-879-1471 or Travis Merrier
at 503-879-2143 for more information.
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Photo courtesy of Bryan Langley
Tribal member Bryan Langley, Higher Education manager for the
Tribe, and his son, Brayden, 10, also a Tribal member, pose behind
a 7x7 Roosevelt Elk on Sept. 1 9 at an undisclosed spot on the
reservation. Brayden, 2008 Oregon State Youth Elk Calling Champion,
called in the elk, and award-winning bow-and-arrow hunter Bryan
shot the elk at 20 yards. Bryan was the Oregon State Calling Champion
this year in the Professional Division. He represents Jones Calls out of
Springfield.
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NOV. 29: 5TH ANNUAL KAN AWAKSOOMA CELEBRATION POWWOW. Mount Hood
Community College, 26000 S.E. Stark. GRESHAM, OR. 503-491-7277.
If you or anyone you know has information on cultural events happening. Smoke Signals
would be glad to list It in our Cultural Gatherings. Please e-mail newsgrandronde.org or
write to Smoke Signals, 961 S Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347.
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