6 JUNE 1,2009
Smoke Signals
'Oregon Is Imdiann Coonnttsry' exhibit mi dispDay
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Steve Rife looks at t ha "Oregon Is Indian Country" traveling
exhibit in the atrium of the Governance Center on Tuesday, May 1 9. The
exhibit was produced by the Oregon Historical Society in close cooperation
with all nine federally recognized Tribes.
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
From May 15 through June 15,
three Grand Ronde Tribal buildings
are hosting an exhibit of historical
panels.
"Oregon Is Indian Country," a
traveling exhibit of the Oregon
Historical Society, includes three
panels, each describing part of
the Native experience in Oregon.
The Historical Society created
the project, which in recent years
started out as an archival project,
in cooperation with Oregon's nine
federally recognized Tribes.
The Tribe's governance building
is home to the panel "Federal Indian
Policies." In photos and words, the
panel summarizes such important
historical events as the General
Allotment Act of 1877, the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934, Termi
nation in 1954, self-determination
and Restoration activities, and the
Oregon Tribes' agreements with the
state of Oregon.
"This was so difficult to do," said
the project's final curator, Lisa Watt
(Seneca), "taking a couple hundred
years of Tribal history and boiling
it down to a couple words."
Watt is a long-time museum pro
fessional specializing in Tribal his
tory who wrote the panels' words.
She now heads her own company,
Portland-based Tribal Museum
Planners and Consultants.
"It was (developed) for the Oregon
Sesquicentennial, in observance,"
Watt said. It started traveling last
fall.
"It was a high priority for Oregon
Historical Society that it be (told)
in the Tribal voice," Watt said.
"Probably, that was the most criti
cal component.
"My intent was making sure the
voices of the Tribes were heard. To
remind people or reinforce the fact
that Tribal people are here and that
Oregon more than anything else
started first as Indian Country. It's
a declaration."
At the Grand Ronde Health &
Wellness Clinic, the panel describes
."Traditions That Bind." A photo
of Siletz feather dancers from the
early 1900s is among illustrations
that complement descriptions of
Oregon's living Tribal cultures, their
traditions and ceremonies, their ef
forts to save Tribal languages, and
the recognition that new meaning
continues to develop because "our
cultures never stand still."
Grand Ronde Tribal member and
Cultural Resources Division Man
ager David Lewis said that Tribal
Elders recognized people in some of
the old photographs on the panel.
"There's been a good response,"
said Jaseh Henderson, Cancer Pre
vention specialist at the clinic. "Peo
ple have asked me why we're doing
this, and I tell them, 'To become
accustomed to Tribal history.' "
At the Elders' Activity Center, a
panel called 'The Land" stands at
the back of the center's main hall,
lit during the day by windows that
look out onto Spirit Mountain. This
panel describes the loss of Celilo
Falls on the Columbia River, and
the influence that the land has long
had on Tribal peoples.
"We're making sure ecosystems
are protected for future genera
tions," says the panel.
"They really explain the pro
grams," said Tribal Elder Charlotte
Gray.
Over a two-year period, copies of
the panels have been and currently
are showing at Northwest muse
ums and historical societies, and
are available to schools, libraries
and other venues. They will ap
pear in every Oregon county before
the exhibit is over. Before coming
to Grand Ronde, the panels were
shown in the state Capitol, Lewis
said.
Many companion pieces, includ
ing educational materials, are also
available for student and adult
audiences.
Each panel is 8 feet tall and 20
feet wide in the shape of a wave.
More information about the project
is available at the Oregon Histori
cal Society's Web site at www.ohs.
egon-is-indian-country'.cfm. D
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7 A.M. Leave Grand Ronde
9 A.M. meet at Willamette Falls in Oregon City
10 A.M. depart Willamette Falls travel to Elk Rock
IslandSpring Park
Noon -12:30 RM. arrive at Elk Rock IslandSpring Park (switch
outpaddlers)
12:30 P.M. depart Elk Rock IslandSpring Park travel to
Sellwood River Front Park
1 :30 P.M. arrive at Sellwood River Front Park
1:30 -2:30 P.M. lunch provided at Sellwood
River Front Park
2:30 P.M. depart from Sellwood River Front Park travel to
Cathedral Park
4-4:30 P.M. arrive at Cathedral Park (switch out paddlers)
4:30 P.M. depart from Cathedral Park travel to Kelly Point State
Park
5:30-6 P.M. arrive at Kelly Point State Park
6:30 P.M. Dinner provided at Kelly Point State Park
7 P.M. Protocol, singing & dancing
Everyone Welcome to come and share in the wonderful opportunity
Ifyou would like to get in the canoes please meet us
at any of the above locations!
THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING GRAND RONDFS TRIBAL COMMUNITY AND OUR CULTURE BY NOT
DISPLAYING GANG AFFILIATION OR BY BRINGING DRUGS, ALCOHOL OR WEAPONS TO THIS EVENT.
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