Smoke Signals Tomanowos 5
JULY 1,2010
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By Dean Rhodes
S motet Signal editor
On Wednesday, June 16, American Museum of Natural History
staff interviewed Tribal member and Tribal Cultural Resources De
partment Manager David Lewis, Tribal member and Tribal Youth
Education Culture Specialist Travis Mercier, Tribal member and
museum intern Santiago Atanacio, Tribal Elder and Tribal Council
member June Sell-Sherer and former Tribal Chairwoman Kathryn
I larrison about Tomanowos cultural importance to the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde and their experiences visiting Tomanowos.
Some of the quotes are featured below:
" was at the University of Or
egon for many years pursuing my
degree and they have a replica
of Tomanowos there, outside the
museum. It is almost exactly the
same. ...
"But when I walked into the
room, I could feel the power of
Tomanowos. It is the reason why
we are all here. Tomanowos has
a draw to the Grand Ronde Tribe
because many of the Tribes that Photo, by MtcheiieAiaimo
came to Grand Ronde looked at Tomanowos as a sacred object. ...
"For many years I thought this agreement was a mistake. We were
spending a lot of money on a rock from the Willamette Valley. ... But
then I've seen the relationship that it has built between the Tribe
and museum, and how it inspires people to do wonderful things on
behalf of the Tribe. I really do appreciate this relationship (between
the Tribe and museum) now. ... It is actually something we can all
learn from."
Tribal Cultural Resources Department Manager
David Lewis, who was on his first visit to Tomanowos
"My ancestors were involved
in some of the original cer
emonies that went on with
Tomanowos. They used it for
not only spiritual healing,
but for physical well-being. ...
It's like I'm in the presence of
something that has been here
for so long. It's been through
so much. ... For it to land in
that particular spot and for
our people to be able to take
part in that experience to me
is really important. It forms
It is
the basis for why we are here today, because of Tomanowos.
such an important thing.
"I'm happy we made the agreement. We came together under what
could have been a very contentious situation because we came here
hoping to repatriate. ... It is better that it be left here. Forget NAG
PRA and we're going to form an agreement that is the best thing
right now for Tomanowos and us. ... It (the internship program) is
very valuable. I've learned so much from it. Every intern who has at
tended has said it is a life-changing experience. ...It has profoundly
affected their lives."
Tribal Council member June Sell-Sherer,
who was making her third visit to
Tomanowos and was on Tribal Council
when the agreement was signed in 2000
"When you walk into the room, it
definitely has a presence about it. And
I think that that is probably the same
for any visitor to the museum. It tends
to vibrate on its pedestal. ...
"A lot of our teachings tell us to
listen to these old things; listen to
the trees, mountains and rocks. It
has all of our creation stories. It has
been there or as long and much
longer than our peoples. It's like
sitting there with an Elder and them having a lot of information. We
need to remember how to listen to what it has to say.
"The agreement has been a good thing. It has enabled a lot of oppor
tunity for our young people to come back here'and be able to experience
the internship. To see it in a different context, I think they get more out
of it. If it was at home, they would not get that whole experience. ...
"When you come here and see it as a centerpiece of the museum, you re
alize that it is much bigger than just us, much bigger than the Tribe."
Tribal Youth Education Culture Specialist Travis Mercier,
who was chaperoning Tribal interns in New York City
"When I first heard about it, it was
really just a rock. It really wasn't
anything else. ... Then, getting
ready for the internship, I found out
that our people really believed that
it was sent to us to help us, and that
it has a lot of power.
"It was like chilling ... like goose
bumps. It (the ceremony) was
really powerful. When Kathryn
(Harrison) spoke I just got chills
when she was speaking about the connection between our people and
the meteorite. It was really breathtaking. ...
"It makes me want to stay culturally involved forever."
K - . i--Tribal intern Santiago Atanacio, 18
"It's been really a great fulfill
ment for me by being part of a
great team to make this agree
ment and as it gradually got
larger and larger, and became
more visible, and to hear the
youth tell about their experiences
to each other. It's a good feeling of
accomplishment for me.
"I never in my life thought I would be in New York City, but to come
each time and see the same people, to get better acquainted, it's been
a very great experience for me.
"It's hard to explain. It was a feeling as though if we didn't fight for
it, we'd be giving up something sacred that our people had used since
time immemorial. It turned out to be the right thing to do because we
had other priorities for our people, housing and different things.
"Native people feel everything has a spirit. To come in and actually
see and touch something that your ancestors and other Tribal people
have used, it was like it was speaking to me, saying, 'I've been waiting
a long time for you, my people.' ...
"It's very spiritual. It's like a person going to church and having
their soul saved. ... I think the last time lever make a trip and know
it's my last, I will shed a few tears. "
Former Tribal Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison,
who was making her ninth visit to Tomanowos
venerated site the World Trade
Towers, brought down by terrorists
on Sept. 11, 2001.
The experience was moving for
Tribal Elder and Vietnam-era
Army veteran Raymond Petite, who
was somber and speechless looking
out at the construction site where
about 3,000 Americans lost their
lives almost nine years ago.
During lunch at a nearby restau
rant, Tribal Council member Wink
Soderberg remembered when he
visited New York City as a mem
ber of the Navy in the 1950s. He
recalled going to see baseball games
at long-gone parks, such as Ebbets
Field and the Polo Grounds.
"I think this is great," Soderberg
said. "I've seen more of New York in
two days than when I visited here
in the Navy."
After lunch, Tribal members took
a bus sightseeing tour of Manhattan
before heading back to their home
base On the Ave Hotel, two blocks
away from the American Museum of
Natural History and changed into
ceremonial clothes for the annual
service with Tomanowos.
Soderberg brought a cedar hat
while Harrison and Tribal Elder
Jeanne Snyder dressed in regalia.
Cultural Resources Department
Manager David Lewis, dressed in
a ribbon shirt, had shipped water
from Mill Creek in Salem for the
one-hour ceremony.
At 5 p.m., Tribal members con
vened in the museum's Hall of the
Universe, talked with museum
staff and noshed on a buffet.
In attendance were Tribal mem
bers David Lewis, Raymond Pe
tite, Chris Mercier (Tribal Council
member), Camille Mercier, Wink
Soderberg (Tribal Council mem
ber), Travis Mercier, Kristen Ravia,
Destiny Bishop, Jeanne Snyder,
Santiago Atanacio, Kathryn Harri
son, Corey Stryker, Andy Zimbrick,
Kalim Mercier and Toby McClary
(Tribal Council member).
Others invited to attend included
Kathy Soderberg, Sandy Bobb, Tina
Snyder (Jeanne's daughter-in-law),
Esther Stewart, Tribal employees
Siobhan Taylor, Michelle Alaimo
and Dean Rhodes, Patricia Rhodes
and Ken Margolis of the Native
Arts & Culture Foundation.
In the quiet museum, Lewis pre
pared Tomanowos by smudging
with a smoldering wrap of sage
and cedar. He laid obsidian blades
created by Tribal Elder Don Day
in one of the meteorite's crevices
before starting the ceremony.
"One blade will be brought back
See TOMANOWOS
continued on page 6