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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals FEBRUARY 1, 201 1 TGriilbe jpairttkiiipattes as AircOn Mdlge doses By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer The celebration mark ing the restoration of Arch Bridge between Oregon City and West Linn brought to gether the area's indigenous past with plans for a revital ized future. The arch-type bridge, opened in 1923 and named to the National Register of His toric Places in 2005, spans the Willamette River and is just downriver from Wil lamette Falls, a traditional fishing center where the Grand Ronde Tribe and its precursors, as Tribal Chair woman Cheryle A. Kennedy said in welcoming people to the celebration, have long invited other Tribes in the area to take part in fishing and trade. Other parts of the renewal are also proceeding in Or egon City and West Linn where the focus is on sur veying and revitalizing each city's main street. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is among 14 Oregon cities, counties, state departments and local busi nesses in the Willamette Falls Heritage Area Coalition. The effort is supported by Oregon's 5th District Congressman Kurt Schrader. Kennedy welcomed more than 700 people to the celebration on Saturday, Jan. 15. Folks from the neighborhoods and partner orga nizations crowded the structure, huddled under canopies to escape a steady rain. They sampled smoked salmon, nuts and berries provided by the Tribe. Tribal member Jan Michael Look ing Wolf Reibach told the crowd that he wanted them to "put your hearts together for this bridge" and, following a prayer, played blessing 900 Photos by Michelle Alalmo Tribal Elder Debi Bernando makes a cadar bark bracelet as she sings along with the Grand Ronde Canoe Family as they perform during the event celebrating the Arch Bridge, which links Oregon City and West Linn over the Willamette River, on Saturday, Jan. 1 5. The bridge, which the event took place on, closed on Jan. 1 5 for a restoration that is expected to take two years. songs. Tribal member Eirik Thorsgard told an Indian story about how the falls were created by a communi cation breakdown between Coyote and Meadowlark. "Coyote wanted to build it in Salem," Thorsgard said, "but he couldn't communicate that to Mead owlark," and it wound up in West LinnOregon City area. The Grand Ronde Canoe Family - including Tribal members Travis Mercier and Brian Krehbiel, and Richard Sohappy (Yakama) on the drums, along with Tribal members Tiffany Tonso, Zoey Holsclaw and Selena Ulestad all found space outside the canopies and were singing in the rain. Tribal member and Cultural Resources Depart ment Manager David Lewis, in addition to his coordinating duties, kindly held an umbrella over the group. Tribal member Debi Bernando demonstrated the traditional way of making cedar bark bracelets. Tribal Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor and Tribal Attorney Rob Greene were on hand. Taylor handled questions about the Tribe's ceded lands with maps and other information. Taylor and Greene also focused on the heritage area effort. There are only a couple dozen areas so named across the coun try and most are in the East, said Taylor. The bridge was designed by state Engineer Conde B. McCullough, the brains behind more than 30 pictur esque coastal bridges in the state. It is distinctive for its roadway built halfway up the arch, rather than above or below as with most arch bridges, according to an Oregon Department of Transporta tion handout. "You can tell the de signer put his heart and soul into this bridge," said Rich Keene, Department of Transportation project manager for the restora tion. After four years o preparation for the renova tion, "This is our moment of glory," he said. "It was so well built," said Jody Carson, West Linn's City Council president, "that no major work has been needed on the struc ture (since it was built)." Visitors to the celebra tion included Chris Davis, a retired Oregon City ce ment mason who worked on many bridges during his career, and had a pro fessional interest in this work. "Most bridges today are quick and uncomplicated," he said. "These details used to be done with man power. Today, it's all big equip ment. But when you're looking at repairs for 400 bridges (as ODOT does today), it's a different job." The bridge is expected to be closed until late 2012. In the meantime, a free shuttle service will be available for bicyclists and pedestrians, with a detour along McLoughlin Boule vard and Interstate 205 designated for cars and trucks. The $10.6 million project will be funded almost 90 percent with federal funds and a little more than 10 percent state funds. In addition, the state Department of Transportation has come up with $1.5 million to help the lo cal areas with revitalization and hope to add another $900,000 to the effort. - For more information about the Willamette Falls Heritage Area Co alition, go to the Web site at www. wfheritage.org. D Tribal Council member Valorie Sheker fixes her granddaughter Tribal descendant Azreyuh Guzman's regalia before they mingle at the event celebrating the Arch Bridge in Oregon City on Saturday, Jan. 1 5. Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy speaks to the crowd of hundreds in attendance at the event celebrating the Arch Bridge, which links Oregon City and West Linn over the Willamette River, on Saturday, JaYi. 1 5.
