12
SEPTEMBER 1,2011
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Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal member CeCe Kneeland dances in traditional regalia during an Intertribal dance of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 201 1
Contest Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20.
'This brings bade all my dad's stories about living here'
POWWOW continued
from page 11
ciation of the Northwest sponsored
a tent hosting AA and NA meetings
during the powwow.
The Indian Child Welfare pro
gram staffed a booth, as did B
Beautiful Children's Foundation
for Ethnic Hair and Skin.
Charlene McManis, the only
Grand Ronde Tribal member living
in Vermont, returned to where her
father, former Tribal Elder Charles
Sid Willing, grew up.
"This brings back all my dad's sto
ries about living here," she said.
McManis was born in Grand
Ronde, but moved to Los Angeles
when federal funding became avail
able in the 1950s for Tribal mem
bers mainstreaming in the cities.
"At the old age of 57," she said,
she just earned her bachelor's
degree in Cultural Studies from
Union Institute in Montpelier, Vt.
"I'm so proud of myself after all
these years."
In the interim, however, McManis
has been busy. She drew a comic
strip, "Umpqua County," that ran in
Indian Country Today and currently
serves on the Vermont Commission
on Native American Affairs.
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy honored her aunt, Tribal
Elder Nora Kimsey, who is 102, as she
does every year. Kimsey is the oldest
living Grand Ronde Tribal member.
Tribal Vice Chairman Reyn Leno
honored Steve Bobb Sr., also a
member of the Tribal Council, who
has been ill of late battling leuke
mia. He also honored the late Sen.
Mark Hatfield, longtime friend of
the Tribe, who walked on Aug. 7.
Tribal member Anthony Cook
won a 19-inch flat screen television
with a built-in DVD for selling the
most raffle tickets 290, said his
mother, Tammy Cook.
"I told Tom last night, I don't
feel like it's been 50 years," said
Charlene LaChance, wife of Tribal
Elder Tom LaChance. Daughter
Toni LaChance-Stahl, also a Tribal
member, planned their 50th wed
ding anniversary party at the
Tribal Community Center on Sat
urday, the day after their actual
wedding date.
The lasagna was top-notch, and
Tom said he felt "the same as the
first day I was married."
On Sunday, Tribal Elder Sharon
Herron married Larry Wattier in
a traditional ceremony in front of
Tribal member Deitz Peters' tipi.
"We wanted our moms to be
there," said Herron, noting that
both are growing frail. Herron
also spoke of "our love for each
other" and her thanks to "a lot of
people. We pulled this off without
a hitch."
Juan Paul Landazuri and fam
ily from Costa Rica stopped by on
Sunday.
"Very distinctive," he said in
Spanish. "It's quite a surprise to
know that this still happens in the
U.S. I wasn't expecting this. I love
the clothes, the regalia and the
dancing." They bought a dream
catcher and a drum to take home.
This year's Color Guard had
Wayne Chulik (Tlinget) carrying
See POWWOW
continued on page 13
" - is';' fat
Junior Veterans Queen Isabelle Grout dances during an Intertribal dance
of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 2011 Contest Powwow at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20.