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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals 1 1 10 SEPTEMBER 1, 201 1 SEPTEMBER 1,2011 (to h ffl w Smoke Signals By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer One hundred-ninety com petition dancers, almost 20 visiting drums and five in-the-money finishes for Grand Ronde Tribal dancers. That's the short version. There also was a traditional wed ding and a 50th wedding anniver sary party at the 201 1 Grand Ronde Contest Powwow this year held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds near Fort Yamhill State Park. Dances honored Elders who have walked on. The Tribe hosted guests from as far away as Costa Rica, and the Tribe's only member living in Vermont came for a visit. Saturday afternoon for Grand Entry, dancers circled until they were three deep under the tent at Uyxat Powwow Grounds. The stands were so packed, not a seat was available. The temperature hit 95 degrees. Tribal Culture Committee Chair woman Kathleen Provost and com mittee member Carol Logan, both Tribal Elders, staffed the commit tee's vendor booth, back again with information about the international Peace & Dignity Journey, which is inspired by an ancient prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor coming together. Willy Towner, a Siletz Tribal member with Vivette, Logan and LaBonte families in his bloodline, displayed traditional crafts and materials in the booth. He offered background information to the many people who came by. "How does one learn to make a hat like this?" asked one visitor, re ferring to a cedar flat-topped hat. "Find a good teacher," Towner told her. The Culture Committee also staffed the wire recycling bins ro-1 "J r """" . f t r r throughout the powwow grounds, recycling what they could and re turning deposit bottles to add to the committee's budget. "The support accounting crew, fa- m I rfu- cilities crew, community and Tribal members who volunteered, the Grand Ronde Color Guard, Kristi DeLoe and her crew, preparing and serving meals during powwow it takes all of us to make this a success," said Dana Ainam, a Tribal member and longtime organizer of the Contest Powwow. Ainam went on to add her thanks to West Valley Fire District employ ees, Polk County Sheriffs Office personnel, ProStar staff, Susan Reyes and the valet group at Spirit Tribal mtmbtr Marcel Allan Jr. dances his way to first plac in tha Junior Boys Grass category during tha Confadaratad Tribas of Grand Ronda 201 1 Contast Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20. Mountain Lodge "who are excep tional during powwow," running shuttle buses to the powwow, as well as Carter Tollas, Marketing production assistant, and Tribal member Jocelyn Huffman, spon sorship coordinator, both for Spirit Mountain Casino. Patrolling the powwow grounds and Reservation this weekend were Luke Puerini, Jeremy Bailey, Bryan Fendall, John Koonce, An drew Puerini, Brooks Wakeland, Jim Pinder and Richard Nelson. Members of the patrol group drove the engine in the parade at Fort Yamhill State Park on Saturday. "We don't thank these people enough," said Ainam. "Everything!" said Bonnie Merci er, a Tribal Elder and leader of this year's Royalty, in answering what's special about this year's group. Grand Ronde 2011-12 Royalty Court includes Nakoosa Moreland, Senior Miss; Iyana Holmes, Ju nior Miss; Amelia Mooney, Little Miss; and princesses Amaryssa Mooney, Elizabeth Watson Croy and Makenzie Aaron, all members of the Tribe. "It's definitely a teamwork group of girls," said Reina Nelson, a Tribal member and longtime Royalty leader. 'They're all special girls and they all deserve it. They worked hard all year, travelling and rep resenting their Tribe, and making their Tribe proud." Community member Christina Mercier made crowns for Royalty. "It's always an honor to bead the crowns for the Royalty," she said. "This year, I really wanted to make the girls proud to wear them. Holding back the sorrow of Dean's passing, I needed to put a lot of prayer into them. With the vision of the girls wearing them, I was able ' t ' ' ' V . BMaaaMiMHaaMatiiaMafaaaiMwaTMi m tvut Miii.MiMl..,uJjM.. a y - . . . '1 Tribal member Ethan Sabin dances during the 1 p.m. Grand Entry of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 201 1 Contest Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20. to complete the crowns just in the nick of time." Nakoosa's mother, CeCe Knee land, also a Tribal member, and her family invited Tribal members to a Prayer Song Giveaway on Saturday afternoon. Also that afternoon, powwow leaders held a dance special in honor of the late Patricia Ike (Yaka ma), who passed on just before last year's powwow. A dance honored Korea and Viet nam veteran Louie Pacheco, who passed on during powwow week end. That night, the Canoe Family held a full dress exhibition in the Tribal Plankhouse. Those who par ticipated included Tribal members Kyoni Mercier, Andrea Grijalva, Kayla Grijalva, Kimberly Roybal, Santiago Atanacio, Nick Atanacio, Kalene Contreras, Kimberly Con treras, Bobby Mercier, Kai Kanim Mercier, Jacob Holmes, Tammy Fisher, Nakoa Mercier, Izaiah Fisher, SuSun Fisher, Cristina Lara, Carmella Rojas, Lisa Leno, Mataya Holmes, Tianna Holmes, Dana Leno-Ainam, Justice Ainam, Nya Ainam, Anesia Ainam, Janel Lara, Jenevieve Davis, James Davis, Alexis Contreras, Damien Findley, Chris Contreras, Beryle Contreras, Brian Krehbiel, Kai liyah Krehbiel, Ali Holsclaw, Zoey Holsclaw, Teri Mercier, Kaleigh Simi, Shannon Simi, Dominik Bri ant, Shannon Stanton, Lio Norwest and Shantell Ulestad. At the Tribal Housing Authority booth, Housing Services Special ist Deborah Kroeker had the site plan for Elders' Housing Phase II available. m www , , , S 1X7' cT, Wearing Traditional regalia, Tribal member Deitrich Peters dances during Grand Entry of tha Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronda 201 1 Contest Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Friday, Aug. 19. Photos by Michelle Alaimo The Community Health Plan's Diabetomic Health Group tested 75 members from the Shasta Health Plan at the powwow over the week end, said Wellness Program Man ager Bonnie Mercier, wearing yet another hat at powwow. Diabetomic tests read momen tary and long-term blood sugar levels, but also provide information on overall kidney, pancreas, heart and liver functions in a convenient, easy-to-read report that can be shared with your primary care physician. At the Wellbriety Movement booth, Tribal Elder Margo Ordaz reported that a local Recovery Talking Circle is almost ready to start providing services in Grand Ronde. "We hope to be treating families by the first of the year," she said. The group has temporary quar ters in the Saddle Club building, where the Grand Ronde Food Bank used to be, beyond the community garden at the end of Bunnsville and over the little wooden bridge. Related, the Portland-based Na tive American Rehabilitation Asso- See POWWOW continued on page 12 Wo f .-. s "Cz -k-." ; A .. J aia.- .,,v ,il,-a,,,-)ii, ..in,,', , . -;ni, -.wi,,,,, .nMll Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy gives a welcome speech to a full arena during the 1 p.m. Grand Entry of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 201 1 Contest Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20.
