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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2012)
Smoke Signals 7 JANUARY 1,2012 Children's InterTribal dances into powwow calendar v 6y a-v 1 r? :jMV''-: " - -- ' ' - By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal member and former Roy alty member Halona Butler and Washie Squetimkin (Colville), who teach Native dance to Tribal and community children, hosted the first Children's InterTribal Pow wow on Monday, Dec. 19, in the Tribal gym. It seemed to be the logical exten sion of the Native dance class cur rently being offered. 'The kids have always been really interested in dancing," said Butler, 19. "They wanted to show their families what they could do." Everyone wore regalia and every one danced. Butler hopes to host one powwow a month. "To be positive about our culture, I just wanted to do something that they can learn, and that they can teach their family," she said. For Squetimkin, this was the third powwow he has had a hand in producing. "My special input is on the danc ing and drumming," he said. "Ha lona took on getting the venue together, and getting word out there." They also taught children how the flags come in. Tribal Elder Bob Tom, in his invo cation, honored grandparents and parents who had come to support the young people. "This is theirs," said Tribal member and Language & Culture Specialist Bobby Mercier. "If they want to have InterTribals all night, that's what we'll have. Parents, feel free to come out and dance with your kids." Photos by Ron Karten Above, Tribal children, including Junior Miss Grand Ronde lyana Holmes, right, and Tribal member Jacob Holmes, second from right, dance during the Tribe's first Children's InterTribal Powwow in the Tribal gymnasium on Monday, Dec. 19. Left, Grand Ronde Royalty Princess Elizabeth Watson-Croy dances during the Tribe's first Children's InterTribal Powwow in the Tribal gymnasium on Monday, Dec. 19. That's what Tribal member Fer rell Degarmo did with his son, also a Tribal member, Mahiashlok, 3. Tribal member Perri McDaniel, who chairs the Tribe's Cultural Trust Board, also was out on the floor with her granddaughters, Tribal descendants Arianna Nava, KiiUsh Kimbol and Kiyh Red hawk. "It makes me very proud and feel so hopeful for our future genera tions to see these young people out there dancing and stepping up to put on a powwow," McDaniel said. "Less people, but more fun," said Little Miss Grand Ronde lyana Holmes in comparing the children's event with the larger summer pow wows. "This is the type of powwow where kids can show off what they learn," Holmes said. "It's a little bit smaller," said Grand Ronde Princess Lyssa Watson-Croy, "but it's not rough ground here. It's fun." On the other hand, she said the larger powwows have "so many people from so many Tribes, and they have wonderful jerky. The jerky man is always there." Although Butler and Squetimkin had been talking about hosting the powwow since summer, plan ning did not begin in earnest until the beginning of December. In the crush to put all the details together, hosting a dinner for families fell in favor of a table with chips and cookies. Next time, there will be dinner, Butler said. She also thanked parents and staff, including Tribal members Bobby Mercier, Brian Krehbiel and Sarah Ross, along with community members Glenda Watson-Croy and Squetimkin for helping to get the powwow off the ground. B Zumba held Monday, Wednesday in gym Zumba, an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired and calorie-burning dance fit ness party, is held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday in the Tribal gymnasium. The first class is free and $6 thereafter for drop-ins, or $5 if participants purchase a punch card. For more information, contact Tribal Recreation Coordinator Alton Butler at 503-879-1369 or alton. butlergrandronde.org. B Exhibits come at the 100th anniversary of women suffrage DONATIONS continued from front page this event with Willamette Heri tage Center, we will honor our Na tive women in our history as well as our current leaders as we continue to provide direction and leadership to our people." "This exhibit represents the sec ond cooperative exhibition between the Heritage Center and the Grand Ronde Tribe," said Heritage Center Executive Director Peter Booth. "I'm extremely excited and thrilled to see this partnership continue." The Grand Ronde Women exhibit is being curated by Tribal member David Lewis, manager of the Cul tural Resources Department, Brown and Tribal member Stephanie Wood, a University of Oregon student who is contributing exhibit material and history related to basketry. The exhibit will follow another women's show, the January-March winter exhibit, "Willamette Wom en: Our History is Our Strength," the museum's second annual Heri tage Extravaganza. The museum's heritage extravaganzas invite Mid Valley heritage, cultural and his tory museums and organizations to participate together in one show. The two exhibits come at the 100th anniversary of women suf frage in Oregon, Booth said. "The subject is also extremely im portant in the Native community, in that the role of Native women was essential for the survival of the com munity. And the Grand Ronde Tribe has created some very strong and influential women up to and includ ing the current Tribal Council." The exhibit will run from Friday, April 6, through Monday, May 28. Brown can be contacted regard ing donations at julie.browngran dronde.org or 503-879-2186. B Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program Wawa pus tenas "Speaking for ChildrenYouth" Each year, approximately 780,000 children in the U.S. are caught in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. Approximately 13,965 children in the state of Oregon have been in foster care at least once during the past year. Currently, there are approximately 87 Grand Ronde children in foster care. Half of those children are wards of the Tribal Court right here in the Grand Ronde Community. The Grand Ronde Tribal Court is looking for committed, caring volunteers who want to help these children by advocating for the child. The Tribal Court CASA Program will train all volunteer ad vocates. Give these children a voice during this difficult time, help these children to receive the services they need, stay connected to their culture and find safe permanent homes. If you would like mora Information on how to volunteer and better serve our Tribal Children, please detach and complete this form and return It to: Tribal Court Programs Specialist, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347. For additional Information, call 503-879-4623 or e-mail: Julle.boekhofforandronde.org 0. 3 T ITANO Ut MAT1VI CHILMIN please send me a CASA Advocate Application please send me more information about the Tribal Court CASA Program Name: fho
