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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2012)
8 MAY 15, 2012 Smoke Signals aDeinru goirD dlomiaftes surtifaci to Tiro fee Biface will be displayed in museum once it is built Thanks to a 10-year-old Salem girl, the future Grand Ronde Mu seum and Cultural Center will have one more Tribal artifact to display when it opens. Micheaylaa Engman, a fourth grader at Richmond Elementary School, found the artifact a biface while digging in the dirt at the Salem apartment where she lives with her mother and brother. The apartment is about 100 yards south of Mill Creek, which was a site heavily used by Native Ameri cans in the pre-contact era. After finding the item, which Engman told The Salem Statesman-Journal looked like a "pretty weird rock," she showed it to her mother, Callavinna Simons, who called the Marion County Histori cal Society, which referred them to the state Parks and Recreation Department. State Archaeologist Dennis Grif fin authenticated the item as a Native American artifact, probably used by the Santiam band of the Kalapuya people. Griffin said it was a biface be cause the stone is flaked in such a way as to create a cutting edge that is sharp on both sides. Tribal member and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Eirik Thors gard said the tool could have been used as a cutting implement or a scraper. He told The Statesman Journal that he has never seen one like it from the Willamette Valley. The estimated age of the artifact is anywhere from 200 to 2,000 years old. On Monday, April 30, Engman and her mother and brother, Devon, visited the Tribe and signed over the deed to the artifact. Thorsgard said that when the museum opens Chinuk Family Literacy Night sot A Chinuk Family Literacy Night will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the Tribal gym. Dinner will be provided and each attending family will receive a translated Chinuk book and compact disc. Everyone is welcome for a fun, family-friendly evening of Chinuk language-based activities. RSVP to Esther Stewart at 503-879-1443 or e-mail esther.stewart grandronde.org. B in 2013, her name will be on display with the artifact as the donor. In return for the donation, the Tribe gifted Engman a modern ar rowhead, a shell necklace made by Tribal members and a DVD and book about the Tribe. "It's good to make sure they are get ting a fair trade, for children especial ly, because when they find something, they have an emotional attachment," Thorsgard told The Statesman-Journal. "It is important when they take the step to give it back that you cel ebrate their contribution." Griffin advised others that if they find Native American artifacts while working in the garden or dig ging that the best course of action is to leave it in its place, take a photo and call his office. "Every Tribe is trying to find ways to tell the story of who they were to the general public and future gen erations," Thorsgard said. "Being given the opportunity to have arti facts our ancestors made is impor tant to help us tell that story." D Includes information from Thex Salem Statesman-Journal. Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal number and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and Cultural Protection Coordinator Eirik Thorsgard displays a biface, the Tribal artifact that Micheaylaa Engman, 1 0, found outside the Salem apartment she lives in with her family. iliiliiiitilllllllllllf lllilltlltlllllllltllttllllllliillMllllillltlliliitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiitlllib ( Elders' garage sale seeking donations I Tribal Elders are regularly seeking donations for fundraising ga- rage sales. To donate an item or items, contact Tribal Elders Linda Brandon at 971-267-0918 or Duane Wheeler at 541-992-3254. D iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinirr nyy . .. .- -. t A f i v S . ". 1 Efliiiii(n)irfiD UDest. liDSCBIFxTuDIDlCKB iriVAvtf iiWitiV m k wan ZCO) r ; V 1r - .1 TVIn 1 cj nii To 4- nnrin -Z Program begins at 1 P.M. This event is free and open to the public Honoring our Veterans CTGR West Valley Veterans : Memorial S 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 roc ' ' " ' 'y s r i 0 v h ! v v - I : , .: ' -.. y 7 K Ad created by George Valdez
