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EUGENE OR 97403-1205
JUNE 15,2012
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
www.grandronde.org
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
The revival of traditional canoe culture
in Grand Ronde was honored recently
by the nation's leading history museum
association.
The Tribe and Willamette Heritage Center at
the Mill won the 2012 Award of Merit from the
Nashville-based American Association of State
and Local History for the "Grand Ronde Canoe
Journey" exhibit.
The exhibit was displayed at the Willamette
Heritage Center in Salem during April and May
2011. The exhibit came out as the top entry for
recognition in the association's Leadership in
History program.
David Lewis, manager of the Tribe's Cultural
Resources Department, said the award "means
we are doing good work, and the local community
is beginning to recognize and understand the
importance of the cultural work occurring.
"We were asked to submit (this exhibit to the
AASLH) by the Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department, so people are getting what we are
doing. This is important because 10 years ago,
few Oregonians knew we had a living culture."
'This exhibit is really fulfilling the mission of
Willamette Heritage Center," said Executive Di
rector Peter Booth. "We are dedicated to bringing
out the heritage of the peoples in the valley. It's
a big job. And part of it is to eke out partnerships
that are going to help us do that. This partner
ship is exactly what we envisioned when we set
out on our mission: Better preserving the story
and the heritage, and bringing them to the larger
See EXHIBIT
continued on page 13
Smoke Signals file photo
The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill in
Salem and the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde won the 201 2 Award of Merit from the
Leadership in History program of the American
Association of State and Local History.
Tribal members
visit Tomanowos
By Michelle Alaimo
Smoke Signals photographer
NEW YORK CITY Tribal
member Lisa Archuleta,
Tribal Services Represen
tative for the Portland area office,
said during her first visit to To
manowos, "As soon as I walked into
the museum, I felt the energy. It
was very strong, very powerful."
Archuleta was participating in
the Tribe's annual private cer
emony with Tomanowos, the 15.5
ton Willamette meteorite that was
found 110 years ago in modern-day
West Linn near Willamette Falls.
The ceremony took place at the
American Museum of Natural His
tory in New York City, which has
been Tomanowos' home since 1906,
on Monday, June 11.
See TOMANOWOS
continued on pages 10-11
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Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Arlene Kautz takes
a photo of an informational sign
about Tomanowos during the Tribe's
private ceremony with the meteorite
at the American Museum of Natural
History in New York City on Monday,
June 11.
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Spirit Mountain Casino's float, "Love Rocks," rolls down
Northwest Weidler Street in Portland during the Spirit
Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June
9. Models for the float were Tribal members Kiana Leno
and Peter Nelson. The float won the President's Award
and was the lead float in the parade.
Tribal Elders Laura Lund, left, and Kathryn Harrison
work on covering part of a Spirit Mountain Casino sign
with rice that was dyed blue as they help decorate the
casino's float in Portland on Thursday, June 7. When the
sign was completely covered with natural materials, it
went on the casino's float, "Love Rocks."
See more photos and story on page 5.
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Photos by Michelle Alaimo
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