SEPTEMBER 15, 2012
MOKE SIGNALS
Oregon Historical Society to honor Kathryn Harrison
Sept. 27 dinner fetes four
new History Makers
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke SignnlH eilttor
Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison
will Hoon join author Jean Auel,
movie director Gus Van Sant and
Columbia Sportswear matriarch
Gertrude Boyle as an Oregon His
tory Maker.
On Thursday, Sept. 27, Harrison
will be among four new History
Makers to join the ranks of other
"extraordinary Oregonians" at
the fourth annual History Makers
Dinner sponsored by the Oregon
Historical Society.
Joining Harrison this year are
former Portland Trailblazers Presi
dent I larry Glickman; Gerry Frank,
former chief of staff for Sen. Mark
Hatfield; and former Secretary of
State Norma Paulus.
"In just a few short years, the
Oregon History Makers medal has
earned a reputation as one of the
most prestigious awards an Or
egonian can receive," said Kerry
Tymchuk, executive director of the
Oregon Historical Society. "We are
delighted to honor four remarkable
and iconic Oregonians as our His
tory Makers Class of 2012."
According to the Historical Soci
ety, History Makers are "contem
porary individuals who have made
a significant
impact in their
field of work or
service during
their lifetime.
These individ
uals, with ties
to Oregon, are
m
t
oaking his- I A
ory through )) lt)i
cientific dis- f
7
Kathryn Harrison
sc
covery and
exploration,
innovation in business, communi
cations, the arts, or service in their
communities. Whether they were
born here, lived here or work here,
Oregon History Makers represent
the best of what the state has to
offer."
Harrison is being honored for
overcoming adversity to become
"one of Oregon's most influential
and respected Tribal leaders."
Harrison was born March 28,
1924, the descendant of her Alas
kan Native (Eyak) mother Ella and
Henry William Jones (Molalla), in
Corvallis. She was named Kathryn
May Jones in honor of her great-great-aunt
Molalla Kate.
Orphaned at 10, she eventually
graduated from Chemawa Indian
School in 1942 and subsequently
married Frank Harrison, with
whom she had 10 children and
endured years of poverty.
In 1972, she became the first
Chinuk Family Literacy
Night set for Sept. 26
A Chinuk Family Literacy Night will be held from 5:15 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Tribal gym.
Everyone is welcome to attend a night of Chinuk family literacy that
will include food and activities. Each attending family will receive a
translated book to take home. Dinner will be provided.
To RSVP, contact Esther Stewart at 503-879-1443 or esther.stew
artgrandronde.org. D
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Tribal Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) Program:
Wawa pus tenas
'Speaking for
ChildrenYouth'
STAND UP1
FOR OUR
NATIVE CHILDREN
The Tribal Court is looking for
committed, caring adults who have
an interest in helping one of the
nearly 90 Grand Ronde children currently in foster care by
becoming a CASA volunteer. As a volunteer, you will be
trained to help give children a voice during a difficult time
by appearing at Court, attending meetings involving the
child, and advocating for the child's best interest.
For more information or to apply, contact Adrea Korthase,
Tribal Court Program Specialist at 503-879-4623 or email
adrea. korthase(3qrandronde.ora
History Maker
recipients
2009: Gertrude Boyle, Brian
Druker and Mike Powell.
2010: David Adelshiem, Jean
Auel, Mercy Corps and Medi
cal Teams International.
2011: Ken and Joan Austin,
Allyn Ford, Albert Starr and
Gus Van Sant.
2012: Kathryn Harrison, Gerry
Frank, Harry Glickman and
Norma Paulus.
Source: Oregon
Historical Society
Native American graduate of the
nursing program at Lane Commu
nity College and started working at
Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene.
She became an alcohol rehabilita
tion counselor for the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz, where she was
instrumental in helping the Siletz
Tribe regain federal recognition in
1977.
In the early 1980s, Harrison re
turned to her father's Tribe the
Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde and once again became
instrumental in her second Resto
ration effort, helping Grand Ronde
regain federal recognition in No
vember 1983.
Harrison and two of her children
were part of the Grand Ronde con
tingent that testified before Con
gress about restoring the Grand
Ronde Tribe, which was terminated
in 1954.
Following Restoration, Harrison
was elected to the Grand Ronde
Tribal Council from April 1984
through September 2001, never
losing an election. She served as
chair of the Tribal Council for five
years, helping to oversee the Tribe's
resurrection from Termination and
guiding the development of gaming
as a revenue source to fund Tribal
educational, health and cultural
efforts.
Harrison, now 88, continues to be
an occasional ambassador-at-large
for the Grand Ronde Tribe. Her life
was detailed in a book, "Standing
Tall: The Lifeway of Kathryn Jones
Harrison," written by Kristine
Olson.
"She remains a revered voice in
matters of concern to Native Ameri
cans," the Historical Society said.
The History Maker's medals will
be presented during a sold-out
ceremony and dinner at the Histori
cal Society, 1200 S.W. Park Ave.,
Portland.
TaCiDODg) tithe atilto
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Council mem tor Jon A. George, right is congratulated by tribal Elder
Bonnie Merder and Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy by Tribal
Elder Pearl Rife after the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Tribal
Council members in Council chambers on Wednesday, Sept. 1 2.
ft
f, V
m
Tribal Council member Toby McClary takes the oath of office during the
swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Tribal Council members in
Council chambers on Wednesday, Sept. 1 2. In the background are Tribal
Council member Jon A. George, left, and Tribal Council member Cheryle
A. Kennedy, who also were sworn in to three-year terms.