Smoke Signals 7
OCTOBER 1,2012
Erin Soderberg meets her culture through Native arts
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Erin Soderberg, Alaskan-born
and -raised granddaughter of for
mer Tribal Council member Wink
Soderberg and his wife, Kathy, is
taking a love of her culture to col
lege in Oregon.
From seventh through 12th grade,
she learned about Native arts and
culture through Tlinget master
carver Jon Rowan, Native arts
teacher at Klawock High School
in southeastern Alaska. She made
carvings and moccasins, a bowl
and a rattle, among a dozen or so
projects over the years.
"I really want to give him credit,"
she says. "He taught me everything
I know about Native arts. He was a
lot of fun and a really wise guy."
Along the way, she visited Grand
Ronde and had a look at Umpqua
crafts. With Rowan's support, she
shifted her education to learn the
Native cultural arts through the
Umpquas, who now live on through
her and others in the Grand Ronde
Tribe.
She started sharing her culture
with her grandparents when she
was 12, grandfather Wink Soder
berg says.
"She sent me a carving when
she was 12 years old, which was
Tlinget," he recalls. "I didn't know
she was doing anything like that.
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Erin Soderberg, 18, displays soma
Native arts that sha has made over
the years, including a carving, which
was inspired by the pole in front of
the Tribal plankhouse, the Tlinget
rattle lying next to her and the
moccasins she's wearing.
I was amazed. When she sent me
other things, later on, I couldn't
believe it. I took them and showed
them around. Everybody very impressed."
At 18, Erin is a freshman at East
ern Oregon University this year
and is moving right away to join up
with other Natives at the school.
First thing, she contacted Tribal
Elder and former Education De
partment Manager Jackie Leno
Grant, who is Rural and Native
American Programs coordinator for
the university.
"The Indian club on campus
Speel-Ya (Coyote) NA Student
Council is one of EOUs oldest and
most active clubs," says Grant.
In November, the group organizes
events for Native American Heri
tage Month. It works with other
campus departments on events for
all students. These events include
Indian arts and speakers. In May,
the group sponsors the annual In
dian Arts Festival Powwow.
"It's one of the integral groups on
campus," says Grant.
Soderberg arrived in La Grande
for her first semester with experi
ence as student council president
in both her junior and senior years
at Klawock High School.
"I liked parliamentary proce
dure," she says, "and learned how
to properly work with people in
uncomfortable situations. It was
hard at times."
Starting out with courses to pre
pare herself for a nursing degree,
Erin also intends to continue im
mersing herself in Native culture.
"I really want to get more in
volved in culture," she says. "I
wanted to learn more because cul
ture is part of who I am. Not living
(in Grand Ronde) has affected me,
because I always wanted to be more
involved."
Native American attendance at
the school last year included 85
students with about 50 participat
ing in the online distance education
program, says Grant.
Last year, two Grand Ronde
Tribal members graduated from
Eastern Oregon Myranda Mar
key and Kristi DeLoe.
"The numbers are small," Grant
says, "but it is so nice to have
someone from our own Tribe here.
She looks to be a very competent
and outgoing young lady. She is
a delight and Eastern is a good fit
for her."
Erin also enjoys volleyball and
has been working in the Klawock
fishing industry cleaning boats
and fish and vacuum sealing fish
after school since she was 9
years old.
"I really liked it," she says. "It's
a pretty cool thing to do in the
summers. I get to meet a lot of
new people, and you get to know
them because they come back year
after year. You develop relation
ships." B
University of Oregon store
seeks artwork for sale
The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural Histo
ry's museum store, Past and Presents, is seeking a limited number
of artists interested in selling their original artwork on consignment
in the store.
Pacific Northwest Tribal members interested in the opportunity
should submit five images of their work for consideration to tracey
uoregon.edu.
The university's Museum of Natural and Cultural History protects
significant collections, enhances knowledge and encourages steward
ship of human and natural history through research, preservation
and education.
Past and Presents offers a comprehensive selection of regional books
and gifts that reflect the museum's exhibits, collections and research,
as well as the inspiration of the Pacific Northwest landscape.
For more information, contact Tracey Bell at 541-346-1574. D
Testing and admissions fee assistance
Enrolled Tribal members can request assistance with test fees (i.e. GRE,
SAT, LSAT, ACT) and admissions application fees.
Contact Higher Education for more information at 1-800-422-0232,
ext. 2275. B
IHS launches campaign to
combat drug, alcohol abuse
Indian Health Service, in partnership with the Northwest Portland Area
Indian Health Board, has developed the "I Strengthen My Nation" educational
campaign to help Native communities address drug and alcohol abuse. The
campaign delivers relevant messages and information designed to empower
Native youth to resist pressure to use drugs and alcohol.
Educational materials were developed in collaboration with Tribal commu
nity members and can be downloaded from the Indian Health Service Web
site at www.ihs.govMedicalProgramsBehavioral. .
Recreation starts yoga,
fitness classes
The Tribe's Recreation Program has started two new exercise programs
in the Tribal gym. Led by Melisa Chandler, Vinyasa Flow Yoga is offered
from noon to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday. Vinyasa Flow Yoga focuses on
the synchronization of breath with postures and is one of the more active,
athletic forms of yoga. Led by Recreation Coordinator Matt Mosely, a
cross training-style fitness class is offered from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Monday.
Workouts will consist of timed stations, max reps and minute-for-minute .
exercises.
For more information about either exercise class, contact Mosley at 503-879-1369
or matthew.mosleygrandronde.org.
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Please come join us, first class will start on Oct. 3 ' .
Come learn the Columbia river art style. Cultural Resources will be having an ongoing
class every Wednesday at the carving shop down by the food bank starting on Oct. 3. We
will only have room for 10 students. Please contact me at (503) 879-1639., u I 1' j
Or e-mail brian.krehbielgrandronde.org. Please leave a detailed message.;
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I look forward to hearing
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