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Smoke Signals
MAY 15, 2013
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GOVERNMENT DAY
continued from front page
f j rand Ronde Tribe oITitm cultural
tla.sst'8 in Grand Rondo, Eugene
and I'ortland.
"We teach our children how to
gather, to fish, to hunt, to make im
portant items that they will use for
their daily living," Kennedy .said.
Other Tribal speakers discussed
the spirituality of gathering roots,
the resurrection of feather dancing
in the Coquille Tribe and the need
to teach all of Oregon's children
about the state's Tribal history.
Tribal Government Day began
at 8:30 a.m. with Tribal cultural
exhibits being erected by most of
the Tribes on the second floor of
the Capitol.
The Grand Ronde exhibit, staffed
by Public Affairs Director Siobhan
Tuylor and Acting Administrative
Assistant Chelsea Clark, featured
copies of Smoke Signals, the Tribe's
ceded lands map and handouts pre
pared by the newly formed Land &
Culture Department. Off to the side
were picture collages of the Tribe's
Chinuk Language Program.
Land & Culture Department
employees were out in force, in
cluding Manager Jan Looking
Wolf Reibach, Cultural Protection
Program Compliance Technician
Melisa Chandler, Ceded Lands
Program Environmental Resource
Specialist Brandy Humphreys and
Cultural Education and Outreach
Program Manager Kathy Cole.
In addition, all nine Tribal Coun
cil members attended the event.
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn
Leno carried in the Grand Ronde
flag during the opening ceremony
as the All Nations drum played.
Shortly thereafter, Leno welcomed
attendees to the traditional home
lands of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde.
"As we look to celebrate our 30
years of Restoration since Termina
tion this November, it is humbling
to see how far we have come in such
a relatively short amount of time,"
Leno said.
Leno reminded attendees that
Salem is part of the vast land ceded
by the Grand Ronde Tribes as part
of the Willamette Valley Treaty.
"We hope today will give you a
chance to learn something new
about our culture, as well as an
opportunity to appreciate our sov-
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Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno carries in the Tribal flag during the opening ceremony for Tribal Government Day
at the State Capitol in Salem on Thursday, May 9.
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A group, including Grand Ronde Tribal Council members, watch as Gov. John
Kitzhaber signs the proclamation to kick off American Indian Week in Oregon
during Tribal Government Day at the State Capitol in Salem on Thursday, May 9.
ereignty," Leno said.
Later in the morning, Gov. John
Kitzhaber signed a proclamation
naming May 13-17 as American
Indian Week in Oregon.
"Teaching children today in the
old ways of culture, dance and first
foods strengthens them and guides
their values as they become our
leaders tomorrow," Kitzhaber said
while reading the proclamation.
"All Oregonians can learn from the
rich heritage and proud history of
Oregon's Native people that demon
strate how far we have come. Our
children today will soon become the
next generation entrusted with the
future of us as Elders, of our lands
and of our state."
Kitzhaber stumbled in trying
to read the proclamation and bor
rowed glasses from Tribal Council
member Kathleen Tom to finish his
recitation.
"Sixty-six and almost blind,"
Kitzhaber joked as he accepted the
glasses from Tom.
"Governor, you look good in Ver
sace," Tom quipped after Kitzhaber
finished reading the proclamation.
About 20 Grand Ronde drum
mers and dancers led attendees
out of the Governor's Office after
the signing, down the stairs of the
Capitol and outside, where they
drummed and performed several
dances for onlookers on the steps
of the Capitol.
Drummers included Bobby Mer
cier, Gregg Leno, Greg Archuleta,
Jordan Mercier, Nakoa Mercier,
Kaikanim Mercier and Izaiah Fish
er. Dancers included Kyoni Mer
cier, Raven Harmon, SuSun Fisher,
Andrea and Kayla Grijalva and
Zoey Holsclaw.
At noon, the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde and Spirit Moun
tain Casino staff served a lunch of
beef sliders with all the side fixings
and salmon on crostini to state em
ployees, legislators and guests.
Other Tribal members and em
ployees in attendance included
General Manager Mark Johnston,
Education Department Manager
April Campbell, Acting Grand
Ronde Tribal Housing Authority
Director Shonn Leno, Housing Au
thority Board member Alton Butler
and Tribal lobbyist Justin Martin.
Tribal Government Day also fea
tured Siletz feather dancers, a fry
bread-making demonstration by
the Native American Rehabilitation
Association of the Northwest and a
canoe and fishing exhibit from the
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower
Umpqua and Siuslaw.
Tlhiritftl: sftOEre
seeds voDajurntteeirs
The Tina Miller Community Center Thrift Store, 110 B. St., Wil
lamina, helps fund the after-school and weekend youth community
center located in the old high school gym.
The thrift store is seeking volunteers who can help run the store, in
addition to donated items and customers. The store accepts clothes,
books, knickknacks, etc., as donations. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Dona
tions also can be left at the Wildwood Hotel and Restaurant in Wil
lamina. For more information on volunteering, call 503-876-7897.
The youth center and thrift store are nonprofit and 100 percent
self-sustaining and volunteer-run. B
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S03-S79-5S11
Ad created by George Valdez