Smoke Signals 7
JULY 15, 2013
Coming of Age ceremony returning to Grand Ronde
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
As far as Tribal historians know,
it has been more than 100 years
since forerunners of the Grand
Ronde Tribe have held a coming of
age ceremony for girls in a Tribal
community.
This year, Sept. 25-29, that will
change.
According to information from
Elders and the Tribal Land and
Culture Department, Native girls at
puberty historically were "secluded
either in a private hut or by rush
mats hung around her bed plat
form," fasted for five days and "spent
her time being extremely still."
The information comes from six
Tribal sources living in the late
1800s - including women and men
from the Tualatin band of Kala
puya, northern Mollala, southern
Mollala, the Chinook along the
Columbia River and Rogue River
Shasta, says June Olson, a Tribal
Elder and former manager of the
Tribe's now-defunct Cultural Re
sources Department.
Together, they provide a view of
what the ceremony looked like in
western Oregon.
The information came during
interviews regarding language
preservation, Olson says.
'The descriptions of the ceremony
were very, very similar," she says,
"so we can assume that the bands
and Tribes we didn't have infor
mation from probably had similar
ceremonies."
"We're taking the best of what
we know," says Youth Prevention
Specialist Lisa Leno, who joins
many others in bringing this cer
emony back to Grand Ronde. The
ceremony will last five days.
Girls will spend the first two days
quietly with their families, fast
ing, praying, learning family and
Tribal histories, making necklaces
and other jewelry, weaving and
learning about their roles in the
community.
"Basically, it's about the family's
values," says Pearl Rife. "We're
not trying to impose values on any
family."
The next three days will find the
girls and their families at the Tribal
plankhouse for an encampment.
The first day of the encampment
is one of song and dance.
Most of the ceremony will be for,
by and about girls and women of the
Tribe. Still, supporters of the effort
(men among them) and guests also
are invited.
The girls will spend the second
day in isolation. They will get up
before sunrise, search for their
spirit, meditate, walk, pray all day
and return to the encampment
when the sun sets.
The spirit search is the equiva
lent of a vision quest for boys.
The last day is a community
event where selected teachers for
the girls describe to them what it
means to be a Native woman.
Energy for the ceremony came
from parents and Elders, says
Leno. Among those leaders is Sarah
Ross, who began looking into this
history in 2010.
"I wanted to be sure this cer
emony was in place for my daughter
(Madison, 1 1) by the time she was
ready," she says. "What I discovered
was that many families who chose
to participate in this tradition were
sending their daughters to outside
communities, but it was important
to our family to have something
here at home in Grand Ronde."
For the ceremony, all girls are
invited with a focus on those right
around their change of life days.
Speaking with cultural and spiri
tual leaders in the community, Ross
says she realized, "We women had
everything we needed to bring this
ceremony home. At that point it
was a matter of bringing together
a group of women to be inspired to
share in that vision."
In that regard, the group is "ask
ing around the community for
knowledge of this ceremony." It
will "restore a sense of tradition,
and bring healing back to families,"
Ross says.
"Traditionally women have al
ways been the backbone of our
community, but in recent times
our voices have not been as readily
heard," Ross says. "This ceremony
is an awakening in the purest form,
one that is awakening old ways as
well as our own spirits.
"To have Elders and young ladies
going through this process together
and learning what it means to be a
physically and spiritually strong,
healthy Native woman is a power
ful experience."
Also in on the initial planning
are Dana Ainam, Cristina Lara,
Barbara Gibbons, Amber Mer
cier, Kathy Cole, Kalene Contre
ras, Nicole Estrada, Kelly Nelson,
Shannon Stanton, Tahnae Baker,
Tiffany Mercier, Pearl Rife and
April Campbell, as well as Elders
Kathryn Harrison, June Olson and
Dolores Parmenter.
For Harrison, the ceremony is
about "strengthening self-esteem,
getting in touch with their spiritu
ality. As a giver of life, they have
to take care of the body. Finding
a place in the community and the
Tribe is one of the things that will
keep you going."
"It's about how to walk in life as a
woman," says Parmenter, who joined
the effort when organizers put out a
call seeking the help of Tribal Elders.
"It takes a whole village. That's sort
of what the Indians did. Becoming
a young Native American woman,
it's a good idea to know your culture
and have some advice to guide you
through life as you go.
"Nowadays, we don't have any
ceremonies for young people. This
will help them on their way."
"I'm so grateful to be a part of
this," says Tahnae Baker. "I realize
I am a model for them to really let
them have a sense of self. It's really
hard during those years. You don't
know where to go next, who to ask
for help. They have to know that
they are important."
"I have a young daughter, 6," said
Amber Mercier, referring to Laila
Holmes, and then to her participa
tion in the ceremony, "so I'll have
the knowledge to help her when she
gets there."
"I think that one of the most
important benefits of restoring
this ceremony is the healing for all
women," says Olson. "Ultimately,
healing for the Tribal community.
The ceremony sends out really
strong symbols from every direc
tion: to give girls a new sense of
pride and self-confidence.
"The fact that this is being re
stored by the community empowers
the message more."
Support for the effort also is com
ing from Land and Culture and
Education departments, particu
larly Jan Reibach, Bobby Mercier,
Travis Mercier, Eirik Thorsgard and
Olson. In addition, says Leno, "we
invite anybody with knowledge (of
the subject) to step up and help."
An open meeting for further dis
cussion will be held at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 18, at the Youth
Education building. Fathers also are
invited. Dinner will be served.
ANNUAL
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NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
FISH LAB
47010 SW HEBO ROAD
GRAND RONDE, OREGON 97347
503-879-2424
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GRAND RONDE LIVING AND ENROLLED TRIBAL
MEMBERS
MUST SHOW CURRENT PHOTO I.D.
Thursday, Aug. 15, 1-5:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, Auq. 17, 9 a.m. - Noon
ED
5 Hobo Road:
If picking up for others, the signed and completed release form provided
below is required!
No early or late pickup
Fish will NOT be mailed
Elders will have a special line established to expediently fill their requests. To ensure this,
only Elder orders will be filled using this line. Thank you for understanding and
considecatiaa-of-others.
Portland Office Sign-up
Grand Ronde Living & Enrolled
Tribal Members
Must show current Photo ID
Please call the office to be put on the
List for Sign -up
July 15 -Aug. 15, 2013
503 235-4230
If picking up for others, the signed and completed
release form provided below is required.
Distribution will be on
August 20, 2013
lO am 5:30pm
4445 SW Barbur Blvd. 101
Portland OR 97239
2013 Salmon Distribution Release Form
i
2013 SALMON DISTRIBUTION RELEASE FORM
. , Roll Number
I
give ;
salmon.
Signature of Tribal member: .
. permission to pick up my
give
up my salmon.
-, Roll Number
permission to pick
Date:
Signature of Tribal member: .
Date: