10
S moke S ignals
july 1, 2014
Tomanowos draws attention
METEORITE continued
from front page
vis Stewart, Tribal Cultural Youth
Education specialist, with Tribal
Council member Cheryle A. Ken-
nedy providing the invocation.
While Tomanowos has a spiritual
and cultural tie to the Grand Ronde
people, Stewart said that he’s
noticed how everyone is drawn to
Tomanowos, referring to museum
visitors who gather around it.
Tribal youths Shane Thomas and
Scott Hedenskog, who were chosen
for this year’s summer Internship
Program between the Tribe and
the museum, recited a history of
Tomanowos.
Every year, two Grand Ronde
youth are chosen for the Intern-
ship Program and Stewart served
as their chaperone for the first half
of the three-week internship. Chris
Bailey, Youth Education’s high
school lead, will serve as chaperone
for the second half.
Thomas and Hedenskog spoke
about the meteorite’s impact with
Earth more than 10,000 years ago
and how glacial melting and ensu-
ing flooding transported it to the
Willamette Valley, where its rest-
ing place became a sacred site for
the Clackamas Chinooks. They also
spoke about Tomanowos’ cultural
significance to them.
Following the youth, Tribal Histo-
rian David Lewis talked about the
history of the Clackamas people.
He said that Tomanowos has a very
powerful presence and it is awe-in-
spiring that Tomanowos has been
around for hundreds of generations
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Richard Fenwick and Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom talk before the private ceremony with
Tomanowos held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Monday, June 23.
of Grand Ronde people.
Kennedy said that she was glad to
be in New York City with her cous-
ins, Tribal Council member Kath-
leen Tom and Tribal Elder Laura
Lund. She said that “Tomanowos is
on exhibit at the museum to speak
for us.”
Kennedy said that the meteorite
has a longevity, along with the
Clackamas people. She said she
sits back and reflects upon what
her ancestors did and it gives her
strength and hope to move forward
and find ways to resolve issues. She
also added that she decided that
she needed to come back for the
ceremony to renew and refresh.
Tribal Council member Denise
Harvey was attending her second
ceremony. Her first time was in
2005 when she served as a chap-
erone for Tribal young women who
were interns that year.
Harvey said the ceremony is very
touching and meaningful, and she’s
very fortunate to come again.
Tom said she was glad to see the
young men and hoped that they
learn about the Tribe and their
families. She also said that “it’s
such a blessing to be here today”
and every year that she has at-
tended the ceremony it gets even
deeper.
Tribal Elder Richard Fenwick
thanked everybody for the oppor-
tunity and added, “The souls of my
ancestors thank you for this oppor-
tunity.” He said that the ceremony
was intense and all his ancestors’
souls came out.
See METEORITE
continued on page 11
Grand Ronde Tribal members who participated in this year’s private ceremony with Tomanowos at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City
are from, left, Travis Stewart, Scott Hedenskog (behind Stewart), Shane Thomas, Chelsea Clark, Tribal Elder Laura Lund, Tribal Council members Cheryle A.
Kennedy, Kathleen Tom and Denise Harvey, Tribal Historian David Lewis and Tribal Elder Richard Fenwick.