PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Elder Honor Day — pg. 6 august 1, 2014 Contest Powwow set for Aug. 15-17 More than $35,000 in prize money up for grabs during annual event If you go By Dean Rhodes Grand Ronde Contest Powwow Grand entries: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. Where: Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9390 Highway 22 Cost: Parking $1 per day or a donation of canned food; $3 for a weekend pass More info: 503-879-2037 Smoke Signals editor M ore than $35,000 in prize money will be on the line during the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s annual Con- test Powwow set for Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17, at Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9390 Highway 22. The annual powwow – one of the largest in the Pacifi c Northwest – drew more than 250 Na- tive dancers in 2013. Dancers compete for prize money in 20 categories. Registration begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, followed by the fi rst Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Royalty coronation also will be held Friday evening. On Saturday, Aug. 16, a parade between the powwow grounds and Fort Yamhill State Park will be held at 10 a.m. and include cash prizes. See POWWOW continued on page 13 ‘It’s Your Game’ encourages youth sexual responsibility By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer D uring fall and spring se- mesters last school year, Grand Ronde and Willam- ina Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders went through an evidence-based curriculum that emphasizes abstinence, but also teaches students how to protect themselves from pregnancy, sexu- ally transmitted diseases and HIV using medically accurate informa- tion. The curriculum also taught how to develop healthy relationships and set personal limits. The program, “It’s Your Game,” was developed by the University of Texas Prevention Research Center. It uses lectures and online tools to teach the subject, and conducts sur- veys before and after the program to evaluate results. “The focus of the IYG program is to teach youth what healthy rela- tionships look like, equip them with refusal skills, and provide them with information about sexually transmitted infections so they can make informed decisions,” said a Tribal Youth Prevention evaluation summary of the program. In summary, surveys found that after the program students were: • Talking more with their parents about sexual health; • Resisting peer pressure regard- ing sexual activities in greater numbers; • Abstaining in slightly greater numbers from having sex or the intent to engage in sex; • More resilient about making and keeping new plans; See YOUTH continued on page 9 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Nate Gutzwiller attempts to take down a steer as he competes in the steer wrestling competition during the 2014 Spirit Mountain Stampede held at Spirit Mountain Rodeo Grounds on Sunday, July 20. Spirit Mountain Stampede attendance up 10 percent By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer I t is still before grand entry at the 2014 Spirit Mountain Stampede and horses are tied to horse trailers along the road in, soaking up the sun. Cowboys are practicing with their lassos. In the ring, Rodeo Special Event Board Chair Harold Lyon, Secretary Jim Holmes and board member Joy Bur- cham ride in with fl ags fl ying for the start of the Spirit Mountain Stampede. Board member Ed Ashman and Jolanda Catabay follow in a truck supplied by sponsor Capi- tol Auto Group. Catabay sings “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Other members of the Rodeo See RODEO continued on pages 10-11