4
S moke S ignals
october 1, 2014
Community invited to Restoration
Powwow; Potlatch donations sought
2009 – A smoldering effort by the American Lung Association to
expand Oregon’s smoking ban in restaurants and bars to Native
American casinos would affect less than 40 percent of Spirit Mountain
Casino. “We’re trending that way anyway,” Tribal lobbyist Justin
Martin said. “Other than the gaming floor and a little bit of hotel
space, Spirit Mountain is practically smoke-free.”
2004 – A Tribal satellite office
opened in Portland at 3312 S.W.
Kelly Ave. “This office will serve
as a gateway to any services need-
ed,” said Vocational Rehabilita-
tion Specialist Jon A. George. The
grand opening ceremony drew a
crowd of about 150 people.
1999 – Robert Martin was hired
as the Tribe’s new executive of-
File photo
ficer. Martin had worked for the
Wampanoag Tribe in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., and the Ponca Tribe
in Nebraska. He grew up in Wolf Point, Mont., on the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation and was of Assinibione and Sioux heritage.
1994 – Polk County Deputy Tom O’Brien was patrolling the Grand
Ronde area as part of an agreement the Tribe had reached with the
Polk County Board of Commissioners on law enforcement in early
August. He was working out of the Public Works Department until
a permanent office was completed.
1989 – Smoke Signals and Tribal archives do not have a copy of
the October 1989 edition.
1984 – The first Restoration Celebration was held on Oct. 6 at
St. Michael’s Church cafeteria. More than 1,000 attended to hear
keynote speaker Rep. Les AuCoin. He gifted the Tribe a framed and
mounted copy of the Grand Ronde Restoration Act and received a
resounding standing ovation.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year incre-
ments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Elders’ phone numbers wanted
The Tribal Elders Committee is compiling a volunteer phone list of
Elders. If you would like to submit your phone number and address to be
available to other Elders, send it to elders.committee@grandronde.org or
leave a message at 503-879-2231. n
The Tribe’s Culture Committee
will be hosting this year’s Restora-
tion Powwow on Saturday, Nov.
22.
The powwow will begin with a
Grand Entry shortly after the tra-
ditional Restoration dinner celebra-
tion has ended about 2 p.m.
“We need to remember how we
did it before Restoration,” says
Culture Committee member and
Elder Margaret Provost. “We never
used to have these big powwows. It
would be a gathering where people
would come together and some
people would drum and dance, and
we would have a dinner and then
there would be a giveaway.”
It is that tradition that the 2014
Restoration Powwow will honor.
Community and family are the
focus, with opportunities to honor
the Elders and loved ones who have
played important roles in the Res-
toration of the Grand Ronde Tribe.
There also will be a Potlatch (give-
away) sponsored by the Culture
Committee.
“The Culture Committee wants
to honor everyone with a giveaway
and I believe we should all come
together and just be together in a
good way to share this time,” com-
mittee member and Elder Linda
Brandon says. “Restoration is a
time of sharing and feeling good.
My grandma, Nora Kimsey, has
always been my inspiration and
she loved her community and her
Tribal family and showed her love
in different ways like this.”
“We encourage families to step
forward to be a part of this. We
want everyone to be involved,” says
Sarah Ross, Culture Committee
secretary.
This year, families are being
invited to sponsor a dance special
or donate to the Potlatch as part of
the celebration.
“There never used to be big com-
petition powwows. Families would
sponsor the specials and giveaways.
Back then not many people danced
like they do now, and they would
have to be encouraged to dance,”
says Provost, who also described
the traditional practice of Potlatch.
“The giveaway was a big deal. Peo-
ple might bake pies or make jelly.
Some people might make things
like jewelry. Everything was taken
care of by the families, and then it
was all given away.”
The Culture Committee encour-
ages the community to get involved
and make items to be included in
the Potlatch.
“It is traditional that people used
to donate to the Potlatch without
recognition,” said Culture Commit-
tee Chair Betty Bly.
“I was taught that there were
times when people would be gather-
ing items for giveaway, and in the
old days the chiefs had Potlatch to
show how rich they were by giving
away all that they owned,” says
co-chair Marcus Gibbons.
“We want to let the people of
Grand Ronde know that we are
here for them no matter what. If
you come for the medicine and to
learn the traditions, then we are
here to support you and everyone
in the Tribe.”
The 2014 Restoration Powwow is
meant to commemorate the Tribe’s
Restoration and honor the commu-
nity and the important role each
Tribal member fills. Families inter-
ested in sponsoring a dance special
or donating to the Potlatch can
contact Bly at 503-879-6336. n
Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Tribe’s very own language application for iPhones and iPads. Since
Tribal Members live all over the world, it is difficult for some of them to learn and use our language. The
creation of this application combines our language with technology, creating a modern teaching tool for use in
classrooms, homes and everywhere there is a desire to learn our language.
Don’t fret if you are not an Apple user, there is a Chinuk Wawa station at Chachalu featuring iPads with the
Tribe’s language application. Additionally, the Land and Culture Department will be working towards an
Android compatible version to be created next year.
Celebration at Chachalu
October 9, 2014
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Agenda
Drumming
Prayer
Welcome
Tribal Council Speakers
Recognitions
Presentation and Demonstration of App
(large screen)
Light refreshments provided
Museum tours
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Land and Culture Department
8720 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Phone: 503-879-2226
Fax: 503-879-2126
E-mail: landandculture@grandronde.org
Ad created by George Valdez