S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2014
7
A time to give thanks
RESTORATION continued
from front page
Before the activities began, mem-
bers of the Grand Ronde drum
group, 14 strong this year, Tribal
Council Secretary Toby McClary,
former Tribal Council member
Wink Soderberg and his wife,
Kathy, other Tribal members and
guests congregated around the fire
in conversation.
Brian Krehbiel and Jordan Mer-
cier were first to stoke the fires,
a plum job that circulated among
singers and drum players.
Soon, the group numbered about
50, which held steady for the hour-
long program.
Bobby Mercier said that the event
was meant for fun and dance, and
to “let our ancestors know that
we’re singing and dancing for them.
It’s not just about Restoration and
the papers we signed, but every-
thing our ancestors have done for
us, a commemoration to remember
and give thanks to those who came
before.”
Speaking first in Chinuk Wawa,
Bobby Mercier said, “It’s always
good that we come together. On
days like this, our
hearts become full
again.”
The singing and
dancing, he said, “Let’s
our ancestors know
that we haven’t for-
gotten them. And I’m
always glad to see the
children here. It gives
them the understand-
ing that they are part
of something bigger.”
Drummers and
dancers, including the
women of the Grand
Ronde Canoe Family,
performed a paddle
dance, salmon dance, a
dance honoring people
coming together, a memorial dance,
a dance honoring new beginnings
and a dance for ancestors.
After the plankhouse ceremony,
lunch and the Restoration Powwow
were held in the Tribal gym. By
noon, the gym was filled and ev-
erybody was saving seats. As more
Tribal members arrived, it looked
like it was going to be standing
room only.
Tribal Council Chair Reyn Leno
and Tribal Council member Jon A.
George gave introductions. Tribal
Elder and former Tribal Council
member Steve Bobb Sr. offered the
invocation.
Grand Ronde Royalty performed
“The Lord’s Prayer.” Royalty in-
cluded Senior Miss Grand Ronde
Promise Rimer, Junior Miss Grand
Ronde Iyana Holmes, Little Miss
Grand Ronde Isabelle Grout, Senior
Veterans Queen Savannah Ingram,
Junior Veterans Queen Amelia
Mooney and princesses Kaleigha
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Above, dancers fill the dance arena during an InterTribal
dance of the 31st Restoration Powwow held in the Tribal gym
on Saturday, Nov. 22. At left, Jordan Mercier dances with his
daughter Ila during an InterTribal dance.
Simi, Hailey Lewis-Little and Ma-
bel Brisbois.
Also among the Royalty were
SuSun Fisher, Royalty Queen for
the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians, and Rainy Silva from La-
guna, N.M., who is attending Che-
mawa Indian School in Salem. Silva
attended as Miss Chemawa and
comes from ancestors in Laguna,
Pueblo and Northern Ute Tribes.
All introduced themselves and
gave the audience a personal wel-
come.
Lunch featured ceremonial salm-
on and elk stew as entrees. The
Tribe honored Tribal hunters who
regularly participate in the gath-
ering of ceremonial meat. Of 32,
eight in attendance at the time of
the honoring included Tyson Mer-
cier and Shonn Leno, and Elders
Steve Rife, Ron Rife, John Lillard,
Sharon Wattier II, Guy Schultz and
Marline Groshong.
The hunters came to the front
Senior Miss Grand Ronde Promise Rimer braids Grand Ronde
Princess Hailey Lewis-Little’s hair during the 31st Restoration
Powwow held in the Tribal gym on Saturday, Nov. 22.
where many in the
crowd walked up
and thanked them
for their efforts. An
honor dance also
was held in their
name.
Tribal Coun-
cil member Jon A.
George introduced
current and past
Tribal Council mem-
bers in attendance.
“Restoration
should be called the day the gov-
ernment made a mistake,” Leno
said. “Sixty years ago was one of
the worst days, Termination Day.
But it meant nothing to my fam-
ily. It was never about benefits,
not about a check. It’s about being
proud of who we are.”
Tribal leaders also cited recent
Tribal accomplishments.
From Sunday, Nov. 16, through
Wednesday, Nov. 19, a Tribal del-
egation traveled to Washington,
D.C., where they worked with
Oregon’s congressional delegation
to move forward an amendment
to the Grand Ronde Reservation
Act. When passed, the amendment
guarantees that Tribally purchased
land within the boundaries of the
Tribe’s original reservation will
become Tribal Reservation land
instead of trust land.
The delegation included Tribal
Chair Reyn Leno, Vice Chair Jack
See RESTORATION
continued on page 10