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— pg. 3
DECEMBER 1, 2015
Tribe celebrates 32nd
anniversary of Restoration
By Brent Merrill
Smoke Signals staff writer
T
he Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde celebrat-
ed its 32nd anniversary
of Restoration to federal rec-
ognition as a Tribe on Satur-
day, Nov. 21, with a full day
of events.
The celebration began with
a Tribal member-only prayer
service at the Tribal Cemetery
in Grand Ronde. The prayer
service took place at the Atud-
ship rock monument north of
the cemetery.
The community began gath-
ering at the Tribal gym at
about 10 a.m. for the Resto-
ration program and the midday
meal. The Canoe Family start-
ed the celebration with singing,
drumming and dancing.
Steve Bobb Sr., who is chair-
man of the Tribe’s Veterans
Special Event Board, emceed
the event and introduced cur-
rent Tribal Council members
after Tribal Royalty performed
“The Lord’s Prayer.”
“Welcome everybody to the
32nd Restoration anniversary
of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde,” Bobb said. “I’m
glad you could be out here to-
day. We are very blessed and
very honored to be where we
are today. We give thanks to
those that worked so hard.”
Tribal Council member Chris
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Grand Ronde Canoe Family dancers perform during the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 32nd Restoration
Celebration held in the Tribal gym on Saturday, Nov. 21.
Mercier was fi rst in addressing the
audience.
“I was only 8 years old when the
Tribe got restored,” Mercier said.
“This is a unique community. I’ve
made friendships that I know will
last a lifetime.”
Tribal Council member Tonya
Gleason-Shepek said that she
hoped everyone would enjoy the
day. “I love that we celebrate Res-
toration,” she said.
Tribal Council member Brenda
Tuomi said she was proud to be on
council.
“I feel so blessed to be part
of this Tribe,” Tuomi said. “I’m
so thankful to our ancestors. I
See RESTORATION
continued on pages 10-11
Tribal fl ag hung at Willamina schools
Tribal Council
member Jon A.
George speaks about
the Tribe’s history to
Willamina students
during an assembly
to celebrate the
Tribal fl ag being
hung in the gym
at Willamina High
School on Monday,
Nov. 16.
By Brent Merrill
Smoke Signals staff writer
W
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
ILLAMINA — A large contin-
gent of Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde members
participated in a long-awaited flag
hanging ceremony during dual assem-
blies held at Willamina High School on
Monday, Nov. 16.
The Tribal fl ag now hangs next to the
Oregon fl ag, U.S. fl ag and a POW/MIA
fl ag near the scoreboard in the school’s
gymnasium.
In an all-employee e-mail sent before
the flag ceremony, Tribal Curriculum
Specialist Mercedes Reeves called the
event an “historic day.”
The ceremony was held in two parts –
one for younger elementary school chil-
dren and one for older middle and high
school students.
To begin the ceremony, Willamina
School District Superintendent Carrie
See FLAG
continued on page 16