Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2016)
14 S moke S ignals JULY 15, 2016 Breast plate to be used f POWWOW continued from front page carried in the American flag, Tribal Elder and Army veteran Raymond Petite carried in the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde flag, Navy veteran Al Miller carried in the Or- egon flag and Navy veteran Dennis Kleffner carried in the POW/MIA flag. Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno, a Marine Corps veteran, Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr., and Tribal Council members Jon A. George, Denise Harvey, Chris Mercier and Army veteran Brenda Tuomi fol- lowed the veterans into the dance arena to the beat of Chet Clark’s Johonaaii Singers. The Four Directions drum group then brought in the fancy shawl dancers, bustle dancers and jingle dancers, and they were followed by children of all dance styles. Tribal Elder, former Tribal Coun- cil member and Navy veteran Wink Soderberg gave the invocation and said that when people come to visit Grand Ronde they should be treat- ed like family and honored guests. This year’s Veterans Powwow honored Vietnam veterans since 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the country’s military escalation in that conflict. Every Vietnam veteran who attended received a commemorative eagle pin. “Trying to keep everything dry has been a test,” said Bobb, chair of the Tribe’s Veterans Special Event Board. “But that’s OK; we still have the ones that are passionate.” Bobb wasn’t the only one con- cerned about the weather. “On Friday, I was really worried about how many veterans we would get, but then on Saturday we end- ed up having a grand entry that had one of the highest turnouts of Ila th at Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno, left, accepts a breast plate gifted to the Tribe from Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association Eugene-Springfield Chapter Vice President Chris Turner, on behalf of the OVMA, on Saturday, July 9, during the 2016 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds. The breast plate is veteran inspired and made out of spent shell casings from an M16 rifle. veterans we have ever had in the circle,” said Leno. “That was a great turnout.” Saturday’s highlight was a pre- sentation made to the Tribe by the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle As- sociation’s Eugene-area Kalapuya Chapter. “Saturday went really well,” said Bobb. “We had the Motorcycle Asso- ciation and they are big supporters of veterans. That was really good to have them here.” The Kalapuya Chapter sought permission from the Tribe to use the Kalapuya name and they want- ed to say thank you. The Tribe was presented with a breast plate made from spent brass M16 shells. Butler, who carries in the eagle staff for the Grand Ronde Honor Guard, was selected to wear the breast plate for Sunday’s grand entry. Leno said whoever carries in the Tribe’s eagle staff from now on will be the one who wears the breast plate into the arena. “I think it was a great thing that they presented an acknowl- edgement for the use of the name,” said Leno. “They pre- sented us with that vest and it will be worn at all of our grand entries now.” Tuomi said seeing the mo- torcycle veterans again made her happy, but the thing that really caught her eye this year was the young dancers. Aleena Leno dances in an InterTribal dance during the 2016 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, July 9. Nacoma Liebelt dances in an InterTribal dance during the 2016 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, July 9. “I was excited to see the motor- cycle vets back,” said Tuomi. “And one thing I noticed during grand entry was our young dancers. I love watching those little kids dancing their hearts out. I like to watch them when they are dancing for the veterans. I see it as important.” Bad Soul got things started again on Sunday afternoon with the grand entry song and Big Eagle drum group performed the flag song. Four Directions finished the powwow’s final grand entry with the victory charging song. Bobb gave the invocation. Northern Blackhorse, Turquoise Pride and All Nations drums then
