10
S moke S ignals
NOVEMBER 15, 2016
'I was always an Indian'
RESTORATION continued
from front page
McEachran said the return trip
from the beach also was a highlight.
“Then, of course, coming back
was the Bonanza restaurant,” said
McEachran of the recently shut-
tered landmark in Grand Ronde.
“And we stopped there every time.
That little gift shop just fascinated
me - all this big Indian stuff. We
didn’t have that where I was raised.
That wasn’t the culture there. Com-
ing down here and getting that was
a real treat that I was part of that.”
Tribal Elder Louise Coulson is
at almost every Tribal event. She
arrives early and is almost always
one of the last to leave after every-
thing is cleaned up and put away.
Coulson, 77, is the daughter
of Louis Leo Riggs Jr. and Doris
LaRose.
If you look for her during the Res-
toration celebration, she will either
be found serving or cleaning up if
she’s not with her family.
“I was thinking how grateful I am
for all that the Tribe has given me
because growing up I didn’t have
nothing,” said Coulson. “It makes me
feel good because I’m giving back.”
Coulson lives in the Elders’ sec-
tion of Grand Meadows across
Grand Ronde Road from the Tribal
Cemetery. She said having a home
is very important to her and for that
she is very thankful to the Tribe.
“I never had a home before and
to me that’s great,” said Coulson.
Tribal Elder Gladys Hobbs is
a member of the Tribe’s Health
Committee and Elders Committee,
and she can also almost always be
found at every Tribal event helping
someone.
Hobbs, 72, said play time in
Grand Ronde when she was a child
meant going for long walks in the
woods with her uncle.
“Those walks were our toy,” re-
membered Hobbs. “When I was
growing up we had nothing. I mean
we really had nothing. We went to
St. Michael’s school and we lived at
the base of Spirit Mountain.”
Hobbs grew up living with her
grandparents – Ernie and Ethel
Petite on their property and times
were much different then.
Ernie, who was the son of Henry
Petite and Jane Leno, was a wood-
cutter.
Hobbs said they had no bathroom
in her grandfather’s house. They
had a pump for their water and a
wood stove.
“We had to cook on a wood stove
and iron on a wood stove,” said
Hobbs. “We had to heat our irons
on the wood stove.
“I remember my mom (Gladys’
mother was Vivian Petite and her
father was Raymond Petite) used
to fix us homemade beans and bis-
Bike helmets available
cuits. They were the best biscuits
in the world. And she cooked it all
on a wood stove and I could never
figure out how she did that. I don’t
think I could do it.”
Hobbs said her identity was nev-
er in question as a child in Grand
Ronde. Her mother told her to nev-
er deny her Tribal ancestry.
“I knew I was an Indian and I
never did give up my heritage,” said
Hobbs. “I was always an Indian.”
Being a Tribal Elder and being
around the Tribal events makes
each of these Restoration Roll
Elders feel as if they are part of
something important.
“It makes me so proud of the
Tribe,” said Hobbs. “They have re-
ally done a lot. I feel very, very good
about what the Tribe has done. I
really do. I think they have done
a fantastic job because there was
nothing here. There really wasn’t.”
Hobbs said she is thankful for all
of the things that have happened
since Restoration.
“I really am grateful for what
we have. I truly am,” said Hobbs.
“There is never a day that goes by
that I am not grateful.”
McEachran said he knows that
everything that has happened to
the people of the Tribe since Res-
toration changed the community.
“Now I’m beginning to realize the
benefits of it,” said McEachran. “I
am thankful for the Elders’ pen-
sion and for this beautiful building
and, of course, the recognition they
always give the Elders at the meet-
ings. I like that. I like to stand up
and say I was here then and I’m
here now to this day.”
McEachran said he hopes Res-
toration prompts good memories
for the Tribal membership and
inspires hope for the future.
“I just look at it like we’re 33
years old and we got a long way to
go,” said McEachran. “We’re here
forever, but we just got started.” 
What is an internship?
An internship (full-time/part-time) is a real-world experience related
to your career goals and interests. Internships can be what helps you
stand out in your job interviews after college. Most employers look for
a combination of formal education and experience.
It may, but does not have to be related/connected to your academic
major or minor.
Not only are you gaining valuable hands-on experience, you are also
networking and making connections to professionals in your future career
field. CTGR Higher Education encourages students to explore internship
opportunities to supplement their college education. 
The Tribe’s Social Services Department has bicycle helmets
available for distribution. Those needing a helmet need to visit the
department and sign a helmet application, as well as get fitted.
For more information, contact Social Services at 503-879-2034. 
NOTICE
Tribal Hunting Seasons in Effect
Free Playgroup in
Grand Ronde!
When: First Thursday of each
month 10:00 am-11:30 am
Where: CTGR – Community
Service Center 9615 Grand Ronde
Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
November 5
November 16
November 19
November 28
–
–
–
–
November 11
November 20
December 10
December 10
Who: Parents and caregivers of
children under 5 years.
Why: Come to play, have a snack
and have fun!
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Willamina Crk Rd
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Crk Ac
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Grand Ronde Rd
*
Tribal hunting seasons are currently in effect on the Tribal Reservation (Figure 1). Tribal seasons
are as follows, and are outside of the regular State open hunting seasons. For questions,
please contact Tribal Wildlife Biologist, Lindsay Belonga at 503-879-2387.
Willamina
Hwy 18
H
w
Spirit Mountain
Casino
Figure 1. Location of Grand Ronde Reservation.
1
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