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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
S moke S ignals MARCH 1, 2017 15 Linfield College hosts ‘Voices from Standing Rock’ By Bethany Bea Smoke Signals Intern McMINNVILLE — More than 100 people gathered in Pioneer Hall at Linfield College in McMinnville at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, to listen to eight people share their personal experiences from the Standing Rock Sioux camps. The events at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota drew people and donations from all over the world, including Grand Ronde. Tribal Council passed a resolution supporting the Standing Rock Sioux and donated $2,500, and numerous Tribal members fer- ried supplies there multiple times. One thing that everyone brought home was a story. Speakers sat in a half-circle while behind them a projector displayed photos from Standing Rock. There were also two short videos and a discussion on how social media shaped the movement. Four Grand Ronde Tribal mem- bers attended: Tribal Elder Alan Ham and his nephew, Joseph Ham, Dustin Hawks and Logan Kneeland. The event, which had been sched- uled for months, fell on the day af- ter the evacuation deadline for the largest Standing Rock camp, Oceti Sakowin, occurred. Water protec- tors were protesting the route of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which threatens the water supply on the Sioux Reservation and downriver on the Missouri. They were forcibly removed by North Dakota police. Andra Kovacs and Duncan Reid, who organized the Linfield event, said they were moved by the events unfolding in North Dakota and felt a call to action. Kovacs, Reid and a group of Lin- “It allows the mind to open up to be thinking of what are the problems of the world, and what are the solutions we can come up with?” he said. “That’s the reason why camps like that, why the gov- ernment wants to destroy them as soon as possible. Because it allows that. That’s how revolutions happen.” The departure from reg- ular habits was illustrat- ed when all three men struggled to remember exactly when they were at Standing Rock. “You for- get all time when you’re Photo by Michelle Alaimo in there,” Kneeland said. Tribal Elder Alan Ham takes a photo of the crowd at the “Voices from Standing Rock” Alan Ham said he at- event held at Linfield College in McMinnville on Thursday, Feb. 23. tended the event in part because of his nephew’s journey, but also because he’s famil- were that the old ways still have a field students, after two weeks of iar with that part of the country and place in the modern world. planning, piled into two of the col- had been following the movement. “We can go back to the old way lege’s 12-passenger vans and drove His late wife was from Pine Ridge. of living, that simple way of living. straight through to North Dakota, He said the speakers’ enthusiasm That was something that was prac- changing drivers as they went. when discussing how their views ticed within camp all the time,” he “We didn’t need two vans for the had changed impressed him. said. “Everyone helping out, help- seating, but we had so many dona- “The young people here are so ing one another. Everyone was on tions that we were taking with us,” passionate in everything, and that the same level playing field.” Kovacs said. really appealed to me,” he said. “I’m The generosity of strangers was Joseph Ham, Hawks and Knee- a social worker, so I like working something that was echoed among land drove to Standing Rock togeth- with people and I like seeing that almost all eight speakers. Kovacs er last fall along with Kneeland’s passion in people.” held back tears when recounting father. They took two vehicles to Even if these types of passion-fu- her own story. The Linfield party accommodate the large amount of eled uprisings ebb, it’s still im- ran out of water at the same time donations that Grand Ronde Tribal portant to look at these events as some of its members fell ill. When members sent with them. a learning tool for future issues, Reid went in search of water, of- Kneeland said all three wished Hawks said. fering apologies, a man filled his to thank the Grand Ronde mem- “Similar things happen when jug and offered the words, “Water bership for their generous contri- people gather like this,” he said. is life.” butions of blankets, clothes, money “The same sort of political problems Hawks said places like the Stand- and first aid supplies. come up. And we need to overcome ing Rock camps cause intense He said one of the most amazing that if we’re actually going to get feelings because the constraints of things about the Standing Rock free.” daily life don’t exist there. camps was how representative they LIFEBOOK SUPPLIES WILL BE PROVIDED The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the American Museum of Natural History are now Accepting youth applications to participate in our Annual Tamanowas Ceremony and Museum Internship Program. Please join us for our upcoming workshops Please bring your child's/teens: Pictures Creating a Lifebook Artwork Wednesday, March 8: 5:15pm - 8:15pm Awards Milestones The Application Process is open to High School Females that meet the Friday, April 7: 11:00am - 3:00pm following qualifications: Enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Current Sophomore, Junior, Senior in High School G.P.A. of 2.5 or above Oregon Resident Meal & Childcare Provided (must REGISTER for childcare) Family History Report Cards Birth History CTGR Community Center Building Letters 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR & More!! Feel free to attend one, or both! Application Deadline is March 24th, 5pm Application is available online at grandronde.org Please contact Travis Stewart for further information at: travis.stewart@grandronde.org What is a Lifebook? A Lifebook is a connection to a child’s past, a record of the child’s personal history and a valuable tool for helping a child understand the difficult transitions in their life. To register or for more information please call Amanda Mercier at 503-879-2039