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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2017)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Community Fund celebrates 20 years of giving — pgs. 8-9 AUGUST 1, 2017 Grand Ronde prepares for totality on Monday, Aug. 21 By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor I t may be the most anticipated 101 seconds in the modern history of the Grand Ronde area. On Monday, Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will race across the United States, making landfall in Lincoln City and ending its path over North America in South Carolina. Grand Ronde lies smack dab in the eclipse sweet spot – totality – a 60-mile wide area in which the moon will completely block the morning sunlight. According to NASA’s Eclipse app, Grand Ronde will experience 1 minute and 41 seconds of totality beginning at 10:16:50 a.m. A partial solar eclipse will start becoming visible over the area beginning at 9:05 a.m. In preparation for the event, which will attract an estimated 1 million people to Oregon locations along the swath of totality, Spirit Mountain Casino Photo by Michelle Alaimo Eclipse graphic on page 11 and the Tribal government are preparing for an influx of people. “If you need prescriptions, if you need groceries, it’s better to be prepared and not get caught off- guard,” General Manager David Fullerton said. “It could be very minimal impact, like a bad weekend traffic, or it could be something extremely more than that. “From the government side, we are always go- ing to recommend people prepare and do things in advance. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” See ECLIPSE continued on page 10 Spirit Mountain Casino is having a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party in the parking lot in front of PlayWorld on Monday, Aug. 21. The eclipse viewing area will open at 7 a.m. Contest Powwow occurring in shadow of total eclipse By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor A noon grand entry at Contest Powwow on Sunday, Aug. 20? Yes, that is not a typo in the Smoke Signals ad. Powwow Special Event Board Chair Dana Ainam said the usual 1 p.m. grand entry on the third day of Contest Powwow has been moved up an hour to help travelers get on the road as soon as possible considering the next morning is the total solar eclipse over Grand Ronde and traffic on Highway 18 could be congested. And that’s not the only change. Adult dance categories have been See POWWOW continued on page 17 If you go Photo by Michelle Alaimo Grand Ronde Contest Powwow When: Grand entries are at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19; and noon Sunday, Aug. 20 Where: Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 Highway 22 (Hebo Road) Parking: $1 a day or a donation of canned food; $3 for a weekend pass More information: 503-879- 2037 Tribal Cultural Adviser and ceremonial fisherman Bobby Mercier uses a dip net to fish at Willamette Falls in Oregon City on Wednesday, July 19. This is the third time ceremonial fishing has taken place at the Falls: once in June 2016 and twice this July. In 2016, 15 fish were caught, which was the first time Tribal members had fished at the Falls in approximately 120 years, but this year was not as prosperous, with no fish being caught because of low fish counts. Fish and Wildlife Program Manager Kelly Dirksen, right, and Tribal Biologist Brandon Weems, back, accompanied Mercier on the slippery rocks to ensure his safety. The Tribe regained the right to traditionally fish at Willamette Falls from the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission in April 2016 and the Tribe is allowed to take up to 15 fish per year for ceremonial purposes. Natural Resources Department Manager Michael Wilson and Aquatic Biologist Torey Wakeland also scaled the rocks during the effort and Wilson also fished since he is a ceremonial fisherman too. Tribal Council members Brenda Tuomi and Jack Giffen Jr. witnessed the ceremonial fishing from a support boat downriver that was driven by General Manager David Fullerton.
