10
S moke S ignals
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
'It’s so important'
POWWOW continued
from page 9
Elder and World War II veteran
Herman Hudson and Korean War
veteran Dan Foster were the eldest
veterans in attendance.
After Saturday’s first grand en-
try, the Tribal Education Commit-
tee held its annual “School Is Cool”
special for youth in kindergarten
through 12th grade wearing regalia
or not. Prizes included backpacks
stuffed with gift cards and school
supplies, books, lunch bags and
pencil boxes. Tribal Librarian Mar-
ion Mercier donated the books.
Education Committee Chair
Tammy Cook said the special is de-
signed to encourage youth to stay in
school. “It’s so important,” she said.
Saturday afternoon was the be-
ginning of the “contest” in Contest
Powwow as dancers started compet-
ing in the junior dance competitions
and drums were judged on their
second of two songs. Golden Age
categories were decided Saturday
evening and adult dance categories
were judged during Sunday after-
noon’s session that started at noon
to accommodate those wanting to
get an early start on eclipse traffic.
Powwow attendees had a good
choice of food vendors, including
Grand Ronde Station and Dutch
Bros., and everything to nosh on
from curly fries to yakisoba noodles
to smokehouse barbecue.
Other vendors sold fidget spin-
ners, shirts, necklaces, Native
pottery and jewelry, and Senior
Human Resources Generalist Steve
O’Harra sold custom-made buttons.
Several Tribal departments, in-
cluding Children & Family Services
and Housing, staffed informational
tables during the three days.
Tribal Court Records Clerk Brit-
tany Mock volunteered her hair
services on Saturday, performing
haircuts, thermal styling and braid-
ing free of charge. “It was boom,
boom, boom,” she said. “Five and a
half hours of no food, no potty break
… always someone sitting in my
chair.”
Contest Powwow staff included
master of ceremonies Casey Wal-
lahee, Arena Director Fred Ike
Jr., Head Dance Judge Charles
Tailfeathers and Head Drum Judge
Chase Sayer. Besides the regular
prizes, specials with prize payoffs
included a Round Bustle/Chicken
Dance that paid $800 for first, a
Men’s Fancy that paid $1,000 for
first and a Women’s Basket Cap
that paid $800 for first.
A/V Network Technician Wendell
Olson, Senior Help Desk Techni-
cian Alec Mercier and Telecommu-
nications Technician Joe Loomis
were on hand until 6 p.m. Sunday
to ensure the sound system worked
properly throughout the four grand
entries.
Other Tribal Royalty in atten-
dance included Miss Arrow Lakes
Kesawin Washburn, Miss Spirit
Omak Isbell Hunt, Portland State’s
Miss Naimuma Keeli Littleleaf and
Grand Ronde Veterans Royalty
Hailey Lewis-Little, Tasina Blue-
horse and Camas Gibbons.
The only adverse effect of the
busy eclipse weekend on this year’s
Contest Powwow was that no teams
signed up for the Recreation De-
partment’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tour-
nament, which was canceled after
a five-year run.
“We believe the eclipse event
played a big role in the lack of par-
ticipation this year,” Recreation
Specialist Harris Reibach said.
Reibach said the tournament will
return in 2018.
Also on Monday morning, a smat-
tering of powwow attendees re-
mained at Uyxat Powwow Grounds
to view the total
solar eclipse that
darkened the skies
over Grand Ronde
at 10:17 a.m.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Jayden Johnson competes in the Teen Boys Grass dance category during the
2017 Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Above, Mabel Brisbois, front, and Makenzie Aaron compete in the Teen Girls Traditional dance
category during the 2017 Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 19. At left, Nacoma Liebelt competes in the Boys Traditional
dance category during the 2017 Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at
Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 19. Liebelt placed third in the category.