S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2017
11
ed their backs on us'
Elder and former Culture Committee member Betty Bly is honored by the Culture
ittee, including Chair Francene Ambrose, left, and Secretary Joanna Brisbois, right,
g the 34th Restoration Powwow held in the Tribal gym on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Bly
onored for her years of work on the Culture Committee and on the First Foods event.
Youth Council members served a
lunch of salmon, ceremonial stew,
salad, roasted potatoes, buttered
pasta, corn, green beans with ba-
con, and cookies.
Fabian Quenelle served as af-
ternoon master of ceremonies and
Gary and Leah Villa were head
man and head woman of the after-
noon powwow.
The afternoon Grand Entry was
led by Veterans Honor Guard
members Al Miller, Dennis Klef-
fner, Tribal Elder Alton Butler,
Bobb and Rich VanAtta. Current
and former Tribal Council mem-
bers, as well as Royalty members
Senior Miss Grand Ronde Isabelle
Grout, Junior Miss Grand Ronde
Kaleigha Simi, Little Miss Grand
Ronde Sophia Grout, honorary Tiny
Tot Jameson Turner, Grand Ronde
Warrior Nacoma Liebelt, Senior
Veterans Queen Hailey Lewis-Lit-
tle, Junior Veterans Queen Tasina
Bluehorse and Veterans Princesses
Mabel Brisbois and Camas Gibbon
participated.
Jon A. George gave the invoca-
tion before the powwow began and
said that the Tribe is “grateful and
thankful” for 34 years of building
a strong people, government and
community, and rising above hard-
ships and struggles.
Marine Corps and Vietnam War
veteran Reyn Leno thanked veter-
ans for their service. “We fought for
the United States, the community
and our Tribes,” he said.
Veterans princesses and other
Royalty were recognized as well.
“I want to thank the veterans for
opening up this powwow in a good
way,” Kennedy said. “I am very
pleased to see all the little ones
who have come to dance today. We
At left, Tribal Council Vice Chair
Chris Mercier speaks during the
34th Restoration Celebration held in
the Tribal gym on Wednesday, Nov.
22. In the background are master
of ceremonies Tribal Elder Steve
Bobb Sr., middle, and Tribal Council
Secretary Jon A. George.
dance for joy … for our people so
that they become strong.”
After the Tiny Tots, Women’s
Golden Age and Men’s Golden Age
dances, Tribal Elder Betty Bly was
honored for her work with the Cul-
ture Committee and on many First
Foods celebrations
Bly, flanked by family members,
received a Grand Ronde Pendleton
blanket.
“I am very humbled,” Bly said. “I
think most people think of me as an
activist, but I wasn’t. I am just some-
one who cares a great deal. I am very
surprised by this. Thank you.”
There also an honoring held
for Saige Selwyn, a Grand Ronde
Senior Miss Grand Ronde Isabelle Grout hands Emerson Turner an art kit
that she won when her raffle ticket was drawn during the 34th Restoration
Celebration held in the Tribal gym on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Tribal youth who passed away
in September 2015 from injuries
sustained in a bicycle-and-auto ac-
cident on Grand Ronde Road.
An evening meal was served to
attendees by the Culture Commit-
tee, with assistance from Royalty
and Youth Council members.
The Restoration Planning Com-
mittee included Darlene Aaron,
Francene Ambrose, Lisa Archuleta,
Eric Bernando, Steve Bobb Sr.,
Joanna Brisbois, Julie Brown, Chel-
sea Clark, Jon A. George, Kathleen
George, Marcus Gibbons, Stacia Her-
Tribal Elder Bob Tom dances in the Men’s Golden Age
dance during the 34th Restoration Powwow held in the
Tribal gym on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
nandez, Toni Mercier, Tracie Meyer,
Shayla Murphy, Margaret Provost,
Shannon Simi and Faye Smith.
Tribal Council sponsored the ju-
nior powwow category with baskets
as prizes for male and female. The
Culture Committee sponsored the
teen category with blankets for
male and female winners.
Tribal Council has already de-
cided that the 35th Restoration
Celebration will be held on Sunday,
Nov. 18, at Spirit Mountain Casino
since the 22nd also will be Thanks-
giving Day in 2018.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo