Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2018)
10 S moke S ignals JULY 1, 2018 Tribe loses a voice as Patsy Pullin walks on By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Elder Patricia Joan “Patsy” Pullin walked on Friday, June 15, in Carson City, Nev., at the age of 75 Pullin was born June 8, 1943, to Frank H. Harrison, a Chip- pewa-Cree from Montana, and Kathryn Harrison, who would go on to be a longtime Grand Ronde Tribal Council chairwoman. Her grandparents were Henry Jones, a full-blooded Molalla Indian, and Elena Katane, an Eyak Native from Alaska. Pullin received a degree from the University of Alaska South- east and worked for two years as the Tribal Employment Rights Officer for the Ketchikan Indian Corp. Patsy and her husband, Gene, performed in bars and at Veter- ans of Foreign Wars posts while living in Alaska and raising four children. They also recorded three albums together. Accord- ing to a Jan. 1, 2005, Smoke Sig- nals story, they married in 1960. “He had a band, and I con- vinced him that he needed a woman singer,” Patsy said. Pullin moved to Grand Ronde in 1999 and worked for the Smoke Signals file photo Patsy Pullin Grand Ronde Tribe as an Em- ployment and Training Specialist in the Social Services Depart- ment. She also served on the Education, Culture and Health committees. Pullin ran for Tribal Council six times. Her best finish occurred in 2010, when she garnered 331 votes and finished fourth out of 14 candidates. In her 2008 Candidate State- ment, Pullin said her mother, who survives her, was a “mentor and role model.” Autumn Funerals and Crema- tions in Carson City is assisting the family with arrangements. A full Walking On notice ap- pears on page 26 of this issue of Smoke Signals. CTGR Community Health Coming to the Portland Office!!! * CTGR Community Health will be coming to help educate yourself/and families on how to live a better lifestyle. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10-2pm CTGR Portland Office 4445 SW Barbur Blvd Portland, OR 97239 For any questions please call Lisa Archuleta 503-879-1881 Office of Tribal Government Relations Specialist Terry Bentley speaks during the Veterans Summit: Gathering of Warriors at Uyxat Powwow Grounds last July. Veterans Summit first held in 2013 EVENTS continued from front page with the theme “Sharing Stories to Heal.” The first general session will fea- ture welcoming remarks by Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George and feature three speakers: Acting Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Mitch Sparks, Of- fice of Tribal Government Relations Specialist Terry Bentley and Port- land Veterans Affairs Health Care System Director Michael Fisher. The first general session also will feature Martin Earring, special as- sistant in the executive office of the National Museum of the American Indian, who will speak about the museum’s oral history project. The Friday sessions will start at 9 a.m. with Sarah Suniga, a clinical psychologist with the Portland Vet- erans Affairs Health Care System, who will discuss trauma stories and Liz Estabrooks, women veterans coordinator with the Oregon Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs, will return to the summit and discuss women veterans and intentional inclusion. A closing ceremony is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. in achaf-hammi, the Tribal plankhouse. The Veterans Summit, which was first held in 2013 after former Trib- al Council Chairman Reyn Leno, a Marine Corps veterans from the Vietnam War era, attended a plan- ning meeting held in San Diego. The summit’s goal is to connect veterans to the governmental ser- vices that they have earned, as well as help with employment issues and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veterans Powwow contin- ues throughout the weekend with grand entries at 1 and 7 p.m. Sat- urday, July 7, and 1 p.m. Sunday, July 8. Veterans Royalty competi- tion will occur at 5 p.m. Friday and a men’s traditional dance special is scheduled for Saturday night with a top prize of $300. Nick Sixkiller will once again act as master of ceremonies for both the summit and Veterans Powwow. Vendors interested in selling their wares or food at the Veterans Powwow should contact Molly Leno at 503-879-6790 or via e-mail at charleslenojr75@gmail.com. In addition, Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center will be open during veterans weekend so that attendees can view the “Rise of the Collectors” exhibit, which features 16 Grand Ronde artifacts from the 19th cen- tury that are on loan through May 2019 from the British Museum in London.