S moke S ignals
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018
13
pses 2017’s attendance
Photo by Auburn Logan
Dine Tribal members Sheldon Shebala, left, and Fernando Littlesinger, right, participate the
Contest Powwow’s final grand entry on Sunday, Aug. 19.
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
shaking hands with other Royalty
members. Then, it was interTribal
time, where dancers of all ages and
styles came together in the arbor.
Afterward, an honoring and
giveaways were held by the Con-
treras-Langley family in memory
of Beryle Langley Contreras and
Kateri Atanacio, who both passed
away recently.
Afterward, the “School Is Cool,”
dance contest was held for all kin-
dergarten through 12th-graders,
Following the previous
evening’s protocol, the Grand
Ronde Honor Guard posted
the colors. They were fol-
lowed by veterans, Tribal
Council members, Royalty
from various Tribes and
contest dancers.
Grand entry took approx-
imately 20 minutes to com-
plete. Dancers frequently
stepped into the crowd to hug
friends and family, and some
attendees used their phone’s video
chat function to live stream the
action for those unable to attend.
Tribal Council Secretary Jon A.
George led the invocation, first in
Chinuk Wawa and then English.
Cree Confederation played the
“Canadian Flag Song,” which mas-
ter of ceremonies Bart Powaukee
said was similar to America’s na-
tional anthem.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris
Mercier welcomed Saturday contes-
tants and attendees.
“We’re grateful you are here and
want to express our gratitude,”
he said. “We’d also like to thank
our ancestors. Without them, we
wouldn’t be where we are today. I
would also like to thank our veter-
ans for their service and each and
Kaleigha Simi
competes in the Girls
Jingle dance category
during the 2018
Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde Contest
Powwow held at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on
Saturday, Aug. 18.
Simi placed fifth in the
category.
whether or not they wore regalia,
followed by a junior and teen girls
special in all dance categories
sponsored by the 2017-18 outgoing
Royalty.
Saturday grand entry
and contest dancing
Saturday afternoon’s grand entry
attendance filled the arbor stands
to capacity, as well as rows of extra
chairs and bleachers that had been
set up.
every one of you who chose to spend
your afternoon with us. Our goal
is for this powwow to be on your
calendar each year.”
Mercier also acknowledged past
Tribal Council members Reyn
Leno, Steve Bobb Sr. and Tonya
Gleason-Shepek for their atten-
dance, noting that there likely
others in the audience he hadn’t
seen yet.
“This is a chance to reconnect and
come together and just be Native,”
he said.
During grand entry, veterans also
were acknowledged and introduced
themselves.
After interTribal dances were
held, the contest portion of the
powwow was in full swing. First
up were the Tiny Tots, followed by
Senior Golden Age Women, Senior
Golden Age Men, Junior Golden
Age Women and Junior Golden
Age Men. Also held were the Junior
Girls Finals in Traditional, Jingle
and Fancy, followed by Junior Boys,
Teen Girls and Teens Boys finals,
all in the same categories.
Powaukee asked audience mem-
bers to stand and recognize the
See POWWOW
continued on page 14
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Leevi Johnson competes in the Teen Boys Traditional dance category during
the 2018 Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 18. Johnson placed fifth in the category.
Newly crowned Grand Ronde Royalty are, from left, Little Miss Princess
Grace Allen, Little Miss Grand Ronde Sophia Grout, Junior Miss Grand
Ronde Kaleigha Simi and Senior Miss Grand Ronde Isabelle Grout. They
took their honor dance after being crowned at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on
Friday, Aug. 17.