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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2018)
NOVEMBER 1, 2018 S moke S ignals 7 Champoeg Celebration attracts 100 attendees By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer ST. PAUL – The area known as Champoeg State Park was once a thriving community where mem- bers of many of Grand Ronde’s French-Indian families lived. Translated into Chinuk Wawa, “Champoeg” also means “place to dig yampah.” With these historical connections, it made sense that the park was the location for the first Champoeg Celebration, a Saturday, Oct. 13, event sponsored by the Confederat- ed Tribes of Grand Ronde, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Institute for Applied Ecol- ogy. More than 100 Tribal and com- munity members attended and learned about first food plants of the Willamette Valley, planted yampah and camas, participated in cultural activities and sampled traditional foods. Tribal Council members Kath- leen George, Denise Harvey and Secretary Jon A. George attended, along with past Tribal Council chairwoman and Tribal El- Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez der Kathryn Harrison. Cultural Education Specialist Brian Krehbiel, right, helps remove The celebration was not carrots and potatoes from an earthen oven during the Champoeg only an opportunity to learn Celebration held at Champoeg State Park on Saturday, Oct. 13. more about Tribal culture The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Oregon Parks and and customs, but also to Recreation and Institute of Applied Ecology sponsored the event participate in the “Plants where attendees participated in learning about first foods plants for People” restoration proj- in the Willamette Valley, as well as planted Native plants and took ect that the Tribe started part in cultural events. in 2014, said Cultural Ed- Attendees were served a lunch ucation Coordinator Jordan of salmon, elk stew, carrots and Mercier. potatoes, and salad. “This area is a part of the Harrison’s favorite part of the Tribe’s history,” he said. event was meeting a woman from “Several years ago, we came Carrots and potatoes are removed from an earthen oven her mother’s Tribe, the Eyak of out with Tribal Elders and during the Champoeg Celebration held at the Champoeg munity.” Alaska. She also enjoyed watching they said they want this to State Park on Saturday Oct. 13. Tribal Elder and past the cooking demonstration of car- be a gathering area for camas learning about Native plants,” he Tribal Council member Brenda rots and potatoes in the earthen and yampah.” said. “The main goal is to allow Tuomi came with her husband Ron, oven that was supervised by Cul- During the event, 800 camas and Tribal members to harvest yampah daughter and two grandchildren. tural Education Specialist Brian 800 yampah bulbs were planted on and camas here. It will be a learn- “It’s my first time out to Cham- Krehbiel. 45 acres that the Tribe has been ing experience, but so far it feels poeg,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed “That was brand new to me,” she preparing for more than a year. like a success.” the earthen oven cooking and said. “It makes you really appreci- “This has been a very successful Ojua was joined by wife, Malee, having the opportunity to plant ate your ancestors.” partnership with State Parks and who came to the event to support camas. When we come here again, Kathleen George said her favorite the Institute for Applied Ecolo- him. the plants will be flowering. I re- part of the event was the “many gy,” Mercier said. “This is what I “I like celebrations like this and ally enjoyed the elk stew and am different beautiful aspects of a long wanted. … It benefits the broader the First Foods one,” Malee said. looking forward to next year. I hope cultural tradition.” community, but the intention is for “It’s nice to see this out in the com- this grows.” “I love the diversity,” she said. our Tribal members to come see “We have basket weaving, jewelry this place in our history.” making, cooking demonstrations Native Plant Nursery in an earthen oven and natural Supervisor Jeremy Ojua foods. People can come and learn has been spearheading the about them.” Tribe’s “Plants for People” Her son, 11-year-old Sean Ger- program with the help of brandt, enjoyed talking with ev- nonprofit partner Oregon eryone and going to the nearby Watershed Enhancement Willamette River. Board. The program aims “They have really good food here,” to familiarize Tribal mem- he said. “My favorite was the elk bers with Native plants, stew.” their cultural uses and how Several different departments to grow them. within the Tribe were involved with “They showed us what hosting the event, including Cul- we needed to do to get tural Resources, Natural Resources started and helped us by and Public Affairs. providing the materials,” Ojua said. Esther LaGoy, 7, weaves bear Four years after the project began, Ojua was grass under the watchful excited to lead 25 people eye of her grandmother and out to plant 1,600 bulbs at former Tribal Council member the new restoration site at Brenda Tuomi during the Champoeg. Champoeg Celebration held at “I really liked seeing the Champoeg State Park on all of the people out here Saturday, Oct. 13. enjoying themselves and
