smok signflz
JUNE 1, 2019
5
‘This is the restoration of a relationship’
FISH continued
from front page
in a long time. There are lots of peo-
ple here I don’t normally see, and
it’s great they want to know more
about how the fish was a staple of
our ancestors. … Salmon is integral
to all aspects of Tribal life.”
Tribal Elder Debi Anderson, who
was beading necklaces at the event,
agreed.
“The turnout is really nice,” she
said. “It is one of the largest I’ve
seen and it’s good to talk with peo-
ple who don’t know about our Tribe.
I also love that the Elders were
brought here from Grand Ronde.”
The ceremony opened with Grand
Ronde Tribal drummers Ty George,
Jade Unger, Tribal Council Sec-
retary Jon A. George, Cultural
Protection Specialist Chris Bailey,
Interpretive Coordinator Travis
Stewart, Historic Preservation
Technician Nicolas Atanacio, Cul-
tural Resources Department Man-
ager David Harrelson, Cultural
Advisor Bobby Mercier, Cultural
Education Coordinator Jordan
Mercier and Tribal Elder Greg
Archuleta.
The fish ceremony was organized
by the Tribe’s Cultural Resources
Department, with support from
Tribal Council staff and Public
Affairs.
“This event provides a shared ex-
perience with the Tribe’s partners,”
Historic Preservation Manager
Briece Edwards said. “It’s a chance
for people to learn that they are
living on the Tribe’s ceded lands.
The Tribe is a good host, and part
of that is to provide education and a
comfortable place to ask questions.”
After attendees ate a buffet lunch
of salmon, fruit, cookies, salads and
crackers, Jon A. George gave an
invocation. Other Tribal Council
members in attendance were Vice
Chair Chris Mercier, Denise Har-
vey, Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kenne-
dy, Kathleen George and Lisa Leno.
Other staff attending included
General Manager David Fuller-
ton, Tribal Attorney Rob Greene,
Chachalu Manager Julie Brown,
Portland Area Office Tribal Services
Representative Lisa Archuleta and
Cultural Collections Specialist Nick
LaBonte.
Lunch was served by Tribal
Council Chief of Staff Stacia Her-
nandez, Public Affairs Administra-
tive Assistant Chelsea Baranski
and Deputy Press Secretary Sara
Thompson. The salmon was pre-
pared over an open fire by Jordan
Mercier, Unger and Tribal Elder
Greg Archuleta.
Fullerton said he was happy to
have worked with several of the
partners in attendance, which
included city, county and state
government officials, and various
nonprofit groups.
“Catching the fish in the nets at
the falls, it has been an honor to be
part of this,” he said. “It’s always
exciting.”
Kathleen George said she enjoyed
seeing so many Tribal members,
friends and partners.
“We are coming together as a
community and doing it in the
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Enrollment Committee Chairwoman Debi Anderson talks with Isaac Brown, 8, and Madeline
Brown, 13, at one of the information tables during the Fish Ceremony held at Willamette Park in
West Linn on Saturday, May 18. The Tribe celebrated fishing off the platform at Willamette Falls
and those who made it possible.
right place, next to the river,” she
said. “This is the restoration of a
relationship. I see it as coming full
circle with the falls.”
Jon A. George echoed those sen-
timents.
“Willamette Falls is so important
to us,” he said. “I have had the op-
portunity to gather eels, to be able
to stand in the river, at the falls
and the feeling is so emotional. It’s
like our ancestors are there with
us. It’s an emotional tie to what
our ancestors have done for years.”
Kennedy said she was glad to
share Tribal traditions with the
community.
“As a Tribe, Termination had a
devastating effect on us,” she said.
“Whether it is Oregon or federal
legislation, I am struck by how
much power is held by a few people.
I don’t think that we the people re-
ally agreed with that. I think today
everyone realized the treaties made
with us were a huge real estate deal
(for the government).”
Kennedy added that although the
government had tried to assimilate
Tribal people through policies and
confiscating land, the Grand Ronde
Tribe’s resilience kept them alive.
“The fish is what fed us,” she said.
“We are here today because of what
was done then. … I want to thank
our Tribal fishermen. Fishing at
Willamette Falls is a tremendous
undertaking, and all of you who
fished are carrying on traditions
that are thousands of years old.”
Tribal fishers in attendance were
recognized. They included Jordan
Mercier, Bobby Mercier, Unger,
Maintenance Technician Nick
Kimsey and Natural Resources De-
partment Manager Michael Wilson.
Jordan Mercier said fishing as
his ancestors had was a privilege.
“I was honored to be one of the
first people five years ago to help
conduct the Fish Ceremony,” he
said. “We were still going to the
ladder back then. It’s an honor to
be able to do this the way our an-
cestors in Oregon City did. It’s nice
to be able to gain our rights back.”
Unger said fishing at the falls
from the Tribe’s new platform was
a “deep honor” in his life.
“It is dangerous and tiring, but
always a good feeling afterward,”
he said. “It’s a life-changing expe-
rience.”
Wilson added that when Grand
Ronde went back to the falls to fish,
it benefitted everyone.
“It helps with clean water and
healthy streams, and fish runs,” he
said. “It’s such a great experience.”
Other speakers at the Fish Cer-
emony included State Sen. Arnie
Roblan, who also serves on the
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Board of Trustees. Metro Councilor
Christine Lewis, Clackamas Coun-
ty Chair Jim Bernard and State
Rep. Rachel Prusak also spoke.
Cultural Resources Department
Manager David Harrelson talked
about the importance of the Fish
Ceremony.
“Generally, the first Fish Ceremo-
ny is for members of the Tribal com-
munity,” he said, referring to the
ceremony held in Grand Ronde on
May 2. “But we also wanted to have
an event for the larger community,
and when we think of fishing, this
is the most logical place to have it.”
After the speakers were finished,
Bobby Mercier invited everyone to
walk down to the river, where the
fish bones were returned to the
waters.
“We have to remember to say
thank you to the salmon, so we are
not just taking,” he said.
At the banks of the Willamette
River, Mercier said a blessing while
Kimsey removed the bones out of a
cedar cooking tray and placed them
in the water. The melodies of the
Salmon Song drifted out as the fish
remains descended to the bottom of
the river.
From left, Ty George, Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier and Cultural Education
Coordinator Jordan Mercier drum and sing during the Fish Ceremony held
at Willamette Park in West Linn on Saturday, May 18. The Tribe celebrated
fishing off the platform at Willamette Falls and those who made it possible.