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JULY 15, 2019
7
‘It will forever memorialize these three’
VISIONARIES continued
from front page
comfortable situations – in front
of TV cameras, legislators, Indian
organizations and the local commu-
nity – to gather support for Resto-
ration. We’re here to show that we
love what is happening and to be a
part of this is the one of the most
excellent things we can do.”
The event opened with an invo-
cation by Tribal Council Secretary
Jon A. George, who referred to
Kimsey, Holmes and Provost as
“unsung heroes.”
A long line of Tribal drummers
and singers, including children
from the Chinuk Immersion Pre-
school, performed a song as the
audience joined in.
All Tribal Council members at-
tended the unveiling event. Tribal
Council member and artist Steve
Bobb Sr. designed the memorial
and spent months coordinating
details with Portland’s Form 3-D
Foundry and Parks Bronze in En-
terprise, Ore., which created the
final version of the sculpture.
“It’s always a journey to go from
idea to concept to finished product,”
he said. “I am so honored and thank
you all for allowing me the opportu-
nity to contribute to this meaningful
recognition. It will forever memori-
alize these three who had a vision
that the indigenous people of the
Willamette Valley could be recog-
nized for who they are. They put into
motion which at the time seemed to
be an insurmountable task.”
In the early 1970s, Provost, Kim-
sey and Holmes began efforts to
reverse 1954’s Termination and
undertook the arduous task of
seeking Restoration as a federally
recognized Tribe. After more than
a decade of work, the Grand Ronde
Restoration Act was signed on
Nov. 22, 1983, by President Ronald
Reagan.
Provost and Kimsey walked on
in 2018 and Holmes walked on in
2004. Their children, Tribal mem-
bers Jackie Many Hides, Duke
Kimsey and Jim Holmes, served as
stand-ins for their parents during
the 3-D scanning process to create
the sculptures.
Bobb’s creation is his second to be
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Tribal Council member and designer Steve Bobb Sr. and Parks Bronze owner Steve Parks talk about the installation of
the “Visionaries” statue honoring Restoration figures Marvin Kimsey, Margaret Provost and Merle Holmes in front of
the Governance Center on Tuesday, July 2.
installed on the Tribal campus. The
Vietnam War veteran created the
West Valley Veterans Memorial,
which features a man and wom-
an dressed in traditional regalia
reaching toward the sky surround-
ed by four black pillars represent
the four branches of the armed
forces – Marine Corps, Army, Navy
and Air Force.
Kennedy recalled that she first
began thinking of how to memori-
alize the three Restoration figures
a few years ago.
“I thought, we have to remember
as Grand Ronde people what it took
for us to be a sovereign nation,”
she said. “We know the idea and
thought was, ‘Never again will this
(Termination) happen.’ ”
Four Tribal Elders stepped for-
ward to encourage Kennedy to
pursue the idea further. They were
Ed Larsen, Bobb, Wink Soderberg
and Kennedy’s mother, Cordelia
Kneeland.
“Steve Bobb said, ‘Let’s do this,’ ”
Kennedy said. “Then, Tribal Coun-
cil agreed to move forward.”
Bobb said that due to the work
of the three visionaries, everyone
gathered at the event had benefit-
ted in some way.
“Now, these three will forever
stand here and look each day at
what they would not have possibili-
ty imagined could happen,” he said.
“Let us never take for granted the
blessing these three have brought
to you.”
As a light rain began to fall,
Tribal member Ann Lewis walked
somberly toward the newly un-
veiled statue and placed a colorful
bouquet of flowers beside it while
the notes of a closing drum song
hung in the air.
Attendees then went inside the
Governance Center to partake of
light refreshments.
Tribal members gather to have their photos taken with the “Visionaries”
statue honoring Restoration figures.
From left, Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy poses for a photo
with, from left, Karen Kimsey,
Virginia Roof-Kimsey, Duke
Kimsey and aunt Myrna
Brandon in front of the
“Visionaries” statue.
Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier, center,
and Brian Krehbiel led drummers and
singers during the unveiling of the
“Visionaries” statue.