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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2019)
smok signflz AUGUST 1, 2019 11 ‘Tell them how proud you are of them’ POWWOW continued from page 10 are gone forever.” Sixkiller then dismissed the vet- erans, telling audience members to yell their thanks as the veterans walked by. “Tell them how proud you are of them,” Sixkiller said. “They saved this country. They saved our traditional way of life.” Two lines then formed in the pow- wow circle: An outside line of vet- erans and an inside line of people walking in the opposite direction and thanking the veterans. The Veterans Powwow started at 5 p.m. Friday with the crowning of the 2019-20 Veterans Royalty. However, the new Royalty is the same as the old Royalty with Ma- bel Brisbois returning as Senior Veterans Queen, Tasina Bluehorse staying as Junior Veterans Queen and Junior Warrior Nacoma Liebelt repeating for another year. The Veterans Royalty crowns were made by Tribal member Brian Krehbiel and the beadwork was done by Annette and Savannah Ingram. Before Friday’s 7 p.m. grand en- Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez Red Hoop drum, a multi-Tribal group, performs during interTribal dances on the first night of the Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Friday, July 12. try, which featured approximately 30 veterans, four grass dancers inaugurated the new artificial turf while dancing to host drum Red Hoop. Tribal Council members in atten- dance on Friday evening included Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Secretary Jon A. George, Steve Bobb Sr., Denise Harvey and Jack Giffen Jr. Following grand entry, Friday night featured a series of interTribal dances, socials and specific cate- gory dances. Saturday evening’s events included two spe- cials – a men’s tradition- al contest sponsored by the Liebelt family and a girls teen dance featur- ing teams of three girls each. This year’s Veterans Powwow also featured a contingent of visitors from Syria, who were Traditional dancer Chaytun Littleleaf (Northern Piikani/ Blackfeet/Warm Springs), 7, participates in an interTribal dance on the first night. The Grand Ronde Honor Guard leads the way during Grand Entry on the second day of the Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds. acknowledged during the Saturday afternoon grand entry. “The Syrian visitors were wel- comed as guests as part of an outreach effort to migrant and refugee communities in Oregon,” said Deputy Press Secretary Sara Thompson. “The effort is being led by the Cultural Resources Depart- ment on behalf of the Tribe. This effort is about the first people of this land welcoming the newest to arrive in an effort to build and share lessons in community, resil- iency and healing.” Thompson added the Syrian visit is the first of three visits that are planned over the next year. The Syrian visitors were treated to a lunch of elk stew, salmon, salad and berry cobbler before the powwow grand entry. Tribal member Shelly Nichols also came from Wisconsin and was giving away copies of “Women at War: Warrior Songs Vol. 2,” which recently won a Wisconsin Area Mu- sic Industry award for Album of the Year. Nichols is a Navy veteran and wrote the song “Warrior Wings,” which appears on the album. Like previous powwows, there were a multitude of arts and crafts and food vendors surrounding the powwow arena. In addition, tables featured such organizations as Tribal Court, the Tribal Housing Department, the Brotherhood United Motorcycle Association of Oregon, Willamina VFW Post 4211, the National Association of Black Veterans and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Other drums that performed during the powwow’s four grand entries included Johonaaii, Wacky Wascally Wabbit, Turquoise Pride, Big Eagle, Throbbing Tomahawk, Iron Mountain and White Sage. The Veterans Powwow, which was first held in July 1993, con- cluded with its fourth and final grand entry at 1 p.m. Sunday. The powwow was named after Army veteran Marcellus Norwest in 2011 to honor his efforts in starting the event. He walked on in May 2011. Fancy dancer Keenas Limon (Pitt River), 16, performs during Grand Entry on the first night.
