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SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
George was the master of ceremo-
nies and Tribal Council Chairwom-
an Cheryle A. Kennedy gave the
invocation.
This year’s Royalty Pageant judg-
es were Tribal Elder Jackie Many
Hides, Tribal member Leah Villa
and Tammy Fisher.
Little Miss Grand Ronde contes-
tants were Aubrey Campbell, Kalea
Liebelt, Marie Quenelle, Taylor
Ruggles and Sophia Grout.
Senior Miss Grand Ronde had
two contestants, reigning Queen
Isabelle Grout and Iyana Holmes.
Junior Miss Grand Ronde Kaleigha
Simi was unopposed. Tiny Tot, an
honorary position, had two partic-
ipants — Grace Macon and Leloo
Quenelle.
That evening, Iyana Holmes was
crowned Senior Miss Grand Ronde,
Kaleigha Simi was crowned Junior
Miss Grand Ronde and Sophia
Grout was crowned Little Miss
Grand Ronde at uyxat Powwow
Grounds’ Arbor after outgoing Roy-
alty for 2018-19 gave speeches and
held giveaways in appreciation for
those who had helped them during
the past year. Outgoing Royalty
were Senior Miss Grand Ronde
Isabelle Grout, Junior Miss Grand
Ronde Kaleigha Simi and Little
Miss Grand Ronde Sophia Grout,
and Tiny Tots Jameson Turner,
Aubrey Campbell, Grace Macon
and Kalea Liebelt.
Outgoing Royalty members and
their families did one last walk
around the arbor while host drum
Indian Hill performed an honor
song. Incoming Royalty did the
same following the coronation.
Friday Grand Entry
Powwow began with the various
contest drum groups – Indian Hill,
Blackstone, Stronghold, Black
Lodge, Young Boys, The Cree, Bad
Soul, Young Bear and Buckshot –
each taking turns to play before
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Gary Greene (Nez Perce) competes in the Senior Golden Age Mens division
on the second day of the 2019 Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat
Powwow Grounds on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Grand Entry. Drummers were
competing for a combined $30,000
in prize money.
Blackstone was awarded $10,000;
The Cree, $8,000; Young Bear,
$6,000, Stronghold, $4,000; and
Black Lodge, $2,000.
Friday’s Grand Entry was led
by Tribal Elder Alton Butler and
Wayne Chulik (Tlingit) carrying in
3
eagle staffs.
As Indian Hill pounded out an
honor song, Grand Ronde Honor
Guard members and Tribal Elders
Raymond Petite and Butler, Tribal
spouse Richard Vanatta, Tribal
spouse Anthony Texeira and Al
Miller posted the colors. They
were followed by other veterans,
including past Tribal Council Chair
Reyn Leno and past Tribal Council
member Brenda Tuomi. Next came
Tribal Council members, Tribal
Royalty from various Tribes and
Contest Powwow contestants. It
took more than 30 minutes for ev-
eryone to fill the arbor.
Tribal Council Chairwoman
Cheryle A. Kennedy, Vice Chair
Chris Mercier, Secretary Jon A.
George and Tribal Council mem-
bers Denise Harvey, Jack Giffen
Jr., Kathleen George, Michael
Langley and Lisa Leno attended
Friday’s Grand Entry.
Jon George offered the invocation
and Kennedy welcomed attendees
who packed the bleachers and filled
all of the chairs set up around the
arbor, which meant standing room
only for later arrivals.
“I’m thankful all of you are able to
come here and celebrate with us,”
she said. “I want to thank you for
being a blessing.”
Kennedy also encouraged attend-
ees to make use of the many recy-
cling containers that were set up
throughout the powwow grounds.
“The water is sacred and it is here
for us to drink,” Kennedy said. “It
gives us life. Do what you can to
clean up and recycle. We were the
caretakers of this land before and
we need to do it again.”
Grand Entry closed with Royalty
members of various Tribes intro-
ducing themselves and shaking
hands with other Royalty mem-
See POWWOW
continued on page 4
Dancers participate in the Saturday afternoon Grand Entry on the second day of the 2019 Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on
Saturday, Aug. 17.