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JUNE 1, 2023
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Harrison9s public memorial slated for Sunday, June 4
HARRISON continued
from page 8
to a wheelchair, Harrison remained
a revered oxture at Tribal events,
attending Spirit Mountain Commu-
nity Fund check presentations, an
occasional Tribal Council or General
Council meeting and many cultur-
al events. Her most recent public
appearances were attending Bruce
Thomas9 retirement party held at
Spirit Mountain Casino on May 4
and the Wellness Canoe Naming
Ceremony held Saturday, May 20,
at the achaf-hammi plankhouse.
She resided at the Adult Foster
Care lodges in Grand Ronde.
Harrison had 10 children: Frank
Harrison, Tom Harrison, Ray
Harrison, Roger Harrison, David
Harrison, Patsy Pullin, Jeanette
Harrison, Kathy Coley, Diane
Harrison and Karen Askins. She
is survived by numerous relatives.
At the time of her
passing, Harrison was
the oldest Tribal mem-
ber at the age of 99.
That distinction now
passes to Lorene Belle
Smith, who is 98.
Funeral services
were arranged by
West Valley Funer-
al Home in Sheridan
and a public memorial
service will be held 10
a.m. Sunday, June 4,
at Spirit Mountain
Casino.
The Tribal govern-
ment shut down for
the day on Monday,
May 22, after the
news was announced.
<The Tribe lost one
of its great leaders
over the weekend with
the passing of former
Tribal Chairwoman
Kathryn Harrison,=
Interim General Man-
ager Chris Leno said
in an all-employee
e-mail, adding that Tribal govern-
mental ofoces would close to honor
her life and memory.
<Words cannot express the mag-
nitude of sadness and loss that
we9re expressing with the passing
of our beloved Tribal Elder Kathryn
Harrison,= the Tribe posted on its
governmental Facebook page. <She
dedicated her life to the service of
Smoke Signals file photos
Kathryn Harrison became the first Native American recipient in 2012 of the
Oregon History Maker award given out by the Oregon Historical Society.
Kathryn Harrison was honored
on her 95th birthday by
Tribal Council Secretary Jon
A. George, Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy and Tribal Council
Vice Chair Chris Mercier in
2019 during a Tribal Council
meeting.
she started into the future.=
On Tuesday, May 23, Con-
gressman Earl Blumenauer
released a statement regard-
ing Harrison9s passing.
<It was an honor to have
worked with, and learned
from Kathryn Harrison,= Blu-
menauer said. <She was a
source of wisdom and dignity
whenever she attended one of
our Tribal roundtables. She impart-
ed a special value, her dignity, in-
sight and great respect. Her words
carried special signiocance because
of her history, leadership and
accomplishments. I count myself
lucky that our paths crossed many
times. She was a powerful symbol
of determination 3 helping secure
justice for her people and providing
inspiration for Native Americans
across the country.=
Former Oregon U.S. Rep. Les
AuCoin, who introduced the Grand
Ronde Restoration Act in the House
of Representatives in 1983, said he
and his wife, Sue, were saddened to
hear the news of Harrison9s passing.
<Her groundbreaking life has
inspired legions of open-hearted
people throughout Oregon and
the country,= AuCoin said in an
e-mail. <I have lost one of my most
faithful friends. Kathryn and I
journeyed many miles together
to make the world a kinder and
fairer place for all, not just for
some. Her joy lit up the lives of all
who knew her. Born into humble
beginnings, she inspired countless
souls with her unforgettable ex-
ample of compassion, benevolence
and goodwill.
<I met Kathryn long before the
Grand Ronde people were restored
as a federally recognized Tribe,
before the creation of the Tribal
Reservation and gaming compact.
When she told me about the Trail
of Tears the Grand Ronde people
endured during their forced relo-
cation and subsequent betrayal by
the U.S. government, her eyes told
me her ancestors were speaking to
me. Now Kathryn is reunited with
her forebears. To have walked at
her side is an honor I cherish.= þ
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS
@SmokeSignalsCTGR
others and contributed a great deal to
Indian County and the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde. May we honor
her, and her legacy, as we carry what
Kathryn Harrison attended the 25th Anniversary Celebration for the Spirit
Mountain Community Fund on July 30, 2022.
Kathryn Harrison was interviewed in June 2010 on the 10th
anniversary of the agreement with the American Museum of Natural
History in New York City.
Kathryn Harrison spoke to students at Kathryn Jones Harrison Elementary
School in Corvallis in May 2022. One of Harrison9s most recent honors for her
lifetime of work in Indian Country and in Oregon was having the Corvallis
School District rename one of its schools in her honor.