6
SMOKE SIGNALS
APRIL 15, 2024
Exhibit on display until April 30
EXHIBIT continued
from front page
said to Cole while they set up the
exhibit. “The underlying message
of the exhibit is that Native people
have been innovating forever.”
One of the fi rst stations one sees
upon entering the library is Na-
tive transportation innovations.
Miniature paddles and a handheld
8-inch dug-out canoe created by
Tribal member Brian Krehbiel are
on display, along with true-to-scale
tools used for carving out canoes.
These miniatures are made for
handling, so children and their
families can get a sense for how a
traditional canoe is made and what
it feels like.
“We want people to touch them,”
Jackson said. “We also have hands-
on activities varying in levels of
independence.”
According to Jackson, the Muse-
um of Natural and Cultural History
invited all nine Tribes of Oregon to
participate in the creation of the
exhibit. The Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde, Coquille Indian
Tribe, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua
Tribe of Indians and the Confeder-
ated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua
and Siuslaw Indians directly ad-
vised on the project.
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History Education
Manager Mia Jackson demonstrates the use of a sandal weaving station
for Tribal Librarian Kathy Cole. The station is part of the Native Innovation
Museum Adventures traveling exhibit and it was installed at the library on
Thursday, April 4.
Jackson said Grand Ronde’s
Education Department has been
involved from the beginning.
“This (exhibit) supports Tribal
curriculum and gives library and
public spaces a way to support
those messages all over the state of
Oregon,” Jackson said. “The Grand
Ronde community assisted in mak-
ing this happen and hopefully they
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses
and able to perform marriage
ceremonies for a fi ling fee of $40.
Contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. n
are happy to see it go statewide.”
The exhibit is scheduled to tour
Oregon through 2025, visiting rural
and small cities. Some of the sched-
uled stops include public libraries
in Cottage Grove, Mount Angel and
Rogue River.
Funding for the exhibit came
from an Institute of Museum and
Library Services grant and through
a private foundation.
Places that wish to display the
exhibit only have to pay for the cost
of shipping. The Tribal Library was
able to display the exhibit for free.
“Hopefully this will bring more
people to the library and educate
people about the Tribe,” Cole said.
The exhibit will be in Grand
Ronde until Tuesday, April 30.
Jackson recommended families
carve out 45 minutes to an hour to
experience the exhibit. However,
it could take longer and families
can explore the exhibit in bits and
pieces throughout the month.
“It’s great for all ages because
they can participate at their own
level,” Jackson said.
Cole said several of the activi-
ties brought with the exhibit will
be shared with the classes in the
Tribe’s Education Department. n
Road 690 gates temporarily
closed due to thinning operations
The Natural Resources Department will be conducting commercial
thinning operations through its logging contractor along Road 690
in the Reservation forest. For protection of public safety, Tribal re-
sources and contractor equipment, the gates at the upper and lower
ends of the Road 690 crossover route will be temporarily closed and
locked for the duration of operations. Vehicular access will be limited
to administrative and operational use.
The roads will remain open to non-motorized uses, although visi-
tors are advised to stay safely away from commercial thinning units
and equipment.
Operations along Road 690 are expected to be complete this sum-
mer and the Natural Resources Department will announce when the
road is reopened to motorized vehicles. n