Tribes stand strong at Oregon State Fair

SALEM - For the fourth straight year, the Oregon State Fair's opening day on Friday, Aug. 24, featured the five federally recognized Tribes in western Oregon standing together and educating fairgoers on Native history and culture.

Members of the five Tribes - the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, Coquille Indian Tribe and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians - gathered at the Spirit of Oregon stage to educate, share and perform.

The Grand Ronde Tribal contingent included four Tribal Council members - Secretary Jack Giffen Jr. and Chris Mercier, Steve Bobb Sr. and Kathleen Tom - and the Tribal Canoe Family, Tribal Royalty and numerous Tribal members and staff.

Events started at about 11:10 a.m. on a surprisingly sunny, but cool, day as The Woodsmen drum, which included Tribal member Bobby Mercier, performed a grand entry song as the posting of colors occurred.

Tribal Council member Chris Mercier carried in the U.S. flag while Tribal Elder and veteran Gene LaBonte carried in the Grand Ronde Tribal flag.

After The Woodsmen performed "Soldier Boy" in honor of veterans in attendance, Giffen joined Siletz Tribal Chairwoman Dee Pigsley in welcoming fairgoers to the homelands of the Grand Ronde Tribe.

"Welcome to the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde," Giffen said. "We're your neighbors, we're your co-workers, we're your friends, and we are Indian County in Oregon."

Grand Ronde Tribal Royalty then took the stage and introduced themselves. This year's Royalty includes Kiana Leno, Senior Miss Grand Ronde; Kailiyah Krehbiel, Junior Miss Grand Ronde; Iyana Holmes, Junior Veterans Queen; and Junior Miss Princesses Amaryssa and Amelia Mooney, Makenzie Aaron, Madison Ross and Elizabeth Watson-Croy. In addition, Miss Siletz SuSun Fisher introduced herself.

Master of ceremony Nick Sixkiller then invited Bobb to the stage to introduce the Grand Ronde Canoe Family. Some 20-plus strong, the Canoe Family performed eight songs over 45 minutes to the delight of the crowd.

During a performance of "The Blue Heron Song," several audience members jumped up to follow the dancers during the fun song that depicts a blue heron getting stuck in the mud and freeing itself.

After the Grand Ronde Canoe Family, the Siletz Feather Dancers performed and Tribal Royalty quizzed audience members with "Did You Know" facts about Oregon Tribes.

Offstage, each Tribe staffed informational booths. The Grand Ronde booth included Greg Archuleta, Jordan Mercier and Greg Robinson and his son, Justin, both Chinook, and featured carving examples, as well as a children's craft table and informational pamphlets.

"We are here to share our culture and heritage," Sixkiller told audience members. "We tell our children to never forget who you are or where you came from."

The "Standing Strong" event was organized by the Tribe's Public Affairs Department, including Director Siobhan Taylor and Chelsea Clark and Lisa Archuleta.

It is held annually by the Tribes in exchange for free rental of the Salem Pavilion in late January for the Oregon First Nations Powwow.