Grand Ronde Contest Powwow draws thousands

 

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

Despite a thunderstorm that parked itself over western Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 17, bringing buckets of rain to parts of Polk County and forcing the evening grand entry at the Grand Ronde Contest Powwow to be canceled out of concern that dancers might slip on the wet turf, it didn’t deter thousands in attendance at the annual event.

Tribal people from across the Pacific Northwest packed the uyxat Powwow Grounds to enjoy a powwow weekend full of dancing, drumming, festival food, vendors, and celebrating friends and family.

“We’ve got good participation here from Grand Ronde and outside the area,” Tribal Council member Matthew Haller said.

So many dancers attended the 1 p.m. Saturday grand entry, it lasted some 40 minutes, filling the arena. They were led into the arbor by the Grand Ronde Honor Guard followed by veterans, past and current Tribal Council members and Grand Ronde Royalty.

Tribal member Bobby Mercier gave the invocation.

All nine Tribal Council members were in attendance at the powwow. They are Haller, Jon A. George, Kathleen George, Secretary Michael Cherry, Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Brenda Tuomi, Denise Harvey and Lisa Leno.

The powwow attracted hundreds of registered dancers and six drum groups.  

Men resplendent in bright regalia circled, bending and stamping, shaking their feathers and ribbons. They were followed by Elders stepping in time, while younger women lightly kicked and skipped, holding their shawls out like wings.

On Friday evening, many of the children accompanying their parents in grand entry walked, weary at the end of a long, warm day, but by Saturday afternoon, several were dancing.

“Powwow is going wonderfully,” Tribal Council member Kathleen George said on Saturday. “It’s such a special time for family and friends and all of us Tribal people to come together as family and celebrate our culture, and it just means so much.”

Littlehawk Crump, (Navajo/Sand Carlos Apache) follows the powwow circuit every year in California and said he has also attended powwows in Washington state and the southwest, but this was his first time attending the Grand Ronde Contest Powwow.

“This powwow’s always been on my bucket list,” he said. “I’ve always seen, like, videos and photos, and the arbor is beautiful, so I wanted to come experience it in real life.”

Crump, who has been dancing “since I could walk” favors the mens northern traditional dance.

Loreen Seymour (TK’emlups te Secwepemc) was there to participate in the womens jingle dress dance competition because her significant other, Colin Stonechild, sings with Bad Eagle, one of the six drum groups performing.

“We powwow every weekend. … wherever he goes, we go as a family, and we dance, he sings,” Seymour said.

For Jayme Poitras, (Paul First Nation), the powwow, part of a two-week journey down the west coast, was an opportunity to study other traditions.

“I want to see how their culture is compared to Canada,” the teen said. She planned to enter the teen girls traditional dance.

Although the audience seating was so full that people were standing in the aisles, the grounds outside the arena were packed as well, with attendees perusing the vendor booths or standing in long lines for food.

Powwow food selections ranged from the always popular Indian tacos and fry bread to yakisoba noodles, street tacos, fruit smoothies, lemonade, pizza and French fries.

Demand for fry bread was so high on Saturday that would-be customers were turned away for an hour while a fresh batch was prepared.

Vendors lined the grounds offering an array of products.

After spending the past year fighting for her life, Tribal Elder Jackie Manyhides found peace and healing while making ribbon skirts. She said she isn’t quite 100% in remission, but is, “taking it day by day.”

Manyhides first started making ribbon skirts last year and then had to stop due to illness. Her focus shifted to getting better and beating cancer. Now, she is gaining her strength back and eating more.

“It was time to finish what I had started,” she said. “People were asking for ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts and I knew I had to do it. This gave me a sense of purpose, another reason to get out of bed each day…It brought healing and peace.” 

While drying out from dancing in the rainshowers that soaked the powwow grounds Saturday, Tribal member Marianne Blanchard said it was her first time being a vendor at the powwow.

“I’m happy to be doing it with my sister (Tribal member Michelle Blanchard),” she said. Marianne owns Indigenous Arts Tattoo Company and hosts one small business each month. This month’s is Tribal member Nakoosa Jack, who specializes in bead work and weaving. All three artisans had several different types of earrings, necklaces, hair bows and more.

The grand entries took place as scheduled Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, along with a rescheduled one on Sunday at noon.

The outgoing royal court was honored on Friday evening, before the incoming court was named.

“This is like the Oscars; I’m handed an envelope and then have to open it,” Tribal Council member Jon A. George joked, as the crowd waited to hear who had been chosen. The wait occasionally took a few moments as George wrestled with envelopes that had been thoroughly glued shut.

Kova Speer was crowned Tiny Tot Princess.

Ila Mercier was crowned Little Miss Grand Ronde.

Little Miss Princess went to Willow Squetimkin.

Desirae Hernandez was crowned Junior Miss Grand Ronde, while Senior Miss Grand Ronde went to Marie Quenelle.

George called the audience’s attention to the royal crowns, noting the hours of labor it takes to produce the intricate beading, and asked audience members to consider volunteering to help with creating them for next year’s court.

“We are just very honored to know these girls are going to represent Grand Ronde for the year,” George said.

In addition, invited drums Northern Cree, Bad Canyon, Ozuye, Battle Nation, Iron Star and Bad Eagle competed for $30,000 in prize money. The $10,000 prize winner was Bad Eagle.

More than $22,000 in prize money was danced for and prizes ranged from $25 to $1,000.

Grand Ronde winners were Leloo Quenelle, second in the girls jingle; Marie Quenelle, fourth in teen girls traditional and Levi Liebelt, fourth in senior mens traditional.

Dance specials this year included a men’s and women’s fancy shawl special, with an overall championship prize of $1,400 for the winner of a dance-off between the winners of the men’s and women’s categories; a luck of the draw for one men’s and one women’s category, with a $500 prize for each; a best-dressed drum group, with a top prize of $800, a teen girls traditional honoring outgoing Junior Miss Queen Marie Quenelle, and a second song traditional. New this year was the men’s chicken category, for ages 18 to 54, with a top prize of $1,000.

More information on the winners can be found in the sidebar to this story.

Additionally, Recreation Coordinator Leo Ayala hosted a 3-on-3 Contest Powwow Basketball Tournament on Saturday, which had to be switched from Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area near the powwow grounds to the Tribal gym due to weather. Games were played between co-ed, middle and high school teams, as well as men’s and women’s teams, with prizes for first through third place.

There was also a three-point shooting contest with prizes for first through third place.

“We had a combined total of 43 teams in 7 different divisions ranging from hoopers as young as 10 years old to adults,” Ayala said. “Originally, we started up at the Fort Yamhill Heritage Area where we had three outdoor courts until the weather moved our location indoors to the Grand Ronde gym. A little bad weather couldn’t stop us and the transition was smooth as can be and (we) had games going indoors as soon as 40 minutes into the location change…The first games started at 8 a.m. and continued until the very end where the final game concluded at around 8:30 p.m.”

The Contest Powwow concluded Sunday, Aug. 18, with the final grand entry.

Publications Secretary Katherine Warren contributed to this article

 

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2024 Grand Ronde Contest Powwow winners

 

Junior girls jingle: Ali Mae Jackson, first; Leloo Quenelle (Grand Ronde), second; Melody Waskahat, third; Lilyana Johnson, fourth, Nelly Pena, fifth.

Junior girls fancy: Leiliana Walsey, first; Emma Eagle Speaker; second; Kattera Jackson, third, Samora Leon, fourth, Chanan, fifth.

Junior girls traditional: Winter Cant See, first; Aria Irene Olney, second; Leona Norwest, third; Shirleen Norwest, fourth; Gabriella Calrillo, fifth.

Junior boys grass: Tyler Peters, first; Jonathon Casper, second; Kolton One Pennee, third, Attii Blackhorn, fourth; Marion Deschamps, fifth.

Junior boys fancy: Dakota Madera Jr., first; Andres Martin, second; Jacob Adams, third.

Junior boys traditional: Baylor Scabbyrobe, first; Opichee Day, second, Dravas Coin, third, Mathanyol Briseno, fourth; Kian Montgomery, fifth.

Teen girls jingle: Tessa Saenz, first; Junee Picard, second; Shakyla Jackson, third; Davianna Madera, fourth; and Janaya Primeaux, fifth.

Teen girls fancy: Valerie Scabbyrobe, first; Claudia Suarez, second; Keeala Walsey, third; Keaira Onepennee, fourth; Acozian Dion, fifth.

Teen girls traditional: Athena Reed, first; Jayme Poitras, second; Jodee Jackson, third; Marie Quenelle (Grand Ronde), fourth; Neima Sam, fifth.

Teen boys grass: SunHawk Barney, first; Ian Mitchell, second; Elijah Villa, third; Donavan Waskahat, fourth; Londell Duran, fifth.

Teen boys fancy: Kingsley Pasquayak, first; Jack Petty, second.

Teen boys traditional: Jayden Esquiro, first; Jayce Burnstick, second; Darnil Whiteplume, Jessi Redtail Soliz, fourth; Anton Arthur, fifth.

Junior womens jingle: Zariah Whiteplume, first; Roxane Gomez, second; Analynn Olney, third; Alayna Bevis, fourth, Sky Whiteman, fifth.

Junior womens fancy: Jovena Scabbyrobe, first; Oke-Twisha Roberts, second; Talia Reasoner, third, Keenas Limon, fourth; Amelia Henry, fifth.

Junior womens traditional: Verlina Whiteman, first; Sonnie Altana, second, Ida Adams, third; Shawna Waheneka, fourth; Leilonnie Wilson, fifth.

Junior mens grass: Joseph Baldwin, first, Xavier Bolton, second; Many Hawley, third; Dakota Madera, fourth; Trenton Calica, fifth.

Junior mens fancy: Dasan Scholfield, first; Nakeezaka Jack, second.

Junior mens traditional: Bryon Adams, first; Dwayne Redstart, second; Quindon Calica, third; Kiowa Dougherty, fourth; Skye J. Beesley, fifth.

Junior mens chicken: Coretz Osborne, first; Tyus Beebe, second; Brylen Scabbyrobe, third; Jordan Yazzie, fourth; Jeremy Barney, fifth.

Senior womens jingle: Bridget Eaglespeaker, first; LaCreda White Buffalo, second; Michelle Martinez, third, Loreena Seymour, fourth, Verdella Wright, fifth.

Senior womens fancy: Urseloria Walsey, first; Denelle Stanley, second; Carol Melting Tallow, third, Josette Scholfield, fourth, Irene Onepennee, fifth.

Senior womens traditional: Violet Olney, first; Marie Jackson, second; Stephanie Townsend, third, Birdie Scabbyrobe, fourth; Celeste Nunes, fifth.

Senior mens grass: Darryl Bolton, first; Cary Villa, second; Martin Montgomery, third; Charles Dick, fourth; Francis Dion, fifth.

Senior mens fancy: Jamie Ward, first; Gary Olney, second; Larry Buck, third.

Senior mens traditional: George Meninick Jr., first; Andrew Tewawina, second; Carlos Calica, third; Levi Liebelt (Grand Ronde/Modoc) fourth; Leonard Harmon, fifth.

Junior golden age women: Michelle Blackkettle, first, Jena Henry, second; Lillie Andy, third; Jackie Barkley, fourth; Tonia Hall, fifth.

Junior golden age men: Terry Brockie, first; Billy Herrera, second; Dwayne Cree Medicine, third.

Senior golden age women: Wilma Wahsise, first; Willma Buck, second; Rosie Tom, third; Elaine Fourhorns, fourth; Linda Meanus, fifth.

Senior golden age men: Stan Greene, first; Peter Jo Olney, second; Les Wahsise, third; Albert Summer Jr., fourth; Adrian Ibarra, fifth.

Drums: Bad Eagle, first; Iron Star, second; Ozuye, third; Battle Nation, fourth; Bad Canyon, fifth.