Forty-one years of Restoration will be celebrated Nov. 22-23 at Spirit Mountain Casino

If you go

41^st Restoration Celebration and Powwow

When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22-23. Doors open at 10 a.m. Friday, a meal will be served at 11:30 a.m. For powwow, doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday with a noon grand entry. All are welcome

Where: Spirit Mountain Casino, 27100 S.W. Salmon River Highway

Questions: publicaffairs@grandronde.org (Restoration), kalapuyaweaver@gmail.com (powwow)

 

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Nov. 22, 1983, is a day that will forever be etched in Grand Ronde Tribal history because it was the day that President Ronald Reagan signed House Resolution 3885, restoring the Grand Ronde Tribe to federal recognition.

The Tribe had been terminated 29 years before and his signature on the bill officially ended that dark time.

Now, the Tribe is poised to celebrate 41 years of Restoration and all of the accomplishments that have come with it. 

“Our community has grown so much over the past 41 years,” Tribal Communications Director Sara Thompson said. “Restoration is a special time when we can gather as family, a community and a Tribe. It’s a special time because it allows us to honor the journey that has brought us here while we look toward the future and the amazing things still to come.”

This year, Restoration is returning to a two-day format, with the celebration taking place on Friday, Nov. 22 and the Restoration Powwow happening Saturday, Nov. 23. Both events will be held at Spirit Mountain Casino.

For the Restoration Celebration portion, doors open at 10 a.m., followed by an opportunity to view a Tomanowos exhibit. The Grand Ronde Canoe Family will perform at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Tomanowos panel discussion. A meal will be served at 11:30 a.m. with drawings at 1 p.m. Attendees must be present to win.

Doors will open at 10 a.m. Saturday for the Restoration Powwow, followed by a noon grand entry. The emcee is Tribal Elder Bob Tom. Tribal Elder Dietrich Peters will serve as arena director. Headman and headwoman are Tribal members Chad and Molly Leno. The host drum is Bad Soul. Dance specials will include Grand Ronde Royalty and Veterans Royalty.  

After powwow concludes at 6 p.m., a celebration dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. at Chachalu Tribal Museum & Cultural Center. The location was chosen as it is the former Grand Ronde Elementary School, where the Tribe first held Restoration celebration events. All are welcome and invited to share memories during an open mic session. 

The 41st anniversary events will begin at the Tribal Cemetery off Grand Ronde Road at the atudship rock mound. The private, sacred ceremony usually features prayers and singing.

 

View Restoration coverage from 2023: