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 grand entries at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. 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 the Grand Ronde singers and drummers performing at 10:30 a.m. (all are welcome) and an opportunity to view a Tomanowos exhibit. A Tomanowos panel discussion and program will follow at 11 a.m. . 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. Grand entries will be held at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. 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. The invited drum is Battle Stone Singers. Dance specials will include past/present Grand Ronde Royalty and Veterans Royalty, sweetheart (regalia required), potato dance, switch, tiny tots and golden age. Various prizes will be awarded to the winners.  

There will be a dinner break at the casino at 5 p.m. Powwow will conclude at 10 p.m.

The 41st anniversary events will begin at the Tribal Cemetery off Grand Ronde Road at the atudship rock mound at 9 a.m. The sacred ceremony usually features prayers and singing.

 

View Restoration coverage from 2023: