GRANDE RONDE INDIANS

THESE INDIANS LIVE IN CENTRAL OREGON ALONG THE COAST. THEY PROTECT PREHISTORIC SITES AND BELIEVE THEY ARE THE VOICES OF THEIR ANCESTORS. THEY DO DANCE ON SOME ON SOME SITES AND USE SOME FOR SPIRITUAL CEREMONIES, FISHING, AND GATHERING. THEY DEPEND ON THEIR VOICE OF THEIR ANCESTORS FOR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTION.THEIR NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT MANAGES THE TIMBER ASSETS. THEY HAVE A FISH AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT THAT EXAMINES THAT EXAMINES THE HEALTH OF DEER AND ELK HERDS. THEY ALSO HAVE A RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT ORGANIZES OPPORTUNITIES ON THE RESERVATION INCLUDING HIKING DAY USE.

THEIR TRIBE HONORS THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE. FOR MANY GRANDE RONDE THERE WAS A MYTH THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE WORLD WHERE WE LIVE NOW. DURING THE MYTH AGE THAT OCCURRED THE EARTH WAS MADE READY FOR PEOPLE BY THE ANIMALS. COYOTE AND CROW WERE TWO OF THESE ANIMALS WHOSE STORIES ARE TOLD. EIGHT DIFFERENT LANGUAGES WERE BROUGHT TO THIS RESERVATION IN MID 1950'S BY THE TREATY SIGNING TIMES. CHINUK WAWA WAS ADOPTED BY THE TRIBE AS THE MAIN LANGUAGE. THEY HAVE FOUND VARIOUS ARTIFACTS HERE THAT ARE 1000'S OF YEARS OLD. BY THE TIME LEWIS AND CLARK CAME TO THE WILLAMETTE RIVER THEIR ANCESTORS HAD BEEN LIVING THERE 1000'S OF YEARS. THEY HAD PROPHESIES ABOUT CUTTING INTO THE EARTH FOR CROPS.

THEY HAD WAYS OF ENSURING THAT THEY HAD FOOD IN THE COMING YEARS. THEY HAD TRADITIONAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INCLUDING THE USE OF FIRE FOR MANAGING HUNTING, HARVESTING, AND REGROWTH. THESE FIRES COOKED GRASSHOPPERS AND THEY ATE THEM. THE PLANK HOUSE WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTENDED FAMILY.

THE SETTLERS TOOK THEIR LAND UNFORTUNATELY AND THE GOVERNMENT APPROVED. IN 2002 JUNE OLSON EXPLAINS THE TREATY THAT MOVED 2000 INDIANS FROM THEIR HOMELAND. IN 1954 CONGRESS TERMINATED THEIR RIGHTS AS WELL. THEY HAVE A VISION TODAY OF BEING HONEST AND SELF SUFFICIENT TO GAIN SELF DEVELOPMENT. THEY FISH FOR EEL AND CRAB AND THEIR SENIORS ARE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. IN 2000 THE TRIBE AND USFS SIGNED A MEMORANDUM IN ORDER TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT CULTURAL AND NATURAL; RESOURCES.. HUCKLEBERRIES ARE QUITE IMPORTANT TO THIS TRIBE SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. THE TRIBE HAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE USFS AN EFFORT TO REVITALIZE THE CAMAS PRAIRIE. THEY ARE PRESERVING ANCIENT CULTURE BY CONTINUING TO DIG ROOTS AND MAKE BASKETS, PLAY STICKS GAMES, ATTEND POWWOWS, AND ROUND DANCES AND MAKE CANOES, AND USE THE TRADITIONAL CHINUCK WAWA LANGUAGE.

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