Tribal Government Day highlighted by nine Tribal flags hoisted at state Capitol
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The flag of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, as well as the other eight federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, now flies at the state Capitol in Salem.
It flutters on a breezy day and hangs still on calm days, but it flies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The flags, Tribal representatives and state officials say, are constant reminders of the sovereignty of Oregon’s Tribes, their government-to-government relationship with the state and the history of the Tribes in Oregon since time immemorial.
“I think it shows that the state recognizes our sovereignty … that we’re equals,” Tribal Council Secretary Jack Giffen Jr. said during the May 14 Tribal Government Day held at the state Capitol. “I think it’s a huge step in a positive direction for our sovereignty.
“The federal government tries to dissolve our sovereignty in any way they can. For the state to step up and recognize us as a sovereign nation is huge.”
“This event means a day of honor when all Tribes gather and share the unity of the nine Tribes,” Tribal Council member Wink Soderberg said. “That unity is something we have worked hard for, and I think the raising of the flags will reinforce the government-to-government relationship between the nine Tribes and the state.”
Tribal Government Day officially started at 8:30 a.m. with a breakfast hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and prepared by Spirit Mountain Casino staff.
Attendees dined on miniature muffins, croissants, fruit, pastries, coffee and bottles of water and juice. Information tables from the nine federally recognized Tribes filled the Capitol Galleria.
Grand Ronde’s table, staffed by Tribal members Kristen Ravia and Ashley Langley, was a popular destination as the Tribe gave away “Oregon” picture books and copies of the 25th Restoration commemorative edition that appeared in the Nov. 15, 2008, Smoke Signals.
Tribal members milling about the Galleria included Education Division Manager April Campbell; Tribal Elders Kathryn Harrison, Chip Tom, Steve Rife, Gladys Hobbs and Violet Folden; Cultural Resources Manager David Lewis; Tribal lobbyist Justin Martin; and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Director Shelley Hanson.
Tribal Council members in attendance included Soderberg, June Sell-Sherer, Kathy Tom, Giffen, Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Valorie Sheker, Vice Chair Reyn Leno, Steve Bobb Sr. and Chris Mercier.
Other Tribal members who attended included the Tribe’s management team of Executive Officer Chris Leno, Director of Development Pete Wakeland and Director of Program Operations John Mercier.
The annual event’s name was changed this year from “Tribal Information Day” to Tribal Government Day, said Oregon Commission on Indian Services Executive Director Karen Quigley, to “stress the government-to-government relationship between the Tribes and the state.”
“Every time we have one of these days,” said Sue Shaffer, Tribal chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, “it is such a teaching experience to the public. I’m grateful that the state understands there are 10 governments in Oregon – the state and the nine Tribal governments. It is further attested to by the Commission on Indian Services, which is a legislative arm of state government.”
At 10 a.m., attendees moved outside to Wilson Park on the west side of the state Capitol building for the solemn ceremony to raise the nine Tribal flags and make them an official part of the Walk of Flags, an oval with flags from the 50 states, which opened in 2005.
Before the ceremony started, Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, carrying a colorful beaded purse that featured a bright red cardinal, sat next to Shaffer, jovially talking about the day.
Tribal Elder Steve Rife, a member of the Grand Ronde Honor Guard, carried an eagle staff and led the procession in as Grand Ronde Veterans’ Special Event Board members Chris Tinney carried the state flag, Gene LaBonte handled the POW/MIA flag and Norris Merrill tended the U.S. flag.
Tribal Council member and veteran June Sell-Sherer carried the Grand Ronde flag and Tribal Council members and veterans Steve Bobb Sr. and Reyn Leno stood at the base of the Grand Ronde flag pole, waiting the time when all nine Tribes would simultaneously hoist their flags to fly in the breezy Oregon air.
Umatilla Tribal Elder Jay Minthorn, chair of the Commission on Indian Services and Umatilla Board of Trustees member, handled the master of ceremonies duties.
Since the state Capitol sits in the ceded homelands of the Grand Ronde Tribe, Kennedy opened the proceedings.
“This is a great occasion,” Kennedy said after welcoming the public, Tribal members and elected officials. “This acknowledgement of the Tribes and the sisterhood relationship between the state of Oregon and the nine Tribes of Oregon is a first in the nation. This is the first occasion like this that is occurring within the United States of America.
“It took a lot of effort and work, but I must say that the Oregon Legislature was very open, embracing and encouraging in this whole process.”
Kennedy thanked staff at the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department and the Commission on Indian Services for their contributions to see the day to fruition.
At 10:15 a.m., Minthorn, saying the day was “something to remember for years to come,” instructed Tribal representatives to connect and hoist their Tribal flags to fly over the state Capitol as Star Horse, a drum from the Warms Springs Tribe, performed a flag song.
Sell-Sherer handed the Grand Ronde flag to Bobb and Leno, who connected it with latches. When instructed, Leno hoisted the Grand Ronde flag as Sell-Sherer saluted and Bobb watched it rise into the air.
“The Tribal Government Day celebration was important and a very significant event to me,” Sell-Sherer said. “Not just because I was honored with the privilege of representing our Tribal veterans by carrying in our flag at the flag raising ceremony.
“But because now after 150 years, the state has declared and officially recognized all of the Oregon Tribes as sovereign nations. It is a major step forward and a long time overdue.”
After the flags were raised, Umatilla Tribal Chair Antone Minthorn performed a bell song.
“We have been on this land for thousands of years, lived on this land for thousands of years, fought on this land and died on this land,” he said.
“Today, we come here to raise our flags as nine Tribes and nine sovereign nations. We raise the flags because of the people who were here before us. We will continue with our traditions, language and customs under these flags.”
After Mike Rondo of the Cow Creek Tribe sang the national anthem a cappella, Minthorn recognized state officials in the audience, including Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Secretary of State Kate Brown, Attorney General John Kroger and state Sens. Chuck Riley, Ted Ferrioli and Rick Metsger. It was Metsger’s 2008 measure that authorized the Tribal flags and monuments, which were paid for by the Tribes and the Oregon State Capitol Foundation.
“Welcome to your state Capitol,” Brown said. “With the installation of these nine flags, it is truly your Capitol. And I look forward to working with you in the future. This is truly a historic occasion and I hope it’s an opportunity for all of us to work together under these flags for the betterment of each other, all Oregonians and future generations.”
“These nine flags have been missing from this park over the past several years,” Kulongoski said before reading a proclamation declaring May 14 as Tribal Government Flag Day and May 16-23 as American Indian Week.
“I’m proud to live in a state that respects and admires its nine sovereign Tribal governments, and proud to lead a state government that engages its Tribes as sovereign equals.
“Oregon is blessed that these nine Tribes enrich our culture, serve as stewards of the land and contribute so much to this state that each of us holds so dear.”
After Kulongoski’s speech and proclamation reading, representatives from the nine Tribes addressed the crowd: Tribal Chairman Dean Adams from the Burns Paiute; Chairman Bob Garcia from the Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw; Chairman Ed Metcalf from the Coquille; Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy from Grand Ronde; Chairwoman Sue Shaffer from the Cow Creek; Chairman Antone Minthorn from the Umatilla; Vice Chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer from the Warm Springs; Chairman Joe Kirk from the Klamath; and Chairwoman Delores Pigsley from the Siletz.
“This was truly a historic event,” Kennedy said. “What I see here today in recognizing this historic moment is really an action of the heart. You can legislate things, but it is only when a changing of the heart occurs that you can embrace each other, and that is what I see here today. And I am very grateful that this is happening for the Tribes and the state of Oregon.”
“These flags represent honor, sacrifice, history, culture and perseverance,” Metcalf said.
“We are no longer in a hostile, adversarial relationship,” Antone Minthorn said. “The flags signify a great government-to-government relationship.”
At 11:40, the event ended and attendees adjourned across the street to Water Fountain Park to eat a barbecue lunch provided by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians and its Seven Feathers Casino.
“It was great,” Bobb said about the day’s events. “A great day in that the pain and suffering of our ancestors whose footprints on this land were washed away by a stroke of a pen and ignored as an invisible people now share a place of honor on the grounds of the Capitol of this great state.
“The Grand Ronde people proudly stand beside our brothers and sisters of the eight other Tribes of Oregon, as sovereign people, and hopefully free the anguished spirits of our ancestors.
“As a Tribal member and a veteran, I wear my emotions very close to my heart. Whenever I represent our people, it is with overwhelming joy and the utmost pride.”
“I think it’s good to honor the presence of people who have been here forever,” Tribal Council member Chris Mercier said. “I think it matters because we are sovereign nations, we were here before and we will always be a part of Oregon’s history. We each have our unique history and story to tell. I think it’s quite appropriate.”
“It was so historic,” said Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom. “It was such a pleasure to be here with my Dad (Tribal Elder Leon “Chip” Tom), who was the third generation of Tribal Council and I’m the fourth generation. Sharing that memory with him will always last in my heart.
“And seeing our flag fly at the Capitol because I remember the times before Restoration that there weren’t really any good memories at the state Capitol. Today meant a lot to me.”