News for March, 1997

The flutter of activity and preparation for this year's encampment- otherwise known as Pow-Wow is well under way. Classes in drum and moccasin making were held this month. Applications for tribal royalty are out. No due date has yet been listed. For further information, contact Donna Casey or Norma Billings at (503) 876-4663 and good luck.

This year's Pow-Wow committee is gearing up for competitive dancing, a first with the Grand Ronde encampment. Personally, I hope this does not interfere with the many friendship and open dances that have made our Pow-Wow a favorite with our visitors and those who join us on a regular basis.

A sadder note, Martha Mercier (Hudson) continued her travels on the wheel of life this past month. Her physical self is gone, yet her Spirit resides within the many she has touched and who are a part of her.

Florence Erickson (Cunningham) has also continued her walk on that celestial path. Her sudden passing followed a lengthy standoff with cancer. She moved to the Washington coastal area after marriage many years ago and is missed by her friends and relatives

Winter steelhead fishing has been normal to great this year. Some of the better fishing has occurred at Three Rivers up the coast. As always, the fish must legally be hooked in the mouth, no snagging or "lucky" catches. Also with the colder weather up high, the elk have begun to herd up here down low. So be careful on the highway. There is at least one herd on Highway 22, Hebo Road, and another south of Highway 18 near Grand Ronde. Late night and early morning fog can increase the danger, so slow down and don’t outdrive your headlights, a 400 pound plus animal can not only cause damage to your vehicle, but personal injury is also a possibility.

The moderate weather this month has kept the hawks around longer than normal this year. The trees and poles along the highways have been dotted with red-tailed hawks and the smaller feral hawks since December. It is also the time of the year for the coyotes to come in season and den-up. They’ve been fairly active here south of Grand Ronde. A few cats and at least one small dog are missing and the local poultry is staying closer to the coop. There have also been stories of lambs being taken. I’m not sure if these incidents occurred this year or are vague horror stories from the past.

The Spirit Mountain Casino had two of country’s better acts this past month. Chris LeDoux packed the people in at his appearance in late January. Little Texas out did themselves with two performances on the 20th of February. Whether the current country craze will continue to draw crowds is anyone’s guess. Willie Nelson’s March 6th engagement was reportedly sold out by the end of the first day’s ticket sales.

Here are a few cultural gatherings of note:

February 28 - March 1 The 26th Annual American Indian Student Alliance - on campus, San Diego, CA (619) 594-6991

March 15 The 15th Homestead Intertribal Pow-Wow - Homestead High, Cupertino, CA (408) 241-7999

March 15 – 16 The 27th California State University Pow-Wow - California State University at Long Beach, CA (310) 985-4963

April 24 - 26 Gathering of Nation’s Pow-Wow - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (505) 836-2810

Lastly, we would like to congratulate the Kalispell Nation upon their recognition and re-instatement as a Nation. Welcome and good luck. It's been a long time coming