Veterans Powwow begins Friday, July 10

If you go

Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow

When: Grand entries at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11; and 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Royalty pageant at 11 a.m. Friday with coronation at 5 p.m.

Where: uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 SW Hebo Road.

Cost: Free

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By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

The Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow will return to Grand Ronde’s uyxat Powwow Grounds Friday, July 10, and include a Veterans Summit, Veterans Royalty pageant and coronation, food and lots of dancing.

Powwow weekend will begin with a Veterans Royalty pageant at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10, and conclude with a grand entry at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 12.

Veterans Special Event Board Chair Molly Leno is organizing the powwow, as she has done for the past few years.

“I feel like the Veterans Powwow is more family-oriented and it’s very near and dear to my heart,” Leno said. “Everyone is there to have fun and a lot of people are first-time dancers. Organizing this is a huge honor and we have a great board that works well together.”

Leno will also be the onsite contact for any vendors at the powwow. She can be reached at 971-612-2948.

Additionally, Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier announced at a recent Tribal Council meeting that 100 student athletes from the Big 10 Conference will be attending the powwow this year.

“There will be students from all over the Big 10 footprint,” he said. “A lot will not have experienced Tribal culture, so I’m hoping people will join in and leave a good impression on them.”

The host drum is Northern Blackhorse with co-host Bad Soul.

There are also four day pay drum spots with $250 per session. Drums must have five singers minimum.

Powwow vendor check-in is at noon Thursday, July 9, at the powwow grounds. Camping opens Wednesday, July 8, and Leno will be onsite directing campers with signs.  

The emcee is Anthony Quenelle (Grand Ronde) and the arena director is Levi Liebelt (Grand Ronde).

There will be various dance specials including a tiny tots special as well as a spectator and street clothes special hosted by the Veterans Special Event Board for ages 25 to 54. Additionally, Tribal members Joe and Elizabeth Ulestad will be hosting various coming to the circle dance specials, including a parent and child special with prizes ranging from $100 to $500, and a girls junior dance special with prizes ranging from $50 to $300. 

The Veterans Summit, open to all veterans and their families, will be held Friday, July 10, at the powwow grounds, with a focus on brain health. A continental breakfast begins at 9 a.m. and the opening ceremony is at 10:30 a.m.

The event will include remarks by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs and various partners who provide veterans services. Lunch and a guitar demonstration will begin at noon. Various activities and presenters will be available from 1 to 3:30 p.m. There will also be a veterans sweat from 7-10 a.m. The address for the sweat is 45000 SW Hebo Road.

Navy Veteran Ramona Quenelle (Pit River), who serves as the Tribe’s Veterans Service Officer, is organizing the event, which is co-sponsored by the Office of Tribal Government Relations and the Native Wellness Institute.

“The focus this year is on aging and brain health,” Quenelle said in an email. “Walk through our giant brain and participate in the brain health stations to win raffle prizes. Join us to listen to multiple speakers, visit the resource tables and listen to live guitar during lunch. Enjoy mini-Pilates classes, fly fishing demonstrations and necklace making. Also pledge to walk 2.2 miles during the summit for a T-shirt.”

See last year's powwow: