Powwow draws largest crowd in recent memory

 

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

Stepping and turning to the pounding drums, the dancers filed in, a line that coiled around on itself, filling the arena, while the audience packed the stands and crowded onto the walkways.

The 2026 annual Grand Ronde Contest Powwow, held at uyxat Powwow Grounds Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 16, was, as usual, a packed event. Attendees traveled to Grand Ronde to spend time with family and friends, dance and enjoy the feeling of being immersed in tradition and culture.

Some women danced with babies in their arms, and toddlers and children accompanied their Elders.

In contrast to the past two years, the weather was nearly perfect; dry and warm, but not overly hot.

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George and Tribal Council members Kathleen George, Toby McClary and Lisa Leno danced in Friday night’s grand entry and again in Saturday’s afternoon grand entry, where they were joined by Tribal Council member Matthew Haller.

Tribal member Bobby Mercier gave the invocation Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon, Carlos Calica (Warm Springs) gave the invocation, and singers from Warm Springers presented a song of gratitude and prayer. As the song drew to a close, dancers swayed to make the bells on their regalia ring out softly in tribute.

James Smith of Toppenish, Washington, gave the invocation Sunday.

The evening grand entry on Saturday was canceled. Instead, there was impromptu drumming and singing by the Grand Ronde Canoe Family. Non-traditional songs were also played.

“We were getting close to going over our scheduled close and I didn’t want to rush people getting food, maybe going to the lodge to change clothes or grab jackets, and wanted to give the drums a good break from singing,” Arena Director Anthony Quenelle said. “It was my call for our visitors. Talking with Bobby (Mercier), we decided to do a Canoe Family presentation for all of our guests and Tribal members. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.”

Quenelle shared the microphone with emcees Marty Thurman and Howie Thompson, keeping things moving along briskly between them.

“I would just like to say that I am so proud of our Powwow Special Events Board that puts this powwow on every year and still tries to make it better than the last,” Quenelle said. “I am very grateful for all the drums; Mountain Kree (host drum), Bad Soul (local host drum) and all of the invited drums: Milepost 30, Little Bear, Meskwaki Nation, Bad Nation and Bad War Cloud. Hayu masi to our emcees Howie Thompson and Marty Thurman, our head dance judge Tavian Lasley-Star and our head drum judge Randell Paskimin. And to all the many workers we had, hayu masi.”

The 2026-27 Grand Ronde Royalty Court is full this year. The annual pageant took place Friday morning at the Tribal Governance Center. Friday evening began with the ceremonies for outgoing royalty and crowning of the new court, at the powwow grounds, before grand entry.

Senior Miss Grand Ronde Queen is Leloo Quenelle, Junior Miss Grand Ronde Queen is Ulali Quenelle, Junior Miss Grand Ronde Princess is Graciela Ornelas, Little Miss Grand Ronde Queen is Safia Ben El Aali, Little Miss Grand Ronde Princess is Amira Ben El Aali and Tiny Tot Princesses are Kova Speer, Josie Craig, Briar Ashley and Zoey Crawley. 

Jackie Barkley (Umatilla), a traditional dancer, said she was enjoying her first chance to enjoy the dancing and festivities in awhile.

“I’m happy to be here because I haven’t hardly gotten to go to any powwows this summer; my life’s been too busy,” Barkley said. Barkley does her own beading for her regalia, with full sets of purses, hair ties, cuffs and other pieces, based on a design her great-grandmother had made for her mother.

“It started falling apart,” Barkley said, so she has replicated it five times, in different colors. She wore two of the sets in turn for dancing at the powwow but said she plans to give one of them to someone in the family – she hasn’t decided whom yet.

Her nephew wears the cuffs from the original set with his regalia, she said, and she has made sets for her daughter, a granddaughter and niece.

Julie Johnson, (Northern Paiute and Shoshone), of Salem, was also happy to be at the powwow. A jingle dancer, she said she loves to dance.

“I’ve danced most all my life and it’s a big part of my health, my wellness and healing,” Johnson said. “And it’s important to me to be here, to visit with friends and family.”

Two of her daughters had also joined her for the day.  

Tribal member Alicialeigh Selwyn dances with her 1-year-old nephew, Tribal member Seven Norwest, during the 2026 Grand Ronde Contest Powwow at uyxat Powwow Grounds Saturday, Aug. 15. (Photo by Michelle Alaimo)

A few miles away on campus, Tribal Recreation Coordinator Leo Ayala was hosting his biggest basketball tournament weekend yet; a marathon affair with 117 teams playing. The tournament consisted of 11 divisions, Ayala said, with more than 400 players participating.

“Over 800 spectators for the day came in waves and filled the parking lots, more than I had ever seen before,” he said.

The basketball tournament started a few years ago, with a few teams playing, but has grown rapidly, outgrowing its original site at the powwow grounds, then its site at Fort Yamhill, Ayala said.

“Having it during powwow helps, because it opens it up into a full weekend of stuff to do,” he said. “It’s crazy, how big it has gotten. We had five courts going. … we’re maybe even outgrowing this area, now.”

He said the event now draws players from “as far as Olympia, Washington, and all over the state of Oregon,” ranging from children to seniors and college-level players, many of whom enjoy returning every year. Several Tribes send teams as well. An added draw is that many of the volunteers and referees remain the same each year, he said.

Ayala said he rented bounce houses to keep the players’ children and younger siblings entertained over the course of the lengthy day, this year and four vendors were on hand to provide food for sale.

He said the event also included “playing all the best jams, to keep people rocking all day.”

 Multiple employees from other departments pitched in to help, with people from maintenance, facilities, housekeeping and TERO putting together hoops, mowing extra areas in case the event needed to spill over into a larger area, keeping the restrooms and other areas clean and providing parking assistance, while other staff provided maps and Public Health employees, as well as the Youth Empowerment & Prevention Program staffed tables and provided t-shirts and prizes. Local sports teams staffed scoring tables and held fundraisers.

The event ran from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“It’s a long day, but a great day,” Ayala said. “It’s a cool way to show people the culture and share community.”