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Indian Song w/music drums and tribe singing...
This is the realization of a long held dream...to build a longhouse at Lane Community College.
We're keeping the promise that we made in 1995 a long time ago... We believe that it's
right to follow through on our promises and this the right thing to do for our community.
And as part of the legacy that we leave to our community and state.
And this Long house is testament to people having a dream... and then everyone coming
together to make that dream a reality.
Let me first invite Fran Merral, Community Elder and retired LCC Native American Programs
Cooridinator to do the invocation.
Applause.
Good Morning.
It's always good, to be asked to speak for the people... my name is KimCuda Icome from
the Caruute Tribe of Northern California. You all know me by Fran Merril, because that's
the name given to me bout a year after I was born.
I come to give the invocation because I believe that when I was brought here to this mother
earth and my family lifted me up in the air and introduced me to all the things on this
mother earth and told me this is the way for my survival.
If I could make a spiritual connection with everything on this mother earth, and take
care of the things that I believe in, So I look after all the things I see out here.
And so now in your own way, and who you speak for follow me.
But before I do that, I want to do one more thing; I want to take this tobacco, and offer
it to this floor for the ones who were in on this Longhouse Project, who's no longer
with us... and passed over... and so the ones we could take a few minutes of moments of
silence for, as I put this tobacco on the floor...
(silence)
Uh Ho! GrandFather Grandmother, Great Spirits of our people, I come here today to give thanks
for this beautiful day. Grandfather, we gather today in this Longhouse a home that we beleive
and all of our things that we have to cross over and pass on and in ways that we have
have joined together comes from this longhouse. Grandfather, bless all of the Elders. The
ones that have all of the wisdom.
And bless all of the young ones who have a long journey in front of them. Grandfather,
bless the ones in the middle the dads the moms that gonna have a hard time during these
hards days ahead of us.
De the celebration of all our holdays are coming before us... the bitternesss and the
hate and all of the things that may come with it.
Grandfather, give them the strength to overcome all of these things. Give them the strength...to
give their families the hope and the happiness that they have... look after the ones that's
overseas grandfather... and protecting us as we stand here today.
Grandfather, bring them back home to us... in a good way. Grandfather, look at the ones
in the Iron house... our brothers... our sisters and all of the ones that's related to us.
Guide them and protect them and bring them back to us in a good way so that we can heal
them and put them back in our circles.
Grandfather, we walk with you, in this circle. And so now Grandfather, grant all of the things
that need to be taken care of. And look after all of the ones that haven't been taken care
of in a good way.
Make these storms that come to us a little bit easier, Grandfather. Because, Grandfather,
we have a lot of people that's on the streets, in the cold. And so Grandfather, protect them
and their families.
Protect the ones that's in the big houses up there in Salem, that make the laws... make
their minds be open and hearts be open to the things around us Grandfather.
Because, Grandfather, we could only benefit by the things that we are given. So grandfather,
give them that authority to look at things in a good way. Look at the ones that are protecting
the one legged ones.... the ones that fly... the ones that swim... keep our waters clean.
Keep our air clean. And Grandfather, bless everyone that's here today. And may they return
home... may their homes be just a little bit better, from all of the goodness that comes
from this area today. Grandfather, we bless you and walk with you. Aho.
Thank you, Frank.
First I would like to recognized a number of people who.. .um have joined us today.
Every single person in this room is important. But there are a few people that I'd partcularly like to recognize. First, um
...members of the Lane Community College Board, including . uh Chair, Tony Macone, Vice-Chair, Suzy Johnston,
Bob Acremen, Pat Albright and Roger Hall. I really appreciate you being here this morning. and your vision and your vision in making this a reality.
eh... Federally recognized tribes of Oregon. Ed Metcalf, tribal chair of the Coquill Tribe, Chief Warren Brainerd... um uh...
...from Cooclorum,and Silooslaw, Warmsprings Chief Delvis Heath. I'd also like to recognize... um Ester Studzman,
and there might be others that came in that I didn"t catch. So welcome to all of you.
I'd like to recognize, June Chatta, from Senator Wyden's Offce, Dan Waylen representing Senator Jeff Mercly, representing Congressman Peter Defazio...
Carmon Fore. Mayor Kitty Piercy from the City of Eugene.