Living in the Great Circle: The Grand Ronde Indian Reservation 1855-1905

Book excerpt: Life and death, tradition and survival: a family directory from Adams to Young. Finding little published about the early history of the original people in Western Oregon and inspired by her Kalapuya and Paiute grandmother, the author turned to official Bureau of Indian Affairs reports, journals, and the reminiscences of Indian people to better understand what life was like for the first generation to call the Grand Ronde Reservation home. In writing their story, she leans heavily on their worldview. In this way, it can be said this is a story both by the people and in honor of the people. Living in the Great Circle describes the problems on the reservation and the people who faced them. The author offers this book with the hope that it will prove to be a useful reference tool for others. "June has worked many hard long years researching this data. Through her work, she has thereby created a tribal family tree. This book is a must read for each and every tribal member." -Kathryn Harrison, twenty-two years on Council for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, first woman Chair, and esteemed Tribal Elder