BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRIDAY, DEC. 8, 2006

CONTACT:  Mike Hansen (503) 230-5131

PORTLAND, Ore. – The first ever “Sacred Earth” poster contest was a highlight of this year’s National American Indian Heritage Month in November. Elementary and middle school/junior high school students representing seven tribes from around the Northwest submitted more than 100 posters.

Contest sponsors (the Bonneville Power Administration’s American Indian/Alaskan Native Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Portland General Electric’s Native American Network Association) chose two winners from the elementary school level and two from the middle schools. Nine runners-up also were chosen, and all the winning posters will be published in a 2007 calendar.

“The students were asked to design their art to depict what ‘Sacred Earth’ meant through their eyes. Many of these students worked closely with their elders, teachers and parents to learn about their culture before they began the development of their print,” said Sonya Tetnowski, BPA’s manager of Tribal Affairs. “We were very impressed with the detail and quality of the work submitted from this group of young artists. We are also very pleased with the number of posters we got back and how much the students understand the importance the environment plays in preserving their culture.”

The elementary school first place winner is Caroline Smith from Williams Elementary in Katy, Texas. The second place winner is Winzlow Svec from Neah Bay Elementary. He is a member of the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, Wash. The first place winner at the middle school level is Adriana Rojas-Echenique from Sabin/Access in Portland, Ore., and the second place winner is Leanna Dann from Owyhee Combined School. She is a member of the Shoshone-Paiutes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nev.

The nine runners-up are Donald Auman from Spanaway Junior High in Tacoma, Wash., member of the Makah Tribe; Charlene Campbell from Lakeside Elementary in Worley, Idaho, member of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe; Andy Kim and Rory Kallappa from Neah Bay Elementary in Neah Bay, Wash., both members of the Makah Tribe; Roslynn Simmons from Washington Elementary in Pendleton, Ore., member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Kymon Palau from Chehelem Elementary in Beaverton, Ore., member of the Dine (Navajo) Tribe; Aric Harney from Owyhee Combined School in Owyhee, Nev., member of the Shoshone-Paiutes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation; and Chelsea Jefferson and James King from Quileute Tribal School in La Push, Wash., both members of the Quileute Tribe.

In addition to the poster contest, a high school and college essay contest was held on the same subject. This is the second year for the essay contest. The first and second place winners in the high school competition are from the Nez Perce Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho. Amanda Allen earned first place, with Jalon Greene coming in second. In the college category, Jacob Billy Sr. from Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash., earned first place, with second place going to Tia Beavert from Wapato, Wash.

For more information about the poster and essay contests, including pictures of the winning posters and copies of the winning essays, please visit http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/About_BPA/tribes/.