Stuart Jim, winner of the warrior dance, competes at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Hundreds of dancers, artisans and supporters gathered Saturday, Feb. 22, at Chemawa Indian School to celebrate the school’s 145th birthday with a powwow.
Chemawa was founded as a federal Indian boarding school and moved to its current site in Salem in 1885. It has remained in continuous operation and now draws Indigenous students from a diversity of tribal nations.
Jessica Mohler begins to get ready for dancing by tying otter skins into her hair braids at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Charmaine Kinney beads a cape for her granddaughter as she waits for the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow to begin in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The grand entry at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The grand entry at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Bernadine Jackson competing in the fancy dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Little Miss Grand Ronde Ila Mercier, 10, dances during the fancy dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)George Clements plays a drum during the hand drum contest at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Veterans Little Miss Queen Ulali Quenelle dances in the fancy dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dean Armstrong wears a wolverine headdress at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An intertribal dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. This is the only dance where all participants can dance on the floor, no regalia or tribal affiliation required. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)An intertribal dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. This is the only dance where all participants can dance on the floor, no regalia or tribal affiliation required. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Eliel Fonseca, Jason Small, and Aleasha Fonseca of the Healing Spirit drum circle stand around their drum at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Little Miss Grand Ronde Emmalynn Warren’s dress waits to be worn at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Harrilyn Smith shows off a pair of dentalium earrings for sale at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Steven Paul, 11, dances in the tiny tot dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ziyah Clark, 5, competes in the tiny tot dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The audience at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Leona Jeffers holds a bag she made and beaded from elkhide for sale at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Sarah Gonsalez, woman lead dancer, competes in the golden age traditional dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Roxanne Mike, Chemawa 1985 alumna, competes in the golden age traditional dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Stuart Whitehead competes in the crow hop dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A competitor in the fancy dance shows some of the intricate dance steps involved in the dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Keyen Singer competes in the fancy dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Competitors in the fancy dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Phranzyz Gonsalz, Warm Springs Miss Lincoln Pow Wow, competes in the jingle dress dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Tianna Clark competes in the jingle dress dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Talia Reasoner competes in the jingle dress dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Tashina Ingawanup-Ross competes in the ladies traditional dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Shaynice Moss, Chemawa Ambassador, after finishing dancing in the jingle dress dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dwayne Cree Medicine competes in the warrior dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Joe Jim competes in the warrior dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Jessi Soliz competes in the warrior dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)K’sea Chulik-Ruff competes in the warrior dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The sponsoring family sets up the gifts for the headwoman’s special event at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Sam Riding In competes in the grass dance at the competes in the Warrior dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Tameem Sarwary dances in the grass dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb.22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Briar Ashley, 3, and Tiny Tot Princess Kova Speer, 4, during an intertribal dance at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A drum circle performs the national anthem during the grand entry at the Chemawa Indian School 145th Birthday Powwow in Salem on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
