Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1987)
Page 2 ( Reservation, conL ) resource management program, the Tribe expects to develop and staff an average of 8.6 new positions annually for the next five years. By 1993, the tribe expects to employ 59 full time staff. The annual payroll for a staff of this size will be approximately $1.1 mil lion. The impact of these additional positions within the Tribe will also create an estimated 36 new jobs else where in the Nest Valley area. The creation of an economic development program will create further job oppor tunities for both Tribal members and the non-Indian community as well. Fur thermore, the construction of Tribal facilities and homes over the next 10 -20 years will provide employment oppor tunities for approximately 20-30 po sitions annually. ESTHER LABONTE: 1895 - 1987 Since restoration, the Tribe has rap idly developed programs and services for its members. The tribe currently offers services which include health, housing, education, enrollment, social services, and fish and wildlife. The Tribal staff consists of 17 full-time staff. The Tribal programs are made available through contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Serv ices. The Tribe currently administers 13 of these contracts with an approxi mate value of $1.2 million annually. The primary impact area of these reve nues are Polk, Yamhill, and Tillamook counties, particularly the Sheridan, Nillamina and Grand Ronde areas. The current average monthly expenditure for the combined Tribal programs, in cluding payroll, is $97,000. One of the Tribal health components alone ex pends a monthly average of $29,000 for medical services and prescriptions for Tribal members. The Tribal administration makes a con tinuous effort to buy needed services and supplies from local vendors. It is the Tribe's philosophy that every ef fort should be made to enhance and sup port the local economies. By doing this the Tribe, as a new governmental entity, can have a significant stabi lizing effect on the economy of the West Valley area, according to Willis. Esther Mary Jones LaBonte, one of the tribe's oldest members, died on March 27th, 1987. Esther was 91 years old. Esther, .full blooded Indian, lived in Portland. She grew up in Grand Ronde and lived in Glide, near Roseburg, and Springfield before moving to Portland in 1984. Esther leaves behind many memories of her life and her kindness to others. Her mother died when she was two years old. Thereafter, Esther lived in a Catholic boarding school on the former Grand Ronde Reservation. When she turned 18 , Esther left the reservation and moved to Glide, Oregon. She was soon hard at work splitting timber and taking care of her mountain side property, according to an article in the Springfield News written in July 1982. Some of Esther's most vivid memories came during World War II. During the war, she spent many nights watching planes fly over Glide. She never spot ted any enemy aircraft, but she did pass along the word that a German agent had entered Oregon, according to the news story. During the war, she picked berries to buy Liberty Bonds. Four of her daugh ters worked as welders in Portland and her oldest son, Bob, died in combat on "" an island in the South Pacific. Her fa vorite day of the year was Decoration Day, states the article. Esther's daughter, Betsy M. Schaefer, recalls many years ago when her mother and their neighbor had an arguement over the property line. It didn't last long, states Betsy. w ; . Y v J Mother went into the house and came out with a double barrel 12 guage shot gun, both barrels loaded and cocked. He took off and it wasn't long after that he sold his place and left, recalls Betsy. She also recalls a time when she wrote a letter to her mother in German. Es ther responded with a letter in Chinook Jargon: Nika tanoos htootchman, . .Nika iskum mika pepa... Mika tiggy dumduks Siwash wa wa. Pulutch nika sitkim dolla. (My little girl... I got your letter. You want to know Indian talk? Give me a half dollar) , wrote Esther. Betsy also remembers the time, during World War II, when Esther was at the bus station in Portland. A young army man, his wife and baby were going to California with their belongings in paper bags; diapers, bottles and all. Mother bought a 5 cent shopping bag, put her things in the bag. and gave her suit case to the young couple. That was mother, always helping anyone in need, said Betsy. "She was always donating to different charities and helping her neighbors ," says daughter Esther Borquez. "She was spritually strong." Descendents of Esther include: Betsy M. Schaefer (youngest daughter) , Schaefer's son Floyd C. Daniels and his children Jefferie and Sara; Schaefer's daugher Hellen Tobiska and her children Carl and Brian; Schaefer's daughter Betsy M. Stone and her children Brenna and Brett; Schaefer's daughter Sonya Connelly and her children Marlyn, Trenna and Maranda; Schaefer's son John Young and his son Mathew; and . Schaefer's son, Glen Schaefer. Rosetta LaBonte Manangan (daughter) and her children Alfredo C. Manangan; Phil amena C. Manangan; Marcia C. Stake and her children Angie and Serina; Thomas C. Manangan and his children Sorjen, Roman and Iran; Rosetta C. Wise and her children Ian, Samantha and Josephine; Jerry C. Manangan and his child Tyrone; Steve C. Manangan and child Monica; and Elaine C. Manangan. Floyd H. LaBonte (son) and his children Allen, Kimberly, Sarah and Mark'. Lester LaBonte (son) and his children John LaBonte; Michelle Dunigan and her child, Selisa; Jolee Pitt; and Ramona LaBonte. Pauline Lomboy (daughter, deceased) and her children Delores Parmenter, Victor Lomboy and David Lomboy. Esther Borquez (daughter) and her chil dren; Esther James and her children Angie and Jeremy; Anthony Borquez; Larry Borquez; Joeseph Borquez; Ber nadett Borquez, Tim Douglas; Angie Smith and children Tiffany and Tosha; Bernard Borquez, Ernest Jr. Borquez, Veronica Cagle; and Yolanda Borquez. Esther was buried at the tribal cemetary in Grand Ronde. POW-WOW COMMITTEE FUNDRAISER ACTIVITIES MAY 9 - BINGO AND BAKE SALE GRAND RONDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4 - 6 P.M. MAY 2,16 & 30 - FRYBREAD STAND OPEN SPIRIT MOUNTAIN STORE IN GRAND RONDE
