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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1987)
page 3 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT DEAR FELLOW TRIBAL MEMBERS: The Tribal Council has been busy at tending meetings in the local area, with hopes of approaching the final stages of the reservation plan. On April 15th, our general manager, Jim Willis, met with the West Valley Rotary Club in Sheridan. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss questions and concerns regarding our reservation plan. Also on April 15th, Oregon tribal lead ers met in Salem with Governor Neil Goldschmidt. The purpose of this meet ing was for the Governor to hear con cerns of Oregon tribes throughout the state. I was able to briefly explain the highlights of our reservation plan. The Governor indicated that although he didn't know much about it, that he was supportive of the tribe's initial res toration, and said he .would see what he could do to help. The Tribal Council is hoping for the introduction of federal legislation to create a Reservation in this session of Congress; however, we have no specific date set yet. The Tribal Council was approached by a concerned tribal member regarding the fence surrounding the tribal cemetary. The fence is old and in need of repair. Since the tribe has no actual resources available to repair the fence, ve must ask for some volunteer help on weekends preceding the Memorial Day Celebration. We have received some donations of ma terials necessary for repairs, and we would deeply appreciate some volunteer help. If anyone is interested, contact our tribal office at 879-5215. HOUSING We would encourage all tribal members to contact the tribal housing office at 879-5253 to obtain a Housing Improve ment Application or to discuss each member's housing needs. You should contact the Housing office no later than May 14, 1987 to be in cluded in our housing needs assessment and updated inventory. The report is the basis of funding for the housing improvement program for the next two fiscal years and is very im portant to the future of the housing improvement program. X CAREER DAY Kathryn Harrison An estimated 70 American IndianAlaskan Native high school students attended the 6th Annual Career Fair sponsored by the Educational Opportunities Program at Oregon State University on April 14 1987. Mike Darcy, Siletz School principal, was the keynote speaker. Darcy was named the Multicultural Administrator of the Year for his efforts in promot ing multi-cultural education. Darcy is a Siletz Tribal member. "We are in a critical time of Tribal exsistence," Darcy said. The average age of an Indian person today is 25 years old. Indian people will be making decisions concerning 25 of this country's natural resources, explained Darcy. "We are looking for leadership from you", he told the stu dents. ;, -, "Education cannot end at high school. Its not a matter of choice. Its a mat ter of survival." Darcy said. Grand Ronde Tribal Council Secretary, Kathryn Harrison, presented a workshop at the conference. "The first ten years of my life were the most important," Harrison told the students. My parents stressed the im portance of growing mentally, physi cally and spiritually. The teachings of my parents instilled pride, Harrison said. At age ten, both of Harrison's parents died from complications from the flue. Harrison was placed in a foster home with white parents. Her life was filled with many hardships. However, despite her hardships, Harri son many times recalled the worse hard ships of her ancestors who were marched from their homeland in the Rogue River Valley, to the unfamiliar Grand Ronde Reservation. We owe it to them, our ancestors, to set examples, said Harrrison. "So we can be looked back apon, like we look to them. We need to leave a few foot prints to guide those of tomorrow," said Harrison. The conference included workshops on , health careers, law, art professions, forestry, working for the government, financial aid, law enforcement, coop erative education, teaching, college preparation and other career opportunities. TRIBES SUPPORT FOSTER CARE PAYMENTS BILL On April 7 the Senate Human Resources Committee held a hearing on SB 719 which would authorize CSD foster care payments to the relatives of those pro viding such care to their family mem bers who come under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. Tribal and Indian community representa tives from throughout the state ap peared for the hearing or submitted support for the bill. Grand Ronde tribal chairman Mark Mercier, Council Secretary, Kathryn Harrison, Council members Candy Robertson and Brad Know ing and Social Services Director, Mary Ring, attended the hearing at the State Capital Building. Because hearings on other bills ran late, Frank Peterson, representing the NW Indian Child Welfare Institute, was selected to give the Indian community's testimony in support of the bill. The Indian Child Welfare Act rguires that whenever an Indian child is in volved in Welfare procedings with the Children Services Division, the first priority of placement must go to mem bers of that child's extended family. Under present state statues the CSD cannot, except in very limited circum stances, provide support payments to those children or families, said Peterson. "For many of our families, even the care of one additional child, without some sort of support, can be an extreme hardship. x We think it a shame that the intent of the federal legislation would be frustrated by something as simple as being able to provide support payments to these families," said Peterson. Gail Arkley, representing the Children Services Division, testified in opposi tion to the bill. The bill would have a estimated $123,000 impact, which was not included in the Governor's budget, according to Arkley. Despite the CSD opposition, the Commit tee recommended "Do Pass" and referred the bill to the Joint Ways and Means Comittee to consider the fiscal impact. If SB 719 passes in the Ways and Means Committee, it will be referred to the Senate for a vote. If successful there, it will then be referred to the House for consideration.
