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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.