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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1988)
. HM November 1988 THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON TRIBE CELEBRATES CREATION OF RESERVATION i i I Celebration marks new beginning as Tribe begins work towards dream of gaining self-sufficiency. An estimated 300 members and friends of the Confeder ated Tribes of Grand Ronde gathered to celebrate a new beginning on October 22, 1988, with the reestablish ment of the Grand Ronde Reservation. The 9,811 acre reservation, located on the coast range in Yamhill County, was signed into law on September 9, 1988 by President Reagan. "I am confident, in every way, that the creation of this reservation will contribute to an improved standard of living for the entire area," said Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier in opening remarks. Mercicr praised the efforts of Senator Mark Hatfield and Representative Les AuCoin. "Every member of our Tribe and all Oregonians are indeed fortunate that these two legislators team up as often as they do," said Mercier. Mercier also praised AuCoin, who attended the celebra tion, for his work to make sure all sides would gain from the creation of a reservation, and for working to bring a better life and jobs to the west valley communi ties. "He went to bat for us for sewers, for housing, for better roads, for jobs in our mills, but most important to the tribe, he went to bat for our heritage," said Mercier. . "You have worked with great dignity, great diligence, great patience, and you deserve to be proud of that . effort," Les AuCoin told the Grand Ronde members. "It has been a long and difficult journey, but the journey of the Grand Ronde's trail of tears is now finally over, once and for all," said AuCoin. INSIDE: Job Announcement ..p. 2 Tribe receives grants p. 3 Reservation Days: What will they. bring? p. 5 JOMAdult Education Survey Results p. 4 Respecting yourself p. 12 T 0 Les AuCoin presents a letter and pen from President Reagan to Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier and Council Secretary Kathryn Harrison. "That trail of tears began in 1856 when the white man moved the individual tribes off their ancestral lands. We began our effort to end that journey on September 14, 1983, with the introduction by Senator Hatfield and myself, of the Grand Ronde Restoration Act. And today, on October 22, 1988, we mark the end of that trail of tears," AuCoin said. "I don't think there is a tribe in the land that has compromised more," said AuCoin, who presented the Tribe with a letter from President Reagan and the pen used to sign the Reservation Act. With a handdrum and rattles made of deer hooves Nelson Wallulatum, the chief of the Wasco Tribe from Warm Springs, lead in the singing of two songs given to his people from Grand Ronde Tribes in exchange for salmon and the opportunity to fish at sites belonging to the Wascos. "Over the many years, these people have wandered away from their mother earth, " said Wallulatum. ..."so a return of a part of mother earth is very significant," he said. "Your many years of hard work, hard effort certainly has reached a time of celebration," said BIA Portland Area Director Stanley Speaks. Speaks and BLM representative, Paul Vetterick, presented a plaque to the Tribe showing the tribal lands and a certificate confirming the transfer of the reserva tion lands into trust for the benefit of the Tribe. "In this saga, there were many profiles of courage," said Gordon Mcpherson, an attorney and former Grand Ronde resident, who praised the work of the many people involved with the reservation effort. Fred Cooper, president of Cooper Consultants, pre sented Mark Mercier with a totem. "The totem is a perpetual symbol of the outstanding deed one makes, usually on the behalf of his people. May it remind you of the responsibility you have to make decisions which are right and with respect for the future generatons who will manage your lands," said Cooper. Cooper also presented the Tribe with a framed copy of the front cover of the Reservation Plan which has a photograph of Suzette Simmons. The Tribal Council presented special plaques to Repre sentative Les AuCoin; Senator Mark Hatfield; Ken Smith, consultant; Gordon McPherson; Peter Murphy Jr. of the Murphy Company and the tribal staff for their work with the reservation effort. On Friday, October 21, 1988, the Tribe also hosted a dinner for the many people who worked to make the reservation a reality during the past five years. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon Post Office Box 38 Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 2 GRAND RONDE, OREGON NOVEMBER 6, 1988 GENERAL COUNCIL MTG. 12 NOON ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED