Smoke Signals
April 1991
page 10
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Walking On:
Nettie Phelps
The funeral for Nettie Phelps was held in the Chapel
of Lincoln Memorial Park.
Mrs. Phelps died in a Portland hospital of causes
related to age. She was 82. She passed peacefully in her
sleep and was buried next to her husband of 60 years.
She was born Nettie Smith on Christmas day 1908, in
Grand Ronde. She was the daughter of Andrew Jackson
Smith and Mary Jane Menard. She worked at the True
Blue Bakery in Portland until she and Carl Phelps were
married in 1929. She helped him build houses from
lumber he earned as partial wages from a lumber mill,
He died Nov. 3, 1989.
She was one of the oldest living members of the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde at her passing.
She was also a member of the Sons and Daughters of
Oregon Pioneers, the Newport Chamber of Commerce
and the Newport Agate Society and she was active in
Portland politics.
Survivors include her daughters, Jolene Bean of
Portland, Jaxcine Brenner of Oregon City and Caroleen
Phelps of Portland; sister, Teanie Mae Miller of Port
land; four grandchildren- Sandra Stone, Brian Bean,
Craig and Matthew Brenner; and two great-grandchildren-
Anthony and Samantha Stone.
The family suggests that memorials be contributions
to the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, 505 G
St., Lake Oswego 97034.
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Nettie Phelps enjoyed her last visit with Santa.
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Colorado State Representative Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Native American journalists gather in Denver, Colorado
By Brent Merrill
DENVER, COL - The Native American Journalists
Association held their 7th annual gathering of writers,
reporters, broadcasters and photographers March 13th -17th
in Denver, Colorado's Landmark Inn. The Confer
ence was highlighted by the appearance's of USA Today
founder Al Nueharth and Colorado Representative Ben
Nighthorse Campbell.
The Conference was hosted by the School of Journal
ism and Mass Communication at the University of -Colorado
- Boulder. NAJA executive director Laverne
Sheppard, Shoshone-Bannock, arranged for the appear
ances of Tim Giago, the founder of the Lakota Times,
embattled Mohawk, Doug George, the editor of Ak
wasasne Notes, and Windspeaker's Dana Wagg.
The theme of this year's conference was "Computers,
Cameras, Cassettes: Covering Native America from all
Angles." Conference workshops were aimed at Native
journalists working in all genres. The workshops
provided information on the localizing of national news,
desktop publishing, freedom of the press in Indian
Country, and the environment. Also, there were various
critique sessions focusing on photography, print design
and layout.
"The time has come for Native journalists to write for
Native Americans," said NAJA John Tetpon. "I think
we need more of our people who can write for Native
American people to get a better understanding of who
we are and what we stand for."
Despite the theme "Computers, Cameras, Cassettes:
Covering Native America from all Angles," the focus
was on Native Americans covering Native issues.
Workshops, critique sessions and the featured speakers
all centered around presenting issues that concerned
Native Americans from the Native point of view and the
importance of such an endeavor.
The workshops offered at the conference were both
informative and relaxed. Workshops were led by
respected journalists like Nancy Butterfield of the Native
American News Service, Paul DeMain, the editor of
News from Indian Country, Richard LaCourse of the
Yakima Nation Review and Gary Fife of the National
Native News Radio Network. -'
The "newsmaker luncheon" proved to be interesting
and controversial. Butterfield was professional as the
moderator but the topic was targeted at the most
publicized event in Native America The Mohawk
Crisis. The opportunity to hear first hand accounts of
the stand off between the Mohawk Warriors and the
Army was fascinating if not filled with personal preju
dices. Once again the Native American Journalists
Association's board of directors, and especially La Verne
Sheppard, can be happy knowing the conference was a
success. Award winners included the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission in Olympia, Washington for
general excellence by a quarterly publication, "The
Circle" for general excellence by a monthly publication
and "The Tundra Times" and the "Press Independent"
shared the general excellence award for a weekly
publication. The "Press Independent" also won awards
for best promotional idea and best typography art
design.
Next years conference will be held in Green Bay,
Wisconsin.
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Tim Giago of the Lakota Times
Nancy Butterfield of the Native American News Service.
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