Smoke Signals
ApriN992
Page 4
The Oregonian drops Indians
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Indians
have disappeared from the pages of
Oregon's largest newspaper, along with
Braves, Redmen and Redskins. The
Oregonian has officially declared the
nicknames of those sports teams racist.
The paper will not print them.
"We do not expect the rest of the
journalistic world to fall bto line behind
us, nor do we presume that our action
will change any team names," the
newspaper's managing editor, Peter
Thompson, said on February 15.
"But we have concluded that we will
not be a passive participant in perpetu
ating racial or cultural stereotypes in our
community - whether by the use of
nicknames or in any other way," Thomp
son said.
In its Sunday editions, the newspaper
dropped all references to the "Braves" in
an Associated Press story about Deion
Sanders leaning toward a baseball
career with the Atlanta Braves rather
than football with the Atlanta Falcons.
But The Oregonian's story about
Sanders did not mention the Braves by
name. It referred to the team as "Na
tional League champion Atlanta," or
"the baseball team."
Thompson said the decision was
triggered partly by the behavior of the
Atlanta Braves organization and its fans .
during the World Series. Atlanta fans
appeared on national television in fake
head dresses and war paint, chanting
and making an arm motion known as
the "tomahawk chop."
Atlanta Braves' general manager, John
Schuerholz, when informed of the
newspaper's decision, replied: "I have no
reaction to that. What they do in
Oregon is their business."
In a statement that was circulated
among staff Friday and appeared in
Sunday editions, Editor William A.
Hilliard said:
"I have directed this action with the
belief that these names tend to perpetu
ate stereotypes that damage the dignity
and self-respect of many people in our
society and that this harm far transcends
any innocent entertainment or promo
tional value these names may have."
"America is a multicultural society and
all of us have an absolute right to
demand respect from our fellow .
citizens."
Thompson said the decision was made
after editors listened to the views of
many ethnic groups, including American
Indians represented on his staff.
He said the paper took particular note
of a column by Tim Giago, publisher of
the Lakota Times, a South Dakota
based weekly newspaper with a wide
circulation among American Indians:
"The same rituals, such as the wearing
of feathers, smoking of so-called peace
pipes, beating of tom-toms, fake dances,
horrendous attempts at singing Indian
songs, the so-called war whoops, and the
painted faces, address more than the
issue of racism. They are direct attacks
upon the spirituality of the Indian '
people," Giago wrote.
"Stop insulting the spirituality and the
traditional believes of the Indian people
by making us mascots for athletic teams.
Is that asking so much of America?
HAPPY RETIREMENT
RILEY PORTER!
ill A " '
, w. - " - -
Tribal member Riley Porter retires April 3, after 20 years of service to the cause
of Native American sobriety. Riley is featured in the Who's Who of Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA) as having begun the most AA programs; all in the Willamette
Valley and Grand Ronde area. He will be leaving his post as counselor at Nanitch
Sahallie to travel in his new mobile home and go fishing. Considered a Distin
guished Tribal Elder he will be asked to lecture on tribal history, sobriety, and
alcoholism at Nanitch Sahallie. "Riley is a person who has always been willing to
give to others," Joanna Rogers, Director of Nanitch Sahallie, said. "We hope now he
will finally let life start giving to him."
Senior Service Coordinate: tnl::: cilice
By Qxhy Oine
The great and povttrful Tracy
HubbelLfomertrtalrectfonist, .
followed her yellow brick road all the
j
t JSC IK
Tracy Hubbell has a new office to
show off her Wizard of Oz collection.
way to the Lizi d C zntlty .
Center.
Tracy trcJ: J h L .
messas? piJ fcr L.r c : " vIA
tote of rrcn to -7 r' tl Ler
Wizard of Oz cdlLj.
As the CvW FLztZzst
Services Cccr .lifter, si; is now
responsibb for schedd-rj and .
monitoring the uss of the tribal
: community center. She is also respon
sible for working with the seniors to
coordinate committee and social
activities, and provide clerical support.
Tracy, the granddaughter of Rosco
and Rosella Langley, is looking
forward to working with more people
as her job continues. "I used to have
contact with more people at my old
job," she said. "Now, I like working
with the ciders the best"
Her first trip planned for the elders
to "Elders Honor Day" at Warm
Springs was a total success.
, Good luck with your new job Tracy!
The Planning Department
and the Economic Develop
ment Department have
moved to the new modular
building located behind the
Tribal Government Building
at the tribal offices.
REMEMBER...
Official Grand Opening and
blessing ceremony for
Tribal Community Center is
scheduled for April 1 5,u 1 992
Nominations for Tribal Council
Nominations for Tribal Council
candidates will be held at the May 1992
General Council Meeting.
Any duly enrolled member who will
be 18 years of age or older on the date
of the election is qualified to be a
candidate.
Any eligible voter may nominate a
candidate from the floor at said May
meeting. The candidate must be
present at the meeting and either
accept or decline the nomination.
Moving.. .Let us know
If you have recently moved or are planning on moving, let us know so
you won't have to miss a single copy of your favorite newsletter. Just fill out this
form with your new address and mail it back to Smoke Signals at 9615 Grand
Ronde Rd., Grand Ronde, OR 97347
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