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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1992)
r Smofce Signals July W fage'9 SARAH NELSON Sarah demonstrates tremendous leadership abilities, goal setting, and what hard work accomplishes. She has started a school paper devoting hours upon hours of work and care. Not only are her grades a good GPA of 338, but she also has won awards in Journalism. She has been active in the Pep-Squad and in the "Buddy System". An enjoyable quote from Sarah's paper: "COW PHILOSOPHY-While traveling life's path, don't forget to stop and eat the roses." iflfll"''l,l'll'llllln J1'1 A ljljJl l0 ' JM'1 Sarah Nelson MELINDA TURM AN Melinda is an excellent student with a 3.83 GPA. Her principal and teachers at Glover Middle School in Spokane, Washington recommend her highly, not only because she has done well academically, but because she works well with others and is motivated to learn. She participates in sports, and participated in a writer's conference this year. SARA DANIELS Sara, a 7th grader at Joseph Lane Junior High School, has made honor roll with a GPA of 3.7 and is active in Job's Daughters as well. She has participated in charities such as Easter Seals, and the Hearing Impaired Kid's Endowment Fund. Sara would like to pursue a career as an attorney. ROBERT JONES III Robby is proof that hard work can and does make a -difference. He has brought his scores up, has improved his attitude towards school, where he is a fifth grader at Meriwether Lewis Grade School. He shows responsibility, honesty, and respect for his peer's feelings. He has found a great interest in science and enjoys sharing what he has learned from others. Robby would like to be a design engineer. JEAN JONES Jean does well academically as well as socially in school. Her reading is considered excellent and her math above grade level. More importantly, Jean has a positive outlook on life which reflects her attitude toward school. She has excellent attendance, consistently completes and turns in her daily school work, and demonstrates "100 effort in all aspects of her school involvements." Jean attends Meriwether Lewis Grade School where she is in 3rd grade. She would like to be a corporate attorney when she grows up. ERICA EMPEY As a 4th grade student at Memorial Elementary School , Erica was nominated for the Gifted and Talented Student program. She excels in her school work and is helpful towards her classmates. She won recognition for her science project. Erica's writing ability exceeds her grade level which has been demonstrated through her penmanship and creative writing in the classroom. Erica would like to be an architect, doctor, or writer when she grows up. ALLISON EMPEY Allison has earned recognition for exemplary behavior and academics, and for special accomplishments. She excels in math, writing, and science. She enjoys sharing her knowledge concerning her heritage. She is considered a very capable 2nd grade student at Memorial Elementary School. BILLIE SUE CUNNINGHAM Congrats to Billie, who excels not only academically, but is considered to be a model, well rounded student at Noti Elementary. She has been on the honor roll consistently, and has received spelling and attendance awards. Billie was nominated for the Talented and Gifted Program in the Fern Ridge School District. She participated in their school wide Jump-O-Thon. COURTNEY WARREN Courtney is a very active and creative 3rd grader. She has published five books, ranging from jokes and adventures to fantasy stories-all in her writer's workshop class at Goshen Elementary. She dances with the Siletz Dancers and participates in the "Two Rivers Youth Singers". Courtney has received awards at school for being a good bus rider and for having the friendliest attitude towards others. Though she has missed many days at school due to illness, she has brought her reading up to fifth grade level. She is a member of the ARBA, OLRCBS, APA, OCL, 4-H, and numerous animal groups. When she grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian. ELISHA LANE We would like to congratulate Elisha for gaining two grades this year and going on into the 5th grade. She will be attending Siletz Middle School starting in the Fall. We would like to with her well and encourage her to obtain her educational goals. ii ii Sfil lilbiliiiiiijlsj If III!! i:E jar FREEDOM OF RELIGION IMPORTANT TO TRIBAL MEMBERS An important conference was held last May in Tucson, Arizona to discuss Native American holy sites and the Freedom of Religion Act. The conference was the largest of its kind in the Southwest, primarily because the main topic of discussion is so timely, and local. Currently, there are dozens of landmarks in the United States that are considered holy and sacred to many tribes, and have traditionally been used as places of worship. However, the government and private industry are beginning to take over the sacred sites for various reasons. Tourism, the discovery of resources, and technology have all been reasons for the destruction of theses holy sites. The holy site under public scrutiny most recently is Mount Graham, outside of Tucson. Astronomers at the University of Arizona received funding for a 200 million dollar observatory to be built there. Scientists say Mount Graham is an ideal site for studying the Earth, space, and the entire galaxy. Biologists are likewise interested in an observatory on Mount Graham, because it offers at least 18 different species which are not only endangered, but cannot be found anywhere else in the world. But to the Apaches of Arizona, Mount Graham is sacred. They have returned there for generations to pray and worship, and claim that if an observatory is built there, it will block the flow of their prayers. Indian religion has traditionally involved oral history as opposed to a written history like the Bible. Because of this, Native Americans have a hard time proving the sacredness of their places of worship. Most other religions are very well documented, and the beliefs can be traced back to centuries, stemming from Europe and the Middle East. However, the Apaches and other tribes whose sacred sites are in danger are claiming that just because there is no written proof of the holy place, that does not make it any less sacred. Mount Graham is just one example of Native American sacred sites under siege. Here in Oregon, Spirit Falls at Enola Hills on Mount Hood is an ancient vision questing and religious site for many Columbia River tribes. However, the U.S. Forest Service is planning a large timber sale near there. Many tribes are forming coalitions in order to campaign against the further destruction of holy sites, which seems to be occurring more and more. They argue that this is not only about freedom of religion, but preserving an ancient way of life. There are many elders who can recall parents and grandparents traveling to a sacred site, praying, or singing in the tradition of their people. It may be too late for the Apaches to preserve Mount Graham, but it is not too late to preserve Native American culture. V fmmmmm ."V. 4& Elisha Lane
