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December 1, 1995 - SMOKE SIGNALS
Staffers participate in Smokeout Jr. Miss Grand Ronde represents
1
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Kerri Lopez
The Great American Smokeout was held
November 16. Though the American Lung
Association sponsors the event every year,
members of the Health and Human Services
staff also held some activities of their own
for the day.
In an effort to get smokers to quit for the
day, a kick-off breakfast was held at the
Community Center for participants and their
sponsors. A presentation from a special
guest speaker, Kerri Lopez, Tobacco Edu
cation Specialist from the Portland Indian
Area Health Board, followed.
All the participants received activity
packets filled with all kinds of anti-smoke
paraphernalia.
For information on how to quit smoking,
please call the Grand Ronde Dental Clinic
at 879-2020 or 1-800-422-0232.
-- Intro to PC's and
Beginning Windows -
Tuesday, December 5
- Beginning Excel -
Thursday, December 7
- Advanced Windows
Tuesday, December 12
-- Intermediate Excel -Thursday,
December 14
-- Beginning Word -Tuesday,
December 19
- Intro to PC's and
Beginning Windows -
Thursday, December 21
- Advanced Word -
Tuesday, December 26
-- Beginning Excel -
Thursday, December 28
All computer classes are held
from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the
days indicated. Class size is lim
ited to five students. Computer
training classes are FREE to Grand
Ronde tribal members; $ 1 0 fee for
non-tribal members.
All classes are held at the Com
puter Lab, which is located at
28840 Salmon River Highway.
If you have any questions or to
make your reservation, please call
Penny at 879-2476 or 1-800-422-0232.
Reminder to students in
Higher EdAVT Programs
ATTENTION! If you plan to attend
school, either at a vocational institution or
a college or university, you need to submit
a completed application by February 1,
1996 in order to be considered for Spring
Term, 1996.
Reminder to current students: Adult
Vocational Training Program and Higher
Education Program students please submit
a copy of your Fall TermSemester Grade
Report as soon as you receive it. This will
avoid delays in your Winter TermSpring
Semester Education Program award.
If you have not provided a copy of your
registration of classes for Fall TermSemes
ter, please do so at this time.
Also if you have a campus address that is
different from your home address, please
let us know what it is.
Financial Aid Workshop: We are ten
tatively planning to hold our annual finan
cial aidscholarship application workshop
on December 14 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at
Chemeketa Community College, and on
December 15, at the Education Program
Classroom in Grand Ronde. For more in
formation, call Marion Mercier at 879-52 1 1 .
Current Enrollment: Higher Education
Program 25 students. Adult Vocational
Training 5 students. Education Trust
Fund Scholarship 23 students.
Tribe at cultural gatherings
Promote advocation for Native children
By Mychal Leno
As many of you are aware, there is currently pending legislation being proposed in Con
gress that would seriously weaken the Indian Child Welfare Act and consequently, the
lives of our Native children and families.
Those of you who have not been directly affected by the Indian Child Welfare (ICW)
Act in the past may not fully understand the implications this pending legislation would
have on Indian children. In the past seventeen years, the ICW Act has been an integral part
of preserving literally thousands of Indian families by allowing tribes to take action to
protect the best interests of Native children by retaining their heritage and connection to
their families and their tribes. In essence, the new bill would change that in many ways,
one of the most detrimental being that the child's tribal identity would not be considered if
that child was not actually enrolled in a federally recognized tribe at the time of the child
custody proceeding, regardless of that child's tribal lineage therefore depriving that child's
tribe of any jurisdictional rights in the matter.
In addition, for the purposes of the Indian Child Welfare Act under proposed changes in
the House and Senate, Native children would then be classified as non-Indian if not en
rolled at the time of birth.
Native children are our most valuable resource, and we as tribal people have to work
together to counteract the negative momentum against the Indian Child Welfare Act by
contacting our Oregon members of the House and Senate immediately.
The following are other members of Congress who play a key role with this legislation
and I would highly encourage you to send copies of your correspondence with your Rep
resentatives to these people:
H.R. BILL 1448
The Honorable Elton Gallegly, Chairman
House Native American and Insular
Affairs Subcommittee
United States House of Representatives
Longworth House Office Building, Rm 1522
Washington, D.C. 20510
For future reference, any Indian Child Welfare matter directly involving Grand Ronde
tribal children should be directed to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Tribal Fam
ily Action Program. Our toll-free number is 1-800-775-0095.
SENATE BILL 764
The Honorable John McCain, Chairman
Senate Subcommittee on Indian Affairs
Hart Office Building, Room 838
Washington, D.C. 20510
Hello everyone! My name is Diana
Robertson, Jr. Miss Grand Ronde 1995-96.
I just wanted to let you know about the
activities I've been attending since I re
ceived the crown.
I was very proud to be a part of the moon
light pouring for the bronze statues of
Martha Jane and Gertrude that was held on
August 26. I thought it was great to be able
to see and hear about how the statues were
created. It was nice to see all the elders and
the descendents of Martha Jane who were
present.
"All
My parents and I travelled to North Bend
to attend the Pow-wow there. It was a great
Pow-wow. I thought the drumming was ex
cellent! But most of all, I wanted to men
tion how proud I am of our Grand Ronde
Color Guard for doing a wonderful job rep
resenting our tribe! They have been sup
portive and encouraging to me. Thank
You.
And, of course, the special event of our
tribal casino opening. It was very exciting.
I've never been more proud to represent my
tribe than I was that night. Everyone did a
great job putting it together.
I attended the Pow-wow at Chemewa on
November 1 1 .
Also, during National Indian Week, I was
involved in activities at school that Vernon
Kennedy and Duane ManyHides did a good
job coordinating.
In closing, I hope to see you all at the
Restoration Celebration and Christmas
Party on December 16.
But, if not, I wish you the best and have a
; great, happy and safe holiday., i
Sincerely Yours,
Jr. Miss Grand Ronde 1 995-96
Diana Robertson
People in need of food supplies for the winter months,
there will be assistance available in Grand Ronde.
Two motorhomes parked at the Tribal Family Action Program
(TFAP) offices, are distribution centers for some food.
Food is available to any tribal or community member who needs it.
Also, food donations are gladly accepted.