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General Council Meeting
Sunday, March 3, 1996, 11:30 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
Ail Tribal Members Welcome
INSIDE:
Chairman's Report, page 3
Business Directory, page 5
Education News, page 7
Martha Jane offerings donated to Head Start
On Monday, February 12 at 9 a.m., the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community and Spirit Mountain Casino donated the first collection of financial
offerings left at the statue of Martha Jane Sands to three local Head Start programs
to assist in the education and development of local children. In addition, the Casino matched
the statue offerings, currently over $2,000, as part of the donation to the Head Start pro
grams. The presentation took place in front of the statue, located just inside the entrance to
the Casino.
Ed Larsen, a member of Tribal Council, presented the checks, each for $1 ,350, to repre
sentatives of the Head Start centers in Yamhill County. The Yamhill County Head Start, a
division of the Community Action Agency of Yamhill County (YCAP) Inc., directs the
Head Start programs throughout Yamhill County, including those receiving the initial do
nations: Grand Ronde, Willamina and McMinnville.
Also present, representing Spirit Mountain Casino, was Mike Larsen, the President of
the Board of Directors for Spirit Mountain Development Corporation, and Michael Eichman,
Director of Head Start in Yamhill County. Several parents of children attending the pro
grams were also present. June Olson, the family advocate for the Grand Ronde Head Start;
Susan Randall, a teacher for the Willamina Head Start; and Jane Hile, a teacher for the
McMinnville Head Start, accepted the checks.
Offerings to Martha Jane, which have varied from bouquets of flowers to cash dona
tions, usually in the form of coins, began appearing at the base of the bronze statue shortly
after the casino opened in mid-October 1995. "In many cultures, including our Tribe's,
people make offerings to the departed to honor their spirits or for personal good fortune,"
explains Bruce Thomas, President of Spirit Mountain Gaming, the parent company of the
Casino.
Although the offerings are spontaneous and have not been encouraged by the Casino, the
cash donations have continued to accumulate, reaching over $2,000 by early February.
"We agreed, given the symbolism of the statue, that the offerings should be donated to a
charity that benefits disadvantaged children in our area," Thomas said. The initial dona
tion will be divided equally among the three Head Starts. Future donations will be given to
a different Head Start program each month, rotating among both those in the local commu
nities and those in surrounding communi
ties, such as Dallas, Newberg and Salem.
The casino will continue to match the
amount each month as part of the donation.
Martha Jane Sands, portrayed in the statue
with her granddaughter, Gertrude at her
side, symbolizes the proud spirit of the
Grand Ronde Tribe. A survivor of the in
famous "Trail of Tears," Martha Jane later
became a renowned basketweaver and an
inspiration to her people. This statue, by
sculptor Rip Caswell, portrays the passing
of tribal culture and traditions from genera
tion to generation.
PICTURED AT RIGHT: Tribal Council
member Ed Larsen presented repre
sentatives from the McMinnville, Wil
lamina, and Grand Ronde Head Start
Centers with checks for $1,350.
From left: June Olson, Susan Randall,
and Jane Hile.
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OREGON HISTORY MARKER MOVED: The informational marker has been
relocated to provide a safer place to pull off Highway 18 to view it. It is
now located one block west of Grand Ronde Road, between Bonanza Res
taurant and Seaway Market, on the Highway. As you can see above, its
new location includes a scenic view of Spirit Mountain in the background.
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