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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1997)
2 September 1, 1997 SMOKE SIGNALS Letter to the editor To the Editor: What a Great Pow-wow weekend. The weather was hot on Saturday, and windy on Sunday but we coped with what the Great Spirit sent our way. There were visits with fam ily and friends. We met people who came to participate or watch the proceedings. All had a wonderful time. Thank you to the sponsors who helped with the financial backing for the Pow-wow. Thanks to the drummers and singers and to the veterans for their attention to our flags. Special appreciation is expressed to the many dancers with their beautiful regalia, our precious Grand Ronde Royalty, the Tribal Council and Pow-wow Committee, the many ven dors, and all the workers who assisted in the many details which make the Grand Ronde Pow-wow an excellent event. My special thanks to the people who helped the Elders enjoy the event by bringing water, food items, and providing shade. This is also the opportunity to say thank you to the crews who prepared the Pow-wow grounds and to those who cleaned the grounds after the event. It takes everyone to make the Grand Ronde Pow-wow successful. It is spiritual as well as social. Claudette Velma Mae Parazoo Grand Ronde Tillicum 2923 Mark your calendar ELECTION DAY is Saturday, September 6. The polls are open from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. at the Community Center. GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING is Sunday, Septem ber 7 starting at 1 1 :30 a.m. at the Community Center. This will be the first meeting after the summer break. Raffles and meal provided. KWELTH TAHLKIE CULTURE AND HERITAGE BOARD will hold its monthly meeting at a new time and place. The meeting will be held on Mondays through the month of September. Beginning with Monday, September 8 at 5:15 p.m. at the Community Center. The change of meeting time was made to accommodate those tribal mem ber who might wish to attend. All are welcome. Agenda includes: election of two new members, the 1 998 budget, tribal participation in the End of the Oregon Trail Celebration, university cooperative efforts, staff hiring, plans for board members to visit the Oregon State Univer sity field project, adoptions of resolutions growing out of last year's motions, and tax-exempt status progress report. Starting on Saturday, October 4, the Board will meet on the first Saturday of every month at the Community Center at 10 a.m. There's a wetland in my backyard :moke signals "ii-rfr-,nn Ill 'I UllfcJJ Tracy Dugan Editor 879-2254 tracynewsmacnet.com Kim Mueller Graphic Specialist 879-2264 kimnewsmacnet.com 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Fax: (503) 879-2263 Submissions MUST reach our office by the 5th or 20th of each month to be published in the following issue. By Katie Higgins-Wheeler For those who will be moving into the new Grand Mead ows Housing Project, the term "wetland mitigation" will become a familiar one. In order to proceed with this project, the Tribe had to step through several federal hoops. Dur ing the planning stages for this development it was deter mined that the project would impact federally protected wetlands. Mitigation for wetland loss should ideally be done on the impacted site. This is the case with the Grand Meadows mitigation. The roads and residential plots in the housing project are designed around a central .52 acre wildlife habitat area which is a combination of enhanced and created wetland. This area will be planted with a variety of native plants including several culturally significant species. Such an area will attract a variety of wildlife and serve a significant water quality function. This wetland area serves an important goal which is to protect ecologically important wetland areas. Wetlands are extremely important to a healthy, functioning ecosystem. They serve to retain and filter water runoff. Appropriate vegetation in wetland areas will assure water quality. Wetlands also serve as vital wildlife habitat. Human de velopment and other activities can severely limit quality habitat. A wetland mitigation in the Grand Meadows Hous ing Project will provide both wildlife and tribal members with a comfortable place to live. A variety of native plant species will be planted throughout this mitigation because of their usefulness as cover and food to wetland bird, in sect, amphibian, and mammal species. Many of these plant Grand Meadows UPDATE The Grand Meadows manufactured home subdivision land in Grand Ronde was placed in trust in late July and can now be used for the placement of homes. Home buyers moving into Grand Ronde Meadows have been patiently awaiting the approval of their financing and the availability of a ground lease with the Tribe prior to ordering a home. Our program experienced difficulty with the lender and the Housing Authority recently lo cated a local lender who is willing to participate in the section 184 program. In spite of a short setback in the time schedule, this is working out very well. Soon we will begin to see contractors working on individual lots, preparing them to accept the homes that will be coming. At this time, there are still several lots available for quali fied homebuyers, and interested tribal members can call Bryan Langley at (503) 879-2467 for information. species are also culturally significant to tribal members. Willows and wapato are just some of the culturally sig nificant wetland species planned for this site. In addition, the Natural Resources and Cultural Resources divisions would like to add common camas and wild iris to the plant ing plans. Wetland mitigations are a potential opportunity to reintroduce these types of culturally important plants to Tribal properties. According to Jan Michael Reibach, a future Grand Mead ows resident, " It makes sense for Native Americans to have strong considerations for nature in all of our affairs." For Reibach and other residents of this housing project, the miti gation site will be an excellent opportunity to watch wild life and enjoy the many benefits of a healthy wetland from the comfort of their own homes. In order to protect this fragile wetland area, regulations will prevent the removal or replacement of vegetation in or around the designated borders. The Tribe will monitor the area as it matures and maintain the area as a functional wet land in perpetuity. In exchange, those living in the project will have a unique opportunity to view wildlife and enjoy the native wetland vegetation. In time, limited paths around and into the mitigation may be provided to give residents increased pleasure in their neighborhood wetland. Because of the multiple benefits of this planned wetland habitat, the area will be a wonderful learning ground for children and adults alike. With care this wetland will be a valuable and enjoyable centerpiece for the Grand Meadows community. Notice of Availability ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED TRIBAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS This notice is to advise interested parties that an Envi ronmental Assessment (EA) is available for the proposed Tribal Cemetery improvements. The EA discloses de tailed descriptions of the proposed actions, alternatives to the proposed actions and an analysis of the likely en vironmental consequences of the proposed actions and alternatives. On August 8, 1997 the EA will be available for public review for 30 days. Requests for copies of the EA and written comments should be addressed to: Kathleen Feehan, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Division of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 70, Willamina, OR 97396 or call (503) 879-2395. Comments must be received by September 8, 1997 and must include 1) your name address and phone num ber, 2) title of the EA your comments regard, and 3) spe cific facts or comments that decision makers should consider. 4"l !Vt4,?S SMTP'S f 4"7jT1 1 1 !TI!Il,iniiCl nifcirtnm3?! il irrKlTfn iiim RTf.. -r-'TAi'ir-r-T . 3stxtnmiiPitf!ffim-
