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
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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.
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