Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1998)
OR. COLL. E 78 .06 S66 September 1, 1998 So A A(li!l3lmtGfiX lift Tribal properties may become Grand Ronde Reservation By Oscar Johnson The Grand Ronde Tribe is cur rently penning a proposal that would make certain tribal properties part of the federally rec ognized reservation ending 44 years that the Tribe has gone without an official reservation homeland. If passed, the Grand Ronde Reser vation Act would redefine the offi cial status of seven parcels of land purchased after the Tribe was re stored in 1983. The 191 acres, cur rently held in trust by the U.S. gov ernment, would officially become part of the Grand Ronde Reservation. "It is a technical amendment to en sure that lands are kept and maintained in trust for the benefit of the Tribe," explained Grand Ronde Acting Execu tive Officer, Greg Archuleta. If Congress grants the properties reservation status they would be fur ther protected from any legislative challenges to the process of putting land into trust that might arise in the future, said Archuleta. The properties outlined in the amendment include the location of the Grand Meadows and pending Elders' housing developments, Grand Ronde Gaming Commission office, cem etery, old depot and remaining tribal lands around Spirit Mountain Casino. Tribal lobbyists are adding the fin ishing touches to the bill which Grand Ronde officials hope will be ratified by both the U.S. House and Senate then signed into law by October, Ar chuleta said. However, legislative protection of tribal lands may not be the only ben efit of the amendment. In a recent address to Hillsboro residents and city officials, Council Chairwoman, Kathryn Harrison, punctuated Grand Ronde 's heritage by chronicling the Tribe's history. A history that links the well-being of the Tribe both to U.S. recognition of its own treaty obligations; and the aboriginal recognition of Grand Ronde as a homeland. "What is an Indian without land?" she asked. "What is a tribe without resources?" The questions recall a history in which the U.S. government began whittling away the original 69,120 acre Grand Ronde Reservation by privatizing 33,000 acres in 1887; then reclaiming and selling an additional 25,791 in 1901; followed by termi nation in 1954 stripping the Tribe of all treaty and land rights. Even after regaining 9,811 acres of the original reservation five years after the Tribe was restored to its fed erally recognized status in 1983, Har rison noted "we didn't even know at the time it was uninhabitable land." Outlining the struggle first for res toration and then for resources and a homeland to help rebuild the Grand Ronde Tribe, Harrison said, "We only want our rightful place back amongst the recognized tribes of In dian nations." If Congress passes the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, properties vital to the Tribe's communal resi dence will not only be secured as a reservation but another significant step would be taken in rebuilding the indigenous nation of Grand Ronde. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Service Requested Serials Dept. - Knight Library 1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE OR 97403-1205 PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Agency Creek Road closed for two weeks Two culverts on Agency Creek that have been a fish passage problem are being replaced. Starting August 28, Agency Creek Road will be closed at "Mile Post 6" for approximately two weeks. Following this project, another culvert at the start of the Upper West Fork Road of Agency Creek (500 Road) will also be replaced, and is expected to take two weeks. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we assure you that this will in crease fish habitat and improve fish populations. Detour signs will be in place to guide you around the road closure and the Tribe's Natural Resources Divi sion office will have maps. You may call them at 879-2382 to get the latest road closure report.
