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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1999)
4 Smoke Signals Spirit Mountain gives $10,000 for West Valley food baskets The Community Fund along with dedicated volunteers help make the holidays brighter for some local residents. GRAND RONDE, OR - The Wil lamina VFW and Grand Sheramina Community Services received $5,000 each from the Spirit Mountain Com munity Fund to make the holidays a little warmer for the veterans, eld erly, disabled, and needy who receive food baskets from the two charities. This marks the fourth year in a row that the Grand Ronde Tribe has contributed to both of these organi zations. To date, over $20,000 in cash contributions, and 24,000 pounds of non-perishable food items have been donated to these groups by the Tribe. The VFW and the Grand She ramina Community Services are non-profit agencies that work to gether in assisting residents of the Polk and Yamhill counties. Both or ganizations are staffed by volun teers. The VFW, established in 1948, has been giving food baskets to resi dents for the past twenty years, while Grand Sheramina has distrib uted food baskets since 1982. The two organizations coordinate their programs to cover the two county area. 'The Tribe feels strongly that no one should go hungry, particularly at this time of the year. We hope these gifts will help more people have a Merry Christmas," says Commu nity Fund Trustee, Chuck Galford. 1998: A year of programs and projects continued from frontpage tion over the cost of water hook-ups at Grand Meadows Manufactured Home Park. MAY: Tony Johnson, Language Specialist, begins work on a Dictio nary of Chinook jargon. Classes begin in Grand Ronde for members who wish to learn Chinook jargon. Local tribes celebrate American Indian Week in Oregon. Secretary of State Phil Keisling signs the dec laration at the state capitol in front of tribal leaders. JUNE: The Tribe's float, Adven tures of the Spirit, wins the Grand Prize in Portland's Grand Floral Pa rade, the largest parade on the West Coast. Tribal Council announces that the Member Benefit Fund will increase in July by $1,000. Hundreds come to Grand Ronde for the Tribe's Annual Spirit Moun tain Stampede and Rodeo. JULY: Tribal Council holds a se ries of community meetings in Grand Ronde, Salem, Portland, Eu gene, and Bend. Tribal members from all over Oregon come to discuss issues revolving around program ser vices, benefits, health insurance, housing, and casino revenues. AUGUST: The Grand Ronde An nual Pow-wow is held. SEPTEMBER: The membership elects three new Council members: Kathryh Harrison, Ed Larserif and Bob Haller. Smoke Signals temporarily changes its name to the Grand Ronde Review. OCTOBER: Tribal member Pete Wakeland is named the first Hatfield Fellow. i Tribe announces the dispute with the Grand Ronde Community Wa ter Association will be decided in Polk County Circuit Court. NOVEMBER: The new Gover nance Center is opened. A dedica tion and blessing is attended by Les Aucoin, Elizabeth Furse, tribal members and community members. The tribal newspaper's name is re turned to Smoke Signals, after an opinion survey is completed. DECEMBER: Spirit Mountain Lodge, the Tribe's new hotel opens. Tribal Council hires a new Execu tive Officer, Ted Mala. Many honored at hotel ribbon-cutting continued from frontpage "As tribal members we need to re member our ancestry," he said. "But we also need to provide services to our members. We take pride in be ing able to offer new opportunities to our people." Mike Larsen said a few words on behalf of the Board of Directors, and thanked Tammy Cook, who helped create the rustic look of Spirit Moun tain Lodge. "This is another proud day for our people," said Larsen. " I mostly want to thank our Elders. Without them, none of us would be here, and I hope they are as proud of us as we are of all of them." Larsen said that the Board has a difficult duty at times, trying to make business decisions to help ben efit all the people, and he is proud of what has been accomplished with Spirit Mountain Lodge. Larsen also thanked past and present Tribal Council and the tribal membership. The ribbon-cutting was followed by tours of the lodge, and a buffet din ner in the Casino banquet room. The Grand Ronde Tribe estab lished the Spirit Mountain Commu nity Fund in January 1997 to con tinue the Tribe's age-old tradition of sharing and giving back. The Com munity Fund receives 6 of the Tribe's casino profits each year for projects and organizations that serve the public in eleven Northwest Or egon counties, including Polk and Yamhill counties. Thus far, organi zations in the West Valley have re ceived over 30 of the grants made by the Community Fund. For more information about the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, please contact Amber Russell at 1-800-760-7977. Kids chosen to Shop with Sheriff Thirty-two Grand Ronde children were chosen to participate in the annual Shop with a Sheriff program. This program allows children from lower income households to buy Christmas gifts for their immediate family members. Money is donated by the Dallas Wal-Mart, Polk County Sheriff's Department, and the Grand Ronde Service Integration Team. This year almost $400 was raised from passing the hat at the Sheriff's Department. Each year this program shows community spirit as volunteers from the Sheriff's Department and local agencies shop with the children one-on-one at Wal-Mart. "We are creat ing great little shoppers," comments Rhonda Holder, Polk County Juvenille Department. "They are learning to budget money and shar ing a positive experience with law enforcement." An extended thank you to all who participated from driving the kids to Wal-Mart to helping them wrap their presents; from donating money to spending a Saturday morning shopping with kids! Dear Editor: Lus-uk-san (good day). As I look toward the new year, 1999, 1 would like to take the time to thank the people (tillicum), who almost 24 years ago began what we now refer to as "Restoration." Marvin Kimsey, Margaret Provost, Joe Lane (d), Merle Holmes, and their family and friends. (People like Jackie Provost, Jackie Whisler, and Joann Colton.) Those folks who traveled around as a WORK TEAM. They had to convince the public how and why Restoration would be a good thing for us as a people. This was before there was any money. They did this work through money out of their own pocket, received donations, and raised funds. They developed all this infrastructure, and went through the initial process even before we could be recognized. Then came the process of being recognized by the state of Oregon. These steps were all necessary. Though they have served on Council at various times over the years, or as employees, most of these folks are no longer involved in tribal government. (However, Jackie Whisler and Jackie Provost both work for the Tribe.) Since they are not in tribal government, it may be difficult to see these folks, but When you do, please give them a big "thank you." Because of their de termination and initiative, we have a Tribal Council today. We have dis cussions that revolve around ques tions like: Will there be any payment to the membership?, Where is tribal member housing? and Where is a cultural program for our people to know and share in who we are? I would like to thank all the people I mentioned above. Shawn Hostler (Tdro-Li-Tdret) Roll 1699 (SMOKE SIGNAL 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Or 97347 EDITOR: TRACY DUGAN 879-2254 REPORTER: OSCAR JOHNSON 879 2321 GRAPHICS M NEWS COORDINATOR: KIM MUELLER 879-2264 1-800-422-0232 FAX: (503) 879-2263 E-MAIL ADDRESSES: tracydmail.grandronde.com kimmmail.grandronde.com oscarjohnsonjournalist.com Members of the Native American Journalist Association, the Associated Press, and Society of News Design. Printed on recycled paper. UPCOMING DEADLINE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 5
