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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1999)
FEBRUARY 1, 1999 5 Grand Ronde hoopsters enjoy tournaments THE LINE-UP Standing from left: Jeremy Bailey, Dustin Harmon, Richard "Bubba" Sohappy, Shane Harmon, and Greg Leno. Front row from left: Haa-nah Mike, Lenny Logan, Melvin Brisbois, and Winfred Pakootas. Continued from front page they play but it has been enough to earn them an invitation to one of the oldest all-Indian tournaments in the country last year. Although they de clined due to members' work sched ules, this year they hope to accept the honor if it is offered again. In January they were gearing up for the Panamnik-Karuk Sports All Indian Basketball Tournament in Orleans, California (January 22-24). "We've been practicing nonstop for the past two weeks," says Leno who adds their biggest challenge is play ing more like a team. "As a team, I hope we do well this year." Tribal teams come from through out Indian Country to compete, from as close as Oregon and other north western states to as far away as New Mexico and North Dakota. "We've played against a Native American team that had someone who played for a pro team," says Melvin Brisbois, one of the teams main organizers. "The competition gets pretty tough." First prize is usually a set of cham . pionship letter man jackets for large tournaments while victors are awarded trophies at smaller events. But Brisbois says the real prize is being a part of an intertribal sports circuit. "You get more interaction with tribeg'you don't normally get to see here in Grand Ronde," says Brisbois. "And we get to go from reservation to reservation to meet new people and make friends." Brisbois says the real prize is being a part of an intertribal sports circuit. Does the team feel like they repre sent the Grand Ronde community? "Most certainly," says Brisbois. He recalls that the team was dis appointed that officials at one tour nament mistakenly entered them under the name of Spirit Mountain. "That kind of upset us," recalls Brisbois, drawing the distinction be tween the Tribe's casino and its tra ditional spiritual site for which it was named. "We said no. We represent Grand Ronde." He says that most people the team meets on the road associate Grand Ronde with the casino and not its tribal community. "We got our own administration building, our own clinic and we even have our own Pow-wow every year," says Brisbois. "When we go some where we always try to hold our selves right because we represent Grand Ronde," : v Team members usually chip in to cover transportation cost to tourna ments as well as the $200 to $300 entrance fees. Brisbois says Tribal Council has also helped cover part of the cost of one of last year's tournaments and pledged their support for future tribal sports activities. "In the future I hope we can get a community center with a basketball court. Then we can host our own tournaments," he says. But now there is a more pressing matter at hand for the rookie team. Brisbois says two of the teams that will be in the Panamnik-Karuk com petition are "pretty tough one has an ex-NBA player." If the team starts off strong and takes their first game at the tourna ment, he thinks they will have a good chance of being placed as fi nalists in the last day's showdown. With reserved confidence in his team's gradual improvement, Brisbois adds, "I can see us playing late." " Deputy Buddy White retires Community News... Crafters Wanted! The First Annual Spring Craft Show will be held at Spirit Moun tain Casino on April 4 (Easter Sun day). It. will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are interested in rent ing a table to sell your handmade crafts, contact Bev at 879-3719 ' (day) or 879-3092 (evening). Hurry! Space is limited. Youth sports All 7th and 8th grade boys from Grand Ronde, Willamina, and Sheri dan are welcome to join the Satur day Basketball League. Registration is $35, and will run from March 6 to April 24. Call Jack Bailey at 876 3120 or Mark Matocha at 876-4102. Tri-Cities Little League is offering T-ball, baseball and softball to all kids ages 5-16. Sign-ups are taking place right now! Call Keith Wilson at 879-5997 or Terry Murrow at 876-3116. By Tracy Dugan Editor Tribal member and Deputy with the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office (YCSO), Orrin "Buddy" White, has retired from the Sheriff's Office af ter twenty-four years of service to the community. White began his career as a pa trolman for the Willamina Police Department in 1974, rising to the rank of Sergeant in 1976 before the agency was absorbed by the YCSO in 1978. White could be seen regularly pa trolling the Grand Ronde area, and often stopped to have lunch at the Elders' Mealsite. Recently White was asked to work-part-time at the Yamhill County Courthouse in McMinnville as a se curity officer. He expects to work 18 20 hours per week. m "It's mainly escorting inmates to and from the Courthouse. That kind of thing," said White. But he still plans to enjoy being at home more hours of the day. "I have had a few days of being totally retired," said White. "When I start this new job, I guess I'll be " - I Buddy White' semi-retired." White and his family lived in McMinnville for fifteen years before purchasing a home in Grand Meadows. They moved in the home park in November. They have five children. White said that if the Tribe ever wants to expand its law enforcement programs in Grand Ronde, he would be interested in getting it going if his help was needed. The Tribe and the community thanks him for his years of service and wishes him well. THE GUANO RONDE DENTAL CUNIC WILL BE HOTTING WE 6W AtMUAL VOLAR ROLLER SUATIUG PARTY and DENTAL UEALTU Altl FRIDAY, FEB. 5 from 1-3.30 p.m. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH GYtA ALL CHILDREN 6-12 YEARS OLD ARE INVITED. THIS YEARS THEME IS "A BUG'S LIFE." ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE TOOTH HEALTHY SNACKS, GAMES, PRIZES AND FUN! FEBRUARY IS CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH. A 8 3
