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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1999)
MARCH 15, 1999 5 Ad Hoc Committee prepares to create Vets Memorial By Tracy Dugan The ad hoc committee to create the Tribal Veterans Memorial held its first meeting on March 2, with the Grand Ronde Veterans Com mittee. The ad hoc committee will meet regularly to discuss progress on erecting a Veterans Memorial. The ad hoc committee has elected officers and members, which are pending the approval of Tribal Council. The committee will create several subcommittees that will be responsible for differ ent aspects of the creation of the memorial. They include fund raising, design, location, and re search. The subcommittees are going to need the help of tribal members in the creation of this memorial. Tribal members will be asked through Smoke Signals to offer suggestions about the look and placement of the memorial, which the committee as a whole, as well as the sub-committees, will carefully consider. Merle Holmes said he spoke to the Elders Committee about the plans to create a memorial, and asked for their input. "This project has the full sup port of the Elders," he said. Holmes, who served in the Army, plans to serve on the committee, and is very interested in the de sign of the memorial. "The design of this Veterans Memorial is important to me be cause we should make sure that a Native American theme is in corporated into it. It is an impor tant part of our Tribe's history and culture," he said. June Sherer, also a veteran, said that this memorial is very im portant for the Tribe and the Tribe's veterans. "Being recognized is important," she said. "These are people who fought for their country and their Tribe. They made a sacrifice." Family members of veterans and other interested people in Grand Ronde are encouraged to participate in the ad hoc Veter ans Memorial Committee. Future articles will discuss how others can get involved. The folks who attended the start-up meeting wish to thank those veterans who attended from American Legion Post 21, VFW Post 10626 Dayton, and AmVets Post 1993. They also wish to thank Mike Larsen, Reyn and Liz Leno, Ted Mala, and Tribal Council for their support and help. Ht ' n ' W t rM hi 1 L J, 5JU . ' An artist's rendering of front entrance of the new Western Oregon Library. Community Fund helps Western Oregon University build a new library The Spirit Mountain Commu nity Fund recently gave $250,000 for a new library at Western Oregon University as part of the Tribe's tradition of giving back to the community. The University hopes to raise $3 million needed to build and stock a new library to replace the old facil ity built nearly 50 years ago when campus population was one-tenth its current size. "It is exciting to have the Confed erated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, with its long history, join in support of Western Oregon University, the state's oldest public university," said University President, Betty Youngblood. "It is a powerful example of the important support that the Tribe is providing in northwestern Oregon." The Community Fund has been donating six percent of Spirit Moun tain Casino profits annually since 1997 to nonprofit groups such as Easter Seals of Oregon, West Salem Clinic and Independence Elemen tary School. "We promised Congressional lead ers then that, 'if you help us help ourselves now we'll help others help themselves when we are able,'" said Council Chairwoman, Kathryn Har rison, recounting the Tribe's struggle for restoration. "We're very happy to support WOU in providing tools for students to help themselves." Construction of the new 76,000 sq. ft. library began in September and is slated to open next year. In honor of the Tribe's contribu tion, an entire floor will be named "The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Collections Area." As a result of the Tribe's compact agreement with the state of Oregon, six percent of Casino revenue is do nated, through the Community Fund, back to organizations in eleven Oregon counties. Recent Tribal Council actions Meeting mintues for February 17, 1999 Meeting called to order by Reyn Leno, Tribal Vice Chair. With the exception of Kathryn Harrison, Ed Pearsall and Leon Tom (excused due to tribal government business), a full Council was present. D '99 OSU Spring Pow-wow Do nation. Val Grout moved, Ed Lar sen seconded to approve a $300 do nation to the Native American Stu dent Association at Oregon State University for their 1999 Spring Pow-wow on May 15-16 at Gill Coli seum in Corvallis, Oregon. Motion carried 5-0-0. D Lincoln City Shrine Dona tion. Bob Mercier moved, Bob Haller seconded to approve a $600 donation to Lincoln County Shrine Club to support a puppet theater production of "The Jungle Book" by 'The Tears of Joy Theater" at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. The dona tion will sponsor 50 kids to attend the event and the tribe will receive 30 complementary family passes. Motion carried 5-0-0. D YCAP Bowling Blitz Sponsor ship. Ed Larsen moved, Val Grout seconded to approve payment of $500 to sponsor a tribal bowling team for the Community Action Agency of Yamhill County (YCAP) Bowling Blitz event on Saturday, February 20. Bob Mercier and Ed Larsen will be on the team. Motion carried 5-0-0. D ANA Language Preservation Grant Approval resolution. Mark Mercier moved, Ed Larsen sec onded to adopt Resolution No. 013 99 approving the submission of an application for an Administration for Native Americans )ANA) Language Preservation Grant. Motion carried 5-0-0. B Signing Authority for Tribal Investment Accounts resolu tion. Mark Mercier moved, Val Grout seconded to adopt Resolution No. 014-99 granting the following Council members, officers and em ployees signing authority on tribal investment accounts: Kathryn Har rison, Reynold Leno, Ed Pearsall, Ted Mala, Robert Saunders, Greg Ar chuleta, Jody Jerger and Chris Leno, provided, however, that the signa ture of at least two of the above in dividuals is required to transfer funds from tribal investment ac counts when the transfer is other than directly to another tribal invest ment account or directly to an es crow account, and provided further, that Robert Saunders, Greg Archu leta, Jody Jerger and Chris Leno shall first make reasonable efforts to notify Ted Mala before acting under the authority granted by this Reso lution. Motion carried 5-0-0. O Nanitch Sahallie Advisory Board Appointment MemberAl ternate resolution. Mark Mer cier moved, Bob Mercier seconded to adopt Resolution No. 015-99 ap pointing Bob Haller, as the Council liaison to the Nanitch Sahallie Ad visory Board and Ed Larsen as the alternate filling the vacancies of Margaret Provost and Eugene LaBonte. Motion carried 5-0-0.
