JUNE 1, 1999
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ter pulled together they were
great," Olson said.
Participants were also brought to
the Tribe's new Governance Center
for a buffet dinner and presentations
by Before and After Care Chinook
Wawa language students and
Grand Ronde Royalty.
Ernie Stensgar, Affiliated presi
dent and Coeur d'Alene tribal chair,
also expressed appreciation to the
Grand Ronde Tribe.
"You have a good reason to be
proud," he told the Tribe's Chairper
son, Kathryn Harrison, in his open
ing remarks at the conference.
"Please pass this on to your tribal
members."
As host and co-sponsor, the Tribe's
Color Guard opened the event with
the customary flag bearing and
Council member Leon Tom per
formed the invocation.
Kathryn Harrison, tribal chairper
son, welcomed guests by calling for
a round of applause honoring the
Makah tribe's successful whale hunt
which had taken place the previous
day.
The controversial hunt was the
first in 70 years and in celebration,
Donna Wilkie, Makah tribal mem
ber and Affiliated tourism commit
tee chair, led attendees in a Svhale
love song before attendees began
the usual order of business.
Stensgar set the tone of the con
ference in his opening remarks.
"We have a long list of common
concerns," he said, noting such is
sues as preserving the Columbia
River, meeting the needs of tribal
members, and countering next year's
reelection attempt by Sen. Slade
Gorton, R-WA.
"We see a need to defeat this man
who has sponsored or co-sponsored
almost every bill that is unfriendly
. i ' ; ; j
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V 1
It
ABOVE: Donna Wilkie, Makah member and Affiliated Tribes of North
west Indians tourism committee chair, leads conference attendees at
SMC in a traditional whaling love song after receiving news of her tribe's
first successful hunt in 70 years. RIGHT: Honoring Governor John
Kitzhaber, Justin Martin (left), tribal lobbyist, presents Henry Lazenby,
legal council to the Governor's office, with a token of appreciation as
Mary Gentry, ATNI secretary, looks on.
to Indians," Stensgar said.
A variety of presentations and dis
cussions took place at the meeting's
General Sessions.
These include a call for more tribes
to financially support Affiliated;
tribal challenges and successes in
working with the Federal Depart
ment of Housing and Urban Devel
opment (HUD); and the long-term
affects of termination on Native
Americans (see story on page 4).
Nearly a dozen intertribal commit
tees also met during the conference
to address concerns and strategies on
topics such as Indian veteran affairs,
child welfare, culture and Elders.
The group passed 20 resolutions
ranging from a decree to support
advisory committees in developing
community-based HIV prevention
programs, to opposing a House bill
that if passed would impose state
sales taxes on tribes.
The resolutions will be presented
to the National Congress of Ameri
can Indians who, upon agreeing
with them, will advocate for them on
the national front.
This was the first time the Grand
Ronde Tribe hosted an Affiliated con
ference but the Tribe has had a long
history with the group.
"It's a good group and it's always
good to see old friends," Harrison said.
Grand Ronde has been an active
US) A.
member of the organization for more
than 15 years and Harrison is regu
larly involved with the Affiliated's
election committee.
Lauri Smith, Council's department
secretary, and Jackie Whisler, ad
ministrative assistant, have also
been instrumental in facilitating Af
filiated conferences in other locales,
Harrison said.
"It was kind of a dream come true,"
added Harrison.
"We heard a lot of good comments
about the casino and hotel services,"
she said. "We've heard it from other
people but it was good to hear it from
other tribes who also have casinos."
Sacred Landscape held at OSU
Tribal Chair Kathryn Harrison was invited to speak
with other Native leaders at the "Sacred Landscapes:
Native American Perspectives of the Pacific Northwest"
conference for students at Oregon State University
on May 14. The conference was organized to raise
awareness and educate students on the important re
lationship humans have with the environment.
Harrison's topic was "the Importance of Sacred Land
to Me." Other speakers included Esther Stutzman,
(pictured) a Kalaupya storyteller, who spoke at the
conference on the topic of "Connections to the Earth."
Hatfield fellowship.
Continued from page 1
her tribe's Public Safety and Natu
ral Resource divisions.
Her previous internships include
working for the American Indian
Science & Engineering Society, the
White House's Office of Public Liai
son and the Committee on Resources
for U.S. Rep. of American Samoa, Eni
Faleomavaega.
As a Hatfield Fellow, Calica will
work in the office of Sen. Gordon
Smith, R-OR., performing various
duties that will help keep the
Senator's hand on the political pulse
of Oregon tribes about a number of
issues.
She says her future plans include
"being a mom" and earning a de
gree in environmental law because
"that's what seems to affect tribes
the most."
($1
Spiritual leader speaks to youth
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Native spiri
tual leader and member of the Lakota Na
tion spoke to Native youth at the Governance
Center on May 15.
Looking Horse, who has dedicated his life
to working toward world peace, spoke about
the importance of Native Culture and em
bracing spirituality. He is a key organizer of
World Peace and Prayer Day, which will take
place on June 21, 1999. He encouraged
youth to visit Spirit Mountain on June 21
and participate in World Peace and Prayer Day. Looking Horse spoke as
part of the youth track for ATNI. Youth from Grand Ronde and Wil
lamina Native American clubs, Chemawa, Portland and SalemKeizer
Public Schools Title LX programs attended.
Born on the Cheyenne River reservation in South Dakota, he speaks
both Lakota and English. At age 12 he was given the enormous respon
sibility of becoming the 19th generation keeper of the Sacred White Buf
falo Calf Pipe, the youngest in history.
He traveled to New York in 1993 with Elders of many tribes to the United
Nations "Cry of the Earth" conference where he gave the opening prayer.
The city of New Orleans honored Looking Horse with a key to the city in
recognition of his dedication to world peace and prayer.
Chief Looking Horse has joined forces with other peace leaders around
the world including the Dali Lama, Desmond Tutu, and President Clinton.