MARCH 15, 2000
3
liases
TRIBAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to include
some of the information that was
omitted from the February 15, 2000,
edition of the Smoke Signals article
regarding my grandfather, Orville
Leno.
In addition to the siblings that
were pictured, grandpa has four
other siblings: Sed Long, Elrey Leno,
Arnold Leno, and Wilmer "Bud"
Leno. Furthermore, the previous
article did not mention that Grandpa
has eleven grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren.
Myself and the family greatly ap
preciate the time and effort on the
part of Brent Merrill to interview
Grandpa and write such a nice ar
ticle. Thank you,
Angela Fasana
Roll 2170
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Koi) Grand Ronde 0R 97347
1-800-422-0232
(503) 879-2190
Fax: (503) 879-2173
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Mon., March 20 APRIL 1
Wed., April 5 APRIL 15
Thurs., April 20 MAY1
Frl., May 5 MAY 15
Dear tribal members:
. I would like to thank Michaelle
Kimsey and Jackie Whisler for ask
ing our Color Guard and Queen to
participate in remembering our an
cestors and their Trail of Tears walk
144 years ago (Feb. 25, 1856).
I felt proud to see the Color Guard
and Queen in the city newspapers,
but to me it wasn't justified, because
I didn't have a thing to do with or
ganizing this Trail of Tears walk.
The pictures in the newspapers
should have been of Michaelle
Kimsey, coordinator, and Jackie
Whisler. They are the ones who de
serve the honor of the press.
To this I would like to thank
Marvin Kimsey and Merle Holmes for
their knowledge of the event and all
those who made the walk.
With great respect,
Marce Norwest
Roll 2121
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States purging 'squaw'
from public site names
BIG SQUAW TOWNSHIP, Maine
(AP) In Maine's rugged hill coun
try lies frozen Squaw Pond. There's
also Big Squaw Mountain, Squaw
Bay, and Big and Little Squaw town
ships. The names, once known primarily
to hunters, fishermen and hikers, are
now attracting attention from the
Legislature, as a group of lawmak
ers who say "squaw" denigrates
women push to purge it from the
state map.
"I can say with 99 percent certainty,
if you are a Native woman and live
on a reservation, you have heard the
word and felt the sting and pain," said
Donna Loring, the Penobscot Nation's
representative to the Legislature.
Lawmakers in Minnesota and
Montana already have adopted simi
lar laws removing "squaw" from pub
lic site names. In Colorado, even the
endangered squawfish was targeted
by Indian activists and renamed the
Colorado pikeminnow.
Maine lawmakers are expected to
vote soon on the bill to expunge
"squaw" from all public land features
and geographic locations on the ad
vice of a nine-member commission on
Indian affairs.
Private properties, such as the
Squaw Mountain Ski Resort, would
be exempt.
Loring said the issue is just now
being raised because Indians felt in
the past that their complaints would
be ignored.
"For many, many years, Natives
have felt they don't have the power
to speak (about it) and if they did,
no one would listen," she said.
If the bill passes, about two-dozen
places would have to be renamed.
Such action is not new in Maine.
About 10 of the state's brooks, islands
and hills incorporated a derogatory
word for blacks until the Legislature
banned the use on geographic loca
tions in 1977.
If nothing else, the latest proposal
has sparked a dialogue between In
dians and non-Indians, while
prompting discussions across Maine
about an issue of importance to In
dians. "Lots of people didn't know
(squaw) was derogatory until all this
came out in the press," said Kirk
Hamilton, a ski patrol member at Big
Squaw Mountain.
Squaw is not the only word Indi
ans are concerned about in Maine.
At least one activist has targeted
school mascots like the Wiscasset
Redskins, the Skowhegan Indians
and the Nokomis Warriors.
American Indian groups nation
wide have protested sports mascots
and team nicknames connected to
their heritage, including the Atlanta
Braves and Washington Redskins.
General Council Highlights
The Office of Museum Development and the Cultural Resource Protection
program gave its reports at the March General Council meeting. Here are
some highlights.
TUALATIN RIVER KEEPERS
The meeting began with a report from the Tualatin River Keepers, as in
vited guests on behalf of the programs. The Tualatin River Keepers are a
group of mostly volunteer workers whose mission is to protect and preserve the
Tualatin River system. They work to promote public education, access, citizen
involvement, and volunteer work. They showed a video and a slide show of
areas important to the Native people of the Grand Ronde, including Ki-a-kuts
Falls, named after Chief Ki-a-kuts of the Tualatin band of the Kalapuya.
OFFICE OF MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT
Tony Johnson, the Tribe's language curator, spoke about Chinook Jargon
classes and other upcoming projects.
D Johnson is a member of the Northwest Indian Language Benchmarks
Work Group, which meets to develop standards to introduce Native languages
in Oregon schools and colleges.
New Chinook Jargon classes are starting March 13 and filling up fast.
They are taught by the Tribe, but sponsored by the University of Oregon.
Students do receive college credit.
D Plans are being established to create intensive Chinook Jargon classes at
the Tribe's pre-school.
Johnson invited tribal members to visit his office to learn more about the
Tribe's language program and classes the Tribe offers.
O Plans for a first-ever dictionary of Grand Ronde Chinook Jargon are on
track for publication.
Lisa Watt, manager of the Office of Museum Development, spoke about
current collections the Tribe has acquired this past year, as well as others
that have been identified. Watt said that Tribal Council asked her to begin
acquiring objects made or owned by the Tribe or members.
D Through the Office of Museum Development, the Tribe purchased the
Boring Collection this year. William Boring's grandparents owned an oil
company in Willamina, and between 1905-1912 often accepted baskets as
payment from Grand Ronde tribal members clients. There are many Grand
Ronde baskets in the collection.
D Watt is currently pursuing the Rev. Summers Collection, which contains
more than 150 Grand Ronde objects.
$25,000 total was spent this past year on the Boring Collection, and at
auctions.
D There will be some changes happening at the Community Center more
historic and contemporary photographs, new display cases, objects, and easier
access to the building. Watt will work with the Elders on this project.
CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
June Olson, head of the Cultural Resource Protection program, provided a
description of the services that office provides, and presented some slides of
some of the cultural areas she and her staff have visited.
D Olson said one function of the program is to monitor sacred sites around
Oregon and make sure they aren't being damaged or desecrated.
D The program also repatriates ancestral remains and sacred objects that
have been stored at museums and universities. The Tribe received the re
mains of 150 tribal ancestors from the University of Oregon this past year.
D A third function is archiving old tribal photos and documents as well as
developing a tribal "family tree" where members can trace tribal lineage and
learn more about ancestry. A data base that will make it easier for members
to access photos and other information is in the works.
D Olson explained some of the laws enacted that allow the Tribe to repatri
ate and protect sacred sites.
O The Cultural Resource Protection program will hold an open house on
March 20 from 12-2 p.m. Tribal members are welcome.
After the reports were presented, Tribal Council called an Executive Ses
sion to discuss the Willamette Meteorite and other issues related to the Cul
tural Resource Protection program.
Door Prize drawing winners: Kathy Patterson, $50; Dale Langley, $50;
Marce Norwest, $50; and Ryan Heavy Head, $100.
Camille Mercier, the casino's Human Resources manager, announced a
new Dealer's School starting at Spirit Mountain for tribal members inter
ested in working as a dealer on the casino floor. She also recognized two new
employees: Eva Trammell, tribal member employment coordinator, and David
DeHart, employee development representative. DeHart was recognized for
his heroics at the casino last month. He performed the Heimlich maneuver,
helping to save the life of a choking employee.