Smoke Signals
Tribal CRair testifies in Washington, D.C.
Harrison asks congressional subcommittee to go beyond their proposed budgets for Indian Health Care.
2
By Brent Merrill
Tribal Chair Kathryn Harrison
traveled to the Nation's capitol
to testify before the House Appropria
tions Subcommittee on Bureau of In
dian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health
Services (IHS). Harrison gave testi
mony in regards to budgets for the
year 2001.
The Grand Ronde Tribe, through
Harrison's testimony, asked the sub
committee to add funds to the BIA's
Tribal Priority Allocations.
Tribal Priority Allocations are in
tended to meet tribal needs for com
munity services, education, natural
resources and tribal court services.
The Tribe asked the subcommittee
to increase the IHS budget by an ad
ditional $89 million more than Presi
dent Clinton's recommended 2001
budget for IHS. The Tribe also asked
the subcommittee to increase support
for the Catastrophic Health Emer
gency Fund beyond Clinton's pro
posed $18 million budget.
The Tribe asked the subcommittee
to support an increase of $3.8 million
towards the prevention and educa
tion about diabetes.
The Tribe asked the subcommittee
to spend $10 million to fund drug and
alcohol treatment centers.
The Tribe informed the subcommit
tee of their support for Clinton's $40
million Contract Health Services bud
get for 2001.
"The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde support the President's FY
(Fiscal Year) budget recommendation
for Contract Health Services," said
Harrison in her testimony.
The Tribe sent a message to the
subcommittee that it supports in
creases to the IHS budget, but they
also feel more is needed.
More importantly, the Tribe sent a
message to all of Congress that the
government-to-government relation
ship is working, as it should be. Har
rison explained the Tribe's role in
building the government-to-government
process.
"In 1954, members of the Confed
erated Tribes of Grand Ronde lost fed
eral recognition under the Western
Oregon Termination Act," said Har
rison. "This legislation destroyed our
Tribal Government, took away re
maining tribal lands and brought
about numerous socio-economic prob
lems to our members. In 1983, the
Tribe regained its rightful place
among Indian Nations when Con
gress passed the Grand Ronde Resto
ration Act.
"A survey of our tribal membership
in 1985 revealed the ugly impacts of
termination," continued Harrison in
her testimony. "The Tribe's unemploy
ment rate was 23 percent. Of our
population 19 years or older, 38 per
cent had not completed high school.
Finally, 34 percent of our households
had an income below the poverty level.
The survey also revealed serious
health issues including high blood
pressure, heart disease, arthritis, fail
ing vision and hearing, and alcohol
and substance abuse problems."
Harrison informed the subcommit
tee that the Grand Ronde Tribe has
turned things around for their mem
bership since restoration. But, she
said there is still unmet need in the
tribal community.
"We have come a long way in fight
ing the problems that we have had to
face with respect to termination," ex
plained Harrison. "Despite some of
the current positives that are taking
place in Indian Country, and specifi
cally Grand Ronde, there is still a
great deal of unmet needs that exist
with our tribal community. We have
the unfortunate task of trying to make
up for 29 years without support or
services, and while we do our best to
provide for our membership, as well
as the community, we still fall short.
We will continue to strive for the best,
and we are proud to be a self-governance
Tribe with both the BIA and
the IHS."
Harrison concluded her remarks by
reassuring the subcommittee that the
government-to-government process is
working and that the Tribe looks for
ward to continuing that relationship.
Tribal leader passes away unexpectedly
The defiant and charismatic Joe Dela Cruz's fight for Indian Rights made him a legend in the Northwest.
By Brent Merrill
Indian activist and tribal leader Joe
Dela Cruz died of a heart attack at
the Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport on Sunday, April 16 while
preparing to attend the annual
Tribal Self-Governance Conference
in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dela Cruz, former president and
member of the Quinault Nation on
the Western Washington Coast, was
a long-time fighter for Native issues
including self-governance, fair log
ging practices and treaty fishing
rights. Dela Cruz, 62, was known
as an outspoken advocate for Tribes
who never backed down, but still
showed compassion and understand
ing for all people not just Native
Americans.
"The death of long-time Indian
leader Joe Dela Cruz is a major loss to
both the Tribes and the non-Indian
community," said Billy Frank, Jr.,
chairman of the Northwest Indian
Fisheries Commission. "His untimely
passing is a great shock to us all."
Dela Cruz served as president of
the Quinault Indian Nation from
1971 through 1993 and president of
the National Congress of American
Indians from 1981 through 1985.
He also was the president of Affili
ated Tribes of Northwest Indians
from 1989 to 1990.
Warm Springs Tribe, PGE,
and Interior sign agreement
On April 12, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
Oregon, Portland General Electric Company (PGE), and the U.S. Depart
ment of the Interior approved an agreement providing for the Tribe and
PGE to share the 408-megawatt Pelton Round Butte hydroelectric project
near Madras, Oregon. Under the agreement, PGE and the Tribe will pursue
a joint license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Last
year they had filed competing license applications. The agreement is also
subject to approval by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and FERC.
The Tribe will purchase portions of the project from PGE over a proposed
50-year license period. On December 31, 2001, the Tribe would acquire one
third interest. Twenty years later, the Tribe has the option to increase their
share to 49.99 percent plus an additional option to their ownership to 50.01
percent by 2037. The Tribe would purchase all shares at net book value
(initial investment minus depreciation). In turn, the proposal provides that
PGE's current payments of approximately $10 million to the Tribe for the
use of tribal lands and resources would cease on December 31, 2001.
Pelton Round Butte is the largest hydroelectric project located entirely in
Oregon. Its generators convert the energy of Deschutes River water into 1.5
billion kilowatt-hours of electricity power per year, enough to supply a city
the size of Salem.
"Joe Dela Cruz was one of the
greatest Indian leaders who ever
lived in the United States," said
Frank. "He served us all with his
extensive experience, his wisdom
and his courage, to the very end of
his life. He was my friend and my
ally, my teacher and my comrade."
Frank said Dela Cruz dedicated his
life to improving the lives of all
people.
Dela Cruz was the oldest of ten
children born to Edna (Lane) and Jo
seph Dela Cruz in 1937. He grew
up in the reservation village of
Tahola and was student body presi
dent and four-sport athlete at Moclips
High School.
After two years in Germany serv
ing the U.S. Army, Dela Cruz at
tended Portland State University and
worked for the federal government
before returning to the Quinault Na
tion as the Tribe's business manager.
He was elected president of the Tribe
four years later in 1971.
Dela Cruz married his wife Dor
othy in 1959 and is survived by his
wife, three daughters, two sons,
seven grandchildren and two great
grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted
on Saturday, April 22 at Ocean
Shores, Washington.
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The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon is now ac
cepting applications for the third Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellowship. Each
year, a Hatfield Fellow is selected from Native American applicants to serve as an
intern for a member of Oregon's Congressional delegation.
The Fellowship honors Mark Hatfield for his accomplishments as a U.S. Senator
and Governor of Oregon and for his mentorship of many members of his staff who
became leaders in their own communities. The Fellowship also honors the memory
of former Hatfield aide Susan Long.
Applicants must be enrolled adult members of federally recognized Tribes in
Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, with preference given to the nine feder
ally recognized Oregon Tribes.
Highlights of the Fellowship include:
The Hatfield Fellow will be rotated every year among the House and Senate
members of the Oregon delegation.
Each Hatfield Fellow will serve for ten months and will receive a stipend,
moving and travel expenses, and participation in a special American Political
Science Association Orientation.
Application packets may be obtained by contacting Angela Ellis
at Spirit Mountain Casino, P.O. Box 39, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347;
or call 1-800-760-7977, ext. 3957.