Smoke Signals
FEBRUARY 15, 2001
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians meet in Portland
Native leaders celebrate
the demise of Washington
Senator Slade Gorton.
By Chris Mercier
Consider it Indian Country's own All
Star game.
More than 25 Tribes were represented
February 5 through February 8 at Em
bassy Suites in Portland for the Affili
ated Tribes of Northwest Indians Win
ter Conference. The nine Oregon Tribes
congregated with representatives from
Alaska, California, Montana, Nevada
and Washington to socialize, fraternize,
pontificate and ultimately celebrate vir
tually every victory and issue pertain
ing to Native Americans today.
Indeed no topic was left untouched as
Tribal members, through committees and
workshops, tackled health, gaming, tour
ism, natural resources, education, welfare,
m n v-i
' l
TRIBAL GATHERING - Grand Ronde Tribal
Chair Kathryn Harrison (center) meets
with the Honorable Congresswoman Eliza
beth Furse and former Nez Perce Tribal
Chairman Allen Pinkham at this year's first
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Con
ference in Portland.
housing and economic development.
Representatives from notable govern
ment agencies were on hand as well,
including the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
the National Congress of American In
dians, and Congresswoman Elizabeth
Furse, a long-time ally of Tribes. Also
attending was a representative of the
suddenly unpopular Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA). Everybody
walked away smarter.
"Honestly, I've gotten so much good
information from all this," Tribal Coun
cil member Butch LaBonte said. "And
I've had fun too."
Like many present, LaBonte became
well informed of the issues at stake in
the Northwest power emergency, par
ticularly following the unfriendly ver
bal assault directed at the representa
tive of the BPA, which finds itself in a
precarious position. The BPA faces the
prospect of satisfying both new demand
for power along the West Coast and its
subsequent effect on salmon runs, for
which many Tribes near the Columbia
River take issue.
"I can see now why this issue is so
important," said LaBonte.
On February 5 the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde sponsored the Victory
Celebration Reception, a "come one, come
all" event honoring not only Tribal Coun
cil Chair Kathryn Harrison, but also the
exit of former Washington Senator Slade
Gorton, seen by many Natives in the re
gion as a threat to sovereignty.
"What can I say Slade Gorton's
out," she said. "Yay!"
Harrison spoke during lunch on Feb
ruary 7, offering thanks not only to
Furse, but Mark Hatfield, whose posi
tive history of working with Tribes is
revered throughout Oregon.
"I'm very thankful for all this, and to
them (Furse and Hatfield)," Harrison
said. "There is a very steady, positive
move in Indian country.
"We need input from all Indians," she
added.
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GRAND RONDE ROLL :
TnW &puncil Actions
mi r
4:00 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Kathryn Harrison. Ed
Pearsall and Ed Larsen were both excused. All other Council was present.
Reyn Leno moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to approve the previous
December 20, 2000 Tribal Council meeting minutes as submitted. Mo
tion carried.
RESOURCE SUBCOMMITTEE
Vocational Rehabilitation Match. Bob Haller moved, Cheryle
Kennedy seconded to adopt Resolution No. 001-01 approving $42,000
for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program to meet their federal match
requirements prior to 09-30-99. The funds will be charged to the contin
gency funds of the Tribe. Motion carried 6-0-0.
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT
& BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
D 2001-2002 Membership Fee Schedules MWVCOG and EDD.
June Sell-Sherer moved, Reyn Leno seconded to renew membership for
2001-2002 for Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments (COG) in
the amount of $1,530 and Economic Development District (EDD) in the
amount of $173. Motion carried 5-0-1 with Butch LaBonte abstaining.
D Tribal Travel Policy Adoption. Jan D. Reibach moved, Bob Haller
seconded to adopt Resolution No. 002-01 approving the Tribal Travel
Policy as submitted, to become effective immediately (with the changes
made), which includes: federal rate requirements, exceptions for travel
changes and GSA rates; to be implemented by the Executive Officer.
Motion carried 6-0-0.
D Down Payment Grant Revision. June Sell-Sherer moved, Cheryle
Kennedy seconded to adopt Resolution No. 003-01 that revises the 2001
Down Payment Grant Program Policy as follows:
1) remove parts 2 & 3 of the definition of "First Time Homebuyer;"
2) add a match of additional grant funds of up to $2,500 to a one-to-one
(1:1) match for additional cash contribution by the applicant (subject
to additional Tribal funding). Motion carried 6-0-0.
Contract for Judicial Services. June Sell-Sherer moved, Jan D.
Reibach seconded to adopt Resolution No. 004-01 approving and au
thorizing the Tribal Chairperson to execute the 2001-2002 Contract for
Judicial Services with the Chief Judge of the Tribal Court. This Contract
contains terms substantially similar to the 2000 Contract for Judicial Ser
vices. Motion carried 5-0-1 with Reyn Leno abstaining.
LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
D Amendments EnroUment Ordinance. Reyn Leno moved, June Sell
Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 005-01 amending the Enroll
ment Ordinance to make technical changes and to include provisions al
lowing Enrollment staff to submit applications for infants under 6 months
of age directly to Tribal Council, requiring submission of certified true
copies of documents supporting an application for enrollment, clarifying
individuals with access to enrollment records, affirmatively stating the
burdenand standards of proof for enrollment applications, clarifying lim
its on Tribal Court remedies for appeals of enrollment decisions, limiting
persons authorized to submit applications for enrollment on behalf of
minors, and affirmatively providing retroactive effect of the amended En
rollment Ordinance. Motion carried 6-0-0
0 Member Benefit Fund Ordinance. First reading acknowledged.
. OTHER BUSINESS
mti lom-Martm thanked the Tribal Council for their continued sup
port of the Vocational Rehabilitation program