6 APRIL 15, 2001
Smoke Signals 7
Tribe holds Spring General Council Meeting on April 1
Photos by Brent Merrill
Legislative Commission on Indian Services, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Spirit Mountain Development Corporation
and the Tribal Intergovernmental Affairs department make presentations to the General Tribal membership.
iX I : -
Smoke Signals april 15,2001
By Brent Merrill
The April General Council
meeting was held on Sunday,
April 1 at the Tribe's Commu
nity Center in Grand Ronde.
Here are the highlights:
D Legislative Commission
on Indian Services
Karen Quigley of the Legis
lative Commission on Indian
Services visited Grand Ronde
and informed the membership
that this is the 25-year anni
versary of the commission that
was brought into reality by
former Oregon Governor Vic
Atiyeh.
Quigley explained that Atiyeh was very instru
mental in the founding of the commission.
She said the commission is essentially the liai
son office for the state and the Oregon Tribes and
Indian communities.
There are 13 members on the commission one
from each of the Oregon Tribes, two legislators (one
member of the House and one member of the Sen
ate) and two Native Americans that represent the
non-reservation communities the Portland ur
ban area and the Willamette Valley area.
"I am so pleased to be able to serve this commis
sion," said Quigley. "It is a great, great honor and
I want you to know that this is a commission that
the rest of the nation is looking at and trying to
model."
Quigley thinks she was selected to head the com
mission because of her background as an attorney.
She said she is familiar with how the state works.
"I have served as a committee counsel on a num
ber of committees, in 1993 I served as counsel to
the Senate Judiciary Committee," said Quigley.
"I think I am the only federal employee in the
nation that was interviewed and hired by Tribal
leaders. I think they were impressed that I had a
lot of opportunities to travel and live in a lot of
other countries Europe, Asia and Africa. I truly,
truly appreciate the value of cultural differences.
The commission is set up to monitor how state
and Tribal relations are going. And then to access
the status of that relationship and to advise and
make recommendations for its improvement."
She said that in discussions on protocol issues,
she finds herself educating government officials.
"It is about relationship building and it has to
do with communication," said Quigley. "I think
improvement and the tool of the Legislative Com
mission on Indian Services can help to smooth out
the communication or miscommunication and
hopefully things are getting better and better. The
(Governor Kitzhaber's) Executive Order (recogniz
ing and directing state leaders to deal with Tribe's
on a government-to-government basis) is going to
be put into statute so the directive to state agen
cies is to get trained and have key contacts to deal
with Tribes on Tribal issues and to consult with
Tribes. Hopefully this will become part of Oregon
law and we will all see incredible benefits in the
near future."
' a li -k A
Selected -
Karen Quigley is
the head of the .
Legislative
Commission on
Indian Services.
Quigley educates
government
officials on issues
of protocol
regarding Native
American Tribes in
Oregon. Quigley
was interviewed
and hired for her
position by Tribal
leaders.
Ellis began her presentation by thanking the
Tribal Council for creating the fund and allowing
her to steward it.
"The spirit of the Community Fund was really
born back in the 1980s during the Tribe's Resto
ration efforts," explained Ellis. "The Tribe offered
to set up the Community Fund back in 1997 in
negotiations with the Governor's office. It (the
fund agreement) formalized giving that was al
ready taking place."
Ellis explained the basics of the fund.
"We have specific categories in specific counties,"
said Ellis. "The Community Fund is made up of six
percent of gaming profits. The Tribal Council takes
the 94 percent and they allocate that between all
of the Tribal programs in the budget process.
"Six percent is reserved for non-Tribal, chari
table programs in 11 Western Oregon counties,"
said Ellis. "That six percent fund serves seven
different categories of giving. The seven catego
ries are arts and culture, education, environment,
historic preservation, health, public safety and
problem gaming.
"Some examples of recent giving over the last
couple of years the (Polk County) Sheriffs sub
station here in Grand Ronde that is funded
through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and
prior to the creation of the Community Fund it was
funded through the Tribal Council," said Ellis. "We
also funded the Oregon Health University Foun
dation that provides training for health care pro
viders throughout the State of Oregon in clinical
breast examination. With our help through the
Community Fund, this training will be provided
throughout the State of Oregon including our
health clinic here in Grand Ronde. The Oregon
Food Bank is another recent example. Although
located in Portland, it serves all food banks in Or
egon including the food bank in Grand Ronde.
The grant allowed the food bank to distribute four
million more pounds of food last year."
The Community Fund is administered by a board
of trustees, which consists of three Tribal Council
members (Chair Kathryn Harrison, June Sell
Sherer and Ed Pearsall). There is one gubernato
rial representative Polk County Commissioner
Ron Dodge. State Senator Kate Brown, who is
the Senate Minority Leader in Oregon, is on the
B Spirit Mountain
Community Fund
Grand Ronde Tribal
member and Spirit
Mountain Community
Fund Administrator
Angela Ellis gave a pre
sentation to the mem
bership regarding the
creation, scope and
guidelines of the Tribe's
charitable extension to
public organizations.
The Fund that Keeps On Giving - Tribal member Angela Ellis is the
I . v. ... "1 Administrator of the Tribe's
f . i Spirit Mountain Community
I yX Fund. Ellis works with the
I ( '" Tribal Council and a Board of
Vf""" - I Trustees to determine which
- ' deserving organizations will
1 ; . C " - receive grants from the
4. J ' - Community Fund. The
Community Fund distributes
' six percent of the Tribe's
' C profits from Spirit Mountain
V . y' Casino t0 worthy organizations
' 81 111 in 11 Oregon counties.
board of trustees as is Portland businessmen Len
Bergstein and Sho Dozono.
The Tribal Council selects the appointees, with
the exception of one person who is selected by the
Governor.
"The (grant) applications are reviewed by my
office," explained Ellis. "We make recommenda
tions to the Tribal Council and bring all of those
requests to council. The board is the final say on
who gets a grant and how much they get.
"Council selected the categories (of giving) so
that it would be in line with Tribal goals," said
Ellis of the contribution guidelines. "Those are all
Tribal traditions, Tribal values that they wanted
to continue."
The scope of the Tribe's generosity is unprec
edented in Oregon and has the attention of the
nation.
"Last month we celebrated that over the first four
years of the fund's existence we have given away
$10 million," announced Ellis. "Our goal this year
is about $3 to $35,million for 2001."
In response toia question from a Tribal member,
Ellis said that the Community Fund will work with
an organization even if they do not approve a grant
for them right away. She said sometimes they
have to work with a worthy organization for a
while to find a way to give to them. Ellis said they
have to find a way for the request to fit into the
fund's scope of giving.
"If an organization comes and makes a request
that is not exactly appropriate for what we might
give for, we help them review what their needs
are and determine which of their needs would be
in alignment with our scope of giving," said Ellis.
"The grant money is reserved for non-governmental
agencies. If they (organizations) are non-governmental
in any county and they are charitable
501C3s they are eligible. Within Polk and Yamhill
Counties only, governmental entities are eligible
to apply."
Ellis said the fund was set up that way to help
the Tribe help, local gov
ernment and the local
community by providing
funding for entities like
the Polk County Sheriffs
substation and the Wil
lamina Fire Department
among others.
D Spirit Mountain
Development
Corporation Update
Tribal member Jan
Michael .Reibach, the
chairman of SMDC, intro
duced the newest board
members Diana George,
Jim Willis and Pete
Wakeland to the member
ship. Reibach also intro
duced SMDC's new Chief
Executive Officer Eugene
Hill to the membership
and Hill explained the
scope of his new position
and the direction of the
Tribe's development cor-
I i i
nothing confidential to you the Tribal members."
Hill started his presentation by saying that he
is excited to be in Grand Ronde and working for
the Tribe. 'j
Hill said the main priorities for SMDC would be
to maintain the Tribe's current wealth, create more
wealth and help the Tribe achieve self-sufficiency.
Maintaining the Tribe's heritage and culture is a
priority said Hill and he said that SMDC must earn
the trust and respect of the Tribal membership.
Creating investment guidelines, policies and
goals and establishing an open line of communi
cation are keys to SMDC's success said Hill.
After his presentation, Hill welcomed more ques
tions and said he would be willing to schedule in
terviews in the Governance Center on Thursday
evenings for people to ask questions about the
Tribe's investment picture.
D Intergovernmental Affairs Update
Tribal member and Intergovernmental Affairs
Director Justin Martin gave an'update on what
has been happening with the Intergovernmental
Affairs department during the current Legislative
session in the State's Capital.1 i - j
Martin said it was the vision of Tribal Council
four and a half years ago that created the Inter
governmental Affairs department.
. Martin said the main goal of the department is
to protect the interests of Tribal members in the
Legislative arena. Martin introduced his assis
tant Nichoel Holmes to the membership and said
that she is an important part of the Tribe's two
person office in Salem. Holmes worked for State
Representative Terry Thompson during the 1995
Legislative session.
The Tribe hired Martin in 1997 after he studied
Public Administration and Public Policy at West
ern Oregon University in Monmouth. Martin also
worked for Terry Thompson in the 1995 Legisla
tive session.
"As we continue to get stronger over the years
in our department we
poration.
Reibach said he is happy to have Hill on board
because of his skills in leadership.
Hill also answered questions from Tribal mem
bers about the investment philosophy the devel
opment corporation would use in trying to build
wealth for the Tribe through business and real
estate investments.
"Currently, we are analyzing the corporation's
situation," explained Reibach. "We want to get some
answers and improve our performance. There is
Willing Spirit Mountain Development Corporation's new Chief
Executive Officer Eugene Hill was introduced to the Tribal membership
and explained his role as the new head of the Tribe's multi-million dollar
corporation. Hill said he is willing to answer any questions regarding the
Tribe's investments from interested Tribal members. Hill said he would
welcome the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Tribal members
on a regular basis to discuss the any aspect of the corporation.
are better able to use
our resources to pro
tect our investments,"
said Martin to begin
his presentation to
membership.
Martin explained
the relationship be
tween the creation of
Oregon Governor
John Kitzhaber's Ex
ecutive Order and the
creation of the Tribe's
Intergovernmental
Affairs office.
"One of the instiga
tors of the Intergov
ernmental Affairs de
partment was Gover
nor Kitzhaber's Ex
ecutive Order 9630 in
1996," said Martin.
"The Governor signed
an Executive Order
that promotes state
agencies and Tribal
agencies to cooperate
with each other to better our relationships over
the coming years."
Martin said Kitzhaber had a unique vision in
the creation of the Executive Order.
"Indian Tribes, especially Grand Ronde, have
become such a dominant part of today's new di
versified economy," said Martin. "He (Kitzhaber)
saw the role of Tribes to be that much more en
hanced over the future. We are currently work
ing on legislation at the state level that will insti-
1 1 j , i 'n '
1 1 i r '' .
V ; 7
u
H 's
i ) ;
t f . 1
The Man On the Inside Intergovernmental Affairs Director and Tribal member Justin Martin updated the
Tribal membership on the current Legislative session in Salem. Martin also explained the history of the Intergovern
mental Affairs program and said that his job is to protect the Interests of the Tribe throughout the different levels of
government. Martin has used his education and experience to get inside the circle of trust within the halls of
government and used that position to build relationships with key political figures.
tutionalize that so that it will go beyond the
Kitzhaber administration regardless of who the
Governor is there that process will be in place."
Martin paid tribute to the Tribal Council of the
present and the past for the creation of an envi
ronment of cooperation that led to this working
agreement.
"These intergovernmental relationships were a
vision and a viewpoint that this Tribal Council
and other Tribal Council members like Mark Mer
cier, Val Grout, Margaret Provost, Leon "Chips"
Tom who really saw the need to enhance these
relationships at all levels that is the federal level,
the state level, the local and at the Tribal level in K
dealing with the eight other recognized Tribes here
in Oregon," said Martin.
Martin also pointed to the Tribe's relationships
with other Tribes on a national level through the
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the
National Congress of American Indians as an ex
ample of good government for all Indians.
The Intergovernmental Affairs office has a mis
sion of establishing trust, building credibility and
educating our governmental leaders to the ways
of Indian Country.
"We analyze state and federal legislation," ex
plained Martin. "We establish relationships with
all levels of government."
According to Martin, the Tribe has established a
plan for success at the government level.
"We are successful because we have built a very,
very strong internal framework this includes
the Intergovernmental Affairs department, this in
cludes the legal team, this includes the Public In
formation office, this includes the legislative work
group of all the division and department manag
ers," said Martin. "This regards that true vision of
Tribal Council to become stronger internally. We
have also blended that internal framework with a
strong external framework of outside profession
als. We have brought on board people that have
that knowledge and that ability and we have not
only been able to contract out those services, but
we have been able to study and train and learn
and use that as guidance so that in the future we
are not so heavily dependant on people from the
outside world."
Martin said he works with and relies on the ex
pertise of all the Tribal departments while dealing
with individual issues in government.
Martin introduced Dave and Tom Barrows from
Barrows and Associates to the membership and
explained the importance of the relationship that
has been established with the Barrows - a lobby
ing firm in Salem over the last four years.
"We in our office have been very fortunate to
work with someone with that much credibility and
that much insight," said Martin of the Barrows.
"They have given a part of their firm to help and
train us so that in the future we are able to offer
the same type of credibility and insight within this
respected field."
Dave Barrows explained that he has a wealth
of experience in lobbying government officials -experience
he now lends to the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde.
"We are a lobbying firm," said Barrows of he and
his son Tom who share office space with Martin
and Holmes in Salem. "I have been working in
the Capital for 46 years and been involved in lob
bying for 43 years so I'm starting to catch on a
little bit. We have worked with this organization
(the Tribe) since 1996.
"We were brought on board primarily because
of a concern the Tribal Council had about indi
viduals at the legislature who were very much com
mitted to getting the state out of the lottery busi
ness," explained Barrows. "If and when that ever
happens - they can't just separate out the state
lottery games and leave you (the Tribe and its ca
sino) in place. If the State of Oregon ever banned
the lottery altogether it would also take all the
machines out of your casinoi Since that is the profit
center for the casino, we were brought on board to
work on that issue."
Barrows said he and his son enjoy the relation
ship they have built with the Tribe over the last
few years.
"We enjoy very much working with you and we
are honored to be part of the team," said Barrows.
H Drawings
Linda LaChance won a special Elder's drawing
for a fruit basket. Jess Robertson, Anthony
Gagliardo and Ed Pearsall won the three drawings
for $50 each. Pearsall donated his winnings to the
Royalty girls. Arch Blye won the drawing for $100.
Tribal Council Nominations
The next General Council meeting is scheduled
for Sunday, May 6' at the Community Center,
starting at 11:30 a.m.
Anyone interested in making a nomination must
be 18 years old; an enrolled member of the Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde; and must make
the nomination in person at the meeting.
Tribal members accepting a nomination for
Tribal Council must be present at the meeting.