Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2002)
(So c uvu mm 11 u li Lb A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe (SHStt What the Committee is, what they do and who is the key contact. mmmmmm 0 ne hundred years ago the term "the Tribe" probably carried a different meaning than that of today. It meant a group, one with chiefs, warriors, shamans, medicine men, rituals, a language and tradi tions. These days "the Tribe" has taken an all-new significance. Here we think of Grand Ronde, or more extended, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Economically, a corporation. Culturally, an orga nization bent on preserving. Politically, affluent and ever changing. The Tribe of years age was more complex than one would think, a hierarchy, a clan, a conglomerate of individuals banded together in mutual support, guarding each other against rival Tribes, either through blood or fellowship. Usually both. But the complexity of old hardly compares with today, wherein we have this confederation. In that confederation, there are sects within sections, subdivisions within divisions, all boiling down to each and every individual, the production specialist, the administrative assistant, and the secretary. Just how complicated is CTGR? To be succinct, very. But the point of this article is not to dissect the Tribe, instead we're going to look at some of the support mechanisms of Grand Ronde, those groups that exist on the periphery but have yet to be explained in full to membership. One can't work at the Tribe without having heard of them the boards, the committees, and the commissions. But just what do they do? Here are some answers. Boards and commissions are often paid, while committees sometimes are not. CTGR knew the value of committees early on, passing the General Committee Ordinance (Tribal Code 230) December 22, 1986, with the goal being "to form a more efficient and cohesive government." With that ordinance passed, the foundations were laid for creation upon inception upon birth of a wide variety of committees, some specific, some not. Though some Tribal members grumble at the proliferation of committees and boards, what they don't understand is that these groups are essential to Tribal government. Essential in that they represent research. Essential in that they take the complaints and the suggestions. Essential in that they pro vide answers. Essential in that not everything at the Tribe can be a full-time paid position. Somebody's got to do the footwork, make the phone calls, and attend the conferences in Portland. Somebody's got to call the drummers, review the timber sales and book the tickets. Here they are, an exhausting and comprehensive look: Pov-vjoi7 Committee BACKGROUND: When one considers the amount of planning and organizing necessary to put on the Pow-wows these days, one shouldn't be shocked to learn that a committee existed whose sole duties were to do just that. But not until March 17, 1993 did an official Pow-wow Committee come into existence via the Pow-wow Committee Ordinance. PEOPLE INVOLVED: Under most circum stances seven (7) members staff the committee, though five (5) run the show these days. Coun cil appoints each and every member, serving two-year terms. Committee members work for free. Meetings are held once per month during the off-season, without any set days. As the Pow-wow nears, meetings are more frequent, usually once per week. Tribal Member Dana Ainam serves as Chair and Vice-Chair. There is no Secretary position. MEMBERS: Dana Ainam (Chair & Vice-Chair), Joe Brisbois, Patrick Galligher, Florene Hoff, Bobby Mercier, and Jackie Provost. FUNCTION: In the words of committee mem ber and Tribal member Bobby Mercier, their duty is "doing the Pow-wow." But doing the Pow wow is a process that goes beyond setting up the microphone. Planning, preparing, adver- "1 tising, soliciting, fund raising, budgeting, or ganizing, reporting, raffling, accounting, con tracting, cleaning, setting up, parking and even drumming make up the core of their functions. And that's just paraphrasing. Though the committee operates on a council-approved budget, according to Mercier and Tribal member Dana Ainam (formerly Leno), they do solicit donations. They also recruit vendors, speakers, and even parking staff. But more importantly they recruit for ideas, always looking for something origi nal, something that will bring people back for more. "Most of our ideas depend upon what has happened during the year," said Ainam. "But we do try to do some thing different." Truth is that the Pow-wow Com mittee will have a hard time improving upon their most recent successes. The drumming and dancing con " tests have secured Grand Ronde a reputation deep in Indian Country. Pow-wow continued on page 2 m ) 4n I. , .j x J . ... v ....... : Cf :i: i5 J." . ,!,;.:n, r- fesjl ,. -S. ... . s. .... ". ....... ' " " ' "1 . J ,, a A. ' i 3 o Ql Traditional Regalia On Display - Tribal member Daniel Haug, wearing traditional rega lia, dances at the Tribe's 1992 Pow-wow in Grand Ronde. The Tribe's Pow-wow Committee formalized in 1993.
