Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2002)
4 NOVEMBER 1, 2002 Smoke Signals Wednesday, September 25, 2002 5:04 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Vice Chair Reyn Leno. A quorum was present. Present was Val Grout, Bob Haller, Ed Larsen, Reyn Leno, Ed Pearsall, Jan D. Reibach, Valorie Robertson, and June Sell-Sherer. Excused was Cheryle Kennedy (travel). Invocation done by Jan D. Reibach, Tribal Council member. PREVIOUS MINUTES - APPROVE AND AMEND B Jan D. Reibach moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to approve the Sep tember 12, 2002 council meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET COMMITTEE D Nelson's Checker-mallow Management Plan. Val Grout moved, Ed Pearsall seconded to adopt Resolution No.160-02: (1) approving the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Nelson's Checker-mallow Management Plan, as presented by Natural Re sources department staff; (2) approving an agreement between the Tribe and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to implement the Management Plan; and (3) authorizing the Tribal Council Chairwoman, with the assistance of the Tribal Attorney, to negotiate, finalize and execute said agree ment. Discussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-0. II Rock Quarries on the Reservation. Jan D. Reibach moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 161-02: (1) committing $35,000 toward the exploration of basalt rock quar ries on the Tribal Reservation, as presented by Natural Resources department staff and unanimously recommended by the Timber and Fish & Wildlife Committees; and (2) authorizing the Natural Resources department manager to ne gotiate and execute documents and agreements necessary to apply said funding to the exploration of such quarries. Discussion fol lowed. Motion carried 7-0-0. LEGISLATD7E COMMITTEE D Indian Child Welfare Ordinance Revisions first reading. Coun cil authorized by full consensus first a reading of the revisions to the Tribe's Indian Child Welfare Ordinance. The proposed amendments substan tially change the organizational structure of the Ordinance, establish a Community Review Board, codify the Tribe's policy regarding Termina tion of Parental Rights, and provide procedures and standards for private adoptions and guardianships. ANNOUNCEMENTS H Council members June Sell-Sherer, Ed Pearsall, and Valorie Robertson received authorization to attend the National Congress of American Indi ans 59th Annual Session held in San Diego, California over November 10 15, 2002. B Council member Valorie Robertson received authorization to attend Self Governance Conference held in San Diego, California over November 5 8, 2002. 5:32 p.m. Bob Haller moved, Ed Larsen seconded to adjourn the meet ing. Motion carried. American Indian Freedom Ride Opens Dialogue On Indian Disability Road Warrior The Reverend Bryan Eaglehelper, Iroquois, recently stopped in By Ron Karten Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13-32 Over the next year, plenty of people will have the opportunity to walk with the Reverend Bryan Eaglehelper, an Iroquois with diabetes, as he takes what he calls the American Indian Freedom Ride in his electric wheelchair. From city halls to casinos, from state houses to grade schools to universities all the way to the White House he is inviting folks to walk with him as he talks about Indians with disabilities and the great needs that remain on reservations across the country. Every day is a challenge to find food, shelter and gas for the truck that is the operations center for the project. You can see in his eyes and hear in his laugh the uncertainty that wells up at the place where faith meets the world. In addition to funding their own travel, which they estimate will cost more than $200,000 over the next year, Eaglehelper, his wife, Gina, and their service dog, Meto, are encouraging donations so that they can also provide to others neces sities that slip through the cracks of the usual Indian health care providers. They have been on the road for more than a month and they're already well acquainted with the signposts of what Eaglehelper calls "Jesus Inc" 'Let me think about it' or 'I'll get back to you later' and 'Can I get a credit check?' Tribal Council here did not hesitate. Tribal Elder and Tribal Council member Val Grout presented the Eaglehelpers with a contribution of $3,000 following a lunch with Tribal Elders in the comunity center. Eaglehelper told the Elders that "freedom of mobility is not a special right. It's a basic right." And he advised them, "Don't ever be ashamed to ask for help." Afterwards, Tribal Elder Louise Medeiros presented Eaglehelper with another check just from the Elders. He spoke at length to the Tribal Council. At the community center lunch, he told a story of when he "was the biggest alcoholic in four counties." He put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. "It failed," he said, "and the first thing I heard was somebody on TV saying, 'Jesus loves you.' I said to God, if you help me, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to help my people. Two weeks later, I never had the desire for another drink again." Subsequently working with other groups, the Eaglehelpers discovered the great many misconceptions people have about Indians with disabilities and decided to do something about correcting those misconceptions. He went to his banker and told him that he knew what he wanted to do with his life savings $35,000. His banker said, Tou're nuts.' Eaglehelper has a big, beautiful laugh that explodes like a punctuation mark to his many observations and stories. He let one loose after remembering what his banker had to say about his plans. It exploded again when he told Grout not to forget the zeroes on the check he and Gina had requested from the Tribe. "Ooops," said Grout, a smile on her face. "There goes another zero." Later, she said, "I like people who laugh hard." "Just listening to Bryan's story made us want to get involved," she said. Grand Ronde as he moves through the country on his American Freedom Ride. The Freedom Ride is an opportunity for Eaglehelper and his wife to educate his people on Indians with disabilities. Here, Eaglehelper poses for a picture with Tribal Elder Dorothy Greene at the Elder's meal site. Eaglehelper's fight against diabetes also inspired her. "I lost my husband to diabetes and my mom has diabetes." When the Eaglehelpers were getting started with the logistics of the American Indian Freedom Ride a little over a year ago, they thought that they had cov ered all the bases. Then came September 11 and all their efforts were zeroed out. "We lost $35,000 of our own money," said Eaglehelper. "All the promises of donations went north (to NYC)." They kept at it, though, as those on a mission do, unwilling to let this project die, and on September 6 this year, the ride finally got underway at the Peace Arch between White Rock, British Columbia and Blaine, Washington. The mayor of Blaine proclaimed September 6 American Indian Freedom Ride Day. The starting place signifies that Indians are indigenous to both Canada and the U.S., Eaglehelper said. "We are North America." Wherever Eaglehelper goes, he or Gina speak about needs and opportunities for the disabled - and they are concerned about the entire range of disabilities -dispelling myths that Indian Health Services or Social Security or United Way or Veterans Associations are taking care of these needs. They know first hand, because of Eaglehelper's experiences. He landed in the wheelchair after a 2-12-story fall. The diabetes and a lack of health insurance guaranteed that proper healing did not take place. Today, Gina continues to write on social justice issues, and maintains the website (www.freedomride.bizhosting.com) which provides some insight into the extent of the problems facing the many Indian disabled. Contributions are tax deductible and may be sent to the Eaglehelpers at PO Box 54, Redlands, CA 92373. In presenting a Tribal blanket to Eaglehelper, Tribal Council member Jan D. Reibach said, "We appreciate what you are doing." Eaglehelper asked the remaining few people to join hands for a final prayer. And then he was gone.
