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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2003)
2 JANUARY 1, 2003 Smoke Signals Dear Editor, I wanted to express my sincere thanks to all of my friends, family, neigh bors, co-workers and Tribal staff who have all been so helpful since my accident. Also thank you to the medical staff and surgeons that made my operation a success. I have appreciated all of the cards, flowers, meals, and prayers during my recovery. September 9, 2002, I was riding my horse when he was spooked and decided that we were to part ways. I am recovering from back surgery, which is a long, slow process. I am now able to walk with a walker and I am attending physical therapy to gain back my strength. I am so thankful for all of the Tribal benefits that have helped keep my mind at ease while recovering. I am also thankful to those individuals who had the foresight of what Testoration to the Tribe and its members would mean. Thank you to my co-workers at the Grand Ronde Clinic; the CHS, Pharmacy and Wellness Departments for their quick response in getting things ready for me to come home from the hospital. Thank you to our Creator, God, for my life today and blessing me with so many won derful friends and family who have been so helpful in my recovery and keeping my spirits up. Sincerely, Jackie Provost Roll 643 Dear Smoke Signals, We want to thank the Tribal Council for the donation that enabled us to put on the Restoration Pow-wow. This event was to honor when our Tribe was restored and it is a very important event to all of us. Thanks to the people that supported us, including June Olson and her Cultural Resources Department. A special thanks to Vernon Kennedy and the children who make us know that we truly have a future. Thanks to Bobby Mercier for helping us. The Culture Committee, Janet Phillips Roll 4883 Secretary ) vL i. Mi Dear Smoke Signals and fellow Tribal members, Our community has lost one of its visionaries and leaders. Mitch Conley, the pioneer of Spirit Mountain Development Corporation and The Small Business Development Program in Grand Ronde, passed away at his home in Cul ver, Oregon on December 9. Those of us who knew Mitch appreciated his wisdom, experience, energy, enthusiasm and spirit. Mitch had a way of bringing out the best in each of us, as well as the Grand Ronde community, and nurturing the potential that he saw and believed in. Mitch saw the potential economic benefit of gaming, before Indian gaming was in vogue. Mitch loved the Grand Ronde Tribe and its people. The five years he spent with our Tribe was filled with valuable lessons and strong relationships, for not only Mitch, but for those of us who worked with him as well. Mitch not only started a successful small business pro gram, but also was the visionary creator of ONABEN, a Native Ameri can Business Network. ONABEN offers business development assis tance to Tribal members throughout the state, as well as to Tribes in Washington and northern California. Many Native people in our area have benefited from Mitch's wisdom and love of business and enterprise. On behalf of the Conley family, and myself, thank you to the Tribal Council for providing a beautiful meal to commemorate Mitch's life and contribution in Grand Ronde. Thank you too to Sheila Herber of Countryside Catering for helping us make his celebration of life a successful reunion of family and friends. Those of us who knew Mitch will love and miss him for days to come. For those of you who didn't, his spirit lives on in Grand Ronde and smiles at our successes. Sincerely, Shelley Hanson Roll 1779 MY I : 4- "T'i f . f '; i fi i , r - "I CJ c Mitch Conley's best friend talks at Conley's memorial service. Dear Smoke Signals, The family of Arvella Houck would like to thank everyone for the prayers, flowers and all acts of kindness during her illness and passing. A special thank you to Julie, her family and the helpers for preparing the meal after the service. To the Editor, Solidarity is an indigenous characteristic that we need to, in accord with our Native heritage, promote and practice. I think most of our Tribal members would agree. I have a proposal that many people may think is righteous and Utopian. The proposal came to me while sitting in class at the university listening to the plight of the indigenous populations around the world, that simply aren't as lucky as we are. Many of these Tribes live in foreign countries (i.e. Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, ect.) and have names like Chiapanecas and are coffee producers living off or less then 3 dollars a day! It occurred to me that we could do something to help these people, something so easy it's a shame there isn't always somewhere protecting these thousands of Native Americans. We can buy FAIR TRADE coffee. If you haven't heard of it, please take five minutes to learn about it at www.maketradefair.com Having worked many years at the Tribal offices (Natural Resources), I know that there is a lot of coffee that we drink. The brands that sell this coffee are only slightly more expensive than major multinational concerns. Why not show our support for these indigenous people and serve only FAIR TRADE coffee at the offices, casino, ect.? Somehow the extra few cents seems like a small price to pay. Sincerely, Bryan Mercier Roll 1357 fit PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232 FAX: 503-879-2173 www.grandronde.org DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Fri., Jan. 3 JAN. 15 Mon., Jan. 20 FEB. 1 Wed., Feb. 5 FEB. 15 Wed., Feb. 19 MAR. 1 Wed., Mar. 5 MAR. 15 Thurs., Mar. 20 APR. 1 Fri., Apr. 4 APR. 15 Fri., Apr. 18 MAY 1 Mon., May 5 MAY 15 Tue., May 20 JUN. 1 Thurs., Jun.5 JUN. 15 Fri.,Jun.20 JUL. 1 Thurs., Jul. 3 JUL. 15 Fri., Jul. 18 AUG.l Tues., Aug. 5 AUG. 15 Wed., Aug. 20 SEPT.l Fri., Sept. 5. SEPT. 15 Fri., Sept. 19 OCT.l Fri., Oct. 3 OCT. 15 Mon., Oct. 20 NOV. 1 Mon., Nov. 3 NOV. 15 Mon., Nov. 17 DEC. 1 Fri., Dec. 5 DEC. 15 Fri., Dec. 16 JAN. 1, 2004 Printed on recycled paper. K5l BRENT MERRILL PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOREDITOR 503-879-2321 brent.merrillgrandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS PRODUCTION SPECIALIST 503-879-2190 justin.phillipsgrandronde.org WILLIAM MERCIER PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN 503-879-2254 willie. nierciergrandronde.org RON KARTEN PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 503-879-4663 ron.kartengrandionde.org DIANA ROBERTSON NEWS ASSISTANT 503-879-1 453 diana.robertsongrandronde.org PETATINDA FREELANCE OURNALIST 503-879-1 41 6 peta.tindagrandronde.org SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu nity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission. Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or email address must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be published unless re quested. SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are deter mined to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administra tion or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Members of: Native American Journalist Association The Associated Press
