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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2004)
Smoke Signals Postal Service Issues "Art of the American Indian" Stamps Announcement at Portland Art Museum gives city kids a taste of Indian life. 8 OCTOBER 1, 2004 i -71 -? " ; " : . ' W 'a' 'A - iiionS "Coming Together" Tribal Council member Jan Reibach, left, and Shawneen Betha, Manager of Customer Service Operations for the Portland Post Office, unveil the new "Art of the American Indian" stamps at the Portland Art Museum By Ron Karten U.S. Postal Service workers joined recently with Portland Art Museum officials and representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to unveil a new line of stamps "The Art of the American Indian." "The ten new stamps," reported the Post Office press release, "high light the skill, diversity and creativ ity of Native American artists, and are available for sale now at Post Offices throughout the Portland area, as well as online at www.usps.com." Grand Ronde Tribal Council mem ber Jan D. Reibach called the event "a wonderful coming together" of the three entities. "It makes me very proud to be a Grand Ronde Tribal member," he said. The unveiling was attended by two groups of school children, one from the First Christian Children's Center, a pre-kindergarten group of three-to-five year olds, and the other from Sauvie Island Grade School. Both were already on field trips to the museum, and took the opportunity to enjoy a bit of Post Office history along with a lesson in Native American music. Tribal member Jan Michael Reibach performed flute music for the group and offered them a bit of music history. "The flute is 80,000 years old," he said, "the third oldest musical instrument." The senior Reibach invited the group to "make a dedication, that whenever you are blessed in this world, think of all the children." He also encouraged the group to get involved in stamp collecting. The stamps represented: A Mimbres bowl from the Max well Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Al buquerque. A Kutenai parfleche (container of folded or sewn rawhide) from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Two Tlingit sculptures from the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley. A detail from a Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) bag, from the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. B A Miccosukee-Seminole doll from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. B A Mississippian effigy from the Frank H. McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee in Knox ville. B An Acoma pot made by Lucy Martin Lewis, from the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. B A Navajo weaving by Daisy Taugelchee, from the Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado. B A detail of a Seneca ladle from the New York State Museum in Al bany, New York, on loan to the Akwesasne Museum in Hogansburg, New York. B A Luiseno basket from the Riv erside Municipal Museum in Riv erside, California. B NOTE: As long as we were all together, Post Office Diversity Specialist Eugenia Parker asked Smoke Signals to post new part-time job openings for Rural Carrier Associates for the holiday season. The job starts at $15.22 hour. Contact the Post Office at www.usps.com. Click on "Jobs." Portland Satellite Office perns Social Services and Vocational Rehabilitation staff welcome Portland-area Tribal members. Address: 3312 S.W. Kelly Ave. Portland, OR 97201 Directions: Follow signs to the Ross Island Bridge that will put you on S.W. Kelly Avenue. The office is just before the Ross Island Bridge on the corner of S.W. Kelly Ave. and Gibbs St. For further information: call Lisa Adams at 503-235-4230. By Marty George Portland area Tribal members will now have access to Tribal employ ment programs, educational oppor tunities and cultural activities, with the opening of the metro area Tribal satellite office, on September 17. Over 600 Tribal members live in the Portland metropolitan area. "This office will serve as a gate way to any (Tribal) services needed," said Tribal member and Vocational Rehabilitation Special ist Jon George. The grand opening of the Tribe's new office drew a crowd of 150 people. Portland-area Tribal Elders Joanne Schanke and Bernadine Shriver were asked to offer open ing prayers. Both Elders are active committee members. Shriver is on the Health Committee and Schanke is with the Culture Committee. Welcoming introductions were given by Tribal Council Chair woman Cheryle Kennedy, Tribal Council members Angie Blackwell, Chris Mercier and Wesley (Buddy) West. Also among those showing support was Tribal Elder and former Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison. Tribal member Bobby Mercier and Siletz Tribal member Lawney Havraneck of the Eagle Beak Singers provided a welcoming song and Mercier performed a blessing ceremony. Tribal member and Vocational Rehabilitation Manager Ron Hudson introduced the Portland staff: Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Jon George, Tribal Ser vices Representative Lisa Adams, Employment and Training Special ist Chris Garcia, Adult Education Coordinator Joanne Carr and Cul tural Coordinator and Tribal mem ber Mario Martinez. The building features a computer lab with high-speed internet access. "We push education all the way," said Hudson. Voc Rehab's Lindy Jirek pre sented George with a framed ver sion of the vision and mission state ment for his office. She presented it in English and in American Sign Language (ASL). Jirek currently is studying ASL. Guests received beaded necklaces made by Tribal members. The necklaces were made at a bead class that also is available at the new Portland office. It is being taught by Martinez. Risk Manager, Debby Larsen and associates from United Medi cal Resources gave a presentation on the Tribe's new health plan and answered questions. Tribal member Josephine Ingram had many leather goods, beads and crafting materials for sale. Joanne Schanke made frybread for the guests. "This office serves as a beacon of hope to Tribal members in the Portland area," said George. B Will) i J-zv. M A mlj Bi bCffr I 4 I ; jr , J I ' Si ' if 1 U m : V . -C ' - T-' 1 ... , - Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Jon George
