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
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"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
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Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist Jon George