2 FEBRUARY 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
Attention Tribal Members:
The February 6, 2005 General Council meeting will be held
at Embassy Suites, Portland Airport, 7900 N.E. 82nd Ave., Port
land, Oregon.
An agenda has been sent to Portland area Tribal members.
If you have any questions, please call Dakota Whitecloud,
Tribal Council Relations Coordinator at 1-800-422-0232 ext.
1309 or 503-879-1309 or dakota.whitecloudgrandronde.org.
PLEASE NOTE TIIAT ALL MEETINGS START AT 11 A.M.
2005 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
February 6 Portland, Oregon (see above)
March 6 Grand Ronde
April 3 Eugene, Oregon Address To Be Announced
May 1 Grand Ronde
June 26 Grand Ronde Tribal Council Nominations
SUMMER BREAK
September 11 Grand Ronde (Second Sunday Labor Day)
October 9 Grand Ronde (Second Sunday Hunting)
November 6 Grand Ronde
December 4 Grand Ronde
The Tribe will provide a chartered 55-passenger bus
to the General Council Meeting on Sunday, February
6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel-Portland Airport. The
bus will be at the Tribal Governance Center between
8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. to start boarding and it will be
first come first serve. It will depart at 9 a.m. to the
hotel. It will load up passengers and depart from the
hotel at 2:30 p.m. and is expected to be back at the
Governance Center between 4:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
There is a bathroom on the bus but the Governance
Center will also be open for use during the departure
and return times.
For more information please call Dakota Whitecloud
at 503-879-1309 or Lauri Smith at 503-879-2304.
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Meetings
DATE TIME
February 2, 2005 '. 5 p.m.
February 16, 2005 5 p.m.
Please call 1-800-422-0232 ext. 1309 and verify the time 24 hours in
advance.
Dear Tribal members,
The letter in the January 1 Smoke Signals from Sarah Ross spoke to my
heart. I have three sons who, because they don't have enough "Indian Blood,"
don't qualify as Tribal members. These young men have so much to offer and
would be proud to be Tribal members. We are not just talking monetary gain
but a heritage to be proud of.
Our oldest son, Joseph graduated with a Masters in Physical Therapy and is
serving in the Army in Germany. Patrick has a B.A. in Graphic Design and
works close to home. Stephen is our computer tech who is just returning to
college in Photography and Computer Animation. With our help and their hard
work they have paid their own way through college.
Patrick was filling out paperwork last week for a new insurance policy at
work! . . ,.
He marked the box for "Native American" as his nationality. Later in the day
the secretary called him into the office to ask him if he had made a mistake on
that part. "No" he replied, "My mother is a member of the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde." She replied, "But are you?" He was upset he was even ques
tioned. She then wanted him to go back and change the paperwork.
Now I wonder, which drops of blood flowing through my son's veins are Indian?
Do the drops stick to themselves or do they mix with the non-Native types?
Filling out paperwork for the college funding has lists of Native American,
American of African Decent, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian Islanders and
others. The only one questioned about percentages is the Native American.
When the original treaties were made and the lands were given to our de
parted ancestors they were for their children and their future generations. Doesn't
this mean all the children of Tribal members and their children?
Wasn't it the "Wise White Man" who tacked on the quantum amount as a
way to insuring that the lands would someday pass back out of the Native
Americans hands and into his own again? Never even taking into account that
the land, all of it, was rightfully the Native Americans all along. -
As a Tribal member, I am thankful for all the council has accomplished and
the wisdom used to plan for the future of our Tribe. And, I am thankful for each
Tribal member who supports the hard work of this council.
How sad that my inheritance stops with me and my brothers and sisters and
cousins. Our children will only inherit this wonderful heritage, in their hearts.
Peace and wisdom to all,
Judith Ellen Nesbit
Roll 1823
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232 FAX: 503-879-2173
www.grandronde.org
til
I 9
BRENT MERRILL
PUBLIC INFORMATION
MANAGEREDITOR
503-879-232)
brem.men1llgr3ndronde.(xs
D
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
503-879-2190
jusdn.philllpsgrandronde.org
PEADLINE DATE ISSUE PATE
Fri.,reb.4 FEB. IS
Fri., Feb. 18 MAR. 1
Fri., Mar. 4 MAR. 15
Fri., Mar. 18 APR. 1
Mon.,Apr.4 APR. 15
Wed., Apr. 20 MAY. 1
Fri., May 6 MAY. 15
Fri., May 20 JUNE 1
Mon., June 6 JUNE 15
Fri., June 17 JULY1
Tues., July 5 JULY 15
Wed., July 20 AUG.l
Fri., Aug. 5 AUG. 15
Fri., Aug. 19 SEPT.l
Mon., Sept. 5 SEPT. 15
Tues., Sept. 20 OCT. 1
Wed., Oct. 5 OCT. 15
Fri., Oct. 21 NOV. 1
Fri., Nov. 4 NOV. 15
Fri., Nov. 18 DEC. 1
Fri., Dec. 2 DEC. 15
Fri., Dec. 16 JAN. 1, 2006
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.kartengrandronde.org
' ,v. - -
TOBY MCCLARY
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1358
loby.mcclarygrandronde.org
0
MARTY GEORGE
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT
503-879-1453
marty.georgegrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-521 1
snelly.kentgrandronde.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 requested.
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 Journalists Association
The Associated Press
2005 TRIBAL COUNCIL
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle Kennedy Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org
Reyn Leno Tribal Vice Chairman ext. 2399
reyn.lenograndronde.org
June Sell-Sherer Tribal Secretary ext. 2358
june.sherergrandronde.org
Angie Blackwell ext. 2300
angie.blackwellgrandronde.org
Wesley "Buddy" West ext. 2353
wesley.westgrandronde.org
Jan D. Reibach ext. 2355 Valorie Sheker-Robertson ext. 1444
jd.reibachgrandronde.org
Chris Mercier ext. 2305
chris.merciergrandronde.org -
Valorie Sheker-Robertson
val.shekergrandronde.org
Jack Giffen, Jr. ext. 2306
jack.giffengrandronde.org