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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2005)
Smoke Signals 5 MARCH 15, 2005 Grand Ronde Tribe Moves Toward Portland Casino With Discussions MAGNA continued from front page Council Chair Cheryle Kennedy. "If the governor is going to allow off-reservation gaming, as he re peatedly said in recent months that he is about to for the Warm Springs, we have a responsibility to our 5,000 members to continue to sustain our economic self sufficiency." In recent state-wide iiewa suiiies, Hume ui uie f. key elected officials that would be involved in any off-reservation casino in the Portland market weighed in. While newly elected Portland mayor Tom Potter's spokesman said he has repeatedly spoken out against a casino in Portland, City Commissioner Sam Adams said it's something the city might have to consider. "The only thing worse than a casino in Portland is a casino in 7 ence to the Cowlitz Tribes plans to build a casino in nearby La Cen ter. He went on to talk about the siphoning of dollars out of Portland and Oregon. "This is an unfortu nate conversation we as a commu nity have to have." Grand negotiations. If the Grande Ronde were to pur chase the horse track and the sur rounding land, it would then need the governor's concurrence and fed eral approval to take the land into trust. The state's horse racing commu nity told the Oregon media that they iff (Ufa Mjiito ttfhuwnwit 'H Cojssfi(fi ajrt ffrffrfl (3EEH3D j Whifch) Vancouver," said Adams, in refer- Ronde leaders are in the process of scheduling immediate face to face meetings with Portland and Multnomah County officials. The Tribe has already had several courtesy discussions with various staff members in the governor's of fice, beginning in mid-February informing them of the horse track are quite interested in partnering with the Grand Ronde and racing in tandem with a casino. "They have worked well in other places," said Dick Cartney, executive direc tor of the Oregon Horsemen's Be nevolent and Protective Association. The group represents about 1,100 owners and trainers, plus Portland Meadows employees. "I think that's something we'd have to look at very closely," Cartney said. "If it's done right, where the track and the horsemen get a share of the revenue, I think we'd look favorably at it." Bob Whelan, senior economist with ECONorthwest an economic consulting firm in Portland ex plains, "what happens is a share of the profit from slot machines goes to purse money, which is then given to the winning horses." "We are still early in the game," cau tioned Tribal chair Cheryle Kennedy. "It's fine that the media wants to know if the horse racing industry can be saved, but we plan to worry first about our members and the appropriate elected leaders at the state and lo cal level. If we reach an agreement, we'll go through the proper chan nel of communication and then sit down with the governor and see what the new rules are going to be." Winter Hawks Set To Host Grand Ronde Tribal Members At Game Sunday, March 20 is "Grand Ronde Night" at the Rose Garden in Portland. By Ron Karten March 20 at the Rose Garden, plan on being there. Tribal Council members will. Tribal Elders will. Hundreds of Tribal members and their families will. "I'm not like a huge hockey fan," said Tribal Council member Valorie Sheker-Robertson, "but my son is. I'll be going because my family is." It will be the Portland Win ter Hawks vs. the Tri-City Americans, but the real match up will be the Winter Hawks and the Con federated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe has sponsored the Winter Hawks all season, but this is the night that the Winter Hawks sponsor the Tribe. "The Winter Hawks and the Confederated Tribes entered into a partner- perform. And the Grand Ronde Honor Guard will post the colors. "We had several players visit the reservation before our hockey sea son started," said Portland Coach Mike Williamson. "They came back with an understanding of the Tribe's history and how difficult it was to travel the road to their res toration. Our players saw their 17 former Portland Winter Hawks' players continued their education under the Western Hockey League scholarship program. In all, the Winter Hawks provided more than $50,000 during this school year alone for the players to continue their educations with the assistance of the Major Junior Hockey Edu cation Fund of Oregon. That fund REVOLUTION "ft, vfc 1 ship this season with numerous events leading the two organi zations to dis cover they have much in common," said Dean Vrooman, Voice of the Winter Hawks, in a press release. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy will welcome the crowd. Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison will offer the invocation. Eagle Beak will do the drums. Grand Ronde and Veterans Royalty and Grand Ronde Traditional dancers will Puck Appeal Dan DaSilva (26) is just one of the reasons to go see the Winter Hawks. With 45 lifetime Western Hockey League goals, Portland's right wing is part of a tough, fast-skating team that scores like lightning; and is not afraid to throw down the gloves. TheWinterHawkswillhost"GrandRondeNight"onSaturday,March20. Photo by Peta Tinda government building, medical facil ity, and the work the Tribe has done to establish a community de signed to assist its members in be coming self-sufficient. They also met several students from the Tribe that are using scholarships to fur ther their education and that is also a big part of our program." During the 2003-04 school year, also benefits PortlandVancouver area hockey players that are eligible for local midget representative scholarship awards. "It has been terrific to see the in creased hockey talent coming from the Native population in recent years," said Winter Hawks' Gen eral Manger Ken Hodge. "We have Colton Yellow Horn (Lethbridge Hurricanes) and Wacey Rabbit (Saskatoon Blades) both among the leaders in league scoring. These players are among many Natives that have demonstrated they can play, and excel, in the highest league for hockey players this age in the world. So, part of our part nership with the Confederated Tribes provides a chance for their young people to see these players working hard and succeeding." All season, the Winter Hawks have invited Tribal members and their fami lies to attend hockey games and the Confed erated Tribes of the Grand Ronde are also inviting Winter Hawks' fans to the reser vation for the annual pow wow in August. An official in vitation will be extended to fans as part of Sunday's game ceremonies. The pow-wow, the biggest in the Pacific North- west, is held the third weekend in August and features some of the finest Native dancers and drum groups from all across the United States and Canada. More than 15,000 people attend the event ev ery year. It's a partnership built on winter ice and summer sun, on hot dogs and frybread. Be there. And bring the family. 4 lte
