4 AUGUST 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
5 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Chairwoman, Cheryle
Kennedy. A quorum was present.
Present was Cheryle Kennedy, Reyn Leno, June Sell-Sherer, Angie Blackwell,
Chris Mercier, Jan D. Reibach, Valorie Sheker-Robertson and Wesley "Buddy"
West.
Excused was Jack Giffen, Jr. (personal leave).
Invocation was done by Jan D. Reibach.
PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVEAMEND
Reyn Leno moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson seconded to approve the May 25,
2005, Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried
7-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE
Chemawa Indian School Donation Agreement. June Sell-Sherer moved,
Reyn Leno seconded to adopt Resolution No. 092-05 1) approving the Donation
Agreement with Chemawa Indian School through which the Tribe will donate
$20,000 annually for work study, clothing and supplies for students of the school;
and 2) authorizing the Tribal Council Chairwoman to execute said Agreement.
Discussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Enrollment Requirements Ad-Hoc Committee Bylaws. Chris Mercier
moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson seconded to adopt Resolution No. 093-05
adopting the initial bylaws for the Enrollment Requirements Ad-Hoc Commit
tee. Discussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Appointment of New Veterans Special Event Board Member. Jan D.
Reibach moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No. 094-05 ap
pointing Elaine LaBonte to the Veterans Special Event Board with term to expire
on December 31, 2006. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Amendment to Cooperative Agreement for Government-to-Govern-ment
Participation of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in
CERCLA Activities of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Wesley
"Buddy" West moved, Angie Blackwell seconded to adopt a Resolution No. 095
05: 1) authorizing the amendment to Cooperative Agreement and application to
the Environmental Protection Agency for an amount not to exceed $160,000.00
and 2) the Natural Resources Manager to finalize and execute the amended Co
operative Agreement and application. Motion carried 7-0-0.
Enrollment Infant Determination. Angie Blackwell moved, Valorie
Robertson seconded to adopt Resolution No. 096-05 approving four (4) infants
numbered 5484 through 5487 for Tribal membership, because, based on the in
vestigation and recommendation of the Enrollment staff, the infants have been
found to meet the eligibility requirements for enrollment as defined in the En
rollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution. Discussion followed. Motion car
ried 7-0-0.
OTHER BUSINESS
Reyn Leno moved, Angie Blackwell seconded to approve out-of-state travel for
Education Committee member Patsy Pullin to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, June
14 -17, 2005, for Robert's Rules of Order Indian Parliamentary Law training.
Motion carried 7-0-0.
A Tribal member stated the following and asked the following questions: 1. A
Tribal member approached the council in a past Tribal Council meeting to con
sider a partnership between the Grand Ronde Community Resource Center and
Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Development Pro
gram and asked if any discussion has taken place on this. Council member Angie
Blackwell referred question to Tribal member Kathy Tom who stated that she
has been hired to coordinate several projects through the Community Resource
Center.
2. Asked about limits on Tribal Tort Claims. Tribal Attorney Rob Greene re
sponded. 3. She hopes that everyone will look at which Tribal Council candi
dates will bring balance, experience and knowledge during this year's elections.
A Tribal member asked the following questions: 1. How does Tribal Council
determine how many council members should travel on business at one time.
Chairwoman Kennedy and council member Wesley "Buddy" West explained the
process for determining who will travel depends upon the many different inter
ests and responsibilities of each council member. 2. Is there anything in the Tribal
Council Ordinance that states how many council members should be here to
conduct business? Chairwoman Kennedy stated that a quorum is required for
Legislative Action Committee meetings and Tribal Council meetings. 3. What is
quorum? Chairwoman Kennedy responded that quorum is the majority of Tribal
Council, which are five out of nine Council members.
A Tribal member complained that he is having a hard time finding employ
ment with the Tribe even though he has an education. Human Resources Man
ager, Judy Zettergren explained what resources are available to Tribal members
to help with the employment process. The Tribal member also raised a concern
about a position he applied for and had discussed it with Human Resources.
Chairwoman Kennedy asked Director of Operations, Chris Leno, to refer to Gen
eral Manager, Cliff Adams to follow up on reports on the issues and barriers
concerning employment for our Tribal members.
6:12 p.m. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Angie Blackwell seconded to ad
journ meeting. Motion carried.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
5 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Chairwoman, Cheryle
Kennedy. A quorum was present.
Present was Angie Blackwell, Jack Giffen, Jr., Cheryle Kennedy, Reyn Leno,
Chris Mercier, Jan D. Reibach, Valorie Sheker-Robertson, June Sell-Sherer and
Wesley "Buddy" West.
Invocation was done by Wesley "Buddy" West.
PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVEAMEND
Reyn Leno moved, Wesley "Buddy" West seconded to approve the June 8, 2005,
Tribal Council regular meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 7-0-1.
Jack Giffen, Jr. abstained.
NEW BUSINESS
LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE
Interim Tribal Court Chief Judge Contract Addendum. Valorie Sheker
Robertson moved, Angie Blackwell seconded to adopt Resolution No. 097-05:
1) extending the appointment of Edmond Clay Goodman as Interim Chief Judge
of the Tribal Court; 2) authorizing the Tribal Council Chairwoman, in consulta
tion with the Tribal Attorney's office, to execute a written addendum to the Con
tract for Judicial Services; and 3) authorizing the Tribal Council Chairwoman
to execute further addendums, not to exceed two month terms per addendum, as
is necessary until a permanent Chief Judge is selected. Discussion followed.
Motion carried 7-0-1. Jack Giffen, Jr. abstained.
Oregon Department of Human Services Independent Living Contract.
Jan D. Reibach moved, June Sell-Sherer seconded to adopt Resolution No.098
05 authorizing and hereby approving the Independent Living Contract from the
Oregon Department of Human Services in the amount of $20,000 to facilitate
the Independent Living Native Teen Gathering Conference; and authorizes the
Tribal Council Chairwoman, or designee, to sign the said contract. Discussion
followed. Motion carried 7-0-1. Jack Giffen, Jr. abstained.
Milliman, Inc. 401 (k) Plan Service Agreement. Angie Blackwell moved,
Wesley "Buddy" West seconded to adopt Resolution No. 099-05: 1) authorizing
the appointment of Milliman, Inc. to replace USI Retirement Services, 2) ap
proving the Retirement Plan Services Agreement with Milliman, Inc., 3) approv
ing a limited waiver of sovereign immunity limited to only matters arising directly
out of the Retirement Plan Services Agreement and only to the extent necessary
to permit the enforcement of Milliman, Inc.'s rights under the Retirement Plan
Services Agreement through the dispute resolution process in the Agreement,
and 4) authorizing the Finance Officer to execute the Retirement Plan Services
Agreement with such changes as he deems necessary and appropriate consistent
with this Resolution. Discussion followed. Motion carried 7-0-1. Jack Giffen,
Jr. abstained.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Native American Journalists Association 2 lat Annual Convention is scheduled
for August 11-14, 2005, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Council member Chris Mercier
and members of the Tribe's Newspaper staff plan to attend.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe's 129th Annual Rosebud Fair & Wacipi in Honor of Native
Nations August 26-28, 2005, at the Rosebud Fairgrounds, Rosebud, South
Dakota. Council members Cheryle A. Kennedy, Reyn Leno, and Valorie
Sheker-Robertson plan to attend. Council member J une Sell-Sherer may
attend, dependent if there is no schedule conflict.
NOTICES
National Foundation for Women Legislators, Inc. (NFWL) extends an invita
tion to attend the 2005 NFWL Annual Conference, September 8-12, 2005, at The
Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, Arizona Council member Angie Blackwell plans
to attend.
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians 52nd Annual Conference and Elections
is scheduled for September 19-22, 2005, in Worley, Idaho. Registration and room
arrangements need to be made. Council members Jack Giffen, Jr., Jan D.
Reibach and Wesley "Buddy" West plan to attend
National Congress of American Indians 62nd Annual Conference and Elections
is scheduled for October 30 through November 4, 2005, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Registration, airline, and room arrangements need to be made. Council mem
ber Jan D. Reibach plans to attend.
Upcoming Events in Grand Ronde Contest Pow-wow is scheduled for Au
gust 19-20, 2005. Tribal Council Election is scheduled for Saturday, September
10,2005.
OTHER BUSINESS
Several Tribal members asked whether a candidates' booth could be set up at
the Grand Ronde Pow-wow in August. Discussion followed. Chairwoman Kennedy
referred the members to the pow-wow Special Event Board.
A Tribal member asked the following: 1. Status of the Cherry City Property
See ACTIONS
on page 5