2 OCTOBER 1, 2005
Smoke Signals
Attention Tribal Members:
NOTE TI IAT ALL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS START AT 1 1 A.M.
2005 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
October 9 Grand Ronde (Second Sunday Hunting)
November 6 Grand Ronde
December 4 Grand Ronde
Attention: Tribal Committees
& Special Event Boards
Any committee or special event board member whose appoint
ment ends on December 31, 2005 must re-apply.
New application forms may be picked up at the Governance
Center; please do not use the old forms.
Send completed applications to Dakota Whitecloud, TCRC at
the address printed on the new application form:
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Attn: Dakota Whitecloud
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Meetings
! DATE TIME
October 12 5 p.m.
October 26 5 p.m.
Please call 1-800-422-0232 ext. 1309 and verify the time 24 hours in advance.
I
I Dearest family and friends, ...
I It has been a very challenging several months since my mother, Laura
!Gleason, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of this year. It might
be hard to believe that this kind of news can be accompanied or even followed
by many BLESSINGS. My mother and I have been reminded; that in des
peration you can find all the love and support you forgot you've always had.
I would like to first thank my grandmother, Phyllis (Haller) Cureton. Although
she passed many years ago, she has been a great inspiration and steadfast sup
port through this very difficult time for both my mother and me. She herself died
of Cancer when she was the very young age of 43. She was a very STRONG,
PROUD, LOVING and GrVING woman. She was poor, uneducated and a strug
gling "Indian" woman with cancer. In "those times" the latter stereotypes made
her fight with this disease more difficult than someone with my modern Grand
Ronde Native American experiences could ever possibly empathize or relate with.
My mother is STRONG in ways she is only beginning to discover. My mother is
PROUD of where she came from, where she is, and where she is going. She shares
her stories with all who will listen. We have found that fascination has taken the
place of the discrimination her mother encountered. My mother LOVES all people
without hesitation. My mother has GIVEN the shirt off her back to someone in
need. Even during her current time of need she has continued to put others above
herself. We are BLESSED that Phyllis gave her family all that she was. We are
BLESSED that she continues, through all that we are!! Her memory has not only
been a comfort, but also a reminder of our many BLESSINGS. With more grati
tude and thanks than can ever be expressed, I thank my grandmother and those
like her for laying the foundation on which our (Tribal) family have since built our
lives.
The following Thank You's will be shorter than the first mentioned. Not be
cause they deserve any less recognition, only because I am writing a letter not a
book. Whole heart filled appreciation goes out to everyone, starting with:
The CTGR for the blessing of offering excellent medical coverage, which al
lowed my mother to concentrate on her physical and emotional fight to survive
this disease, not financial obligations. (A special thanks to the pharmacy and
staff).
Dr. James for the blessing of his determination to convince (not an easy task)
my mother to have her mammogram. This early detection has significantly in
creased her chances of becoming cancer free.
Family and friends for the blessings of many prayers and offerings of support.
(A special thanks to Victor, Corean, Kenny, Sandy and The Lighthouse Church).
My employer and co-workers at The Saline County Dialysis Unit for the bless
ing of their support and flexibility in allowing me to go to Oregon and be with my
mother for her first battle in this fight. Then, after bringing my mother home
with me to Kansas, allowing me to be with her for every battle along the way.
My mother has survived almost 6 months of procedures, surgeries, hospital
izations, chemotherapies, radiation treatments, multiple oral medications and
all the horrific side effects that go along with these things. She is now a survivor
of cancer. She will return home to Grand Ronde on September 9. Although I
will miss her greatly, I know I am blessed to still have her. Thank you "Lord"
for the greatest BLESSING of all, the faith in you and your love, proven in many
ways, including the way you have blessed us by surrounding us with all the great
people in our lives.
Tonya Gleason-Shepek
Roll 1282
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1 800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
www.grandronde.org
fiwi
BRENT MERRILL
PUBLIC INFORMATION
MANAGEREDITOR
503-879-2321
brenLmerTillgrandroode.org
', t ... II
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
503-879-2190
jusdn.phllllpsgrandronde.org
hemusejjos ISSUED AIi;
Wed., Oct. 5 OCT. 15
Fri.,Oct.21 NOV.l
Fri.,Nov.4 NOV. 15
Fri.,Nov.l8 DEC. 1
Fri.,Dec. 2 DEC. 15
Fri., Dec. 16 JAN. 1, 2006
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.kartengrandronde.org
nfli; IT: fw-.
trtirYSr Vfi&ZfetTi
TOBY MCCLARY
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1358
toby.mcclarygrandronde.org
111
HEATHER BOYLAN
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT II
503-879-1416
heather.boylangrandronde.org
A
inii.il I, f
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-521 1
shelly.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 re
quested. 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 adminis
tration 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
2005-06 TRIBAL COUNCIL
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle Kennedy, Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedygraridronde.org
Angie Blackwell, Tribal Vice Chairwoman ext. 2300
angie.blackwellgrandronde.org
Chris Mercier, Tribal Secretary ext. 2305
chris.merciergrandronde.org
Reyn Leno ext. 2399
reyn.lenograndronde.org
Wesley "Buddy" West ext. 2353
wesley.westgrandronde.org
Wink Soderberg ext. 2358
wink.soderberggrandronde.org
Kathleen Tom ext. 1777
kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
fill
Jack Giffen, Jr. ext. 2306
jack.giflengrandronde.org
Jan D. Reibach ext. 2355
jd.reibachgrandronde.org