JUNE 1,2006
Smoke Signals 7
State Capital Hosts Tribal Information Day In Salem
By Ron Karten
On Friday, May 19, in Salem, the
Governor proclaimed May 19-24
American Indian Week in Oregon.
In the rotunda of the Capitol,
politicians and Tribal leaders
pressed two themes: healing and
communications.
Senate President Peter Courtney
(D-Salem) took up the subject of
healing, raised earlier by Wasco
Warm Springs Tribal Elder Fred
Wallulatum, who offered an open
ing prayer.
"The thing that makes me so
sad is that our state is so divided,"
said Courtney. But he went on
to say that Indians "know about
healing."
"We know what our task is: heal
ing healing healing," he said.
The government-to-government
process "is working," said Grand
Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman
Cheryle Kennedy, on this tenth
anniversary of its establishment in
Oregon. But she said that "many dif
ficulties and obstacles" were ahead.
"Through dialogue," she said, the
Tribes and state would find com
mon ground.
"Through all the struggles and
hardships, you still find respect,
and still honor one another. To
learn from one another, I be
lieve, that is the teaching of our
Elders."
"Be very vigilant of Indian hate
groups," said Sue Shaffer, Chair
man of the Cow Creek Band of
Umpqua Tribe of Indians. "They're
malicious and harmful and they
work under the cloak of doing com
munity good."
Dancers from Grand Ronde and
the Klamath Tribe performed. The
Grand Ronde Honor Guard posted
the colors. The Cow Creeks pro
vided the catering.
From the Grand Ronde booth,
located upstairs at the capitol,
Tribal member and Tribal Tourism
Coordinator Elaine LaBonte saw "a
lot less people this year. We didn't
give away nearly the amount at
our booth."
Government-To-Government Communications Tribal Chairwoman
Cheryle Kennedy discussed the importance of inter-Tribal communications in her
welcoming speech at Tribal Information Day on Friday, May 19.
ill
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BurnsPaiute Tribal Elder Vernon Kennedy
The Tribe's focus on "our tradi
tional arts are alive and well," she
said. "Last year, we had basket
weavers; this year, we demonstrat
ed beading with (Tribal member)
CC Kneeland and (her daughter,
Tribal member) Nakoosa."
This year's themes were culture
and natural resources.
And for LaBonte, the important
message the Tribe delivered was
this: "We do still practice what we
did before."
LaBonte also joined the Grand
Ronde Color Guard by carrying
the Grand Ronde flag. "To carry in
our flag was a tremendous honor,"
she said.
Although Oregon Secretary of
State Bill Bradley read the proc
lamation in the Governor's ab
sence, he also noted that "thirty
five state agencies are receiving
training today for working with
Oregon's nine federally recog
nized Tribes."
"Long term vision is a necessity,"
said Bradley. "We must all work
together so that our prosperity lasts
across the Seventh Generation."
He called the day "a precious
opportunity to learn more" about
Indians.
"I believe the values of the Gov
ernment to Government meetings
are starting to become part of the
culture of State agencies," said
Oregon Attorney General Hardy
Myers. "I hope the Tribes are com
ing to understand the culture of
government agencies. They cannot
do more than the Legislature gives
them the power to do."
Back in Grand Ronde, the week
was marked at the Spirit Moun
tain Casino with daily exhibitions
of Indian crafts, including basket
weaving, beading, leatherwork
ing, dancing and drumming, 20
craft vendors, visits from Tribal
Royalty and an all-Tribal arts and
crafts show.
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All nine Tribes of Oreqon were present at the Tribal Information Day held at the State Capital in Salem.