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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 15, 2006)
4 SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 Smoke Signals Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Select Hatfield Fellow By Angie Sears, Tribal Mentee . The Spirit Mountain Community Fund has selected Dennis Warden, an enrolled member of the Coeur D'Alene Tribe, as the 2006 - 2007 Hatfield Fellow. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Hondo established the Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship as a tribute to Senator Hatfield for his accom plishments as the Governor of Or egon and United States Senator on behalf of the Grand Ronde Tribe. The Fellowship was also created to give the opportunity for growth and development to young Native Americans who wish to learn about the federal political system in Wash ington, D.C., and produce long-term benefits for all Native Americans and the Pacific Northwest. "The Hatfield Fellowship builds leadership capacity that serves all of Indian Country," said Shel ley Hanson, Director of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. "It's another example of the visionary 2006 - 2007 Hatfield Fellow & Coeur D'Alene Tribal member Dennis Warden leadership of this Tribe." Each year, a Native American applicant is selected as a Hatfield Fellow, and serves as an intern and liaison for a member of the Oregon Congressional delegation. "I'm a very strong supporter of the Fellowship program," said An gie Blackwell, Grand Ronde Tribal Council Vice Chair, and member of the Fellowship Selection Com mittee. "We need Indian people who are familiar with the politi cal process in D.C., and have the knowledge to make a change at a congressional level." "It's important to realize that everything that happens at a Con gressional level affects our Tribal membership," Blackwell said. "So it's in our best interest to keep educating our people." Warden, a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, plans to pur sue a career practicing Indian Law, and wants to make a difference in Indian Country upon completion of the Fellowship. "The Hatfield Fellowship provides the perfect opportunity," Warden said. "I will be able to gain extremely valuable experience through working in the office of a Congressman and advising them on issues in Indian Country." Warden, 22, has already achieved many accomplishments. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ge ography, graduating with depart mental honors. He has served as a Legislative Affairs Intern for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, a Legisla tive Intern for the Department of Treasury-Financial Service, and a Budget Intern for the Department of Treasury-Financial Service. In addition, he contributed to many public service issues on campus, including outreach programs for at risk high school and middle school students, and the building of com munity among students of color. "Public service is valuable and something I am dedicated to," War den said. "It is a way to repay all that has been given to me." For more information about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Spirit Mountain Community Fund, and the Hatfield Fellowship visit the web site at www.thecom munityfund.com fl Spirit Mountain Community Fund Reveals New Logo in Hopes of Re-Introducing the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde as the Contributor to the Fund By Angie Sears, Tribal Mentee The Spirit Mountain Community Fund has a new logo to represent its relationship with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "The idea behind the new logo is to let people know that these con tributions are actually coming from the Tribe, and not the casino," said Shelley Hanson, Director of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. "The old logo was the casino's logo; this logo represents the Tribe." In addition to the new logo the Community Fund is also developing a new marketing campaign to tell the story of the Tribe, and is in the midst of revamping its web site. When asked what the new logo represents, Hanson replied, "I think it represents our embracing of the communities and our partnerships with these communities." "The main message I want people to hear, and especially the Tribal mem bership, is that it's about the Tribe and our contributions," said Hanson. "It's about how we're giving back." The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde initiated the Spirit Moun tain Community Fund in 1997 as a means of carrying out Tribal tradi tions of sharing and giving back to the community. The Tribe allocates six percent of profits from Spirit Mountain Casino to the Spirit Mountain Com munity Fund, which is then gifted to non-profit organizations in an 1 1 -county area of Western Oregon. The Community Fund recognizes seven categories of special needs when awarding a grant. From the time the Spirit Moun tain Community Fund was estab lished to date, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has donated more than $35 million to non-profit organizations. Of that $35 million, education has received the most assistance with $13.6 million in grants; other grant awards include public safety: $6.7 million, health: $6.6 million, arts and culture: $4.7 million, environmental preservation: $3.2 million, historic preservation: $857 thousand and problem gambling $216-thousand. For more information about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Spirit Mountain Community Fund visit the web site at www. thecommunityfund.com D SPIRIT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FUND . New Spirit Mountain Community Fund logo SPIKJT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FUND Old Spirit Mountain Community Fund logo 2005-2006 Tribal HeadStart Graduation 4 r M I If i 1 I 1 : 1 .' s 1 Tribal member and Language Specialist Jackie Whisler hugs community member Trevor Smith. Graduated On Thursday, August 1 7, about 20 youth graduated from their HeadStartPreschool class. The students are taught ChinookWawa while attending Grand Ronde's HeadStart. . , - Tribal members Austin Lewis-Little (I) and Nicholas Colton. ' f 7. 4
