Smoke Signals 9
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MARCH 1, 2007
and HR 679, that would
make 20 acres near the
Chemawa School "free
ly alienable" so that it
could be used as col
lateral. Efforts also are un
derway to create "a
treaty trail," commem
orating the 1855 trea
ties between the U.S.
and Northwest Tribes;
and creating a Hatfield
Scholarship, though in
the current fiscal en
vironment, both would
have to be funded by
cuts elsewhere in the
budget, said Worden.
From the audience,
a woman raised the
issue of Indian Trust
Funds with Worden.
"The purchase price
has been paid," she
said, "by treaties. It
doesn't matter that the
government doesn't
have the money. Take
this back and give them the fire
and brimstone, and you're going
to be a fine son for us all."
Educators from half a dozen
Northwest colleges and universi
ties described their commitment
to serving Native students. They
... f
described Native programs that
they make available to students.
7.2 percent of the faculty at Ever
green State University in Olympia,
Washington, for example, is Na
tive, and six percent of its gradu
ates are Native.
"We see the value of ATNI be
cause it's specific to the North
west," said Sheker. "Because we're
so much alike, we see a lot of people
who understand what we're going
through, and then we really get
their support." 0
Many Tribal Elders participated in
ATNI's winter conference, including
above from left around the table:
Linda Brandon, Pat Allen, Rebecca
Crocker, Pearl Lyon (hidden), Janet
Phillips, Cookie Jensen, Ruby Begoni,
Diane Locklear and Bernadine Shriver.
MM IHI EDDsafeofilrD Pots
Grand Ronde sponsors the awards banquet honoring the Tribe's long time friend.
By Ron Karten
On Tuesday evening, Feb
ruary 13, the Confederated
Tribes of the Grand Ronde
hosted the Affiliated Tribes
of Northwest Indians (ATNI)
Awards Banquet Honoring
Elizabeth Furse. The event
came on the third evening of
the five-day ATNI 2007 Winter
Conference.
Furse, a lifelong advocate
for peace and justice causes,
a former Oregon Congress
woman and continuing Ex
ecutive Director of Portland
State University's Institute
for Tribal Government, was
instrumental in helping the
Grand Rondes win restoration
for. the Tribe.
She also played a vital role
in helping the Coquelle and
Klamath Tribes regain federal
recognition.
Tribal Vice Chair Angie
Blackwell introduced and
welcomed Furse, and invited
ATNI attendees to share sto
ries about their experiences
with her.
Tribal Elder and former
Tribal Chair Katherine Har
rison offered the invocation
and remembered the red-eye
flights back to Washington, D.C.
both with Furse and to meet Furse
and other members of the Oregon
delegation.
Tribal Elder Margaret Provost,
who worked closely with Furse dur
ing the Restoration effort, described
their many meetings over the
years, and how well they worked
together. Provost presented Furse
with a beaded medallion made by
Tribal Elder and Culture Commit
tee Chair Pat Allen.
Furse also received ceremonial
Pendleton blankets and a hand
made walking stick.
, Alan Parker (Chippewa Cree)
called her "a woman warrior."
Furse and husband, John C.
Piatt, co-own the Washington
County, Oregon-based Helvetia
Vineyards. Piatt talked about the
mentors the two had found along
their individual ways as activ
ists. He described the voyage of
their lives as "a tough trip through
paradise."
Tribal Elder and Tribal Council
member Cheryle Kennedy led the
program to honor Furse.
Furse said that the time she had
spent fighting for Indian causes
had helped her discover "what it
means to be truly human, and I
thank you all," she said. B
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