2 JUNE 1, 2007
Smoke Signals
Public hearing
Elnrollment A en n e n t
5" ndaij, June 5, 2 O O 7
? n m - S o o n
iiovernment
build
i n C
Council Chambers
Lunch served in the
Community Center
at noon
Attention Tribal Members:
2007 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 24 Grand Ronde, NOMINATIONS ONLY
NOTE THAT ALL GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS START AT 11 A.M.
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, June 13 5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 27 5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Please call Da
kota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator at 503-879-1309 to confirm.
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A Step Back in Time
Not many people have a chance to turn back the clock, and see something they
saw as a child that also brings special memories. Fortunately, I had that chance
last month when Tribal Council and staff joined staff from the Willamette National
Forest visited a very special place called Cascadia Cave. It was a very special trip
for me because the last time I was there I was about 6 or 7 years old.
As I prepared for the trip, other memories came back that I thought about;
things my uncle and grandmother had told me so long ago. I remembered
my uncle carried me across the river and that the water was low, which also
meant it had to have been in the summer. I don't why we crossed the river;
maybe some of the property was private land.
As we walked along the trail I remembered that all the trees were big before,
not the small trees there now; and there wasn't as much underbrush. It was
more like a virgin forest back then with almost a carpet of wildflowers, salal
and other plants on the ground.
At one point, I looked to my left and saw a bare rock face that looked familiar
and a little farther along, we came to a cave-like opening that was familiar
too. It was made of huge boulders and you could almost imagine someone
taking shelter from a storm under the rocks.
On we walked with the smell of old woods all around us; we had to cross a
small creek and move around a swampy area, but it was a pretty easy walk. As
we got closer to the cave, I got a lump in my throat because I could still hear my
grandmother telling me "this is important, don't ever forget who you are."
And then, we were there. I knew before we even stopped which way to
turn before anyone said anything; there was only one place it could be, back
against the rock wall of the canyon. As I moved closer, something was miss
ing and at first I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized that the
"guardian" tree was gone. One of the staff from the Ranger Station said it
had fallen last year.
I walked up the incline and it was just like stepping backward in time; noth
ing had changed, all the carvings were still there; well almost all of them. I
remembered something was over on one side and asked Eirik to look and see
if it was still there. What he found was a sun symbol that was nearly weath
ered away, but it was still there.
As I walked around and took pictures of the markings on the cave walls, there
was something else I remembered. There is a huge stone in front of the cave and
I remember markings on it too, but they are covered now with moss and can't
be seen. What a wonderful day. The sun came out and it was so comfortable
there that I didn't want to leave, but at the same time, I knew I had to.
I don't regret going on this trip for an instant; it was a long walk for me, but
I needed to go, not just for me, but for my family too. Now I have pictures that
I can share with my family and the Tribe that is what is most important;
remembering and sharing a memory of long ago with people who understand
that this place is special.
I hope anyone who goes there will take a minute to say a prayer and thank
the old ones for the treasure they left behind. We may not know what all the
symbols mean, or why this place was special; but when you see it, you just
know it's a special place.
Thank you, all the members of the Tribal Council, for the chance to go on
this trip; you will never know how much it meant to me.
Dakota Whitecloud
Roll 1587
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
The following Committees andor Special
Event Boards have vacancies:
Fish & Wildlife Committee 1 Vacancy
Health Committee 1 Vacancy
Timber Committee 2 Vacancies
For more information contact Dakota Whitecloud at
503-879-1309 or dakota.whitecloudgrandronde.org
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1 -800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2 1 73
www.grandronde.org
DEADLINE PATE ISSUE DATE
Tuesday, June 5 JUNE 15
Wednesday, June 20 JULY 1
Friday, July 6 JULY 15
Friday, July 20 AUGUST I
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
slobhan.taylorgrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron. kartengrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-5211
shelly . kentgrandronde.org
TERI MERCIER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECRETARY
503-879-1418
ter1.lmerctefgrindronde.org
TOBY MCCLARY
PHOTOJOURNALIST
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toby.mccUrygrandronde.org
KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-879-1453
kriuen.ravlagrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
503-879-2190
Justln.pMllpsgrandrorKfe.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT
503-879-1416
george.valdeigrjndronde.org
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
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Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
2007 Tribal Council
1 -800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Chris Mercier D Wesley "Buddy" West
Tribal Chair ext. 2353
ext. 2305 wesley.westgrandronde.org
chris.merciergrandronde.org .... , , . .
D Wink Soderberg
D Angie Blackwell ext. 1 444
Tribal Vice Chair wink.soderberggrandronde.org
ext. 2300 q Kathleen Tom
angie.blackwellgrandronde.org ex
D Jack Giffen, Jr. kathIeen.tomgrandronde.org
Tribal Secretary D Cheryle Kennedy
ext. 2306 ext 2352
jack.giffengrandronde.org cheryle!kennedygrandronde.org
Reyn Leno q Valorie Sheker
ext. 2399 ext. 2355
reyn.lenograndronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org