Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2007)
OCTOBER 1,2007 Smoke Signals 7 CDinnniQjao!DD,S CFnoifiKdl n n Sepf. 13 event continues tradition of Tribal grants V?, 'tui 1 1 "wi i ui ywnpHi i i Dunn iumwTT-wi ii win in mil iimi wwww Tribal member and Community Fund Director Shelley Hanson Tribal Council Vice Chairman Reyn Leno presented Cheryl Bickle and the Community Transitional School with $5,000 on Sept. 13. By Toby McClary Smoke Signals staff writer Over the last 10 years, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund has given away more than $40 million. On Thursday, Sept. 13, Tribal rep resentatives, Community Fund staff and grant recipients celebrated the 10th anniversary since the fund's inception with a dinner held at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. And the giving continued. The evening began with a banquet-style dinner that included salmon and buffalo. After the meal and brief socializing, the Shunka Sapah drum group kicked off the event with a grand entry song dur ing which the Grand Ronde Honor Guard posted the colors. Tribal member and Commu nity Fund Director Shelley Hanson joked about attendees from the Portland area stopping at Oktober fest in Mt. Angel and "celebrating a little early." "The real focus of this event was our beginnings and reminding people that we are a Tribal founda tion," Hanson said. Hanson and Tribal Council mem ber Chris Mercier presented 15 honorees with Community Fund logos beaded by Tribal Elder Dean Mercier's wife, Christina. Honorees included former Gov. John Kitzhaber (not present); Bruce Thomas, former chief executive offi cer of Spirit Mountain Casino; Chuck Galford, original Community Fund director; Kathryn Harrison, Tribal Elder and former fund trustee and former Tribal Council chairwoman; Kris Olson, fund chairperson; Sho Dozono, fund vice chairperson; From left, former U.S. Attorney for Oregon and chair of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees Kristine Olson and Tribal member and trustee Camille Mercier react to the beaded Community Fund logo as former Tribal Council member Angie Blackwell shows it off. Photos by Toby McClary Oregon Sen. Kate Brown, trustee; Henry "Chip" Lazenby, trustee; Angie Blackwell, former fund di rector and trustee; Jack Giffen Jr., Tribal Council member and trustee; Reyn Leno, Tribal Council member and trustee; Ca mille Mercier, Tribal mem ber and trust ee; Chips Tom, Tribal Elder; Dennis Wor den, 2006-07 Hatfield Fel low; and Spirit Mountain Casino's Marketing Team. After the honoring ceremony, the Board of Trustees gifted several or ganizations with $5,000 each. The Xfea y SPIRIT MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY FUND organizations included Artists Rep ertory Theatre, Children First for Oregon, Community Transitional School, Juliette's House, Oregon Holocaust Resource Center, Oregon Shores Con servation Co alition, Three Rivers Land Conservancy, Thugz Off Drugz, Union Gospel Mis sion of Salem and Willamette Riverkeeper. Tribal mem ber and Grand Ronde Royalty Adviser Reina Nelson then took the stage with members of the 2007-08 royalty. Each member of the royalty demonstrated various styles of pow-wow dance as Nelson explained the meaning and history of each style. "We want to let people know who we are as a Tribe," said Hanson. "Folks got to experience that." Attendees were then invited to gather outside on the yard and par ticipate in a traditional Round Dance, also known as a Friendship Dance. "The feedback was overwhelmingly positive," Hanson said. "One lady said that the Round Dance was a great way for everyone to say hi to each other." The Spirit Mountain Community Fund donates 6 percent (about $5 million) of Spirit Mountain Casino's annual profits to non-profit orga nizations in 11 western Oregon counties, including Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Tilla mook, Lincoln, Yamhill, Polk, Mar ion, Benton, Linn and Lane. X Y LA r? . v v - Wt, (ft ' ...L... a J J J Z.J -- - i iiiiiniiiiiiir ' N in mi -ftil dCiim
