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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2007)
6 OCTOBER 15,2007 Smoke Signals NaftnoiTDaD DmxdlDain) Day aft CDDamraipoeg Photos by Ron Karten About 200 members of the Grand Ronde Tribe converged on Champoeg State Park on Friday, Sept. 28, for a celebration of National Indian Day. The event honored basket makers, carvers, traditional foods and fellowship. Above, participants picked up on some Native Northwest history and, right, master carver Adam Mclsaac showed that he is also good at making bows for youths. .. J ..it-; o .v- .' Maim auresttedl ffoir atiSeniroiptedl assauDtf SHOOTING continued from front page onto Tyee Road and park in the grass. Prindle said he became suspi cious and was going to inquire if the car's occupants needed help. "I went to see if they needed any assistance and that's when the pas senger fired two shots," Prindle said. "I got out of sight and less than 10 seconds later the vehicle began to move. They then fired three to five more shots in my direc tion." Prindle said the ve hicle headed down Tyee Road and sped off. He said that he did not know if he was the target or not. "If they were actually aiming at me or not, I don't know," Prindle said. "All I know is that I saw muzzle flashes and heard the sound of gunfire, so I was just trying to get ... out of the way." On Saturday, Oct. 6, Polk County Sheriffs Office Deputy Shane Zook arrested Tribal member Adrian Danilo Contreras, 24, for first-degree attempted assault, menacing, disorderly conduct and felon in possession of a firearm. Contreras was being held in the Polk County Jail in Dallas on $350,000 bail at press time. Recent criminal activity in Tribal housing, as well as the shooting, was among issues discussed dur ing the monthly Housing Security meeting held Thursday, Oct. 4. "The offenses in housing are get ting more and more serious," said Carmen Mercier, rental housing coordinator for the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority. "It needs to become a community effort to put a stop to these activities." Also attending the meeting was Sgt. Nathan Goldberg of the Polk County Sheriffs Office. "We have identified the vehicle and at least one of the occupants," Goldberg said. "This case is still under investigation." Goldberg said no shell casings were found at the scene although two bul let holes now ven tilate a stop sign located in the area. "Af ter the recent we (Tribal Council) knew we needed to take immediate action," said Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom. "We have to take these things seriously and if that means evicting people, we will do so." Tom said Tribal Council met concerning the shooting and dis cussed establishing a curfew that will require youths under the age of 18 to be off of the streets by a specific hour. Over the last several months, Grand Ronde officials have been scrutinizing gang-related activity in the community. According to the Housing Author ity and Prostar Security, there has been an increase of "tagging," spray painted gang signs and gang names, around the housing areas. There also have been complaints of suspected gang-related burglaries, as well as community members participating in criminal activities while claiming they belong to a specific gang. "The offenses in housing are getting more and more serious. It needs to become a community effort to put a stop to these activities." Carmen Mercier, rental housing coordinator for the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority. Photo by Toby McClary Two bullet holes were found in this stop sign on Tyee Road in Tribal housing after a recent shooting. According to national Native Amer ican gang specialist Chris Grant, one of the biggest factors influencing gang mentality is adults and peers not taking warning signs seriously. "Individuals with this mentality often want to be recognized as real 'gangstas,' " Grant said. 'They want to be seen as real gang members and they will act out on it." Despite increasing signs of gang activity, Housing Executive Direc tor Carina Kistler-Ginter said that housing area residents should not be too concerned. "We have a small percentage of people that are causing all of the problems," she said. "We are ad dressing these issues." Also addressed at the monthly meeting was a Tribal housing resi dent who has given 30-days notice and is moving because of the gang activities and intimidation. As part of a positive alternative to gangs and drugs, Tom and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Direc tor Shelley Hanson are working to begin a Friday Night Social where youths, as well as their families, can spend Friday evenings watching movies, singing karaoke or learning culturally-based material. "This is what I am promising to do," Tom said. If anyone is interested in helping develop a Friday night activity, contact Tom at 503-879-1777 or Hanson at 503-879-1401. According to About.com, the following are signs that that your child or someone you know may be involved in gangs or partici pating in gang behaviors: ' A sudden change in friends. . Changes in dress habits, such as wearing the same color com bination all the time. Carrying a weapon. Losing interest in school and family. Getting arrested or detained by police. Using alcohol and drugs. Using hand signals to communicate with others. Becoming truant. Displaying gang symbols.
