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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2008)
10 JANUARY 1,2008 Smoke Signals NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, Jan. 9 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23 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. Dear Tribal members: I am writing to those who believe we should vote yes on the amendments to our enrollment. First, I want you to know I have a grandson who is not enrolled. We moved to Idaho and his mother and father split up. When we moved to Washington, he came and lived with us in 2002, and when I tried to get him enrolled they said he was born when the reservation was closed. My brother's grandchildren were denied for the same reason. But we are still voting "no" on this enrollment change. Yes, I know there are some that should be members, but also I know we have many in our Tribe who shouldn't be in it as it is. Each member's files need to be reviewed to authenticate their Tribal status and, once reviewed, these files should be made public to all Tribal members. Almost all of our family is voting "no" to the upcoming amendments because we believe it will let in hundreds more into the Tribe who don't belong. We believe all Grand Ronde Tribal members should have ancestry traced back to one of our Tribes that proves they are a Grand Ronde Na tive American. Delores Knight Roll 340 Dear Grand Ronde Tribe: I am writing in response to an article in your Dec. 1 issue of Smoke Signals. I am greatly sorry to hear about the current gang activity increase on your res ervation. I am intrigued to see how the Tribe is coming together, collaborating with other programs and speakers, etc., to overcome this burden to our people, as well as the spiritual way of life that we believe in as Indian people. I am straight off the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation in Hayward, Wis. We call ourselves Anishinabe, meaning literally "first people." But we are also known as Ojibwe or Chippewa. I am 24. I've been doing prison time since the age of 16, on and off in county jails, houses of correction, hold overs, etc. I am currently in federal prison, serving an 84-month sentence with three years of extended supervision for distribution of cocaine. I've been incarcerated for four years now. I am urging school district staff, Tribal staff, Tribal Council and Tribal people to take this gang problem seriously. Those confused Indian gang sters are your people. Love your people and never give up on them. Be firm and stand for what you believe in. Prison will not help them. Upon arrival at prison, they will be embraced by fellow gangsters. When their time is up, they will be released to once again plant roots of a gang mentality. Before you know it, Grand Ronde will no longer be a three or four on a scale of 10, with 10 representing frequent and violent gang activity. Instead, there will be a dramatic increase. I am encouraging all gang affiliates within the Native American com munity to get out as soon as possible. People love you and care about you; you are Indian and because of that I love you. I very much understand both reservation life as well as gang life. I was raised among both on my reservation. Gang activity is considered practi cally "out of control" as a result of gang violence, recent homicides and drug trafficking, according to press releases. Local authorities, state officials and multi-jurisdictional task forces collabo rated with the FBI took down about 40 people in one sweep and about 14 on the next sweep. These people were sentenced to between three and 31 years, all because our Tribal Council declared our Tribe in a state of emergency. They tried everything else and didn't know what to do. They had to call in the feds. Please, beautiful Indian people of Grand Ronde, don't put your Tribal Council in that position. Do whatever it takes to combat and minimize gang activity. Take it seriously and make a big deal out of it. Do it with love and spirituality. Plant new roots, but don't let it come to this. Prison will do nothing but conserve gang mentality, like gas on a fire. I currently have three remaining years on my federal prison sentence. I have two young, beautiful daughters. I am on a quest to better myself men tally and spiritually. But like many others, I was raised on the reservation very poor and among very violent gang activity. I let it get the best of me. Please, don't let it get the best of you. (A-ho, Chi Miigwich) Thank you very much. Julian Martin Memphis, Tenn. Tiro toe fto Duostt CoDDege GoaD Oregon eve on ft The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde campus will be one of 20 sites in Oregon to participate in a one-day statewide effort on Saturday, Jan. 26, to help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. FAFSA is a need-based application for federal, state and campus-based financial aid. College Goal Oregon sites throughout the state will have trained volun teers and financial aid professionals available to provide assistance and support from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Locally, it will be held in Room 126 of the Tribe's Adult Education Building. Help will include completing the FAFSA worksheet, submitting an online application and training on other educational funding opportunities. Each site will have a drawing for one $500 education award. Students should bring a parent or guardian, if possible; most recent completed federal tax return; current value of assets, including cash, checking, savings, investments and value of business or farm; Social Se curity numbers of student and parents; driver's licenses, if any; and alien registration card if an applicant is not a U.S. citizen. College Goal Oregon is part of the national College Goal Sunday program to help students access millions of available financial aid dollars. In 2007, more than 800 students and their families participated in the first College Goal Oregon at 15 sites. For more information about College Goal Oregon, visit www.Colleg eGoalOregon.org. fl Elder Foster Program The Tribe's Elder Foster Care lodges are committed to offering quality care to our Elders and to help them remain as independent as possible, while providing the personalized assistance they need. At our lodges, a wide range of services are available in a comfortable setting where privacy is respected and maximum independence is supported. For information, contact Joan Englund, Elder Foster Program director, at 503-879-1694. IN THE TRIBAL COURT OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON In the Matter of: QUENELLE, CASE NO. C-07-0 1 2-003 Frank, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE Petitioner, FOR BEARFACE, Brandon Minor. The Petitioner, Frank Quenelle, on behalf of Brandon Taylor Bear face, a minor child, has petitioned the Court for a Change of Name for the minor child. It is alleged that Petitioner, on behalf of the minor child desires to change his name to Brandon Taylor Quenelle, for the reason stated that: minor child, through regular use, has become known by the proposed name; Minor child to carry on Petitioner's last name. Based on the foregoing petition filed with the Court on December 11, 2007, and good cause appearing therefore, IT IS ORDERED THAT the petitioner and any person objecting to the granting of the petition shall appear in the Tribal Court of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, lo cated at 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon on, January 23, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. to show cause why the Court should not enter judgment granting the proposed change of name. The Clerk of the Tribal Court shall cause a copy of this Order to be served upon all part ies in accordance with the Rules of Pleading, Practice and Procedure of the Tribal Court of t he Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. DATED THIS 19th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2007. Suzanne Ojibway Townsend, Chief Judge UNMARKED GRAVE SITES IN GRAND RONDE We need your help If anyone knows the location of an unmarked grave or knows the name of someone who was buried at the Grand Ronde Cemetery and their grave has not been marked, please contact Mike Larson, Facilities Manager, at 503-879-2407.
