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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2008)
10 Smoke Signals JANUARY 15, 2008 Dear Smoke Signals: It doesn't seem like the message Mike Larsen has been pleading for in the newspaper is getting across. The importance of his message means everything to the future generations and the survival of our culture and correct history. It's true that many gravestones are unmarked or washed away from the rains. It's time for everyone to stop and realize the importance of sharing all their family pictures and stories, and any other information that needs to be filed and dated concerning the Tribe. It's up to us to leave a ledger and imprints of this time. All your old prints and family pictures can be put on disks. It's time to step up to the plate before family pictures also fade away. Maxine Rock Roll 1173 Dear Smoke Signals: I would like to thank our family and friends for honoring my brother, Leslie Lee Graham, at his beautiful funeral. Pastor Ken, you spoke our hearts, and Rex, the music was so comforting. A special thanks to Cindy, the dinner was a feast. Farnstrom's Mortuary has taken care of my loved ones long before we had the burial fund we're blessed with now. Ben Farnstrom knows what the Tribe allows, and has never let me get in debt again for my loved one's burial. My gratitude to Ben and your wonderful father, Maury, who taught you so well. Charlene Freeman Roll 194 Dear Tribal Members: My name is Mike Portwood, and I am writing this letter in hopes of convincing you to vote "yes" on the upcoming Constitutional Amendment on our Tribe's enrollment requirements. I plan on trying to convince you through my own experience. In 2005, 1 received a letter from our Tribe. The letter was pretty simple. It basically stated that my son, Nicholas, had been enrolled in error, and he was slated to be dis-enrollcd, meaning kicked out of the Tribe. As a parent, I cannot tell you how devastating it is to receive this kind of letter. What makes it especially hard to swallow is that my family, the Port woods, is being used as an example by our Tribe to prove its historical connections to the Columbia River Gorge. So, really, we are being used as a Tribal family to illustrate that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have a historical connection to the area, but at the same time a number of us are being denied enrollment in our Tribe because of a lack of historical connection. Quite frankly, it doesn't make sense. In fact, the whole situa tion seems kind of contradictory. I am, along with my mother, Marilyn Portwood, a descendant of Chief Tumulth, one of Grand Ronde's treaty signers. That is how a lot of us are able to claim membership. You would think that my blood would be passed on to Nicholas, and would be sufficient to be a member. However, the importance of my blood has been lessened by the 1999 Constitutional amendment. How so? Because my mother's family was not on the Restora tion roll. The 1999 amendment didn't take into account historical connec tions. It only focused on when you enrolled. So while prior to 1999 I and many in my family would have been OK, our offspring and ourselves are now disadvantaged due to what amounts to a legal technicality. In other words, a retroactive deadline. I am not writing this letter because I want Nicholas to get a trust fund, or health care, or anything like that. I am writing this because I have al ways considered myself a Grand Ronde Indian, and the blood quantum of my children should be half of mine, which is more than enough to enroll. Not so after the 1999 amendment. If you think I am writing this for financial reasons, then please try putting yourself in my shoes. Imagine being a parent and having to explain one day to your children that they used to be Indian. Imagine having a child who learns about his ancestry, who attends pow-wows and sees people who are his relations, but learns that they can partake of a community and he cannot, all because one of his ancestors enrolled after a certain date. It is the kind of situation that most people will never understand unless they themselves are in it. Even then, I wouldn't wish my own situation upon anyone. That is why lam asking you to help pass this Constitutional amendment. It won't cost anybody a huge amount, and it will open up a lifetime of op portunity for quite a few Tribal children. To me, that is reason enough. Mike Portwood Roll 2936 ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS The following committeesSEB's have vacancies: Culture Committee 2; Fish & Wildlife 2; Pow-wow SEB 1; Rodeo SEB 1; and Veterans SEB 1. Contact Dakota Whitecloud for an application andor more informa tion at 503-879-1309 or dakota.whitecloud(S'grandronde.org. Dear Tribal Family: The family of Penny Zimmer would like to express its heartfelt thanks for all the help and generosity during this tragic time. To Val Sheker and all the Tribal staff, thanks for your assistance with paperwork and funeral arrangements. To Sharon Herron for braiding Penny's hair, giving haircuts and helping with clothes for her daughters. To Julie Little and her family for preparing the meal. And to all those who bought food to Ken and Darlene's, it was greatly appreciated. All the time and prayers helped get us through this tragic time and you will never be forgotten. Penny Zimmer's family NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, Jan. 23 5 p.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Call Dakota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at 503-879-1309 to confirm. Elder Foster Program "Affcsa to Ccffl Hcarf 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. 0 " L-i- 1 I 1 . ; -Sk - " I '. : i- IN THE TRIBAL COURT OF THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON CASE NO. C-07-0 12-003 ORDER TO SI IOW CAUSE In the Matter of: QUENELLE, Frank, 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 1 1:00 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 parties in accordance with the Rules of Pleading, Pract ice and Procedure of the Tribal Court of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. DATED THIS 19th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2007. Suzanne Ojibway Townsend, Chief Judge
