2 MARCH 1,2008
Smoke Signals
Attention Tribal members
2008 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
I Sunday, March 2 11 a.m., Grand Ronde, Tribal Community Center
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, March 5 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19 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.
Dear Smoke Signals:
Thank you to the Tribal members, family and friends for all their support,
help, cards and flowers during our time of loss.
We are proud to be a part of this family and Tribal members.
The family of Norma Ruth Lewis
Dear Smoke Signals:
My name is Sonny Hutchins. I am a Veterans of Foreign Wars Vietnam
disabled veteran. I belong to VFW Post 9611 in Cloverdale.
I am respectfully writing to give honor to two of the Tribal Elders who are
part of the Tribal Honor Guard veterans. I am not able to go to the Grand
Ronde Veterans Powwow every year because I am stage two congestive
heart and am physically unable to attend.
I do have a scooter that the Veterans Hospital gave me due to the fact that
I am a 100 percent service-connected veteran, permanent and total.
I have wanted a hat and medal from the Veterans Powwow, but been un
able to get one because I am not there. I have spoken to several people, but
all hats and medals were gone because there were so many veterans last
year at the Powwow. However, I am friends of Tribal Elder Larry Risteen
and his wife, Tammy. They said they would see if they could help me acquire
a Powwow hat and medal the best they could.
Larry and Tammy are considered family to myself and my wife, Judy.
Larry mentioned to two of the Tribal Honor Guard veterans that I would like
to have a medal and hat due to my situation. Larry and Tammy tried very
hard. One day, Larry was talking to Wayne (Chulik) of the Honor Guard
about a medal. Wayne said there just were not any left.
At that point, Wayne started to walk away after conversation with Larry,
and Wayne turned around and said, "Here, give him this." Wayne gave me
a medal off his neck. It was the Warriors Medal of Valor, Native American
Nations of the United States of America. On the back it said it was awarded
"for valorous service to a grateful nation" and there was a red ribbon for me
to wear. I am to wear it on my last journey. Larry and Tammy brought this
medal to me one evening, and Larry presented the medal to me given to him
from Wayne of the Tribal Honor Guard. I was so moved. I could not contain
myself. I did something I never do. I broke into tears and wept uncontrollably.
I am so honored, Wayne, that you gave me such a revered medal of Native
Americans. I shook Larry's hand and hugged Larry and his wife, Tammy.
I told him to thank Wayne. However, I choose to honor Wayne myself by
respectfully writing this thank you to Wayne.
Thank you, Wayne, for honoring me in such a way as not only a Native Ameri
can, but as a veteran. And thank you Wayne for your service to this country as a
war veteran. May the Great Spirit bless you on your last journey to not only give
homage to the Tribe, but to go on to be with the Great Spirit forever.
My grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. I am so very proud of
my Indian heritage. My father taught me very much about our Tribe and our
ways of living. I give money every month to the Lakota Sioux Indian children
to help them with school clothing and everything they may need.
Unfortunately, the white man is still treating all Indians without care of
our Tribal needs or even honor our ways through our honoring of nature and
animals of the Earth and all living things. White man takes these things
for granted without thought of our needs or respectful at all to our beliefs.
They have taken so much from us for so many years, and I do not believe
they ever will stop.
White men do not know that our Tribal chiefs of all Indian Nations are
the true founders of this nation as is inscribed on Mount Rushmore: George
Washington and the other three presidents. The four Great Chiefs should
be there on Mount Rushmore. They are the true founders.
One evening, Tammy called me and told me that she had a surprise for
me. She came over and gave me a Veterans Powwow hat that was given to
her by Marce (Norwest) of the Honor Guard also. I will wear it with pride.
Thank you so very much Wayne and Marce with honoring me so.
I truly feel at this point as part of the Grand Ronde Tribal members. Re
spectfully, thank you Wayne and Marce. And Larry and Tammy for being
so inspirational and getting me these very precious honor gifts.
Respectfully and with much pride in my heart.
Sonny Hutchins
Hebo, Ore.
Correction An article in the Feb. 15 Smoke Signals incorrectly reported
how many elk the Tribe harvested in 2006 in the Trask Unit. The correct
number is 19. Smoke Signals regrets the error.
Social & Economic
Survey forms due
The Social & Economic Survey that was mailed out in February
to members 18 and older needs to be completed and returned by
March 20 for those who want to be included in the prize drawing.
For more information about the survey, contact Planning & Grants
Development Manager Kim Rogers at 503-879-2250.
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
www.grandronde.org
f 1 DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Wednesday, Mar. 5 MAR. 1 5
Thursday, Mar. 20 APR. 1
Friday, Apr. 4 APR. 15
Friday, Apr. 18 MAY 1
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
slobtun.uy1orgrandronde.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-879-1453
scarletc.holtigr3ndronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
george.vaidezgrandronde.org
KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECRETARY
503-879-1418
kristen.ravtagrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
ustJn.phlllipsgrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-5211
she1ry.kentgrandrofide.org
DEAN RHODES
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
dean.rhodesgrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron . kartengrandronde.org
CARLA ROBERTS
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
carU.robertsgrandronde.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
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage Input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2008 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle Kennedy Chris Mercier
Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305
- ext. 2352 chrls.merclergrandronde.org
cheryIe.kennedygrandronde.org Q Wnk $oderberg
Reyn Leno ext. 1 444
Tribal Vice Chair wink.soderberggrandronde.org
- ext. 2399 0 Kathleen Tom
reyn.lenograndronde.org ext j jyj
D Jack Giffen Jr. kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
Tribal Secretary q june Sell-Sherer
- ext. 2306 ext. 2300
ack.glffengrandronde.org une.sherergrandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr. n VaIore $heker
-ext. 2353 -ext. 2355
steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org