Smoke Signals 5
JULY 1,2008
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By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Tribal Council Chair
woman Cheryle A. Ken
nedy welcomed members
of the National Indian
Head Start Directors As
sociation to their 18th
annual Management
Training Conference,
this year held in Grand
Ronde's ceded territory
in Portland.
Indian Head Start peo
ple came from across the
country and Canada.
"Managing the Cur
rents of Change," the con
ference theme, included
discussions of person
nel and organizational
changes. Also on the
agenda were the issues
arising as federal Head
Start legislation unfolds
across the nation.
"I believe in my heart,"
said Kennedy on Tuesday,
June 24, at the Red Lion
Inn at Jantzen Beach on
the third day of the five
day conference, "that children need
to be a much higher priority in our
families and schools. In doing so,
we fulfill the wisdom of the great
Creator.
"When I think about the hard
ships our ancestors went through,
I am very humbled. I know we have
answers from our ancestors. We
just have to seek them out."
Kennedy emphasized stories and
traditions as ways to teach the "lit-
. c, r
Photo by Ron Karten
Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy delivered the welcome address to the National Indian
Head Start Directors Association on Tuesday, June 24, at the Red Lion Inn at Jantzen Beach in Portland. The
Management Training Conference drew Head Start staff from across the United States and Canada.
tie ones," who in the coming years
will "take up the banner."
State Sen. Kate Brown, who is
running for Secretary of State and
is the longest serving legislative
member of the Legislative Commis
sion on Indian Services, keynoted.
She said that the commission
helped push through nine Tribal
friendly bills in the 2007 Legisla
ture and killed two bills considered
harmful to Oregon's nine federally
recognized Tribes.
Though critics say the Head Start
program is not cost effective, Brown
said that the program actually pro
vides $9 worth of benefits for every
$1 spent.
On that background, she added
that the legislative and executive
branches of the federal government
have failed to fully fund Head Start
in the coming year.
"Cuts could reach 15,000 employ
ees across the country
because of Congress's
failure to provide even
cost-of-living increases
for the coming year,"
Brown said.
The tone of this open
ing session was noth
ing if not hopeful. "The
future will be better
and brighter because of
your hard work," Brown
said.
"You will have fulfill
ment, joys, great memo
ries, devotion and love,"
Kennedy said. "I applaud
you."
Grand Ronde's Eagle
Beak Drum performed
and the Grand Ronde
Honor Guard posted the
colors. Tribal Council
member Chris Mercier
also attended the event.
The next day
Wednesday, June 25
the Tribe hosted a dinner
for conference attendees
at the Cathlapotle Plank
house on the Ridgefield
Wildlife Reserve in Washington
state. A team from Spirit Moun
tain Casino prepared a traditional
Northwest Native meal of oysters
and clams.
Lisa Archuletta of the Port
land office assisted Public Affairs
Director Siobhan Taylor at the
event. The Tribal Canoe Family
also entertained in the plank
house with drumming, singing
and dancing. II
nlnglhija grades
Graduation Celebration honors 102 Tribal members
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signal editor
More than 100 Tribal members
were honored at a Graduation
Celebration held June 20 in the
Tribal gymnasium for graduat
ing from high school, obtaining
their GED or earning degrees
from vocational or postsecond
ary institutions.
This year's theme was "Lead
With Our Hearts: Restoration
and Education" and featured
as guest speakers Tribal Elder
and former Tribal Chairwoman
Kathryn Harrison and Tribal
members Jack Ham, Matthew
Zimbrick and Jade Unger.
Tribal Council Vice Chairman
Keyn Leno and Tribnl Council
members Chris Mercier, Wink
Soderbcrg and Steve Bobb Sr.
also attended the Graduation
Celebration.
The celebration recognized .35
Tribal high school graduates, 23
Tribnl members who obtained
GEDs, four Tribal members
who earned certificate degrees,
nine Tribal members who ob
tained associate (two-year) college
degrees, 25 Tribal members who
obtained bachelor's degrees and
six Tribal members who earned
master's degrees.
"It's a wonderful thing to see
members accessing educational
services more than ever," said
Education Division Manager April
Campbell. "We are recognizing the
value and strength of education.
And it gives me a sense of peace as
I envision the future of our Tribe."
Each master's degree graduate
received an eagle feather prepared
by Tribal employees Bobby Mercier
and Luhui Whitebear.
"I personally want to thank Youth
Education, Higher Education and
the Library staff for organizing
this event," Campbell said. "And
the Decorating Committee for a
beautiful layout."
Campbell also cited Continuing
Education Coordinator John Harp
for gathering photos and informa
tion for the slideshow, the Cultural
Resources Department for use of
historic photos, Tribnl Graphics
Design Specialist George Valdez for
Photo by Michelle Alalmo
Tribal member Aliea Smith holds her daughter Jacty Smith, 4, who it also
a Tribal member, after wrapping her in the Pendleton blanket she received
during the Graduation Celebration held in the Tribal gymnasium on
Friday, June 20. Aliea Smith received the blanket for earning her GED.
designing the program cover and
poster, Facilities for setting up the
gym a day in advance and Coun
tryside Catering for the salmon
and elk spaghetti served before the
celebration.
Campbell also thanked Education
Committee members Shelby Olson
Rogers, Justin Taylor, Terri Dilts,
Connie 1 lolmes and Jon George "for
their support during the event and
throughout the year."
"And thank you to our gradu
ates and their family and friends
for making this yenr's celebra
tion n success," Campbell snid.
A full list of Tribal graduates
will be included in the Educa
tion Division's annual special
section, which will 1m? published
Inter this yenr in Smoke .S7
naltt. B