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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2008)
6 NOVEMBER 15, 2008 Smoke Signals Temporary Grand Ronde Council meets in June 1975 Early Treasurer's Report cites Tribal bank balance of $2.27 By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor The year is 1975. Gerald Ford sits in the White House. "All in the Family" is the most popular show on TV. "Love Will Keep Us Together" by the Captain & Tennille tops the pop charts. Gas sells for about 50 cents a gallon. And on June 8, 10 people chris tened "The Temporary Council of the Grand Ronde Indians" convene. Those in attendance are Chairwom an Margaret Provost, Co-Chairman Merle Holmes, Secretary Patti Martin, Treasurer Vicki Lawrence and Council members Darrell Mer cier, Marvin Kimsey, Les Houck, Russell Leno, Verna Larsen and Ken Hudson. According to minutes kept by Martin, the discussion items are mostly procedural. Among the decisions made: Meetings will be held on Sundays; General Council meetings will be held once a month; Bylaws of the Siletz Tribal Council will be adopted and revised to meet Grand Ronde needs. And the next meeting will be held at the Kopper Kitchen in Salem. The meeting adjourns at 4:01 p.m. Forty-three people attended the meeting in Grand Ronde, driving from as far away as Tillamook and Portland. From such humble beginnings, the Restoration of the Grand Ronde Tribe began. According to Martin's minutes, taken between June 8, 1975, and Feb. 1, 1976, money to fund the effort was indeed scarce. For instance, the June 17 meet ing held at the Kopper Kitchen is fronted by Margaret Provost. She pays $14.75 for dinner and the meeting room, and will be reim bursed when "the funds come in," the minutes state. During the Sept. 21, 1975, meet ing. Holmes announces he has applied for a $7,800 grant from the National Indian Lutheran Hoard. In addition, Tribal mem bers have approached the Small Tribes of Western Washington for admission, which would make the Grand Ronde Tribe eligible for the organization's grants. Also in September, Kimsey moves to keep the same Tribal Council members on until September 1976 because of all the work they have done and the contacts made. The motion passes. In October nt a meeting held in the conference room at Chemawa Indi an School, attendance swells to 57. Provost explains the ultimate goal of the council to newly attendingTribal COWCIL, MOTTISQ 0? THB CHAMP RONDE tSPI&KS 0AT8 MEMBERS lit ATTgNDAHCg HSMBSflg HOT XH ATTENDANCE ; WIW DTK 3 1 DECEMBER 1973 Vlefel Lawrence Rase La no May I Holme a Marvin Kimaey Darrell Mercier Patti Mar tiu Lea Huuek Margaret Provoat lea Hudaon Hat la called the easting to order ae it 20. Roll waa calledMargaret Piovoat, Kan Hudaon, and La a Houck vara abeant. Treaaurer'a report wea given by VleWt tavronc. The amount of 921.27 waa collectnd at tho laat meeting. tlS.00 waa paid to the peetor far the rental of the ehutch . $5.00 waa ueed for atampa, a balance waa left af 2.27. Herle motioned the treaaurer'a report ba accepted; Marvin aacondad. Maria asked Marvin to give hie report on the vleltatioa of the lawyer, Jnaa King. Ha aald that probably no government land could ba given back. Ha told the people if they are on thla Hat, thay muat eontaet the 8 tat a Land Board. There la a charge of 7.50 to gat it. The quae t Ion waa aeked. "la there any hope af doing esse thing to Mr. Fullerf The etatuta of limitations haa run out. Herlerahd Marvin attended a meeting of tho teak force at lilets. There were eoiae Indians t ha re j but Merle aald that if thay did auythlag at all, thay ware very aynpathatlc. "But who knowe?" We want to have a meeting with Mr. Louaftght and the Public Health in order to uaa the dental health facllltiea at Chemawa. Maria aald the people who ara on the old rolle, and their dependenta, will ba recognised far thla dental program. Maria haa soma fee lore eat about low-income houelng in the Grand Ronde area. The rant would ba vary lew, bee a uaa af the Income a out thla way. Bathing emaller than 2 hedroome. Marvin said a workshop la being held in Portland concerning the CXTA Program. Ha hopes w will ba sub-granteed by 0.1. P., and have CXTA moalea to naa la the Crand Honda area. There ara a lot of educational grants the main one being B.I. 0.0. The eehool muat ba Federally accredited before thay will accept the grants. Marvin Kimsey tftld the people that If thay could gat up enough men tor a trae-plaat log craw, the CCTA Prograta will arrange a contract between the craw and the Forest Service. The quaetlea was asked, "Boas anyone know what the coat of hooking up to the wetar ay a tea 1st" Xt is an Initial east of 1300.00, sad than a monthly eharga of 7.00 - 18.00. members - Restoration. The meet ing also includes a potluck meal. In addition, a show of hands indicates interest in a health sur vey, which Diana Denhem and Patti Martin agree to conduct in the Grand Ronde Library on Oct. 31. On Dec. 7, Treasurer Vicki Law rence delivers her first report de tailed in the minutes. The amount of $21.27 was collected at the pre vious meeting, of which $15 was dispersed for rental of the church and $5 used to purchase stamps, leaving a balance of $2.27. Holmes reports receiving a letter from Oregon Sen. Hob Packwood. "Since the Menominees were re stored, it looks good for Siletz. We are sure that we could be restored also, because we have as many rights and needs as the others. There is also a chance for state recognition," the minutes say. The Dec. 15 Tribal Council meet ing held at a Honanza restaurant discusses putting together a Christ mas party and spaghetti feed for Indian children in Grand Ronde. Several names are offered regard ing who would be the best Santa, but the minutes do not reveal who the eventual Grand Ronde Claus turned out to be. However, the party is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. In January 1976, the Tribe is notified that its admittance into the Small Tribes of Western Washing ton is denied. An early setback in obtaining funding for the Restora tion effort. The fact that Chinook Indians are a member, and receiving funds, is very puzzling since Grand Ronde has more than 300 Chinook Indi ans," the minutes state. On the positive side. Holmes says he feels confident about receiving a $7,800 National Indian Lutheran Hoard grant since ineligible groups were supposed to be notified of such by Jan. 1. It also is announced that Ray Cross, a Mandan Indian who helped the Menominees obtain Restora tion, would be taking over the Grand Hondo's case with the Native American Rights Fund. The Tribal Council also decides that all meetings should be held in Grand Ronde from now on. The public school is open to use by the public," the minutes state. There is no cost unless we use the kitchen. The Tribal Business Committee is filling out the necessary forms to see that the first Sunday of every month is scheduled for our meet ings." Monetarily, things are improving. The Tribal checking account stands at $93 thanks to donations at the Christmas party. (There's no men tion of Provost being reimbursed for the Kopper Kitchen expense.) In February, Holmes appoints Dean Mercier to the remainder of Ken Hudson's term on council until September elections are held. And a Hylaw Committee of Rubs Leno, Dean Mercier, Darrell Mercier, Vicki Lawrence and Patti Martin forms to update the Siletz bylaws. Twenty-eight people attend the Feb. 1 Tribal Council meeting. Most of them list Grand Ronde addresses on the attendance sheet. Slowly, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is re-awakening in its traditional homelands as the nation's 200th birthday ap
