Smoke Signals 9
MAY 1, 2009
Strategic Plan process visits Yakima
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
About 50 people attended the April 19 Community Meeting held in Ya
kima, Wash., to provide input on the Tribe's Strategic Plan process.
Tribal Planning and Grants Department Manager Kim Rogers said
about 23 Tribal members attended from eastern Washington (mostly
the Yakima and Kennewick areas), one drove over from Idaho and the
remainder were Tribal Council members, staff and Tribal members
from western Oregon.
Since January, the Tribe has been soliciting Tribal member input on
a new Strategic Plan, which is being updated for the first time since
1995. The Tribe has previously held meetings in Grand Ronde, Clacka
mas and Eugene to accept Tribal member input. The final meeting is
scheduled for May 17 in Bend at the Riverhouse Hotel.
The comments collected from these meetings will be considered in
completing the Strategic Plan. There will then be a 60-day comment
period on a final draft of the Strategic Plan before it is considered for
adoption by Tribal Council.
Rogers said that four Tribal members filled out and left comment
forms in Yakima, rating the space, food and agenda positively.
There are 116 Tribal members in Yakima County, which is not far
from the Tri-Cities in southeastern Washington state and approximately
equidistant from Seattle, Spokane and Pendleton.
At the end of the meeting, Tribal member Sheila Wyatt won a drawing
for a Tribal stadium blanket and Tribal Elder Shirley Deane won the
drawing for a copy of the Tribe's 25th anniversary Restoration DVD.
Wyatt and Deane both live in Harrah, Wash. B
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Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Council member Valorie Sheker looks through a magazina
at ona of tha information booths at tha 2009 Oragon Govarnor's
Confaranca on Tourism at tha Salam Confaranca Cantar in Salam
on Monday April, 20. Tha confaranca ran between April 1 9-21 and
Tribal and casino employees Siobhan Taylor, Kristen Ravia, Janele
Guiterrez and Ashley Langley staffed the Tribe's information
booth at tha event. Tribal member Jan Michael Looking Wolf
Reibach performed during the conference's awards ceremony.
Tribal Government Day set
for May 14 at State Capitol
By Dean Rhodes
Smitke Signal etlilnr
The flags of Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes will join the
flags of America's 50 states in the Walk of Flags on Thursday, May 14,
during Tribal Government Day events at the State Capitol in Salem.
Events start at 9 a.m. Thursday. Per tradition, the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde and Spirit Mountain Casino will serve break
fast to attendees during the morning reception.
Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor and other Tribal staff will
be at the Grand Ronde information booth in the Galleria of the State
Capitol.
In addition, a flag ceremony and proclamation reading by Gov. Ted
Kulongoski will be held to celebrate the Tribal Flags Monument that
has been placed on the grounds of the State Capitol with the Walk
of Flags. Two Grand Ronde veterans are scheduled to participate in
the Tribal Flag event.
A barbecue lunch buffet, hosted by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua
Tribe and Seven Feathers Casino, will start at noon.
In addition. Grand Ronde Tribal Council members plan to attend
the event. B
This Message to America is the result of the National Indian Council
on Aging's year 2000 conference in Duluth, Minn. More than 1,700 Elders
O from 108 Tribes across America attended and contributed to the words
in this message. Think about your Elders as you read this. They came O
O together, setting aside Tribal and political differences in order for you and O
your children to have some words of wisdom to help you in your lives.
Please pass this on to as many people as you can, both Native and non-
Native alike. These are the words of our Native Elders, but the values
, expressed can be appreciated by all of humanity. Once you have read it,
-O you are responsible for it. These are the Elders' hopes and dreams for 0
the world you re-create every day. O
O
o A Spiritual M
essae to America o
As we stand before the dawn and country.
of a new millennium, we pray for We should all strive to be lead
ers and contributors. Do not sit
back and let others plan and do o
all the thinking. Let us unite to- -O
gether so that we may have the
strength to protect our future.
Strength comes from working
through trials and tribulations, o
O
HEALTH O
Spiritual health is the key to ho-
listic health. We pray to have the
discipline to set healthy examples o
for our children to follow. Respect-
ing everyone and everything in the
universe starts with self-respect.
Take time to listen and take care
of your body and spirit. o
o
FAMILY AND YOUTH "
Family is important and pre-
O
o
America's survival, our survival.
O We pray that we will be given
O strength by the Creator to follow the
footsteps of our forefathers to share
our love, respect and compassion for
one another. There is good in every-O-
one because the Creator has put a
little of himself in all of us.
We pray for forgiveness for the
pain and suffering we have caused
one another.
e We pray that our children will not
O- repeat our mistakes.
We pray that we can respect the
diversity of America; all life is sa-
cred. Every child born is a precious
O- gift of our Creator. It is our sacred
O trust to embrace children from all
walks of life because we are part of
the same family.
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O and respect their Elders that they are loved. Let your children o
is where the wisdom comes from, and grandchildren know you are O
This respect will not allow forgot- always there to love and support
ten Elders. We are all equal, with them and that they mean the
each having our own special gift to world to you no matter what they
O contribute. These values will allow do or say. Children are of infinite o
our youth to become leaders and value. Live what you teach. Spiri- O
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you are our future and our hope start in the home.
iur me people, oiunu anu oe coura- we pray ior me youm. we must
geous. teach the youth to work together o
O We pray to learn and use the and respect all that is living on
wisdom of all that has come before our Mother Earth. We need to
us, to achieve personal successes convey to our younger generation
0 and to contribute to those of oth- that the survival of our people lies
o ers. Only when our young ones in spirituality. o
learn respect for everything can O
0 they evolve. PEACE
We pray to learn ways to settle
EARTH differences peacefully. Teach 0
O We pray for respect and love of respect for each other's ideas, o
Mother Earth because she is the Value honesty on all levels, from
foundation of human survival and children to parents to community
0 we must keep her pollution-free to governments. We will bo happy
o for those who will travel after us. when we create peace with each
O Protect her water, air, soil, trees, other. o
o forests, plants and animals. Do o
not just take and waste resources. TO THE SEVENTH 0
Make it a priority to conserve. The GENERATION
land is given to us by the Creator Survive
O to care for, not to own. If we take Keep hopes and dreams o
care of the land, the land will take Take care of yourself
care of us. Remember your spirit
0 Be there for each other
o UNITY Respect courage
O We should have respect for each Share knowledge o
other. We pray for commitment Always keep learning o
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to help those in need and to give
O them support and friendship. Be
o an example in life that others may
follow; serve people, community
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Grand Ronde Culture Com-o
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