8 JUNE 1,2009
Smoke Signals
Gift)
TRIBAL FLAGS continued
from front page
Government Day held at the state
Capitol. "I think it's a huge step in
a positive direction for our sover
eignty. "The federal government tries
to dissolve our sovereignty in any
way they can. For the state to step
up and recognize us as a sovereign
nation is huge."
"This event means a day of honor
when all Tribes gather and share
the unity of the nine Tribes," Tribal
Council member Wink Soderberg
said. "That unity is something we
have worked hard for, and I think
the raising of the flags will reinforce
the government-to-government re
lationship between the nine Tribes
and the state."
Tribal Government Day officially
started at 8:30 a.m. with a breakfast
hosted by the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde and prepared by
Spirit Mountain Casino staff.
Attendees dined on miniature
muffins, croissants, fruit, pastries,
coffee and bottles of water and
juice. Information tables from the
nine federally recognized Tribes
filled the Capitol Galleria.
Grand Ronde's table, staffed by
Tribal members Kristen Ravia
and Ashley Langley, was a popular
destination as the Tribe gave away
"Oregon" picture books and copies
of the 25th Restoration commemo
rative edition that appeared in the
Nov. 15, 2008, Smoke Signals.
Tribal members milling about
the Galleria included Education
Division Manager April Campbell;
Tribal Elders Kathryn Harrison,
Chip Tom, Steve Rife, Gladys
Hobbs and Violet Folden; Cultural
Resources Manager David Lewis;
Tribal lobbyist Justin Martin; and
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
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Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy speaks during Tribal Government Day.
Director Shelley Hanson.
Tribal Council members in at
tendance included Soderberg, June
Sell-Sherer, Kathy Tom, Giffen,
Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy,
Valorie Sheker, Vice Chair Reyn
Leno, Steve Bobb Sr. and Chris
Mercier.
Other Tribal members who at
tended included the Tribe's man
agement team of Executive Officer
Chris Leno, Director of Develop
ment Pete Wakeland and Direc
tor of Program Operations John
Mercier.
The annual event's name was
changed this year from "Tribal
Information Day" to Tribal Govern
ment Day, said Oregon Commis
sion on Indian Services Executive
Director Karen Quigley, to "stress
the government-to-government re
lationship between the Tribes and
the state."
"Every time we have one of these
days," said Sue Shaffer, Tribal
chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band
of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, "it is
such a teaching experience to the
public. I'm grateful that the state
understands there are 10 govern
ments in Oregon the state and
the nine Tribal governments. It is
further attested to by the Commis
sion on Indian Services, which is
a legislative arm of state govern
ment." At 10 a.m., attendees moved out
side to Wilson Park on the west side
of the state Capitol building for the
solemn ceremony to raise the nine
Tribal flags and make them an of
ficial part of the Walk of Flags, an
oval with flags from the 50 states,
which opened in 2005.
Before the ceremony started,
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy, carrying a colorful bead
ed purse that featured a bright red
bird, sat next to Shaffer, jovially
talking about the day.
Tribal Elder Steve Rife, a member
of the Grand Ronde Honor Guard,
carried an eagle staff and led the
procession in as Grand Ronde
Veterans' Special Event Board
members Chris Tinney carried the
state flag, Gene LaBonte handled
the POWMIA flag and Norris Mer
rill tended the U.S. flag.
Tribal Council member and vet
eran June Sell-Sherer carried the
Grand Ronde flag and Tribal Coun
cil members and veterans Steve
Bobb Sr. and Reyn Leno stood at
the base of the Grand Ronde flag
pole, waiting the time when all
nine Tribes would simultaneously
hoist their flags to fly in the breezy
Oregon air.
Umatilla Tribal Elder Jay Mint
horn, chair of the Commission
on Indian Services and Umatilla
Board of Trustees member, handled
the master of ceremonies duties.
Since the state Capitol sits in
the ceded homelands of the Grand
Ronde Tribe, Kennedy opened the
proceedings.
"This is a great occasion," Ken
nedy said after welcoming the
public, Tribal members and elected
officials. "This acknowledgement
of the Tribes and the sisterhood
relationship between the state of
Oregon and the nine Tribes of Or
egon is a first in the nation. This is
the first occasion like this that is
occurring within the United States
of America.
"It took a lot of effort and work,
but I must say that the Oregon
Legislature was very open, embrac
ing and encouraging in this whole
process."
Kennedy thanked staff at the
Oregon Parks & Recreation De
partment and the Commission on
Indian Services for their contribu
tions to see the day to fruition.
At 10:15 a.m., Minthorn, saying
the day was "something to remem
ber for years to come," instructed
Tribal representatives to connect
and hoist their Tribal flags to fly
over the state Capitol as Star Horse,
a drum from the Warms Springs
Tribe, performed a flag song.
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Tribal Vic Chair Reyn Leno, left,, and Tribal Council members Steve Bobb Sr. and June Sell-Sherer wait to raise the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde flag
during the flag ceremony that was part of Tribal Government Day.