4 NOVEMBER 1, 2009
Smoke Signals
Kennedy heading to
Tribal Nations event
Meeting with President Obama set for Nov. 5
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy will meet with President Barack
Obama in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Nov. 5, as a participant in the
president's Tribal Nations Conference.
Obama committed to the annual meeting with Tribal leaders during his
2008 campaign.
The meeting will coincide with the National Congress of American In
dians' 66th annual convention and the grand opening of the Embassy of
Tribal Nations on Nov. 3.
In addition, Kennedy will participate in a Tribal Roundtable with U.S.
Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and meet with
U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
She also is attempting to meet with representatives of the British Em
bassy to discuss return of the Summers Collection held by the British
Museum.
Tribal Council members Valorie Sheker and June Sell-Sherer are also
traveling to Washington, D.C., and participating in the Health & Human
Services and Labor Department meetings, as well as the Embassy of Tribal
Nations open house. However, only one representative per Tribe will be
permitted to attend the presidential Tribal Nations Conference.
Kennedy will become the second Tribal Council member to meet Presi
dent Obama, but the first to do so as president. Tribal Council member
Chris Mercier met Obama when he was a Democratic candidate traveling
through Oregon on a campaign stop. B
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council has proposed several amendments to the
Enrollment Ordinance. The first reading of the amendments to the
Enrollment Ordinance was presented at the Sept. 30, 2009, Tribal
Council meeting.
The purpose of the amendments is to make technical corrections to
various provisions of the ordinance and to make substantive changes
to the ordinance. The numerous substantive changes include, but
are not limited to: (1) bringing the Ordinance into compliance with
the most recent Constitutional amendment by including the require
ment that individuals must fully and unconditionally relinquish
membership in another Tribe for 5 full years to be eligible for enroll
ment; (2) increasing the number of times the Enrollment Committee
can meet on enrollment applications from 2 to 4 times per year; (3)
codifying current procedures for amending the Tribal membership
roll for blood quantum and non-blood quantum technical corrections;
and (4) authorizing limited use of identifying information, such as
name, address, telephone number, roll number and Social Security
number by Tribal departments, programs and wholly owned enter
prises as needed to provide benefits and services to members.
The Tribal Council believes amendment of this ordinance will
assist the Tribe in continuing to provide efficient enrollment pro
cedures and services to its members.
The proposed ordinance amendments may be viewed on the Tribal
member accessible Web site at www.grandronde.org. You may also
obtain a copy of the proposed ordinance amendments by contacting
the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. Tribal Council invites
comment on the proposed amendments. Please send your comments
to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde,
OR 973 17.
Comments must be received by Nov. 15, 2009.
0 U
503-070-5211 1
Christmas tree contest
The Elders' Activity Center is looking for teams to decorate a
Christmas tree.
Voting will be conducted by people who come into the Elders'
Activity Center. Prizes will be $100 for first place, $75 for second
place and $50 for third place.
The trees then will be sold by silent auction.
Decorating will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.
Call Elder Activity Assistant Daniel Ham at 503-879-2233 to
sign up your team or call Tribal Elder Louise Medeiros at 503-879-4312
for more information. D
TirolbaD dlifi)f
Photos by Michelle Alalmo
Tribal member Vanessa Chavez, 1 8, right, gets a hug from her lifelong
friend Marisa Bonilla during an Indian taco fundraiser that was held
for her at the Tribal Community Center on Monday, Oct. 12. Chavez
was diagnosed with leukemia on Aug. 5, and is currently undergoing
chemotherapy treatments every three weeks.
Jasen Henderson, the Tribe's cancer navigator, swabs the inside of
Tribal member, and aunt to Chavez, Dorothy Spivey's mouth so she
can be screened to be added to the National Marrow Donor Program
registry during the fundraiser for Chavez. Henderson arranged for
educational information and screening packets to be available at the
event for attendees who were interested in becoming marrow donors.
The eVent raised approximately $1,000 for future medical needs for
Chavez and a portion of these funds will be donated by the family to
the National Marrow Donor Program.
Ad created by George VakJef
2009 Tribal
MairkeftipDace dlattes
Nov. 6-8, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 4-6, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dales subject to change due to con flicting Tribal or SMC
events. Located across from Cedar Plank Duffel.