Smoke Signals 7
NOVEMBER 1,2009
Kennedy started working
for Grand Ronde in 1984
AWARD continued
from front page
said.
"Her work at the Northwest Port
land Area Indian Health Board,
for example, focused on building
health policy and delivery systems
that have the opportunity to affect
every Indian and Tribe across the
country.
"Within Grand Ronde, she has
also led efforts to preserve lan
guage, canoe traditions, gathering
rights, together with Grand Ronde
songs and dance."
"I am humbled by the nomina
tion made by the Tribal Council
and then to actually be elected by
the Potlatch Fund for this award is
marvelous," Kennedy said.
"I attribute the foundation for
being recognized as a promoter of
cultural preservation to my grand
mother, Pauline Warren Johnson,
and my mother, Cordelia Tom
Kneeland, who instilled in me our
Tribal way of life."
Kennedy, 61, was recently re
elected to the Grand Ronde Tribal
Council for a fourth consecutive
three-year term.
She also served on the Tribal
Council for two years in the mid
1980s after Restoration.
She has been elected chairwoman
starting in September 2001 and
served in that leadership role
continuously except for a one-year
break between September 2006
and September 2007. The Tribal
Council re-elected her to the chair
seat in September.
Kennedy is the second longest
serving Tribal chair in Grand
Ronde history.
Kennedy started working for the
Grand Ronde Tribe as its original
health director in 1984. She worked
as a health administrator with
Tribes for 30 years before being
elected to the Grand Ronde Tribal
Council in September 2000.
She served as the Tribal health
director for almost 15 years and
as the executive director of the
Northwest Portland Area Indian
Health Board.
During her health career, Ken
nedy was awarded the Health
Administrator of Year by the De
partment of Public Health, Indian
Health Services; and the Outstand
ing Leader in Health Care by the
Oregon Department of Health; and
honored for her contributions in
elevating the health status of In
dian people by the National Indian
Health Board.
She is serving or has served as a
member of the Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians, Commission
on Indian Services, Rural Health
Council of Oregon, Oregon's Wom
en Commission, National Congress
of American Indians, Northwest
Portland Area Indian Health Board
and Oregon's Rural Health Educa
tion Center.
Within the Tribe, she has served
on Tribal Health, Culture and
Royalty committees in addition to
her years of service on the Tribal
Council. She currently remains an
active member of the Health and
Culture committees. D
Casino books Milsap-Morgan concert
Country singers Ronnie Milsap and Lorrie Morgan will perform in concert
at the Spirit Mountain Casino Events Center at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.
Tickets are $15, $25 and $30, and can be obtained at Star Tickets Plus
at www.starticketsplus.com or by calling 800-585-3737. People also can
purchase tickets at www.spiritmountain.com or at the Coyote Club desk
at Spirit Mountain Casino.
Salem woman wins
$536K at Spirit Mountain
Rosemary Umsted, 62, of Salem won a $536,662.40 jackpot on
Oct. 13 at Spirit Mountain Casino while playing a penny slot
machine.
Umsted said she was playing the maximum bet on a "Wizard of
Oz" slot machine for about 20 minutes before hitting the jackpot.
"It's funny," she said. "The lady sitting next to me leaned over
and said she hoped to win the jackpot. I told her don't told your
breath, and then I hit it.
"I still can't believe it. I just want people to know that you actu
ally do win at Spirit Mountain. I'm just stunned that it's me.
"Follow the yellow brick road has a whole new meaning to me
now."
Umsted said she was unsure what she would do with her win
nings because her husband was on a hunting trip in Canada. D
CULTURAL GATHERINGS
NOV. 1 3-1 5: YAKAMA NATION VETERANS POWWOW. White Swan Pavillion, 626 Mis
sion Road. WHITE SWAN, WA. 1-800-922-1 399, ext. 1230.
NOV. 14: SUQUAMISH VETERANS POWWOW. Suquamlsh Community House , Hyak
LaneN.E. SUQUAMISH, WA. 360-394-8555.
NOV. 14: ENEAP VETERANS HONORING POWWOW. Lake Washington High School,
12033 N.E. 80th St. KIRKLAND, WA. 425-770-4366.
NOV. 14: 32ND ANNUAL RESTORATION POWWOW AND CELEBRATION. Chinook
Winds Casino, 1777 N.W. 44th St. LINCOLN CITY, OR. 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1230.
If you or anyone you know has Information on cultural events happening. Smoke Signals would
be glad to list It In our Cultural Gatherings. Please e-mail news9grandronde.org or write to
Smoke Signals, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
(omer
Ribbon Shirt Class
Grand Ronda
Nov. 15, & 22
AJyl-SPM.
Education room 207
Portland
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
6:30 PR. 930 PM.
Dentalium Necklace
Eugene
Nov.1
10 AM-4 PM.
Native Art Design Class
Portland
NOV. 4, 18 & 25
Dec 2,9
1:30 P.M.. 8:30 PM.
Eugene
Nov. 5, 12 & 19
Dec 3, 10 & 17
1:30 P.M. -8:30 P.M.
"Weave in" Class
Beginning to advanced basket weaving
Portland
Dec 4,546
9A.M-TBA
Education Room 207
ChinukWawa
Eugene
Thursday from 4-8 P.M.
POflleVMj
Wednesday from 4-8 P.M.
Phone: 503-879-2320 Fax: 503-879-2126 E-mail: misty.thorsganlgrandrondM)rg
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