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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2009)
4 DECEMBER 1,2009 Smoke Signals Tribal-State Summit concentrates on economy Chairs discuss how Tribes have dealt with downturn By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Oregon's battered economy and its effect on the state's nine feder ally recognized Tribes was front and center during the 12th annual Tribal-State Government-to-Gov-ernment Summit held Nov. 18 at Cascade Hall on the grounds of the Oregon State Fair in Salem. Tribal officials, including a con tingent of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde members led by Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, met with numerous state officials and discussed ways to deal with difficult economic times. State officials in attendance in cluded Gov. Ted Kulongoski, State Superintendent of Public Instruc tion Susan Castillo and State Sen. Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day), a mem ber of the Commission on Indian Services. The daylong event covered other topics of importance to Oregon Tribes, such as how unearthed Native remains should be handled in accordance with state law and improving Oregonians' awareness of Tribal history and sovereignty, but it was the economy that domi nated the day. Chairs of all nine Tribes ad dressed how their sovereign gov ernments were dealing with the difficult economic times. "We're living in a time when Oregon is experiencing a great eco nomic tragedy," Kennedy told at tendees, who numbered about 235. "Our soldiers are worried about having jobs when they return. "Our focus at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has been maintaining sustainability and employment." Kennedy said the Tribe focused on its budget and sought ways to be more effective and efficient for its approximately 1,850 full-time employees. In 2008, she said, the Tribe set aside its merit-based performance pay scale and gave employees a $500 bonus instead. "Employees rallied around that," she added. In addition, the Tribe sought more grants, including American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, for the improvement of the community and job creation, most notably the Grand Ronde Road project. Still, Kennedy noted, the lion's share of funding for the rond project came from Tribnl coffers. "We see ourselves as part of Or egon and we want to do our fair share," Kennedy snid. "It's been a challenging time. We need to work together to find creative ways to move into the future and join hands together." Kennedy thnnked Kulongoski for Oregon's leadership in establishing governmcnt-to-government rela tionships with Tribes. "It is truly a sign of respect," she snid. "We have n bright future to gether becnuse we're sitting here together. It doesn't happen in other states." Other Tribal chairs re lated similar stories of tighter Tribal budgets and even layoffs as the economy affects how much customers spend at Tribal casinos statewide. Coquille Indian Tribal Chairman Ed Metcalf reported a 7 percent work force reduction at his Tribe's casino. "We're dealing with the situation day by day, month by month, quarter by quarter," Metcalf said. "We attacked the problem on the cost side and our savings exceeded our rev enue decline." Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Chairwoman Sue Shaffer, who called herself a child of the Great Depression, said that even with the economic downturn, the Cow Creek opened a new wing at its hotel featuring an upscale spa and buffet. "Our priority is to pro vide jobs and instill in our children the thought' of being productive," she said. "We've watched expenses and had minimal layoffs." Klamath Tribal Chairman Joe Kirk said Oregon Indian County is a major employer in the state's economy, citing Spirit Mountain Casino as the best example. "In Klamath County, we employ more nonlndians than Indians," Kirk said. "People don't understand the impact that has. We're looking for more partnerships and col laborations, and are dedicated to a positive resolution." Siletz Chairwoman Dee Pigsley reported that Chinook Winds in Lincoln City experienced a 7 per cent decline in revenue, but avoided layoffs by reducing employees to 30 hours a week so they could retain their jobs and benefits. "We're the largest employer in Lincoln City," Pigsley said. There were signs of hope, as well. "I truly believe the economy is coming back," Pigsley said. Umatilla Chairman Antone Mint horn said his Tribe has avoided layoffs and actually added jobs on its eastern Oregon reservation near Pendleton by building a new governance center. Minthorn said Wildhorse Casino offers 600 family-wage jobs with good benefits, which are rare in eastern Oregon. He suggested the state adopt some Tribal economic practices, such as retro-budgeting. "Don't spend the money you've earned until the following year," Minthorn snid. "Then you know what you have." Coos, Iower Umpqua & Siuslnw Chairman Hob Garcia snid Oregon Tribes have a long history of deal ing with adversity nnd declining resources. "This is n chance to change the paradigm of Oregon's economy," Gnrcin snid, "nnd re-invest in Or- Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy speaks about strategies the Tribe is using to deal with the difficult economic times during the 1 2th annual Tribal-State Government-to-Government Summit at Cascade Hall on the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem on Wednesday, Nov. 1 8. egon. We need to bring jobs here for the long-term. And Tribes are important because we can include federal contracts." Warm Springs Vice Chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham said her Tribe is keying in on green in dustries, a new casino in Cascade Locks and improved telecommuni cations to bolster its central Oregon economy. Kulongoski said that the state and Tribes can work together to help bring Oregon through the dif ficult times. "I bring a message of hope and optimism to every Oregonian," Kulongoski said. He cited cooperative state-Tribal projects with the Klamath, Coos and Umatilla Tribes that have protected and saved natural resources. "We are far stronger and more successful when we work together than when we work alone," Kulon goski said. "We're succeeding ... we're finding strength in unity." Kulongoski also honored two Tribal Restorations occurring around the time of the summit Siletz's on Nov. 18 and Grand Ronde's on Nov. 22. He said he sees more substance to Tribal sovereignty that just the legal technicalities. "You have to look at Termination and Restoration together in a his torical sense," Kulongoski snid. "It wns another federal act to diminish or extinguish Native peoples. Res toration goes to the human spirit ... it's about what people are ... a renewal of the human spirit." The Tribnl-Stnte Government-to-Governmcnt Summit opened with the Grand Ronde Color Guard, led by Tribnl Elder Steve Rife carry ing the engle stnff, presenting the (Ings. Tribnl Council members in atten dance included Secretnry Knthleen Tom nnd June Scll-Sherer, Toby McCIary nnd Chris Mercier. Stnff in nttendnnce included Ex ecutive Officer Chris I a-no. Director of Development Peter Wakeland, Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor, Cultural Resources Direc tor David Lewis, Natural Resources Director Michael Wilson, Education Division Manager April Campbell and Tribal Attorney Rob Greene. Other Tribal members who at tended included Tribal Elder Gene LaBonte, chairman of the Gover nor's Advisory Committee on Vet erans Affairs. After lunch, Kennedy moder ated a discussion on Public Health Partnerships and gave a brief history on Tribal health issues beginning with pre-European contact. She was joined by Eric Metcalf, health director for the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw; Oregon Health Reform Director Dr. Bruce Goldberg; and Dr. Mel Kohn, who discussed Tribal and state efforts in preparing for the H1N1 flu pandemic. Kennedy reiterated a message she took to Washington, D.C., in early November and delivered to Health & Human Services Secre tary Kathleen Sebelius. "We're the only ones who pre-paid for our health care," she said, by ceding land in the 1850s to the fed eral government in numerous trea ties that promised health care. "So why do we receive the least amount of money for our health care?" Kennedy asked, noting that Native Americans receive less than $3,000 per person for health care in the United States. "It's a failure of the federal government to live up to its promises." The afternoon session also in cluded a forum on Tribal economic development and federal nnd stnte stimulus funding. The Tribes nlso honored Oregon Stnte Medicnl Exnminer Dr. Knren Gunson for her work in improving culturally sensitive treatment of Native Americnn remains found in Oregon, as well as Shaffer for her years of service on the Commission on Indinn Services.
