P-J PJ iUtGHT LIPRrtRY 1292 UHIVRSITY OF OREGON EUtinC OR 9r40J-1203 ff.fn.n.fuf fMnlfMr,l;,,,,f.fl1f,(ftf ill U 8 FOSTAGt PAiO rCMMiT MO. 17t (Al-EM. OM APRIL 15,2010 Hi A Publication of the Grand Rondo Tribe "fLjl friJ www.grandronde.org XJMPQXJA IVTOIjAIjIjA a ROaiJE EIVER KAXi-AJPUY-A. CHASTA TirnlbaD mmemmlbeir Go mi ft FoDdGim saddDes aajp New cub or?s fo give youth a good way to horse around . By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal member Clint Folden is starting a local Saddle Club that will turn his horses into service animals for the community. "I'm trying to develop a program to address problems in the community," Folden said at a recent Elders luncheon as he enlisted the sup port of Tribal Elders in his plan. "I want to get kids plugged into a sober activity where they feel like they're doing something." Folden currently boards seven horses, some donated, some his own for many years, across the bridge to the right of the Thompson house where the Grand Ronde Community Resource Center had, until last month, been located. His plan is to offer several tiers of opportunity See SADDLE CLUB continued on page 4 Tribal member Clint Folden helps Tribal member Kaylene Barry, 10, onto Mo, a Mustang, so she can ride him on Saturday, April 1 0. Photo by Michelle Alaimo ra no nni no wsFtn fni m ; Hl . V- J? . t ' ' ' ' I ' - Mai S ' Ire Under the cover of her umbrella, Tribal member lyana Holmes puts away eggs that she collected in a bag during the 201 0 Easter Egg Hunt at Tribal family housing on Saturday, April 3, in Grand Ronde. Photos by Michelle Alaimo 1 J Ur v Tribal member Sydney West helps her . daughter, Tribal member McKenzieWest, 5, spell Easter as she writes "Happy Easter" with chalk. Tribal descendant Emily Anderson, 2, helps herself to the Easter Bunny's basket of candy. Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. played the Easter Bunny. Passing ofWilma Mankillor stirs memories among Tribal members By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal Elder Beryle Contreras and her five children stood with Wilma Mankiller (Chero kee) and her family, and with hun dreds, ultimately thousands, in 1969 during the American Indian takeover of the island housing the abandoned federal prison known as Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay. The 19 months that followed were among the great moments of Ameri can Indian resistance, ultimately leading to the repeal of the 1954 federal Termination policy. It also was the time and place where Contreras began what is now more the memory of a friend than of the Cherokee icon of national Indian independent thought and action that Mankiller has become to her people, to Indian Country and beyond. Mankiller, the first woman to serve as chief of the Cherokee Nation, succumbed to pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, April 6, at her home near Tahlequah, Okla. She was 64. Here in Grand Ronde, as at In dian Nations across the country, the memories of Mankiller, and thanks for the contributions she made, are in the thoughts and prayers of many. Tribal Elder and former Tribal Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison re members inviting Mankiller to speak to an Indian Health Conference when Harrison was still on Tribal Council. "She had just had a kidney trans plant," Harrison said. "She spoke about the importance of Indian women taking care of themselves." "I admired her strength," said Har rison. "Even though she was always in ill-health, she still had strength to See MANKILLER continued on page 3