Smoke signals., October 15, 2011, Page 3, Image 3

Smoke Signals 3
OCTOBER 15, 2011
Eugene meeting focuses on enrollment election
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
EUG ENE The Tribe kicked off
its educational effort regarding the
Nov. 15 vote on a proposed consti
tutional amendment to revamp en
rollment requirements on Sunday,
Oct. 2, at the Valley River Inn.
About 50 Tribal members, as well
as Tribal Council members and
Tribal staff, packed a conference
room to listen to Tribal Executive
Officer Chris Leno give a briefing
on the amendment proposal and its
possible effects.
Held in an almost three-hour
executive session because it delved
into Tribal financial matters, the
briefing cannot be reported on in
detail in Smoke Signals.
The Eugene meeting was the first
of four scheduled educational meet
ings where Tribal Council members
and Tribal staff were on hand to
answer questions and listen to
concerns about the amendment
proposal.
Meetings also were held Oct. 7 in
Portland, Oct. 8 in Bend and Oct.
12 in Grand Ronde following the
regularly scheduled Tribal Council
meeting that day.
Tribal Council members attend
ing the Eugene meeting included
Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy,
Vice Chair Reyn Leno, Secretary
Jack Giffen Jr. and Tribal Council
members Kathleen Tom, Chris
Mercier and Valorie Sheker.
Tribal Council member Toby
McClary was traveling to a gam
ing conference and Tribal Council
members June Sherer and Steve
Bobb Sr. were on medical leave.
In June, Tribal Council voted 5-4
to send a bundle of four proposed
enrollment changes to the General
Membership. The Bureau of Indian
Affairs approved the calling of the
election on June 16.
The all-or-nothing proposal would
change the following requirements
for Tribal enrollment:
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Tribal Council members, from left, Kathleen Tom, Chris Mercier, Secretary
Jack Giffen 3rH Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Vice Chair Reyn Leno and
Valorie Sheker attended the Oct. 2 General Council meeting In Eugene.
The meeting included the first of four education briefings for the General
Membership about the Nov. 15 Enrollment Amendment election. Other
briefings were held in Portland, Bend and Grand Ronde.
It would reduce the relinquish
ment time from five years to two
years that a person must wait to
become a member of the Grand
Ronde Tribe after officially leav
ing another Tribe;
It would eliminate the require
ment that new members have a
parent on a Tribal membership
roll at the time of their birth or
at the time of their application;
It would redefine Grand Ronde
blood as "all Indian blood derived
from a direct ancestor whose
name validly appears on any roll
or record of Grand Ronde mem
bers prepared by the Department
of Interior or the Tribe prior to
or since the effective date of this
Constitution."
And it would establish an annual
quota of no more than 5 percent
and no less than 2 percent of
currently enrolled members may
be accepted as new members,
excluding newborns.
On Sept. 14, Tribal Council voted
4-3 to continue with the election
process and rebuffed an effort to
put it on hold and seek an advisory
vote on whether Tribal members
wanted the proposal bundled or as
four separate votes.
Tribal members who will be at
least 18 years of age on Nov. 15 have
until Monday, Oct. 17, to register to
vote in the election. If Tribal mem
bers do not specifically register to
vote in this election, they will not
be eligible to vote.
For the amendment to change
the Tribal Constitution, at least 30
percent of registered Tribal mem
bers must cast ballots and at least
two-thirds of those voters have to
approve it.
This is the third time since 1983's
Restoration that Tribal members
are voting on enrollment require
ments. In 1999, Tribal members
approved tightening up enrollment
requirements and in 2008, one of
three proposals the current five
year relinquishment period re
ceived enough support to be written
into the Tribal Constitution.
Before the executive session be
gan, Tribal member Jan Michael
Looking Wolf Reibach played a
blessing song on flute and Tribal
member and Cultural Resources
Manager David Lewis briefed the
General Membership on the recent
return of a Kalapuya shovel-nose
river canoe to the Tribe by the Wil
lamette Heritage Center at Mission
Mill.
Lewis also said he is currently
working on a comprehensive his
tory of the Grand Ronde Tribe.
Tribal members Delores Ed
wards, Perri McDaniel and Eloise
Winter won the $50 door prizes
while Tribal spouse Boaz Wolpe
won the $100 door prize.
The next General Council meet
ing will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday,
Nov. 6, at the Tribal Community
Center in Grand Ronde. It will
discuss the proposed 2012 Tribal
budget. D
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The Tribe's Health & Wellness Center will offer Flu Vaccine Clin
ics every Thursday in October.
Hours will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m.
People seeking vaccinations should check in at the registration
desk and complete and sign the flu vaccine questionnaire. There is
no co-pay for the shot.
For more information, call the clinic at 503-879-2002. D
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times
for Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
Ceremonial Hunt Board meets as needed. Chair: Shonn Leno.
Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each
month. Chair: Perri McDaniel.
Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month
in Modular No. 3. Chair: Kathy Provost.
Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the
month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Shelby Rogers.
Elders' Committee meets at 1 0 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month
in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs.
Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Gover
nance Building. Acting Chair: Robert Schmid.
Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the
month in the Tribal Wellness Center. Acting Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
Powwow Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of
the month at the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dana Ainam.
Rodeo Special Event Board meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the
month at the Tribal Rodeo Office. Acting Chair: Harold Lyon.
Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of the
month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chair: Ron Hudson.
Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Bob Mercier.
Veterans Special Event Board meets at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of the
month in the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dakota Whitecloud.
Elders Christmas Bazaar set
The annual Elders Christmas Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, in the Tribal gym.
Forty tables are available for $20 per table. In addition, there will be a
snack bar and prizes.
For a vendor application, contact Elder Activity Assistant Daniel Ham
at 503-879-2233 or Daniel.hamgrandronde.org.
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If you have any questions, contact
Brian Krehbiel at 503-879-4639
Ad created by George Valdez