Smoke Signals 3
NOVEMBER 1 5, 201 1
General Council reviews 2012 (preliminary budget
Two comments accepted during
executive session briefing
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal members provided two
comments on the preliminary 2012
Tribal budget during the Nov. 6
General Council meeting held in
the Tribal Community Center in
Grand Ronde.
During a 31-minute executive
session, Tribal Finance Officer Julio
Martinez went over the preliminary
budget and then opened the floor
for comments. Since the budget
hearing was conducted in execu
tive session, Smoke Signals cannot
delve into the details of what was
discussed or commented on.
Tribal members received the
November Tilixam Wawa recently,
which explains the Tribe's rev
enue and spending plan for 2012.
Tribal members have until 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 6, to submit written
comments.
Comments must be signed and
either mailed or hand-delivered
to Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde Community of Oregon, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde,
OR 97347, Attn: Finance Officer.
Comments will be taken into
consideration before Tribal Council
adopts a 2012 budget on or before
Dec. 31.
In other action, Tribal member
and Cultural Resources Depart
ment Manager David Lewis dis
cussed the Tribe's Ceded Lands
Sign Project, which is installing
T -.t..-'-,,...-"
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Finance Officer Julio Martinez goes over the preliminary 201 2 Tribal
budget with the Tribal membership during the General Council meeting held
in the Tribal Community Center on Sunday, Nov. 6.
information signs in various loca
tions throughout western Oregon
that explain the Tribe's history and
connection to the area.
Lewis said two signs have already
been installed, in Wilsonville's
Graham Oaks Natural Area and at
the Scio Historical Society, and the
department is working on a third
sign to be installed at the Delbert
Hunter Arboretum in Dallas.
Eventually, Lewis said, about 20
signs will be erected in the Tribe's
ceded lands, which stretch from the
Washington border to the Califor-
Elders' Christmas Party set for Dec. 1 6
The Elders' Christmas Party will be held starting at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec.
16, at the Elders' Activity Center.
The event will start with snacks followed by dinner served at 4 p.m.
In lieu of a gift exchange this year, Tribal Elders will be accepting blan
kets or lap blankets for needy Elders, or toys, hats or mittens that are
unwrapped for the Willamina Tree of Giving.
The party is for Tribal Elders 55 and older.
For more information, contact Linda Brandon at 971-267-0918.
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 10 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 Governance
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. ,
nia border between the Cascade
and Coast ranges, explaining the
Tribe's history.
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy, who attended the recent
sign dedication in Scio, said the
Tribe's concerted effort to inform
people about its ceded lands is
starting to pay dividends.
'The people in Scio were so recep
tive to the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde being a partner with
them," Kennedy said.
Kennedy also briefly informed
Tribal members about the recent
National Congress of American
Indians conference held in Portland
between Oct. 30 and Nov. 4 and the
Tribal Government Day held Sept.
23 with Portland city officials.
Kennedy said that Tribal Coun
cil members take their leadership
roles "seriously" and that "many
first beginnings are happening
right now."
She added that although Tribal
Council members might not be in
their offices all the time, it doesn't
mean they are not out working
for the best interests of the Tribal
membership.
Kennedy added that thanks to
her membership on the U.S. De
partment of Health and Human
Services' Tribal Advisory Commit
tee, more federal agencies will start
compacting their funds, which will
mean an increase in federal dollars
reaching the Tribe.
Tribal Council members Kath
leen Tom and Valerie Sheker also
thanked Tribal staff for their help
at the NCAI conference, particu
larly Tribal attorney Rob Greene
and Tribal Public Affairs Director
Siobhan Taylor.
Tribal members Samantha Dala
and Bill Lafferty and Tribal spouse
Bob Duncan won the $50 door prizes
and Tribal descendant Wynter La
Chance won the $100 door prize.
The next General Council meet
ing is scheduled to be held 11 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Tribal Com
munity Center in Grand Ronde.
Searchable Smoke Signals
database up and running
A database of past Smoke Signals is now up and running on the
Tribal Web site, www.grandronde.org.
All issues from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 201 1 are currently avail
able and searchable, said Tribal Records Specialist Kim Mueller.
To access the back issues, go to the Tribal Web site and click on
"Archives" on the upper right side of the home page. Then click on
the Smoke Signals folder. A search function allows the public to
search for a specific name, topic, word or date.
Mueller said the Records Department staff will continue to post
current issues as soon as they become available and work on past
years of Smoke Signals when time allows.
Chuck Williams appears in OPB
production airing Nov. 17
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signal staff writer
Tribal member Chuck Williams,
well-known Gorge-area photogra
pher and author of "Bridge of the
Gods, Mountains of Fire: A Return
to the Columbia Gorge," will appear
in the Oregon Public Broadcasting's
Oregon Field Guide.
"Columbia Gorge: The Fight for
Paradise" airs at 8 p.m. Thursday,
Nov. 17.
The Columbia River Gorge Na
tional Scenic Act turns 25 years
old on Nov. 17. "Columbia Gorge:
The Fight for Paradise" examines
how the Scenic Act has balanced
the stresses of tourism, recreation,
wind energy development and a
population boom in the Gorge.
President Ronald Reagan signed
the act on Nov. 17, 1986. From that
moment on, Gorge land managers
had a dual mandate: protect an 85
mile stretch of incredible scenery and
encourage economic development.
Policy and land-use controversies
are part of life in the Columbia
River Gorge. But for the Tribes, the
issues run much deeper. The pro
gram also examines the evocative
Confluence Project by artist Maya
Lin that spans the Scenic Area,
and what the Gorge Act means to
the Tribes that have long called it
home.
Videos of the stories featured on
"Field Guide" are available at opb.
orgprogramsofg or watch entire
programs at watch.opb.org. B