Smoke Signals 3
JANUARY 1,2012
Episcopalians to address Doctrine of
Discovery at Spirit Mountain Casino
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
First Nations Commissions of Oregon, Olympia and Hawaii will
hold the 2012 Province VIII Wintertalk at Spirit Mountain Casino
Jan. 6-8.
This year's event, "Weekend of Rediscover," focuses on the so-called
Doctrine of Discovery. Through the doctrine, the major Christian
religions and European monarchs encouraged the subjugation of
indigenous peoples in the Americas. Starting at the end of the 1400s,
during the period of European exploration and colonization, the
doctrine continues today in the Catholic Church.
The Episcopalian Church in the United States has renounced the
practice. Through the work of First Nations Commissions across the
country, the Episcopalians repudiated the doctrine in 2009.
"Wintertalk will show Grand Ronde folk that there are Native
Christians concerned about Native ways," said the Rev. Albert
Krueger, pastor at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Portland, a sup
porter of the renunciation.
'This Wintertalk is a gathering of Native and non-Native folks who
are pledged to walk the path together," Krueger said. 'The discussion
around the Doctrine of Discovery will show that there is a centering
philosophical and political landmark that is most useful in focusing
on the roots of the legal and political issues that plague Native life
in America today.
"We will explore some ways in which we, together, can work to
gether for changes that will make our common life better." B
Elder's bingo held on
Saturday afternoons
Bingo at the Elders' Activity Center is held on Saturday afternoons.
A potluck meal starts at 12:30 p.m. and bingo begins at 1 p.m.
In January, bingo will be held on the second and fourth Saturday of the
month, Jan. 14 and 28.
For more information, contact Elder Activity Assistant Daniel Ham at
503-879-2233. H
Graves teaching weekly
basket weaving class
Tribal Elder Connie Graves teaches a basket weaving class at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesdays in the Elders' Activity Center. The class is open to the public.
For more information, contact Tribal Cultural Education Specialist Brian
Krehbiel at 503-879-4639 or brian.krehbielgrandronde.org.
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.
Casino Toy Drive delivers
for Doernbecher hospital
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Spirit Mountain Casino Chief Executive Officer Rodney Ferguson and
Doernbecher Childrens' Hospital Child Life Therapy coordinator Sandy
Westfall open one of the boxes of toys donated by the casino on Tuesday,
Dec. 20. For the fourth consecutive year, the casino sponsored a toy drive in
which casino guests received free game play in exchange for a toy donation.
The casino delivered 1 7 pallets loaded down with boxes of toys five days
before Christmas.
By Angela Sears
Spirit Mountain Casino marketing coordinator
PORTLAND For the fourth consecutive year, Spirit Mountain Casino
delivered just in time for the holidays a semi-truck load of new, unwrapped
toys to Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science
University.
The casino held its annual holiday toy drive through a three-week
customer promotion that began Nov. 29. Casino guests participated by
donating toys at the Players' Club in exchange for free play.
Spirit Mountain Casino Chief Executive Officer Rodney Ferguson and
Chief Operating Officer Randy Dugger delivered the truck load of more
than 7,000 toys to Sandy Westfall, Child Life Therapy coordinator at Do
ernbecher, at the facility's loading dock at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.
"The toy drive has been an unbelievable success throughout the past four
years," Ferguson said. "In spite of the tough economic times and high job
less rate faced by Oregonians, our guests continue to step up and provide
toys for a brighter holiday season for the kids at Doernbecher. This year,
we delivered 17 pallets of toys - enough to fill the 32-foot semi-trailer
donated by TP Freight Lines."
According to Doernbecher staff members, the hospital had a patient
population of more than 100 children on the day of the delivery.
Westfall said the hospital uses the toys throughout the year to help young
patients acclimate and adjust to their new surroundings, as well as deal
with sometimes difficult treatments for such diseases as cancer.
Ferguson said this year the casino collected fewer, but higher-quality toys
that were more in keeping with the needs of children at Doernbecher.
During an interview with media covering the event, Ferguson said that
the casino's toy drive continues the Tribe's tradition of Potlatch, sharing
its fortunes with the community. He also cited the Tribe's Spirit Mountain
Community Fund, which has distributed more than $55 million since its
founding.
"I think this shows that our guests and the Tribe understand the mean
ing of Christmas," Ferguson said. B
Includes information from Smoke Signals Editor Dean Rhodes.
"We
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