MAY 1,2012
Smoke Signals 3
EPA Summit brings Tribal
leaders to Grand Ronde
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Approximately 250 federal and Tribal leaders and staff are expected
for the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 10 Tribal Leaders'
Summit, slated for Monday, April 30, through Friday, May 4, at Spirit
Mountain Casino.
There are 271 federally-recognized Tribes in the Northwest region, which
includes Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
This is the first Tribal Leaders' Summit that the Grand Ronde Tribe has
hosted, said Brandy Humphreys, Environmental Resources specialist for
the Tribe's Ceded Lands program, and this year's summit coordinator.
"We have arranged this as a dual-conference," she said. "Monday and
Tuesday will focus on leader-to-leader interaction, while later in the week
presentations on technical subjects are scheduled. Some of the technical
issues covered are pesticides and alternative energy, Tribal wetlands
programs and Tribal marine debris projects."
Five topic areas for technical presentations are solid waste, toxics,
sustainable growth and communities, building blocks of Tribal programs
and hot topics.
"The purpose is to provide an opportunity for focused communication
between EPA regional leaders and Tribal leaders regarding environmen
tal issues that include human health issues related to the environment,"
said Humphreys.
"Brandy has been working with Tribal Council and many others to bring
this together," said Tribal member and Natural Resources Department
Manager Michael Wilson. "This event is important to build partnerships,
but also for Grand Ronde to take a leadership role in protecting our en
vironment." Summit attendees will have the opportunity to see how Natural Re
sources staff member - handle fish monitoring at the fish weir and habitat
restoration throughout the Agency Creek watershed.
"This year," Humphreys added, "we have tried to boost the productivity
of these discussions by including other federal agencies whose resource
responsibilities overlap those of EPA and the Tribes.
"A purpose that was not originally part of the Tribal Leaders' Summit,
but has evolved over time, is the opportunity for environmental staff to
attend technical sessions for the purpose of education, training and net
working." D
Chinuk Family Literacy Night set
A Chinuk Family Literacy Night will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May
23, at the Tribal gym.
Dinner will be provided and each attending family will receive a trans
lated Chinuk book and compact disc.
Everyone is welcome for a fun, family-friendly evening of Chinuk language-based
activities.
RSVP to Esther Stewart at 503-879-1443 or e-mail esther.stewart
grandronde.org. 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 at4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month
in Modular No. 2. Chair: Perri McDaniel.
Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month
in Modular No. 3. Chair: TBD.
Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the
month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Jon George.
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. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of the
month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chair: Jenny Sanchez.
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 and third
Tuesday of the month in the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dakota
Whitecloud.
2012 Community Input meeting
The Tribe's annual Community Input meeting will be held in the gym
after General Council on May 6 starting at approximately 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
10 a.m. General Council at
the Community Center
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. Community Input
Meeting at the Tribal Gym
This year there will be an open house format with several topic
tables in the gym including:
- 10-Year Reservation Plan
- Recreation
- Tribal Museum
- Women's Transition House
- Secondary Payer Transition (Skookum Health Plan)
- COPS
- Public Transit
- Other topics table
There also will be a drawing for door prizes (a Pendleton blanket
and smaller gifts).
The annual Grand Ronde Community Input meeting is offered
as an opportunity for members to provide comments and sugges
tions, which will be used in helping guide Tribal programs and
in preparing grant applications, such as the HUD Indian Com
munity Development Block Grant, the Administration for Native
Americans, and others. Those unable to attend can submit written
comments and suggestions to Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants
Manager, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde
Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. For additional information, please
contact Rogers at 503-879-2250. B
Gala to benefit Native Arts
and Cultures Foundation
"Keeping the Creative Spirit Alive," a fundraiser hosted by the Native
Arts & Cultures Foundation, will be held at the Left Bank Annex, 101 N.
Weidler St., Portland, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17.
The event is an opportunity to mingle with like-minded patrons and
champions of Native arts and cultures. Guests will be treated to a Native
inspired dinner of Hawaiian, Alaskan and Native American cuisine.
The entertainment will include guitarist Garbiel Ayala (Yaqui) and
singer Raiatea Helm (Hawaiian), and a visual arts auction featuring work
by prominent Native artists.
To purchase tickets, visit https:nacf.ejoinme.orgMyEventsKeeptheCre
ativeSpiritAlive2012tabid350305Default.aspx on the Internet or call
360-314-2421. Tickets are $150 per person. The Native Arts and Cultures
Foundation has awarded $904,000 in grants to 54 Native artists and or
ganizations in 20 states in two years of granting. To find out more about
the group, go to www.nativeartsandcultures.org on the Internet. B
m
Grand Ronde
Dental Clinic
Eric Webster DMD Myron Peng DDS Erin Lange DDS
Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri
8 AM - 5 P.M.
Thursday 9:30 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Closed for lunch 12:30 A.M. -1:30 PJVL
Emergency Hour: Mon. Tues. Wed. Frf 8 A.M. Thura 9:30 A.M.
.
f '
Plcase call for more information about Emergency times
We now offer Cleaning appointments 5 day a week
503-879-2020
Ad created by George Valdez