14 MAY 15, 2012
Smoke Signals
TorilbaD Govetrmnmenti; Day ffeattuires inillimi ffestiival
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
SALEM The annual Tribal Gov
ernment Day held Friday, May 11,
in the State Capitol was a veritable
Native American film festival.
With the Legislature not in ses
sion, the annual event aimed at
educating legislators and state
employees about Oregon's nine
federally recognized Tribes and
their government-to-government
relationship with the state featured
a wide-ranging selection of 10 films
produced by seven of the Tribes.
Grand Ronde showed its "Canoe
Journey" film, which highlights
the Tribal Canoe Family and its
positive effects on Tribal youth who
participate. The film uses extensive
footage from the Paddle to Swinom
ish held in July 2011.
Other films included the Uma
tilla Tribe's award-winning tran
sit program serving residents in
and around Pendleton, the Burns
Paiute's "The Earth Is Our Home,"
which detailed ancient lifeways
to survive in eastern Oregon and
"Standing Strong," which was cre
ated by the five western Oregon
Tribes to mark the first Gathering of
Oregon's First Nations celebration.
The event started at 9 a.m. as
Spirit Mountain Casino staff, led
by head chef Richard Burr, laid out
a breakfast buffet for visitors. The
film festival kicked off in Hearing
Room C to sparse attendance that
increased as the morning wore on.
Outside in the Galleria, Tribal
representatives sat at tables and
socialized with other Tribal repre-
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl A. Kennedy, left, talks with Gov. John Kitzhabar,
right, aftar ha signed the American Indian Week proclamation during Tribal
Government Day at the State Capitol in Salem on Friday, May 1 1 . Also in
attendance and looking on, from second from left, are Tribal Vice Chair Reyn
Leno and Tribal Council members Steve Bobb Sr. and Chris Mercier.
sentatives.
Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle
A. Kennedy, Tribal Vice Chair Reyn
Leno and Tribal Council members
Chris Mercier and Steve Bobb Sr. at
tended. Tribal staff who attended in
cluded Executive Officer Chris Leno,
Cultural Resources Manager David
Lewis, Tribal Attorney Rob Greene,
Public Affairs Director Siobhan Tay
lor, Portland office Tribal Services
Representative Lisa Archuleta and
Tribal member Denise Harvey.
At 11 a.m., Tribal representatives
were ushered upstairs to the second
floor by Karen Quigley, executive
director of the Oregon Legislative
Commission on Indian Services, to
page to sue nkreptxos
witness Gov. John
Kitzhaber sign the
annual American
Indian Week proc
lamation. American Indian Week in
Oregon is May 13 to May 19.
After Kennedy gave the invoca
tion, Robert Garcia, Tribal chair of
the Confederated Tribes of Coos,
Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians,
said, "Oregon's relationship with
its nine federally recognized Tribes
is one that is growing and it has
certainly been one of the best rela
tionships in the United States. If
you Google 'Commission on Indian
Services,' what comes up is the
Oregon Legislative Commission on
Indian Services.
"It is first, foremost and pre-eminent
in its abilities in finding ways
for the Tribes and the state to work
together."
"Since I came back into office in
2010, this is our second celebra
tion," Kitzhaber said. "I'm very
honored to have a chance to partici
pate again at this very important
gathering. ... I'm very grateful that
representatives of your sovereign
governments travel here every year
to share your stories about your
history, about your sovereignty and
about your survival. I think we are
all enriched as a state from learn
ing about your governments, your
culture and your traditions."
Kitzhaber also acknowledged
how Tribes have assisted Oregon
in natural resources management
and Oregonians through their
continued philanthropy during the
recent economic downturn.
"I believe that the strength and
commitment through the government-to-government
relationship
that we have forged between the
state and the nine sovereign Tribal
governments provides a pathway to
explore new ideas and new perspec
tives," Kitzhaber added.
After his speech, Kitzhaber signed
the proclamation and mingled and
posed for photos with Tribal repre
sentatives. On Thursday, May 10, Kennedy
also participated in small group
discussions with state representa
tives about what is effective and
appropriate consultation between
state and Tribal officials. D
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