Smoke Signals 3
AUGUST 1,2012
Rejected casino concept
returning to Oregon ballot
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Like the spirits in "Poltergeist," they're back.
Two measures that would amend the Oregon Constitution to allow pri
vate casinos in the state and another that would specifically approve one
going into the former Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village have
qualified for the November ballot, the secretary of state's office said.
With a signature validity rate of 55.35 percent, the constitutional mea
sure had 116,521 valid signatures, slightly more than the 116,284 required
to qualify initiatives seeking to amend the constitution.
The required companion measure that would allow a privately owned
commercial casino at the old greyhound racetrack in the east Multnomah
County city of Wood Village qualified with 90,720 signatures verified out
of 154,159 submitted.
Both ballot measures are being sought by backers of a proposed private
casino in Wood Village, which would be the first in Oregon not operated
by a Native American Tribe.
In 2010, private casino backers failed to obtain enough signatures to
put the constitutional amendment measure on the ballot. However, they
did place a measure on the ballot that would have located the casino in
Wood Village and Oregonians soundly rejected the idea 68 percent to 32
percent.
The measure was opposed by all nine Oregon Tribes, who coalesced
together under the Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance.
Currently, the Oregon Constitution prohibits private casinos. Only the
state's nine federally recognized Tribes are allowed to operate casinos with
federal permission and under compacts signed with the state.
The new constitutional amendment is backed by the same two Lake
Oswego businessmen and financially supported by the same Canadian
investment firm that pushed the failed 2010 effort.
A private casino in the metropolitan Portland area will have detrimen
tal effects on all of Oregon's Tribal casinos, but most particularly Spirit
Mountain Casino owned by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Revenues generated by Tribal casinos are funneled back into Tribal
governmental programs and help pay for Tribal member health care,
education, cultural efforts, Elder pensions and other worthwhile programs
that federal allocations fail to fund.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde also uses casino revenues to
support Spirit Mountain Community Fund, which has given more than
$56 million to charitable organizations since it was founded in 1997.
To build a private casino in Wood Village, supporters will need to get
both measures approved by voters during the November election, and then
would need the residents of Wood Village to approve the idea as well.
Elders' garage sale seeking donations
Tribal Elders are regularly seeking donations for fundraising garage
sales. To donate an item or items, contact Tribal Elders Linda Brandon
at 971-267-0918 or Duane Wheeler at 541-992-3254. 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 Tuesday of each month
in Modular No. 2. Chair: Peni 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.
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Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Runners with tha Paaca & Dignity Journey are led to the Tribal
gymnasium by a group that mat tham upon thair arrival in Grand
Ronda on Wednesday, July 1 8. The six runners' stop in Grand Ronde
included a welcome ceremony, dinner in the Community Center and
they spent the night in the gym. The next morning they continued to
Siletz on their journey. Tribal Elder Carol Logan, front right, ld the
preparation for the runners' visit. This year's Peace & Dignity Journey is
dedicated to bringing awareness about the importance of water to all
of Mother Earth and Native communities. The runners will meet up with
their South American counterparts on Nov. 28 in Guatemala.
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Runners with the Peace & Dignity Journey lay out sacred staffs they
carry with them on the journey before a welcome ceremony in the
Tribal gymnasium on Wednesday, July 18.
Youth Center seeks volunteers
The Tina Miller Community Center Thrift Store, 110 B. St., Willamina,
which helps fund the after-school and weekend youth community center located
in the old high school gym, is seeking volunteers who can help run the store,
in addition to donated items and customers. The store accepts clothes, books,
knickknacks, etc., as donations. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday and closed on Sunday and Monday. Donations also can be left at
the Wildwood Hotel and Restaurant in Willamina. For more information on
volunteering, call 503-876-7897. The youth center and thrift store that funds
it are nonprofit and 100 percent self-sustaining and volunteer-run.
Dr. Ashley Nunley
Chiropractor
at the
CTGR-Portland Office
4 4445 SWBarburBlvd Suite 101
Portland, Or 97239
Wednesdays only
9 a.m. - Noon
1-3:40 p.m.
J Call Mon-Fri Wellness Center 503-879-2002
or at the Portland office 503-235-4230
Tribal members with Skookum health plan
i make your appointment now
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Ad created by George Valdez