Smoke Signals 15
JUNE 15, 2013
Dear Smoke Signals:
My name is "Butch," Walter F. Simmons. I have been in prison going on
14 years. There are a number of reasons and factors that contributed to,
well, losing my way. None of that really matters now and I have come to
realize that I have only myself to blame.
What matters most is that I have chose to turn my life around and
learn from this experience. None of this could have been possible without
searching and discovering who I was as a human being. This search took
me on a most profound journey where I discovered so many wonderfully
enlightening gifts. These gifts were revealed when I began to learn who
my family was and all that they went through. I learned that my father,
my aunties, uncles, grandparents and my great-grandparents had lives
much more difficult than mine. Understanding what they went through, I
became ashamed of myself because they went through so much more than I
did. When I look back, even my bad times were better than they had it.
This changed my life. I finally understood why my father was the way
he was, why each and every one of these family members I loved so much
were the way they were. This process of learning my family history was
the beginning of my renewal, rebirth, purification and healing.
But this couldn't have taken place either but for one thing, that my family
is Native; I am Native. Each and every one of you in Grand Ronde, unknown
to you all had a lot to do with this process because as I began to discover
I learned what it means to be a member of a Native community.
I always knew I had Native blood and grew up hearing my Elders talk
about the good old days back home in Grand Ronde before Termination.
I never forgot the pain I saw on their faces when they left Grand Ronde
to try to make it in the San Fernando Valley. I am one of the first genera
tions born down there and needless to say there weren't a lot of Native
teachings going on. Remember, in the previous generations before me, it
wasn't so accepted being Indian to the point where the old language was
forbidden to be spoken and many of our ways and ceremonies were even
illegal. Those were rough times.
My healing could not begin if I wasn't put somewhere that I couldn't
run from the turmoil and confusion that made everything so difficult to
do and understand. That place is where I'm at now, and it has turned out
to be one of the biggest miracles in my pitiful life.
do you nnriT to nonu?
HOULD YOU HUE ASSISTANCE?
HAUE YOU RECENTLY BEEN HIRED?
THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS TWO
PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST TRIBAL MEMBERS
WHO WANT TO WORK AND LIVE IN THE 6
COUNTY SERVICE AREA
THESE PROGRAMS ARE 477EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING AND THE GRAND RONDE TRIBAL
VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM
WORKS WITH TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH A
DISABILITY THAT HAS BEEN A BARRIER TO
GAINING OR RETAINING
EMPLOYMENT
THE 477 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
PROGRAM SUPPORTS TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH
JOB RELATED SERVICES
477 CAN SERVE GRAND RONDE TRIBAL
MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN MARION,
MULTNOMAH, POLK, TILLAMOOK,
WASHINGTON AND YAMHILL COUNTY.
TRIBAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CAN
SERVE GRAND RONDE TRIBAL MEMBERS WHO
LIVE IN MARION, MULTNOMAH, POLK,
TILLAMOOK, WASHINGTON, YAMHILL AND
CLACKAMAS COUNTY
FOR INFO CONTACT:
THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT
503-879-2034 OR 1-800-242-8196
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND
TO A DETERMINE WHICH ONE CAN BEST
ASSIST YOU
"SBE9S
Ad created by George Valdez
Here is where I discovered "the ways," our beautiful culture, spiritual
ways, principles, concepts, wisdoms, philosophies and morals that were
missing in my life. In these most perfect ways I also found Creator. I could
see him, feel him and even touch him at the ceremonial fire and in the
healing lodge.
I tried everything else: Christianity, A.A. and none of it worked for me.
Don't get me wrong. Jesus by himself, if you follow what he teaches, is a
cool dude. He would make a good Indian if you ask me. But the church
a tool used to break us, make us like them and break the bonds that
held us together and made us strong. Sorry, I feel like I'm betraying all
the ancestors that died so we could be here today enjoying the benefits of
their suffering.
And so you know, it was given to me the responsibility to help the people
see the beauty of these ways. A huge responsibility, but I gladly accept it.
My time is fast approaching that I finally come home to be with all of
you, my family there in Grand Ronde. This is what I have been preparing
myself for these past 14 years. Every day I am doing things to improve
myself, my education so that I have good things to give the people that
help them.
Now I am faced with the very real possibility that I could be disenrolled
because of this enrollment audit. Everything I came to learn and believe
about myself, my history and my purpose as a Native human being and
Grand Ronde member could be in jeopardy because I don't meet an enroll
ment requirement of not being there physically (in spirit I've been there
all along; I am there).
This audit opens up nothing but bad doorways, not too much good will
come from this, people are going to be hurt.
I wonder if anyone has really given it much thought that the very same
tactics that were used to tear us apart, coming up with rules written on
paper to take our land from us, to decide who is Indian and who is not,
etc., are now being used by our own people to achieve the very same thing
that the government has been trying to do to us for 500 years. There are
better ways to do this.
First, the people deserve to be told the truth and not some concocted
story to relieve those that called this audit of responsibility.
The truth of the matter is that the Tribe it outgrowing its ability to take
care of so many. This is all about Tribal economics. The economy isn't what
it was and will never again reach levels of past years, and in fact it is only
going to get worse no matter what the smoke blowers try to tell you.
We are all going to have to learn how to get by on less and make the
most of the little we have. Tradition teaches us that.
I have to say, too, and this is for the benefit of those that might possibly
be affected by the audit, is that I get it. I don't agree, or like it, but I get
it. Here's why.
As Native peoples, we have a duty and obligation to contribute to the whole,
do our share and give back. This is called true prosperity when all do even
a little for the benefit of the well-being of the whole, the community. I have
told family members repeatedly to get up there and get involved - give back!
Being Native, being part of a select society of people comes with responsibili
ties. No free rides here. Sorry, but that's how it works. If you knew about
what these "ways" mean, you would understand that and would realize you
are wrong to complain or think you have anything coming at all.
I have a saying I use here in prison for those who don't pull their weight and
seem to be there for the perks: If you don't believe in these ways, aren't will
ing to work and do what "tradition" teaches you, then why are you here?
You see, understanding "tradition," you come to understand all that it
means to be a member of an "elite society." That's what we are. One day
I'll explain it all to you just what it means to be Native. Forgive me, it is
my observation that even those with a more traditional upbringing either
don't know or have forgotten the depth of our responsibilities. We truly
are a chosen people; we survive for a reason. I know what those reasons
are, the old ones told us these things long ago and I believe what they
have passed down to us.
Saying all this, I still believe this could have been done in a better way.
Hiring outsiders to do the audit is flat-out wrong. This is Grand Ronde
business. We created this problem and should have the heart to correct
it ourselves.
I must remind you, too, that when the building process was taking place
and you needed the numbers to show the "government" we were a viable
people, you didn't have a problem adding our names.
Perhaps this audit is what's needed to light the fire that's needed to get
more people involved and doing what their supposed to be doing? With
every negative also comes a positive. Tradition teaches us that, too.
My greatest hope is that I can get up there to bring new insights on
how to deal with some of our problems. It's not so hard to do if we follow
traditional principles and work together.
Until then, I will continue to keep you all in my prayers and hope that
you keep me in yours, that I can finally meet you in Grand Ronde.
Walter F. Simmons
Roll 751
World War II veterans being sought
Are you a World War II veteran? If so, contact the Tribe's Veterans
Special Event Board at 503-877-0460. B