S moke S ignals
january 15, 2014
Portland office hosting artist
development workshop
The Tribe’s Portland office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., will host a
marketing and professional skill-building workshop for Native artists
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation is holding the free profes-
sional development workshop for Native artists.
Artists who attend will build skills in writing artist statements,
pricing, strategies for breaking into the art market, Web site develop-
ment and social media marketing.
Designed for artists in visual and traditional arts, such as carv-
ing, bead working, basket weaving and regalia making, the one-day
workshop will be led by local Native artists with arts marketing
expertise. Members of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian communities who would like to attend the one-day work-
shop should contact Lisa Watt at 503-892-6560 or Laura Grabhorn at
360-867-6413 or visit http://tinyurl.com/lw9w3jx. Registration is due
by Monday, Jan. 27. The free workshop is funded in part by Spirit
Mountain Community Fund. Other workshops will be held Feb. 15
at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., and March 1 at the
Museum at Warm Springs. n
Passage of the legislation will
save the Tribe time and money
AMENDMENT ACT
continued from front page
“The bureaucratic process that
the Grand Ronde Tribe faces in re-
acquiring their reservation lands
is nightmarishly slow and costly,”
Schrader said in a press release.
“My bill will not only accelerate this
process, saving the Tribe time and
money, but also will streamline the
process at the Bureau of Indian Af-
fairs, saving taxpayer money.”
“The Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde wants to express its
deep appreciation for the hard work
of Congressman Schrader, his staff
and all of the Oregon delegation
for their support and diligence in
advancing this important piece of
legislation,” Leno said.
“This legislation is supported
by the commissioners in Polk and
Yamhill counties, who, like us, are
focused on making their govern-
ments more efficient and using
their revenues more wisely. This
legislation will enable the Tribe to
more efficiently move the land it
owns into reservation status, which
is historically a very complex and
time-consuming process.
“The Tribe and its neighboring
counties continue to work coopera-
tively as partners in this and other
matters that improve the quality of
life for our members and the people
of the West Valley.”
The amendment seeks to end the
current two-step process that re-
quires the Grand Ronde Tribe take
each piece of former reservation
land into trust with approval from
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
then request the land be designated
reservation land by Congress.
The amendment would allow the
Grand Ronde Tribe to combine the
two-step process for real property
that is within the boundaries of its
original reservation established in
1857.
“The Tribe is hampered in its
efforts to restore land within its
original reservation by a lengthy
and cumbersome Bureau of Indian
Affairs process,” Leno said while
testifying before the House in May
2013. “After it acquires a parcel in
fee, the Tribe must prepare a fee-
to-trust application package for
the BIA. Then BIA processes the
application as an ‘on-reservation
acquisition’ or an ‘off-reservation
acquisition.’
“Because the Tribe does not have
exterior reservation boundaries
(instead, it has distinct parcels
deemed reservation through leg-
islation), all parcels are processed
under the more rigorous off-res-
ervation acquisition regulations
– even if the parcel is located within
the boundaries of the original res-
ervation.
“After the land is accepted into
trust, the Tribe must take an addi-
tional step of amending its Reserva-
tion Act through federal legislation
to include the trust parcels in order
for land to be deemed reserva-
tion land. Grand Ronde has been
forced to come to the U.S. Congress
three times in the last 20 years
to amend its Reservation Act to
secure reservation status for its
trust lands. This process is unduly
time-consuming, expensive and
bureaucratic, and often takes years
to complete.”
In addition, the House-approved
amendment prohibits the use of
any land taken into trust to be used
for any gaming activity unless it is
within two miles of Spirit Mountain
Casino.
Leno said passage of the legisla-
tion will save the Tribe and federal
government time and money by
streamlining the process.
“Polk County appreciates Rep-
resentative Schrader’s efforts to
pass legislation of importance to
the Grand Ronde Tribe,” said Polk
County Commissioner Jennifer
Wheeler. “Polk County has been
supportive of the legislation and
is pleased to see it passed by the
House of Representatives. Polk
County continues to appreciate the
Grand Ronde Tribe as an integral
community partner.”
A companion bill was introduced
in the U.S. Senate in February 2013
by Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and
Ron Wyden. Now that the amend-
ment has passed the House, the
Senate will more than likely take
it under consideration, said Tribal
lobbyist William Hollier. n
11
Walking On...
John b. McKinney
Aug. 21, 1924 – Nov. 23, 2013
Tribal Elder John B. McKinney, 89,
walked on on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013,
in Portland.
He was born on Aug. 21, 1924, in
Grand Ronde. He attended St. Mary’s
School for Boys and Chemawa Indian
School. He later joined the U.S. Army
and served in Europe during World
War II.
In 1950, he married Lavina George
in Portland. They settled in St. Johns
and they had lived there since. Lavina
passed away in 2011.
He worked as a machinist for Tektronix for many years and later
was a guard for Harbor Security.
He is survived by his children, Vernetta and Duane McKinney;
sister, Susan Mason; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and
four great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial gathering was held Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, at Hustad
Funeral Home Chapel. Private inurnment occurred in Chief Schon-
chin Cemetery in Klamath Falls.
JOb OPPOrTuniTies
Currently, Spirit Mountain Casino has several job openings. Job
postings are updated every Friday and can be viewed at http://spir-
itmountain.com/careers or you may call the Job Hotline number at
503-879-2350, ext. 3744, or 800-760-7977, ext. 3744.
If you are an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde and need assistance in processing an application or have any
questions, you can contact Tribal Development and we would be
happy to assist you. E-mail: Tribal_Development@spiritmtn.com
David DeHart: 503-879-3867 or cell: 503-437-2176
Misty Carl: 503-879-3813 or cell: 503-437-1679
“The Tribal Career Development Department (TCD) is responsible
for enhancing the self-sufficiency opportunities for enrolled members
of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This department will
meet the needs of Tribal members through a progression of custom-
ized processes to ensure opportunities for the individual by providing
a collaborative and trusting environment, consultation and career
recommendations.”
YAMHILL VETERANS SERVICES
627 NE Evans St McMinnville Or 97128
VETERANS BENEFIT
For
Veterans, Widows and Survivors of veterans
C ompensation, NSC Pension, D eath P ension , S pecial M onthly
P ension (A&A), VA M edical H ealth C are, B urial B enefits
Find out what benefits are available?
What are the eligibility requirements?
What you need to apply for and receive benefits?
Assistance with Claim forms
Documentation needed to file claim for benefits
All services are provided “FREE OF CHARGE” please bring DD
214(Military Certificate of Discharge).
LOCATION:
Grand Ronde Community Center
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Thursday , Jan 16: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Check-in with Social Service Receptionist Rhonda Leno 503-879-2034
Jerry Wilson
Yamhill County Veterans Service Officer
503-434-7503