S moke S ignals
february 1, 2014
Helping Hand Award
Smoke Signals file photo
Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy talks to a variety of state
employees about native American history in Oregon and Tribal sovereignty
during Oregon Tribal Governments Legislative Day held at the Oregon state
Capitol in salem last February. This year’s day will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Tribal Governments Legislative
Day set for Thursday, Feb. 13
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Jacki Ward, education and Outreach manager for The Circus project in
portland, looks at the Ye?lan Lima (Helping Hand) Award she received
from spirit Mountain Community Fund in the Tribe’s portland office
on Thursday, Jan. 16. On the right, Jenn Cohen, The Circus project’s
artistic director, takes photos of Ward who was honored in the paid
staff category of the award.
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
SALEM — Tribal Governments Legislative Day will be held from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in the State Capitol’s Galleria.
The Oregon Legislature only meets for a one-month session in 2014
beginning in early February.
In order to take advantage of Tribal-state interactions that can occur
during a legislative session, the Legislative Commission on Indian Services
reserved the Galleria to give Tribal governments an opportunity to provide
information about their Tribes while the Legislature is in session.
“Members of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services indicated at
their retreat last summer that educating Oregonians, including Oregon’s
policymakers, about Tribes is a high priority,” said Karen Quigley, execu-
tive director of the LCIS. “One of the functions of the Legislative Com-
mission on Indian Services is to arrange a variety of meetings and events
throughout the year that address this core priority. It will be a time for
Tribes to showcase who they are and what is important to Tribes, and to
get that message across to state policymakers while legislators are at the
Capitol and involved in taking action that may affect Tribal interests.”
The Legislative Commission on Indian Services was created by statute
in 1975 to improve services to Indians in Oregon. Its 13 members are
appointed jointly by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House
to a two-year term. Members select their own officers to serve one-year
terms of office.
Quigley said the goal of the Legislative Day is to encourage legislators,
legislative staff, state agency employees, Capitol building staff and the
public to visit Tribal government information tables and to visit with
Tribal leaders and Tribal staff to talk about their Tribe, Tribal priorities
and programs, and culture.
“It is also an opportunity for Tribal representatives to visit legislators,
sit in on committee hearings and visit with each other,” Quigley said.
Grand Ronde’s representative on the Legislative Commission on Indian
Services is Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy.
Grand Ronde Public Affairs staff members will be present with Tribal
informational material, Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor said.
Quigley added that American Indian Week in Oregon is May 17-24. A
proclamation signing is being planned with details to be released at a
later date. n
Freedom Through
Fitness begins Feb. 2
Freedom Through Fitness Forever, a 12-week fitness program,
will begin Monday, Feb. 24, in the Tribal gym.
The program concentrates on cardio, strength and flexibility
and costs $40. It will meet from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and
Wednesday.
An informational meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Monday, Feb.
3, in the Tribal Education Building. At least 40 people have to sign
up to start the fitness group activity.
Nutrition planning may be available for an additional fee. There
is a zero refund policy. n
Help needed identifying plots
The Facilities Department is asking for help identifying veteran’s
plots.
If your family member’s or friend’s plot is a veteran and we do not
have a veteran’s flag present on holidays, please inform us.
We will do our best to mark all plots of veterans. Contact Adam
Leno at 503-879-5525 or adam.leno@grandronde.org. n
Cover Oregon: Open for business
and ready to serve you
Jan. 1 marks not just the beginning of a new year. For many
Tribal members, it also marks the beginning of insurance coverage
they can get through Cover Oregon, our state’s health insurance
marketplace.
Cover Oregon is the place for Tribal communities and others to
find health insurance and get financial help to pay for it.
Even if you receive services from your Tribal or urban Indian
clinic, Cover Oregon will work for you.
This is because health insurance helps cover the cost of services
received outside your Tribal or urban Indian clinic, like emergency
room visits, hospital stays or specialty care.
Despite challenges in the marketplace’s early months, thousands
of Oregonians are now covered by plans they signed up for through
Cover Oregon.
Many choices are available through Cover Oregon, including pri-
vate plans, Oregon Health Plan and Healthy Kids.
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•
•
If you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized Tribe and
sign up for insurance through Cover Oregon, you can expect:
• To help your Tribal community. Getting health insurance
helps fund Tribal or urban Indian clinics.
• Consistent care. You can continue to see your doctor at your
Tribal or urban Indian clinic.
• No cost for doctor visits. You won’t pay for any service you re-
ceive from a Tribal or urban Indian clinic. Also, you might qualify
for no-cost or low-cost health coverage at any doctor or provider if
you meet certain income requirements.
• Flexible enrollment. Special enrollment periods allow you to
sign up or change plans every month.
For more information on benefits to you and your Tribal commu-
nity, contact Loretta Meneley at 503-879-1359 or 800-775-0095 at
the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Center.
We are ready to help answer your questions and help you sign
up. Assistance is free.
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You can also contact Cover Oregon by calling 1-855-CoverOR (1-
855-268-3767) or visit CoverOregon.com. n