S moke S ignals
may 1, 2014
Tribe hosting Spring Gathering
Event lets Tribal leaders meet with state legislators and agency contacts
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde will host the Spring Gather-
ing sponsored by the Legislative
Commission on Indian Services on
Wednesday and Thursday, May
21-22.
The gathering, titled “Tradition
& Innovation: Learning From Our
Past to Build Strong Communities,”
is open to Oregon government agency
employees and key Tribal leaders, as
well as Tribal staff and state legisla-
tors. It is not open to the public.
“It is a day for Tribal govern-
ments, legislators and state agen-
cies to come together for discussion,
training and networking,” said
Grand Ronde Public Affairs Direc-
tor Siobhan Taylor, whose staff is
helping to coordinate the event. “It
is a chance to reflect and discuss
what is unique about working with
Tribal governments.”
A pre-Spring Gathering event
will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednes-
day, May 21, in the Tribal plank-
house – Achaf-hammi — off Hebo
Road. Attendees will be treated to
cultural performances by Native
drums and canoe dancers and hear
the story of the plankhouse from
Cultural Outreach Specialist Bobby
Mercier. They also will be served
a salmon dinner provided by the
Grand Ronde Tribe and catered by
Tribal Nutrition Program Manager
Kristy DeLoe and her staff.
On Thursday, May 22, the Spring
Gathering will start with a con-
tinental breakfast and self-tour
of the Tribal Governance Center
beginning at 7:30 a.m.
The opening ceremony, scheduled
for 8:30 a.m. in the Tribal gymna-
sium, will feature the Grand Ronde
Color Guard, a procession of flags
from the nine federally recognized
Tribes in Oregon and a welcome
from Grand Ronde Tribal Council
Chairman Reyn Leno.
Starting at 9:15 a.m. in the Tribal
gym, a panel discussion on Oregon
legislative partnerships with Tribal
governments will be held. Moder-
ated by Legislative Commission on
Indian Services Executive Direc-
tor Karen Quigley, it will feature
Republican State Sen. Ted Ferrioli
of John Day and Democratic Sen.
Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay.
At 11 a.m., a panel discussion on
Tribal Sovereignty called “Tribal
Leaders Express Their Views on
Sovereignty, the Status of Tribes
and Their Tribal Governments’
Priorities for 2014 and Beyond,”
will be held. It will be moderated
by Umatilla Board of Trustees Vice
Chair Leo Stewart and feature
Grand Ronde Tribal Council mem-
ber Cheryle A. Kennedy, the Tribe’s
longtime representative on the
Legislative Commission on Indian
Services.
Afternoon sessions will focus on
how Tribal governments can learn
what state agencies are doing and
state-Tribal cluster/workgroups
will give briefings and report on
annual highlights.
Other panelists and moderators
during the day will include Tribal
leaders and two other legislators
who serve on the Legislative Com-
mission on Indian Services, Reps.
Greg Smith and Caddy McKeown.
The Spring Gathering is sched-
uled to close at 3 p.m. n
Community Lunch
slated for May 14
The Tribe invites Grand Ronde residents to a Community Lunch
at noon Wednesday, May 14, in the Community Center, 9615 Grand
Ronde Road, during which the Tribe will preview its plans to con-
struct a new food pantry at the Curl property adjacent to Elders
housing and the Procurement Office.
The new project is larger than just constructing a new building
and providing nutrition and food for community residents. The Tribe
will be asking for input on ways to address the rural foods needs
of Grand Ronde and how best to provide for Elders and children
and to support the building of community spirit, independence and
healthy lifestyles.
Volunteers and board members of the Grand Ronde Community
Resource Center and staff from the Salem-based Marion Polk Food
Share have been invited to attend. Lunch will be served at noon
followed by the community discussion from 1 to 2 p.m. RSVP before
Monday, May 12, with the number of people attending to Barbara
Mercier at 503-879-1451 or Barbara.mercier@grandronde.org. n
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