Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2014)
2 S moke S ignals august 15, 2014 NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TiME Wednesday, Aug. 20...........................................................................5 p.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. letters Dear Smoke Signals: A big thank you to everyone who supported the Willamina Logging Show again this year! We are proud to have Bare Farms as our lead sponsor this year. Coastal Fibre and Boise Cascade joined as repeat timber dona- tors as well. We would also like to thank NW Logging, L&L Equipment, the Con- federated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Doug Eddy, Don Risseeuw Excavating, Wildwood Hotel, Peterson Caterpillar and Davison Auto as major contribu- tors. Several of our local businesses also supported us by donating gift certificates, merchandise and expertise. After the event, all of the wood was donated to the Willamina wrestling team to sell as a fundraiser. It truly does take a community to pull this off. It was such an honor to be able to award Roy Zimbrick the Honorary Logger gift this year with a beautiful plasma cut trophy made by local alumnus Mark Scott. Roy has without question had his hand in most every aspect of our community from supporting our schools to community service projects, employing local timber professionals and being a major leader of our timber industry. We thank you for your continued efforts to better our little “Timber Town USA.” Matt Saucy, Ryan Mehlhoff and Jesse Leavitt continue to enhance this event with their skill and craftsmanship in milling lumber and chain saw carving — you are awesome guys. Finally I have to say our committee is just incredibly talented and de- voted. We can’t thank you all enough. Ramon Torres stepped in as fore- man, creating an incredible playing field and event lineup finally bringing back the pole climb. Tom Mills, Jeri St. Onge, Joe Steere, Jilene Mercier, Shad Wagler and Amanda Mehlhoff each presented their special talents to create a phenomenal event this year. We look forward to another great year in 2015. Of course, none of this would be possible without the blessing and grounds of Walsh Trucking. We would love to have your help, too. Please contact any one of us to get involved. We do have a special project of creating a forestry club for our youth that is in need of volunteers. If interested, call 503-550-0923. Thank you again. Janelle Justen Whistle Punk Adventures General Council meeting Sunday, Sept. 7 — 11 a.m. Tribal Community Center Smoke Signals PUBliCaTionS oFFiCe 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173 Web site: www.grandronde.org/news e-mail: news@grandronde.org Twitter: CTgRgov Facebook: Confederated Tribes of grand Ronde SioBhan TaYloR ChelSea ClaRk Dean RhoDeS PubliC AFFAiRS diReCTOR PubliC AFFAiRS/ PubliCATiONS SeCReTARy PubliCATiONS COORdiNATOR 503-879-1418 dean.rhodes@grandronde.org 503-879-1920 siobhan.taylor@grandronde.org 503-879-1463 chelsea.clark@grandronde.org geoRge valDez JUSTin PhilliPS Ron kaRTen GRAPhiC deSiGN SPeCiAliST PAGe deSiGNeR STAFF wRiTeR 503-879-2190 503-879-4663 503-879-1416 justin.phillips@grandronde.org ron.karten@grandronde.org miChelle alaimo valeRie Cox SCaRleTT holTz PhOTOJOuRNAliST CeNTRAl PhONeS 503-879-1961 503-879-1446 michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org valerie.cox@grandronde.org george.valdez@grandronde.org DeaDline DaTe CeNTRAl PhONeS 503-879-1447 scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org iSSUe DaTe Friday, Aug. 22 ........................... Sept. 1 Friday, Sept. 5 ........................... Sept. 15 Monday, Sept. 22 .........................Oct. 1 Dear Smoke Signals: Klahowya nayka tilixam, I have received the latest news from home, the Tilixam Wawa and the July 15 edition of the paper. What caught my attention was the actions council took to absolve itself of responsibility on the disenrollment issue. At first I thought this selfish and underhanded, but after giving it more thought found the positive aspect of it. They are doing the right thing by staying out of it. This is actually more in line with “true tradition.” An issue as sensitive as enrollment has always been the responsibility of the Elders, honored and respected leaders of the community. Cultural matters, moral issues, the ceremonies and teachings all are the responsibility of these people. I have said in the past that we struggle so much because we have strayed away from that and no longer rely on “traditional wisdom,” the ways. Tribal Council’s main role is the business end, to put it simple, and all major issues affecting the membership must be brought before the people for final approval. Two years ago when the enrollment audit issue first came up, I wrote a letter completely opposing it and that council had ordered it. But what’s done is done and we must learn as much from this as we can, make neces- sary changes and move on. I thought this process would be a little easier if the people had more traditional understandings about enrollment, and what it really means to become an enrolled member. In the past, members were made through adoption. This was taken with the understanding that this person was now a full blood relative. These were oral contracts, vows that could not be broken except by mutual agree- ment; a good reason why I tell newer people to be more careful about who you call brother or sister. You take on that responsibility when you do. Today’s enrollment practice as it is is no different than the old adop- tion, or making one a relative. You accepted them, and that’s it. It does not matter if this was done according to our Constitution, in error or not. The agreement was made. We cannot break that vow. As for the Constitution and bylaws, we have so much difficulty and struggle because we have become dependent on relying on what is a non- Native tool. I am not saying throw it out; I’m saying follow tradition to correct them. I promise you, do this and the time will come when these nonNative tools will collect dust. The people will walk strong on their own with only Creator and the tradition of our culture to guide them. I would like to share this analogy I used once to help a spiritual adviser see what they could not see. Imagine an ancestor has appeared before you. He places in your left hand a golden eagle tail feather, in your right he gives you their rule book (in this case, Constitution and bylaws). Then says, “By which do you follow?” Walter F. Simmons Roll #2317 editorial Policy Smoke SignalS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com- munity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission. Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be published unless requested. Smoke SignalS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke SignalS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Members of: Native American Journalists Association The Associated Press Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 Tribal Council 1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org Reyn leno Tribal Chairman — ext. 2399 Denise harvey — ext. 2353 reyn.leno@grandronde.org June Sherer — ext. 1444 Jack giffen Jr. Tribal Vice Chair — ext. 2300 jack.giffen@grandronde.org denise.harvey@grandronde.org june.sherer@grandronde.org Cheryle a. kennedy — ext. 2352 Toby mcClary Tribal Secretary — ext. 4555 cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org toby.mcclary@grandronde.org kathleen.tom@grandronde.org kathleen Tom — ext. 1777 ed Pearsall — ext. 2305 Jon a. george — ext. 2355 ed.pearsall@grandronde.org jon.george@grandronde.org