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
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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