2
S MOKE S IGNALS
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Nov. 19............................................................................5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
Just a few lines to let everyone know how very, very glad I was to have
made it to Grand Ronde for my sister Marion Davidson’s funeral.
There were so many who came. I was so proud as some of the family
came a long ways. My two sisters, Hazel Haller and Betty Haller Garrett,
came all the way from Redding, Calif. Betty’s husband drove all that way
and they are not spring chickens anymore. Some came all the way from
Washington. Yes, I was very proud of them, each and every one. The family
of Marion’s would have made her proud of them; they did a wonderful job
of pulling together and my beloved niece, Judy, she sang for her mom, so
beautiful and my Willie how proud I was of them. All I could do was cry,
and Marion’s oldest son of Buddie was like me; all we had was tears.
Kenny, my baby brother did such a good job. He’s the one who kept us
all from breaking up. Thank God he knows the Lord. Our mother would
have been so proud of him. And that goes for all of the family.
I didn’t get to stay too long. My oxygen ran out. We put a fresh tank in
it and it was out before we fi nished our lunch. We have to go to Aumsville,
which is about 65 miles from there. But I had my two puffers I kept using.
I started having chest pains before we got to Salem. I never said anything,
but as soon as I got home, I grabbed my wall oxygen hookup. But stayed
awake so long as I had chest pains so bad. But at 4 in the morning, I went
to sleep and slept until 10:30 a.m.
But thank God I made it. I’d have started out walking and dragging my
oxygen tank and got a ride if I had to. I had thought about it.
We’ve all got to be strong now, as there are so many of us whom are
not getting any younger and, God, it hurts to say goodbye. But when you
know where you’re going, it’s so easy, but no one wants to say goodbye.
Not even one.
I remember my mom telling me, “Bebe, you are a prayer warrior. You
know how to pray. You promise me you’ll always pray for your brothers
and sister.”
I promised. I’ve never broke that promise. God’s been good to me. He’s
blessed me with a long life and kept strong in my faith. Again I want to
thank all of Mary’s family and all who helped arrange for the funeral.
May God bless each and every one of you. I love you.
Your sister (Bebe)
Geneva M. Haller Handsaker
Roll #64
Dear Smoke Signals:
The family of Marion Davidson wishes to thank the Grand Ronde Cem-
etery and Community Center staff who worked to make her memorial
service on Oct. 26 so special. To all staff who worked in the kitchen during
and after the potlatch, we appreciate the extra help and please know that
it did not go unnoticed.
Thanks, also, to Tribal Council for the plant and words of sympathy.
Special thanks to Ken and Sandy Haller for the beautiful service at the
Lighthouse Church, as well as the very uplifting words Ken shared at the
graveside service.
We also thank everyone who contributed to the headstone fund.
Your help and words eased our burden and pain, and we are proud to be
part of such a caring community of Native people. To everyone who helped
us in this time of loss, we are so grateful. Thank you.
The family of Marion Davidson
Tracy Moreland
Roll #2040
Tribal Council Christmas Party set
The annual Tribal Council Christmas Party will start at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Tribal gym with a visit from Santa Claus.
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno will be the master of ceremonies
and Tribal Librarian Marion Mercier will read Christmas stories to
children.
Tribal Royalty will perform “The Lord’s Prayer” at 12:15 p.m. and
Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy will give the invocation
before lunch is served and door prizes are awarded.
Tribal children will sing Christmas songs beginning at 2:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Community Health Manager Kari
Culp at 503-879-2016 or kari.culp@grandronde.org. n
Tribal Offi ce Closures
Tribal offi ces will be closed on Friday, Nov. 21, in observance of
Restoration Day on Nov. 22. Offi ces also will be closing on Wednes-
day, Nov. 26, at noon and closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday,
Nov. 28, in observance of Thanksgiving.
General Council meeting
Sunday, Dec. 7 — 10 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
Wednesday, Nov. 19 .....................Dec. 1
Friday, Dec. 5 .............................Dec. 15
Friday, Dec. 19 ....................Jan. 1, 2015
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 verifi cation 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 refl ect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: n Native American Journalists Association
n The Associated Press
n Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2014-15 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
n Reyn Leno
Tribal Chairman
— ext. 2399
n Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
reyn.leno@grandronde.org
n Chris Mercier
— ext. 1444
n Jack Giffen Jr.
Tribal Vice Chair
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
n Cheryle A. Kennedy
— ext. 2352
n Toby McClary
Tribal Secretary
— ext. 4555
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
toby.mcclary@grandronde.org
tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org
n Ed Pearsall
— ext. 2305
n Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
ed.pearsall@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org
n Tonya Gleason-Shepek
— ext. 1777