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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2015)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 JANUARY 1, 2015 Grand Ronde appeals Cowlitz casino ruling By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor AS HIN GT ON, D.C . – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde fi led an appeal on Thursday, Dec. 18, of U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jacobs Rothstein’s ruling in favor of the Department of the Interior’s decision to take land into trust for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe near La Center, Wash. Rothstein’s decision was handed down on Friday, Dec. 12. The Cowlitz Tribe has been trying unsuccessfully since 2002 to take approximately 152 acres into trust near La Center – about 15 miles north of the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area – so that it can build a casino on the property. “We need to do more analysis of the court’s reasoning, but the Grand Ronde Tribe strongly dis- agrees with its opinion,” said Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno. “We think the court missed many of the salient issues and facts. Our Tribe has remained vigilant throughout this process. We have always be- lieved this case would be decided at the appellate level and were always prepared to appeal.” The city of Vancouver, nearby property owners, Citizens Against Reservation Shopping and the Con- federated Tribes of Grand Ronde fi led lawsuits against the Cowlitz proposal, stating that, among other W See RULING continued on page 10 Photos by Michelle Alaimo After fi nding presents for her family, Saige Torres looks at a “Wonder Loom” kit for herself as she shops with Stephen Hubbard, a West Valley Fire District resident, during the “Shop With a Hero” event on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Dallas Wal-Mart. Super shopping ‘Heroes’ T From left, Tribal Emergency Operations Coordinator Jamie Baxter, Daysia Duran and her brother, Keahi Duran, look at a magazine that Daysia purchased during the “Shop With a Hero” event. he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Willamina School District and West Valley Fire District sponsored the fi rst “Shop With a Hero” event at Wal-Mart in Dallas on Saturday, Dec. 13. Twenty children shopped with the “heroes” for presents for their fam- ily members and one thing for themselves. The “he- roes” were volunteers from the Grand Ronde Tribal Police and Social Services departments, West Valley Fire District, Oregon State Police, Mt. Angel Rescue, Willamina High School students and Tribal Elder Ed Ashman. “Shop With a Hero” is planned to be an annual event, Tribal Police Chief Al LaChance said. It was funded by the Grand Ronde Tribal Council. n Powwow still going strong Gathering of Oregon’s First Nations Powwow returns for seventh time By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer ALEM — Native American drum- ming, dancing and crafts will return to the Salem Pavilion at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center on Saturday, Jan. 24, with the doors opening at noon and Grand Entry scheduled for 1 p.m. The seventh annual Gathering of Ore- gon’s First Nations Powwow, called “Stand- ing Strong,” started as a one-time event to S Smoke Signals fi le photo coincide with Oregon’s 150th birthday in 2009. While Oregon was celebrating 150 years of statehood, the fi ve federally recognized Tribes of western Oregon wanted Orego- nians to remember that their ancestors have called this land home since time immemorial. See POWWOW continued on page 9 Amaryssa Mooney dances a fancy dance during the sixth annual Gathering of Oregon’s First Nations Powwow held at the Oregon State Fair & Expo Center’s Salem Pavilion last January. This year’s powwow will be held Saturday, Jan. 24.
