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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.