Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2015)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Tribe dedicates new employment building — pg. 5 JULY 15, 2015 Charnel House meeting slated for July 15 New cemetery building will house Tribal remains By Brent Merrill G Smoke Signals staff writer enerations of Grand Ronde Tribal members have en- dured many indignities throughout modern times. Living Tribal members mourn not only the loss of ancestors, but at times our people have been troubled by the treatment of their ancestor’s remains as well. Much of that will change now that the Tribal Historic Preservation Office has brought forward the idea of building a charnel house on the cemetery grounds. “A charnel house is a vault or a building where human remains are stored,” says Tribal Historic Preservation Program Manager See BUILDING continued on page 20 Tribe to remain drug-free By Dean Rhodes A Smoke Signals editor lthough recreational mar- ijuana use became legal in Oregon on July 1 when Measure 91 took effect, the vot- er-approved law did not affect the Grand Ronde Tribe, which is a sov- ereign nation and has decided that use or cultivation will continue to be banned at Tribal enterprises and on Tribal land. Tribal Council issued a statement on Friday, July 10, reminding Tribal members and Oregon residents that just because the use and possession of recreational marijuana has been decriminalized in Oregon, Measure 91 does not apply to the Tribe. “In 2014, the Tribe began looking closely at the question of recre- ational marijuana use, believing the issue would be on the Novem- See DRUG-FREE continued on page 18 Arbor ardor Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal Elder Deitz Peters smudges the new arbor at Uyxat Powwow Grounds during its dedication ceremony on Friday, July 10. Veterans Powwow christens new powwow grounds structure By Brent Merrill T Smoke Signals staff writer he new arbor at Uyxat Powwow Grounds was the star of this year’s Marcellus Nor- west Memorial Veterans Powwow held in Grand Ronde on Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12. This year’s powwow culminated four days of honoring veterans in Grand Ronde that started on Thursday, July 9, with the third annual Native Veterans Summit. Just before Friday’s 7 p.m. grand entry, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno asked everyone involved with building the new arbor to come out on to the powwow grounds to be honored. Leno started with Tribal Engineering and Public Works Manager Jesse White. “Jesse is the guy that council said, ‘Build us an arbor, have it ready by Veterans Powwow and make it your number one priority’,” said Leno, who then presented White with a framed picture of the arbor. Leno also said Chris Scholten of Chris Scholten Construction and Scholten’s timber framer, Justin Stritzke, played key roles in the building of the arbor. See POWWOW continued on pages 10-11 Tribe hosts third Native Veterans Summit Workshop aims to improve health care for Native veterans in rural areas By Dean Rhodes T Smoke Signals editor he ultimate goal of the Native Veterans Summit, which was held for the third consecutive year on Fri- day and Saturday, July 10-11, at Uyxat Powwow Grounds as a complement to the Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow, is to provide resources, benefits coordination, health care and opportunities for healing and networking for veterans. To help in that effort, the Con- See SUMMIT continued on page 14 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Mark Johnston, former head of the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center and current deputy executive director of the Coquille Tribe, talks about veterans’ health care during a Native Veterans Summit pre- summit workshop held in the Tribal Community Center on Thursday, July 9.
