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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2015)
4 S moke S ignals NOVEMBER 15, 2015 'It all just clicked' RODEO continued from front page 2010 – Oregonians resoundingly rejected the idea of privately owned casinos in the state by a 68 percent to 32 percent margin. “I hope they got the point,” said Tribal Council member Chris Mercier. “Sixty-eight to 32 is a very convincing statement.” The measure was opposed by all nine Tribes, who coalesced together under the Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance. 2005 – Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Tribal Coun- cil member Jack Giffen Jr. sat elbow to elbow with Indian gaming representatives from across the country as they urged Congress to block other Tribes from setting up casinos outside of their reservations. File photo 2000 – Warm Springs Tribal member Alyssa Macy became the third Hatfield Fellow. Macy was a recent graduate of Arizona State University and was scheduled to be a liaison for Native American issues in the office of Oregon Rep. Darlene Hooley. 1995 – The Grand Ronde water tank project was nearing comple- tion. The 500,000-gallon tank will provide water to Grand Ronde residences and businesses, as well as improve fire protection in the area. It also will allow a moratorium on new water hookups to be lifted. 1990 – Tribal member Felicia Lewis and her horse, Shadow, received honors at the Jackson County Fair in Medford. She was champion in western equitation, showmanship and high point. 1985 – Tribal Enrollment Clerk Margo George reported that 79 applicants were approved for membership in September, in- creasing the membership roll to 1,682. She added that the Tribe has added 1,020 new members since Restoration occurred in November 1983. Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year increments through the pages of Smoke Signals. Name changes in Tribal Court Tribal Court provides both minor and adult name changes to enrolled members for a filing fee of only $30. If you have any questions or would like to request a packet, please contact Devin Larsen at 503-879-2303 or devin.larsen@grandronde.org. n seconds to prepare before each ride once he was in the chute. “It was a whole lot different be- cause you had a time limit,” said Allen. “When I was in there I was just ready. I was just breathing. I was focused on having fun really. I got super serious in my head and I couldn’t stop thinking like that.” Allen scored a 73 on the final ride to win the championship. He was one of only two competitors, out of 32 riders who began the competi- tion, to score on all three rides. Allen’s mother, Tribal member Desiree Allen, said the rodeo an- nouncers told the audience before his ride that Marcel needed a 68 in the short go to win. The bull Allen was on during his championship ride spun left out of the gate and bucked down the fence line. The bull took him into the fence and he hit his head on the leg of one of the cowboys who had opened the gate and then jumped up onto the fence to get out of the way. “It didn’t really change anything, but I definitely felt it,” said Allen. “It was intense.” It could not have been a closer result as Allen was bucked off just before the buzzer sounded. Because Allen still had the rope in his hand and because he was still airborne when the buzzer sounded, the ride scored. “I was just like ‘Oh my God!’,” said Desiree. “My dad (Desiree’s father, Toba Scott) was already down there and he said, ‘He got it, he won it’.” Desiree said her family made the event special. Her mother (Debra Scott) and father, brother (Izreal) and sisters (Sisiley and Shelby) all traveled to Nevada. Allen won a belt buckle, a saddle and chaps for winning the worlds. When asked what’s next, Allen said he will do it all again next year and try to qualify for the Indian National Rodeo Finals again. If he makes it back to the finals next year, he will be on the largest bulls and no longer be a junior bull rider. Desiree thanked the Tribe’s Youth Education program for spon- soring Allen this year. The $200 youth sponsorship he received was enough to pay for his entry fee. After it was all over, Allen said it didn’t really hit him right away that he had become a world cham- pion. Later that night, it finally sank in. “It all just clicked,” said Allen. “I won the worlds. I just got super happy.” n Special Event Board seeking help The Tribal Veterans Special Event Board is attempting to recruit younger veterans – Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans – to join. “Our committee is getting older,” said Veterans SEB Chairman Steve Bobb Sr., who is a Vietnam War-era Marine Corps veteran. Members of the SEB attend events as flag carriers and represent the Tribe, as well as their branch of service. Veterans interested in volunteering should contact Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin at 503-879-2304 or stacia.martin@grandronde.org. n Per capita not affected by loan MEETING continued from front page construction loan with interest-only payments due monthly during the construction period. Upon comple- tion, the outstanding balance will be added to the Tribe/SMGI private note. “It will not impact per capita or our other services and benefits. It’s one of the most successful things we have done to help build our endow- ments,” Tribal Council Chair Reyn Leno said about the loan structure. In other action, Tribal Council approved amendments to the El- ders’ Retirement Program and SSI Program that, among other items, provides three months of Elders Pension benefits to surviving spous- es of Tribal Elders who walk on. Tribal Council also re-designated the membership of the Plan Admin- istrative Committee for the Tribal 401k Plan and approved the enroll- ment of two infants into the Tribe because they meet the requirements under the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance. Also included in the Nov. 4 Tribal Council packet was an authoriza- tion to proceed that approved mov- ing forward with a constitutional amendment that would, if approved by voters, reduce the General Coun- cil participation requirements for initiatives, referendums and calling of special General Council meetings outlined in the Tribal Constitution. Tribal Council member Jon A. George joined Tribal employees Bri- an Krehbiel, Bobby Mercier, Travis Stewart, Cristina Lara and Chelsea Clark for the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting. The meeting, in its entirety, can be viewed on the Tribal website at www.grandronde.org by clicking on the News tab and then Video. n Ad created by George Valdez
