Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2016)
S moke S ignals JULY 1, 2016 15 Vietnam veterans to be recognized VETERANS continued from front page Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno, a Vietnam-era Marine Corps veteran, said 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. He said every Vietnam veteran who attends the summit or powwow will receive a commemorative eagle pin. “Over the past couple of years we have tried to identify people that we are going to recognize,” said Leno. “This year we will be recognizing the Vietnam veterans.” “Each year we’ve tried to focus on one set of veterans even though obviously all veterans are welcome. That’s our focus for the summit,” said Tribal General Manager David Fullerton, who is once again one of the event organizers. Fullerton said the Native Veter- ans Summit is put on by the Con- federated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Native Wellness Institute and the Department of Veterans Af- fairs’ Office of Tribal Government Relations. Fullerton said the summit’s agen- da is filled with information for veterans about education, employ- ment, hospice services, suicide prevention and mental health wellness. Tribal Government Relations Specialist Terry Bentley said the Native Veterans Summit is de- signed to provide information and make connections for veterans. “The theme for this year’s event is connecting veterans with services,” said Bentley via e-mail. “The esti- mate is that 200 veterans and their family members will attend.” Bentley said many government If you go Gathering of Warriors Native Veterans Summit & Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow When: Thursday, July 7, through Sunday, July 10. Where: Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 Highway 22 (Hebo Road), Grand Ronde. Summit General Sessions: 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, July 8-9. Powwow grand entries: 7 p.m. Friday, July 8; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9; and 1 p.m. Sunday, July 10. officials from a number of key vet- erans’ agencies also will attend, such as the Veterans Affairs Office, Portland Medical Center, Portland Regional Office, Salem Veterans Center and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Bentley said the summit will fea- ture workshops, support meetings, employment information, cultural activities and ceremonies, guest speakers, talking circles, health and dental care, benefits coordina- EXCESS PROPERTY AVAILABLE FOR TRIBAL MEMBER BID The Items listed below are surplus items and are open to bid by Grand Ronde Tribal Members. BID DEADLINE: July 15, 2016 Ford Water Truck Condition - SALVAGE Description: 1986 Ford CF7000 Cab Over with fiberglass water tank. Vehicle does not run and is in need of unknown engine repairs. Front bumper and windshield need replacement. Pump and other items have been removed. Grove Scissor Lift Condition - SALVAGE Description: 1994 self propelled scissor lift. Batteries and charger may need re- placement. Other repairs may be required, lift is currently inoperable. NOTICE PLEASE READ: All bids must be sealed and submitted to the Procurement Office by 5:00 PM on or before the bid deadline. Bids received after the submittal deadline will not be con- sidered. Bid openings will be within 5 working days of the bid deadline and property will be award- ed to the highest bidder. In case of identical bids the received date stamp will be used. The Tribe reserves the right to decline any or all offers. Successful bidders will have 10 working days after the award to pay for and remove the property. All items are sold “as is” with no warranty expressed or implied. Bidders are encouraged to view the items prior to placing a bid. To view an item please contact Kevin Mueller@ 503-879-4548 or kevin.mueller@grandronde.org or Larry Leith @ 503-879- 2216 or larry.leith@grandronde.org. Items awarded and not sold will not be rebid. CONDITION CODES USABLE: Property which shows some wear, but can be used without significant repair REPAIRABLE: Property which is unusable in its current condition but can be repaired SALVAGE: Property which has value in excess of its basic material content, but repair or rehab. Is impractical and/or uneconomical. SCRAP: Property which has no value except for its basic material content. Smoke Signals file photo Grand Ronde Veterans Honor Guard members stand with veterans and other Grand Entry participants during the 2015 Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow at Uyxat Powwow Grounds last July. This year’s powwow will be held Friday, July 8, through Sunday, July 10. tion and a healing village. Native Veterans Summit organiz- ers and supporters say they have three goals they hope to accomplish in three days. First, they hope to increase access by veterans to Veterans Affairs health care and benefits. Second, they want to promote economic sustainability by provid- ing information about disability compensation-related benefits, VA home loans, GI Bill benefits and veteran-owned small business op- portunities. The summit also will focus on listening to Tribal leaders and vet- erans residing in Indian Country about their experiences with access- ing VA health care and benefits. Bentley said the summit will be a success if it connects veterans with their benefits. Fullerton said the summit is im- portant to the community for many reasons and that Tribal resources expended to provide the service to veterans are well used. “It puts us on the map as far as what we’re trying to do and where we place our veterans in impor- tance of things that we do,” said Fullerton. “Not only are you setting aside a complete powwow to honor your veterans, you are also saying you don’t just want to honor your veterans, but we want to help so we added the summit as a resource. We want to see if you can leave after these days in Grand Ronde in a better place than you were when you got here.” Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi, an Army veteran, said she is happy to see many services pro- vided to veterans at the summit and powwow. “I love that we have the Veterans Powwow every year,” said Tuomi. “I love that we’re doing the summit now. I hope that we see even more participants at the summit this year.” Bentley said the pairing of the summit with the Marcellus Nor- west Memorial Veterans Powwow is beneficial to veterans and those trying to provide services. “The powwow is important because of the timing,” said Bentley. “It is held annually to honor veterans. It is our hope that the veterans who are attending the powwow will take advantage of the Veterans Summit. This is a popular Veterans Powwow and draws a large crowd. Our main goal is to connect veterans with their earned benefits and services.” In Grand Ronde, the Veterans Powwow each year is also a time to remember late Tribal Elder and Army veteran Marce Norwest for whom the powwow is named. “I always try and remember Marce,” said Leno. “He was a real supporter of the veterans; of any and all veterans like I am. I think as a combat veteran he realized a lot about what Vietnam veterans went through because he came out of Korea.” Tuomi said she has fond mem- ories of Norwest from her years of serving on the Tribe’s Color Guard. “Marce has a special place in my heart,” said Tuomi. Her husband, Ron, is also an Army veteran. “What I know about Marce was he was a caretaker. He would look after you. He would take you under his wing and he made sure that he looked after you. I’ve never met anybody like Marce.” Leno said the effort that goes into putting on the summit and the pow- wow each year fills him with pride. “I think it goes right along with our memorial out here,” said Leno. “When you look at our memorial it has over 2,300 names on it. I’m re- ally proud as the Tribal chairman and as a Native American to see the honor that Native American people provide for their veterans.” The summit begins at 3 p.m. Thursday with a pre-summit work- shop and then general sessions at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The powwow begins with a grand entry at 7 p.m. Friday, July 8, and continues on Saturday, July 9, with grand entries at 1 and 7 p.m. There also will be a grand entry at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 10. The powwow will feature Men’s Grass Dance and Women’s Jingle Dress specials. Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma member Nick Sixkiller will be master of ceremonies and arena director will be Carlos Calica of Warm Springs. Bad Soul will be host drum and Tribal Elder Deitz Peters and his wife, Rose, will act as head man and head woman.
