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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2016)
S moke S ignals JULY 1, 2016 19 Tribal Council OKs grocery store study grant application By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Could Grand Ronde support a grocery store? The Tribe will study that issue if it receives a grant from the Native American Business Development Institute, which is part of the Bu- reau of Indian Affairs. Tribal Council approved a grant application for between $35,000 and $50,000 that, if received, would fund an economic development feasibility study during its Wednes- day, June 29, meeting. The Tribe’s recent survey of mem- bers found that 73.4 percent of local Tribal members responding were in favor of a grocery store being established in Grand Ronde. In addition, a grocery store has been on the Tribe’s Capital Improvement Plan projects list for several years. “The grocery store appears to have the best potential for local job creation and to stimulate other eco- nomic development,” stated a staff report recommending applying for the grant. At the Monday, June 27, Legis- lative Action Committee hearing, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said the Tribe issued a re- quest for proposals for property on the north side of Highway 18 that is seeking a recommendation on the site’s highest and best use. Leno said that might be a good location for a grocery store. “The Tribe has contracted for a highest and best use analysis for the parcel known as HR Jones/ Round Valley, 24.33 acres located off Salmon River Highway in Grand Ronde,” said Lands Department Manager Jan Reibach. “The study will look at potential development options for the property that are economically viable.” Planning and Grants Manager Kim Rogers said the BIA grant, if received, could complement the Tribal analysis of the property. In other action, Tribal Council: Clothes Closet open Monday, Friday The Clothes Closet is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday on the Tribal campus near the Elders Activity Center at the end of Black- tail Drive. It accepts clothes, small appliances, small pieces of furniture, electronics and household goods that are clean and in good condition. It does not accept books, large TVs or large furniture, but there is a com- munity board where people can post those items. Donations are accepted during regular business hours. For more information or emergency clothes, contact Lori Walker-Her- nandez at 559-847-7565 or Daniele Powley at 503-917-8732. • Approved the 2016 Right of Way Logging Unit timber sale as pre- sented by the Natural Resources Department. It is expected to generate an estimated $91,600 in timber revenue; • Approved the Natural Resources Department’s purchase of ap- proximately $175,000 in crushed rock for forest road construction and maintenance for this year; • Approved issuing a Tribal cred- it card for Natural Resources Silviculture and Fire Protection Technician Aaron Williamson; • Approved applying to the Ad- ministration for Children and Families for a five-year Tribal Personal Responsibility Program grant totaling $327,867 in the first year and $300,000 annually in the other four years to continue funding the Tribe’s teen pregnan- cy prevention efforts; • Approved an easement agree- ment with the Bonneville Power Administration allowing the agency access to transmission lines through two Tribal proper- ties; • Approved accepting title for the 14-acre Kilchis Point property near Bay City donated to the Tribe by Tillamook County in September 2015; • And approved the enrollment of nine adults and two infants into the Tribe because they meet the membership criteria outlined in the Enrollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution, and denied the membership of one infant for not meeting the criteria. Also included in the June 29 Trib- al Council packet was a staff direc- tive directing Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin to work with Member Services to research how many people relinquished their membership in another Tribe and waited five years to enroll in Grand Ronde. However, a staff directive to research blood quantum statistics failed to garner five signatures. There also were authorizations to proceed that directed staff to adopt the Tribal Match Home Repair Program, adopt an Admissions and Occupancy Policy for the Housing Department, apply for a $150,000 Spirit Mountain Community Fund grant to help pay for a preschool addition to the Early Childhood Education building and authorize Finance Officer Chris Leno to transfer $2,000 into the Human Resources budget to establish an anonymous tip line, which is being established as a result of institut- ing a whistleblower policy. Reibach joined Culture Depart- ment employees Jordan Mercier and Bobby Mercier, Ceded Lands Manager Michael Karnosh and numerous other Tribal members in performing the cultural drum- ming and singing to open the meeting. The meeting, in its entirety, can be viewed on the Tribal website, www.grandronde.org, by clicking on the News tab and then Video. Tomanowos still connected to Grand Ronde people TOMANOWOS continued from page 18 100-year-old wooden prayer beads that George gave to everyone to leave for the meteorite. The cere- mony ended with an ancestors’ song and then Stewart joked that it was “selfie time.” After the ceremony, George, Mar- tin, Clark, Shannon Simi, Briant, Dan Ham, Lash, Genifer Grout and Royalty members carried the cedar that was used to clean Tomanowos several blocks from the museum to the Hudson River to release it into the river, returning the ener- gy from Tomanowos to the water. George sang a prayer song as each person tossed a piece of the cedar over a pier railing into the river as the sun set. Because it was the first ceremo- ny for most who attended, there were many thoughts and feelings. Chairman Leno said that the me- teorite is an “amazing” thing that people don’t realize until they visit and really look at it and make that connection and see Tribal people performing a ceremony that con- nects them. No matter how far away Tribal members are, they are still connected to Grand Ronde and the meteorite is connected to Grand Ronde people, he said. Coulson said it was quite an ex- perience to be there and that she was glad she attended. VanAtta said what’s amazing is that everyone has an idea of what they think the meteorite will look like and it didn’t come close in her case. She said she thought it would have sharp edges, but it was smoother with holes in it and that it was “kind of amazing.” During the ceremony, Dan Ham said he was thinking about how when he was the age of the interns, the Tribe was terminated and that if someone would have told him back then that he’d be going to New York to see Tomanowos he would not have believed it. From a youth’s perspective, Mooney said she thought New York was fun and since it was her first trip to a large city, it was a good experience. She said the meteorite was “cool” to look at and it was overall a fun trip. On Thursday, June 23, a break- fast with the Tribal delegation and museum staff took place at the museum, followed by a behind-the- scenes tour where the Tribal con- tingent viewed some of the Grand Ronde artifacts in the museum's collection, such as baskets, fish hooks, an elk antler purse and a stick game. Photos by Michelle Alaimo Veterans Special Event Board Junior Queen Amaryssa Mooney hands David Harvey, senior vice president of exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History, a gift from the Tribe during a breakfast held at the museum on Thursday, June 23. Passing out gifts with her was Little Miss Grand Ronde Kaleigha Simi, background. Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno looks at fish hooks during a behind-the- scenes collections tour for the Grand Ronde delegation at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday, June 23.
