2
S moke S ignals
JULY 1, 2016
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, July 13.............................................................................5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20.............................................................................5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
Our Tribe’s Restoration Constitution took effect in 1984 and since then
we have taken it upon ourselves to amend what it means to be a member
of our five Tribes of people that have walked the Earth for quite some
time now.
We have changed that meaning in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2008,
according to Tilixam Wawa’s April 2013 edition in the enrollment audit
explained article. Our Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy recently
stated in the May 2016 Tilixam Wawa that “Termination has left terrible
effects and it’s taking a long time to repair our cultural fabric.” I greatly
agree with Cheryle and believe that we have before us an opportunity to
continue this mending process for our Tribe.
I can only hope we will contemplate over this issue and reflect on what
our ancestors would say of what has become of their descendants. Would
they say what wonderfully big buildings you have built, or what great busi-
nesses you have made? Would they see the hard work done to unite their
descendants into one Tribe after the transgressions of the U.S. government?
Maybe they would give immense recognition to the efforts of teaching our
children of our past, of Tribal traditions and of the last living language
of our Tribes. Would they comment on what a strange turn of events to
be a people pushed to the edge of existence, yet now to be held with high
esteem, and holding great power and riches in their hands.
They would be proud, I believe, of what has become of these bands of
Umpqua, Molalla, Rogue River, Kalapuya and Chasta people. But what
would they say to us of the way we have decided to deal with some of the
descendants of their fellow Tribal members that walked beside them to the
Reservation encampments? What would they say about the way we have
behaved when it comes to voting on what it means to be a Grand Ronde
Indian? They might be so included to inform us with their wisdom that it
is not a matter of what you will lose, but a matter of what you will gain.
I am saddened to think that our ancestors might feel ashamed to see
the greed and selfishness of the membership rules that I believe do not
represent where we come from or where we will go in the future. I do not
think our ancestors would be proud to see us practicing this exclusion of
descendants that rightfully belong to this Tribe, that inherently deserve
inclusion.
I will part with you one more question, and a choice. Will we leave be-
hind a museum for the world to see who we were, or will we leave behind
a legacy of descendants to show the world who we are? The choice is ours
and if we feel that our ancestors would want us to include those that have
been denied membership to our Tribe, the Constitution should be amended
to address this issue.
Nicole Alexander
Roll #4541
See page 12 for more letters.
Groups form Helping Hands
The Clothes Closet, iskam mfkhmfk haws, Empowerment Outreach Min-
istries and A Cause For Paws have started an ad hoc group called Grand
Ronde Helping Hands and are inviting community members to join the
effort of supporting local families.
“Our goal is to bring those of us together who are supporting families in
Grand Ronde to share the services and resources we provide and create
a resource guide we can all use,” said Food Bank Coordinator Francene
Ambrose.
The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, at The Food
Bank, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. In addition, a collection day at the Food
Bank is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 9, and is seeking
donations of bed-in-a-bag items for homeless veterans and families.
“We are hoping to collect 10 to 20 sets consisting of a tent, sleeping bag,
pillow, sheet set, warm blanket and warm jacket,” Ambrose said. “Also,
we would like to have personal care kits to give out including shampoo,
conditioner, soap, towel, wash rag and baby wipes.
“If you provide any type of services to families in our community, please
consider attending,” Ambrose added. “We are looking for meal site cal-
endars, food box sites, clothes closets, showers and laundry services. We
are asking churches, church groups, departments and support groups to
share with us.”
If you are interested in joining the effort, contact Ambrose at 503-879-
3663 or at fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org. 
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA CLARK
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/
PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1463
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
Tribal offices will be closing on noon Friday, July 1, and closed on
Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
503-879-1418
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
BRENT MERRILL
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
PAGE DESIGNER
STAFF WRITER
503-879-2190
503-879-4663
503-879-1416
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
brent.merrill@grandronde.org
george.valdez@grandronde.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
MELODY WRIGHT
CENTRAL PHONES
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
503-879-1446
melody.wright@grandronde.org
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Tuesday, July 5 ............................July 15
Wednesday, July 20 ...................... Aug. 1
Friday, Aug. 5 ........................... Aug. 15
Editorial Policy
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com-
munity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of:  Native American Journalists Association
 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2016 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
 Reyn Leno
Tribal Chairman
— ext. 2399
 Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
reyn.leno@grandronde.org
 Chris Mercier
— ext. 1444
 Jack Giffen Jr.
Tribal Vice Chair
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
 Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Secretary
— ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Tribal Office Closures
503-879-1961
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
 Brenda Tuomi
— ext. 4555
brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org
 Tonya Gleason-Shepek
— ext. 1777
tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org
 Ed Pearsall
— ext. 2305
 Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
ed.pearsall@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org