4
S moke S ignals
APRIL 1, 2017
Hatfield Fellow program
seeking applicants
2012 – The Wil-
lamette Heritage
Center at The Mill
in Salem was host-
ing a Grand Ronde
exhibit called
“Grand Ronde
Women – Our Sto-
ry,” which was a
celebration of west-
ern Oregon Native
women. The exhibit
was scheduled to
File photo
run through May
28.
2007 – The Tribe decided to pass on purchasing Boise Cascade’s
13-acre riverfront complex in Salem, which also included 310 acres
the company owns on Minto-Brown Island. Tribal Council members
cited the unknown costs for cleanup, preservation and development
as reasons for not making the purchase. “It had a lot of unknowns,”
Tribal Council member Wink Soderberg said.
2002 – Willamina High School Principal Gary Anderson announced
his retirement. He took Willamina High from being on the state Board
of Education’s “unacceptable” list to being one of the most improved
high schools in the state.
1997 – The Tribal Family Action Program was scheduled to make
a presentation at the April 6 General Council meeting. Temporary
Resource Specialist Linda Olson, Pam Warren and Sheila Elliot were
scheduled to present information about eligibility guidelines and
client/caseworker responsibilities.
1992 – The Tribe was preparing to hold a dedication ceremony for
the Community Center, the first of a series of buildings planned on
the Tribal campus, reported Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier.
Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield and Rep. Les AuCoin had been invited
to the event.
1987 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier reported that Tribal
Council would be meeting with the West Valley Chamber of Com-
merce to discuss issues relating to the establishment of a reservation
and that the Tribe was hoping to have the support of Tillamook and
Yamhill county commissioners soon. After that? Meeting with the
Oregon congressional delegation to see what else needed to be accom-
plished to get a Reservation Bill introduced into Congress.
The web-based application for the 2017-18 Hatfield Fellowship opened
on Monday, March 13, for Oregon Tribal members and will close on Fri-
day, April 28.
Each year, Spirit Mountain Community Fund sponsors a congressional
fellowship with a member of the Oregon delegation to enhance the mutual
understanding between the federal government and Indian Country.
Past fellows have served in a number of Senate and House congressional
offices, including those of Sens. Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Gordon Smith
and Reps. Kurt Schrader, Darlene Hooley, Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden.
“The Hatfield Fellowship is a yearly investment in strengthening the
understanding between Oregon Tribes and our congressional represen-
tatives,” Community Fund Director Mychal Cherry said. “By spending
eight months as part of a congressional office, these Tribal members come
away with an invaluable understanding of how things are done in D.C.
During the fellowship experience, working relationships are formed that
will benefit the fellow throughout their career. The congressional staff also
learn from a colleague about the realities in Indian Country and the huge
potential for our communities. This is absolutely a learning exchange.”
Fellows begin their time in Washington, D.C., in November with a
month-long orientation with the American Political Science Association
in Washington, D.C.
The Hatfield Fellowship was created in 1998 to honor Sen. Mark Hat-
field’s public service to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Additional
information about the program is available at www.thecommunityfund.
com/hatfield-fellowship. n
Student Union slates powwow
EUGENE – The Native American Student Union at the University of Oregon
will be holding its 49th annual Mother’s Day Powwow on Friday and Satur-
day, May 12-13, on the EMU Lawn. A community salmon bake also will be
held on Sunday, May 14, at the Many Nations Longhouse, 1630 Colombia St.
In addition, the Student Union will be hosting Native activist and rapper
Frank Waln on Thursday, May 11, at a location to be determined.
All events are free and open to the public.
The powwow will have more than $7,000 in prize money to be awarded
in 14 dance categories.
For more information about the powwow or to donate funds to sponsor
the event, contact Fundraising Chair Jordan Connell at 541-720-4012 or
via e-mail at asuonasu@uoregon.edu.
The Mother’s Day Powwow honors cultural heritage and celebrates the
mothers in the University of Oregon community. n
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Veterans want breast plate
returned, no questions asked
PLATE continued
from front page
After the Sunday afternoon
Grand Entry, the breast plate was
laid down near the announcer’s
stand and it has not been seen
since, Bobb said. Its disappearance
did not become apparent until earli-
er this year when the Grand Ronde
Color Guard started looking for it
as powwows were starting to be
held at local universities.
The breast plate was donated
to the Tribe by the Oregon Vet-
erans Motorcycle Association’s
Eugene-Springfield chapter in
appreciation for being allowed to
use Kalapuya as its chapter name.
“Somebody put a lot of work into
that,” said Bobb, a Vietnam War-
era Marine Corps veteran. “The
importance of that is that they gave
it to the council for the use of that
name. It is important to the Tribe.”
Bobb said Tribal veterans are not
after anyone. They just want the
breast plate returned, no questions
asked.
“We just want to know if anyone
has information so we can get it
returned. That’s all,” Bobb said.
“People have looked everywhere.
People have turned things upside
down, and it’s just missing. That’s
really all we know.”
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn
Leno, who is also a Marine Corps
veteran from the Vietnam War era,
concurred.
“It was a gift to the Tribe,” Leno
said. “You really can’t put a value
on it. It doesn’t have a real value to
anyone else but the Tribe. It’s part
of our powwows and our opening
ceremonies. We want it back, no
questions asked, as far as I am
concerned.”
The missing breast plate case was
turned over to the Grand Ronde Po-
lice Department for investigation.
So far, the department has no leads,
Police Chief Jake McKnight said.
People who might have informa-
tion can contact Crime Stoppers at
503-823-4357 or the Grand Ronde
Police Department at 503-879-
2123. n
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