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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2017)
6 MAY 15, 2017 S moke S ignals Tribe signs memorandum of understanding with UofO By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor EUGENE – Tribal Coun- cil Chairman Reyn Leno, along with chairs of the other eight federally recog- nized Tribes in the state, signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Oregon on Fri- day, May 5, that will ensure a government-to-govern- ment consultation process between the university and Tribes. Tribal Council members Brenda Tuomi, Denise Har- vey and Chris Mercier also Photos courtesy of Christopher Trotchie/Oregon Daily Emerald attended the event. Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno speaks to the audience inside the Many The agreement formalizes Nations Longhouse on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene on Friday, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno receives a a government-to-govern- May 5, during a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding between pat on the back from Jason Younker, assistant ment consultation process vice president and adviser to the president the nine federally recognized Tribes in the state and the university. Leno is between the university and for Sovereignty and Government-to- flanked, from left, by Klamath Tribal Chair Don Gentry, University of Oregon Oregon’s nine federally rec- Government Relations, while Klamath Tribal President Michael Shill, Cow Creek Chairman Dan Courtney and Confederated ognized Tribes. Chairman Don Gentry looks on during a “The MOU is very sym- Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Chief Warren Brainard. signing of a memorandum of understanding bolic in how the university feels about Oregon’s nine feder- come to the University of Oregon. It younger people and this between the University of Oregon and the ally recognized Tribes and their really lays the foundation for future is just one of the pieces nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon sovereignty,” said Jason Younker, collaboration.” that will help ensure that. on Friday, May 5, inside the Many Nations assistant vice president and adviser “I think the importance of it was Plus, it is something that Longhouse on the Eugene campus. to the university president for Sov- that, number one, it was a task all nine Tribes in the state the territory that became Oregon, ereignty and Government-to-Gov- just to get all nine Tribes there and of Oregon have worked on a long regardless of where the student ernment Relations and a Coquille Tribal leadership there,” Leno said. time or thought about is we want lives now. Tribal member. “The importance “But I believe it shows the impor- our history and our culture taught The school began flying the flags is that all the Tribes collectively tance of education for all Tribes no in Oregon. This will be a way to do of Oregon’s nine Tribes outside came together with the university matter what Tribe you are from or that.” the Student Union and as of 2014 and said we are going to work to- what state you are from. About 160 University of Oregon students can minor in Native Amer- gether on making higher education “I think that basically every Tribe students self-identify as Native ican Studies. not only a priority, but also a good out there believes that education American and a recent survey In 2005, the Tribes helped cre- experience for Native students who is a way to better the lives of their found that about half of those are ate and pay for the Many Nations enrolled in federally recognized Longhouse, where the MOU cere- Tribes. monial signing occurred. A Native The memorandum of under- Advertisement residential community will open standing is another step in the this fall in a new dorm next to the Request for Proposals university’s collaboration with longhouse. Oregon Tribes. In the late 1990s, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde The university’s School of Law then-university President Dave Grocery Store Feasibility Study also offers programs featuring In- Frohnmayer established the Native dian law history and policy and the American Advisory Council that The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is exploring the idea of College of Education helps prepare includes representatives of Ore- developing a grocery store in Grand Ronde and is seeking to retain Native teachers in the Sapsik’wala gon’s federally recognized Tribes a firm to perform a feasibility study that is a thorough and Teacher Education Program. who meet twice a year to advise comprehensive assessment, which may be used later to inform a Younker said he will be framing the university on issues affecting decision as to whether a grocery store is feasible to site, fund, con- copies of the memorandum and Native students. struct and operate in Grand Ronde and, if so, under what sending them to the Tribes in about University leaders also creat- configuration or combination of configurations. a month. ed the “Residency by Aboriginal Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2017. The Tribal Council approved the Rights Program,” which grants complete scope of work and additional information, including memorandum of understanding in-state tuition to members of 43 document submittal procedures and due dates, may be found within during its April 19 meeting. Tribes with historic relationships to the RFP. Electronic copies of the RFP are available by e-mailing Jan Reibach, Tribal Lands Department manager, at Jan.Reibach@GrandRonde.org or calling 503-879-2394. Advertisement Request for Proposals Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Solar Development Feasibility Study The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is exploring solar energy development projects in Grand Ronde and is seeking to retain a firm to perform a feasibility study that is a thorough and comprehensive assessment, which may be used later to inform a decision as to whether a solar development is feasible to site, fund, construct and operate in Grand Ronde and, if so, under what configuration or combination of configurations. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2017. The complete scope of work and additional information, including document submittal procedures and due dates, may be found within the RFP. Electronic copies of the RFP are available by e-mailing Jan Reibach, Tribal Lands Department manager, at Jan.Reibach@GrandRonde.org or calling 503-879-2394. Ad created by George Valdez
