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-
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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.
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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.
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