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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2017)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Elder Honor Day — pg. 2 JULY 15, 2017 Powwow promotes esprit de corps By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor C amaraderie reverberated in the air along with the powerful beats ema- nating from Native drums during the annual Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veter- ans Powwow held Friday through Sunday, July 7-9, at Uyxat Powwow Grounds off Hebo Road near Fort Yamhill State Park. The esprit de corps among the numerous veterans who attended the three-day pow- wow transcended branch of service, as well as time and place from Hawaii in 1941 to 21st century Iraq and Afghanistan. Albany resident David Russell, 96, sur- vived the Day of Infamy sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii that saw his ship, the USS Oklahoma, sunk by Japanese See POWWOW continued on pages 12-13 Navy veteran David Russell receives a Warriors Medal of Valor from Marcellus Norwest Memorial Veterans Powwow master of ceremonies Nick Sixkiller during the powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds on Saturday, July 8. Russell survived his ship, the USS Oklahoma, being bombed on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Summit marks fifth year of helping veterans During last year’s Veterans Summit: Gathering of Warriors, Army veteran Roberta Davis sat in on a female Healing Circle, which gave her the courage to apply for military sexual trauma benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Because of that, she is now receiving benefits for her service to her country. By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor W Photos by Michelle Alaimo illamina resident Roberta Davis is living proof that Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno’s oft-stated contention — “If it helps one veteran, then it’s worth it” — regarding the annual Veterans Summit is true. If it wasn’t for the 2016 Veterans Summit, Davis, an Army veteran, probably would never have sum- moned the courage to apply for military sexual trauma benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. While attending her second Veterans Summit last year, Davis sat in on a female Healing Circle that was facilitated by Elizabeth Estabrooks, Women See SUMMIT continued on page 11 Tribe hosts Wyden’s 828th Town Hall on July 1 U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden spoke to about 50 people during his Polk County Town Hall held on Saturday, July 1, in the Tribal gym. It was Wyden’s 828th Town Hall since he was elected to Congress in 1996. Senator ‘all in’ in fight to protect Medicaid, treaty rights By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde hosted U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s Polk County Town Hall on Saturday, July 1, and the current debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act was mentioned several times by the approximately 50 people who attended. Tribal Elder Monty Parazoo asked if Wyden foresees the United States joining other western industrialized nations in adopting a single-payer health care system. Wyden said that states already can adopt a single-payer health care system because of a provision he included in the Affordable Care Act and he added that Oregon, Washington and California could team up to create a West Coast single-payer health care option. “My view is there is a variety of different ways See TOWN HALL continued on page 9 Photo by Dean Rhodes
