NOVEMBER 15, 2017
S moke S ignals
11
'We’ve come a long way'
shameful it is for warriors
to be without a place to live,
and how important it is
the Tribal chairs from seven of the
for people to be employed,
other eight federally recognized
which can cure many prob-
Tribes in Oregon.
lems like low self-esteem
“The Tribes and the state share
and dysfunctional behav-
an interest in determining the prov-
iors.
enance, the appropriate custodian,
“The past is the past.
and the appropriate storage or
We’ve lived through it and
display of such items,” the execu-
we’ve come this far and I’m
tive order states. “Oregon’s Tribes
now sitting next to the gov-
deserve an established process to
ernor,” Kennedy said. “Who
determine best practices for gath-
would have thought that
ering information about these types
even 50 years ago? Great
of cultural items associated with
things have happened and
Oregon Tribes, and for determining
as we move forward, I know
the most appropriate ‘next steps’ for
that we’re going to get bet-
establishing workable strategies
ter and better.”
and plans for discussion regarding
After Employment Re-
Photo
by
Michelle
Alaimo
these cultural items and/or return
lations Board Conciliator
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum talks about her office’s interactions with
of the items to associated Oregon
Janet Gillman discussed
Tribes.”
Oregon Tribes during the 18th annual State-Tribal Summit held at Chinook Winds
interest-based negotiations,
The Task Force will include the
a video posted on the State
Casino Resort in Lincoln City on Thursday, Nov. 2.
governor’s legal counsel, members
Parks website titled “Helping
tomary and unwritten law and
She cited the effort to remove the
of the governor’s staff, represen-
Them Home” covered how important
Legislative Commission on Indian
“S” word – squaw – from Oregon
tatives from the State Historic
it is for people to leave unearthed
Services
Director
Karen
Quigley
geographical names as an example.
Preservation Office and Legislative
Tribal artifacts where they are found.
and commission members talked
“Change doesn’t happen from the
Commission on Indian Services,
The video featured Grand Ronde
about what makes an effective key
top down, but it happens from the
and one member each from Or-
Tribal members and former Cultural
contact in State-Tribal Relations.
bottom up,” Brown said. “I think,
egon’s nine federally recognized
Resources Department employees
In the afternoon, Kennedy and
for me, it’s really important that we
Tribes, among others.
David Lewis and Don Day.
Cultural Resources Department
continue to move forward. That we
The executive order signing punc-
During the “Educating Orego-
Manager
David
Harrelson
were
work
from
the
bottom
up
and
not
tuated a day of Tribal represen-
nians About Tribes & the Signif-
members of a panel that discussed
from the top down.”
tatives interacting with a slew of
icance of Their Resources” panel
Tribal ceremonies and the signifi-
Brown said that as she moves
state department heads and their
discussion, Oregon Department
cance of culture.
forward in the last year of her
staff members, and representatives
of Transportation Director Matt
The official summit started at
current term and hopefully during
from the Governor’s Office.
Garrett cited the example of the
9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. Grand
a new four-year term as governor
When asked to stand by Misha
Grand Ronde Tribe’s $4 million
Ronde Elder and former Tribal
that she wants to concentrate on
Isaak, Brown’s general counsel,
donation to the Dundee-Newberg
Council
member
Steve
Bobb
Sr.
jobs,
education
and
health
care
as
approximately 15 state department
Bypass road construction project
carried in the Grand Ronde Tribal
her priorities.
heads, more than 30 state employ-
as an example of how the state and
flag during the opening ceremony.
Specifically, she said she wants
ees and seven Governor’s Office
Tribes can harness their resources
Siletz Tribal Council Chairwom-
to grow economies in rural Oregon
staff members stood. In addition,
to reach a common goal.
an Dee Pigsley welcomed attendees
by working with Tribes, improve
Brown remained at the summit all
State Sens. Ted Ferrioli, R-John
and discussed how far the Siletz
the high school graduation rates
day, a significant time investment
Day, and Arnie Roblan, D-Coos
Tribe has come from having $75 in
and decrease the absenteeism
for the state’s top elected official.
Bay, discussed two pieces of legis-
a
coffee
can
before
its
1977
Resto-
rates for Native American stu-
The annual interaction between
lation that affect Tribes. Ferrioli
ration until now as it approaches
dents, and improve health care for
state and Tribal leaders started
talked about Senate Bill 144, which
its 40th anniversary of Restoration.
all Oregonians, including Tribal
on Wednesday, Nov. 1, with a
gives the state authority to prose-
“We’ve come a long way,” Pigsley
members.
Legislative Commission on Indi-
cute cases of archaeological looting
said. “Casino money is big money,
“I know that health care is fun-
an Services’ “Fall Gathering and
if local district attorneys decline to
but it serves a lot of purposes.”
damental,” Brown said. “I’ve seen it
Learning Session” also held at
do so, and Roblan talked about Sen-
Pigsley
and
Siletz
Vice
Chair
on
the
ground.
It
is
absolutely
key
Chinook Winds.
ate Bill 13, which mandates that
Bud Lane gifted a 40th anniver-
to all Oregonians achieving their
During the daylong learning ses-
Oregon Tribal histories be taught
sary Pendleton blanket to Brown
full potential and ensuring that
sion, attendees heard mostly about
in public schools.
before eight Tribal chairs took the
Oregon is a state where everyone
federal, state and Tribal law. Uni-
After lunch, Attorney General El-
stage with the governor to deliver
can thrive.”
versity of Colorado School of Law
len Rosenblum gave a brief speech
opening remarks.
Kennedy, who sat next to Brown,
Professor Charles Wilkinson talked
about her office’s interactions with
Brown said during her 10-minute
concentrated on health care, re-
about the fundamentals of federal
Tribes.
opening
remarks
that
the
lesson
flecting
her
many
years
of
working
Indian law and Daniel Santos, a
Rosenblum said her office inter-
she has learned since 2001’s pas-
in Indian health care. She said
former legal counsel to four Oregon
acts with Oregon Tribes regarding
sage of Senate Bill 700, which
that Tribes pre-paid for their gov-
governors and an associate dean at
law enforcement and through gam-
mandates the government-to-gov-
ernment-funded health care by
Willamette University’s School of
ing compacts and other memoranda
ernment relationship between the
exchanging large swathes of land
Law, discussed state law and policy.
of understanding.
state and its Tribes, is that change
for promises that included health
Warm Springs Vice Chair Jody
“One lesson we have all learned
takes a long time to accomplish.
care.
Calica spoke about Tribal, cus-
from the past is that litigation be-
However, Native Americans con-
tween the state and Indian Tribes is
tinue to receive the lowest amount
not the best way to reach long-last-
per capita in health care funding in
ing solutions,” Rosenblum said.
the United States, even less than
“Instead, it is often better to work
those who are incarcerated.
together to find common ground
Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Does your family include a child under
“So down through the gener-
and identify mutual interests. … I
the age of 5?
ations, I felt like health care is
am committed to standing together
If so, you may qualify for the Women, Infants and Children pro-
something that should be at the
with you as we face the challenges
gram. With WIC, people can receive answers to nutritional questions
top of the pinnacle,” Kennedy said.
that come our way.”
and access fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, milk, cheese,
“But when you look at the figures
Other afternoon panel discus-
juice, cereal and more.
for the health care dollars that are
sions addressed the needs of Tribal
A WIC representative visits the Tribal Community Center on the
spent on Native peoples, we are at
and rural communities and the art
third Tuesday of the month, which will be Nov. 21.
the bottom.”
of ceremony.
Walk-ins are welcome between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Kennedy also talked about Native
In addition to Kennedy and Har-
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 503-
Americans suffering from historical
relson, Tribal Council members De-
879-2034. 
post-traumatic stress disorder,
nise Harvey and Michael Langley
veterans’ homelessness and how
attended the summit. 
MEETING continued
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