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Beginning carving class
— pgs. 10-11
FEBRUARY 1, 2018
ATNI Winter Convention draws
Tribes from across the region
Tribal Council
OKs Enrollment
Ordinance changes
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
By Danielle Frost
T
Smoke Signals staff writer
P
ORTLAND – The Grand
Ronde Tribe was well-rep-
resented at The Affiliated
Tribes of Northwest Indians’
Winter Convention.
The annual event, held Mon-
day through Thursday, Jan. 22-
25, at the DoubleTree Hilton,
occurred in the Tribe’s ceded
lands and is an opportunity for
meetings, discussion, presenta-
tions and committee work that
affects policy, legislation and
the future of Indian Country in
the Northwest.
Grand Ronde Tribal Council
Secretary Jon A. George gave
the invocation, asking for a
blessing upon ATNI staff, Tribal
leaders and the city of Portland.
Cultural drumming and sing-
ing were led by Tribal Cultural
Advisor Bobby Mercier, Tribal
Cultural Education Specialist
Brian Krehbiel and George, and
Kevin Paul of the Swinomish
Tribe.
Colors were posted by the
Northwest Indian Veterans
Association, as well as Grand
Ronde Veterans Honor Guard
members Al Miller, Steve Bobb
Sr., Raymond Petite and Rich
VanAtta.
Tribal Council members who
attended the Monday morning
session included Chairwoman
Cheryle A. Kennedy, Vice Chair
See ATNI
continued on page 9
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy speaks during the opening
of The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’ Winter Convention 2018 held
at DoubleTree by Hilton Portland in Portland on Monday, Jan. 22.
he Tribe’s Enrollment Or-
dinance received an update
at the Wednesday, Jan.
24, Tribal Council meeting when
changes were approved, including
the return of final decision-making
authority regarding loss of Tribal
membership to Tribal Council.
In the midst of controversial
disenrollment proceedings, a split
Tribal Council voted in July 2014
to transfer final decision-making
authority regarding involuntary
loss of membership cases to the
Enrollment Board and removed
Tribal Council from the enrollment
process.
Senior Staff Attorney Deneen
Aubertin Keller said during the
Tuesday, Jan. 16, Legislative Ac-
tion Committee meeting that the
Tribe received six comments, five
in support, regarding the proposed
amendments to the Enrollment
Ordinance.
Other Enrollment Ordinance
changes ensure that adoption-re-
lated records and Social Security
numbers that are contained in
Tribal member enrollment files
remain confidential. However,
Tribal members and applicants
while in the presence of Enrollment
Department staff now will be al-
lowed to see electronic versions of
their entire enrollment file and the
enrollment files of deceased lineal
ancestors or living lineal ancestors
who have granted permission. They
also will be allowed to take notes
See TRIBAL COUNCIL
continued on page 5
RetrieveRx receives rave reviews
New prescription system ‘significantly’
decreases wait times at Pharmacy
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
W
ait times at the Grand Ronde Pharmacy have
decreased substantially since a new prescription
retrieval system was installed two months ago.
RetrieveRx electronically organizes prescriptions. After
client information is entered in the computer, a light on
See PHARMACY
continued on page 8
The Grand
Ronde Health &
Wellness Center
Pharmacy has
started using the
RetrieveRx system
for prescription
bags. The bags
are equipped with
lights to make
for quick and
easy retrieval of
Photo by Michelle Alaimo prescriptions.