S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2018
13
'It’s always nice to see people you don’t normally see'
GOVERNMENT DAY
continued from front page
Denise Harvey, Michael Langley,
Lisa Leno and Brenda Tuomi.
Secretary Jon A. George was on
vacation.
“It is inherent upon us to make
efforts to inform people of our Na-
tive presence and history,” Mercier
said. “We have our own govern-
ments, traditions and culture to
share. We have a role to play in
this education and it is through
opportunities like Tribal Govern-
ments Day.”
Mercier said that several Tribes
took the opportunity to feature cul-
tural displays at the event.
“There are a lot of new faces here
and it is nice how they put their
culture on full display,” he said.
“It is fun to see what everyone has.
But I think Warm Springs might
win because they are giving away
salmon.”
Kennedy, the longest-serving
member of the Legislative Commis-
sion on Indian Services, served as
event host along with fellow com-
mission members and staff.
“Serving on the commission has
been a pleasure and it affords the
opportunity for our nine Tribes to
speak in a united way,” Kennedy
said. “We deal with issues that
impact all of the Tribes in Oregon.”
Also in attendance from Grand
Ronde were General Manager Da-
vid Fullerton, Tribal Attorney Rob
Greene, Administrative Assistant
Meghan Zimbrick, Spirit Mountain
Community Fund Executive Di-
rector Mychal Cherry, Community
Fund Program Coordinator Angie
Sears, Youth Council Coordinator
Shannon Simi and Youth Council
members Aspen Wilson, Dominik
Briant, Isabelle Grout, Raven
Harmon and Madalyn Volz. Junior
Miss Grand Ronde Kaleigha Simi
also attended the event.
Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez
and Public Affairs Administrative
Assistant Chelsea Clark worked
at the Tribe’s informational ta-
ble, greeting event attendees and
answering questions. Giveaways
included Grand Ronde-themed
2018 calendars, chocolates, mints,
water bottles, pencils, phone
cleaners, copies of Smoke Signals
and informational pamphlets.
They were assisted by Harvey’s
4-year-old granddaughter, Hallie
Brewer.
“It’s always nice to see people you
don’t normally see,” Harvey said.
“It’s an opportunity to reconnect
and have casual conversations in
a low-key setting. It’s also nice to
have our Youth Council here.”
It was Leno’s first time at the
event as a Tribal Council member.
“It has been an honor to attend
today and meet representatives
from other Tribes,” she said.
The Tribe also provided a light
breakfast of pastries, fruit, coffee
and bagels. Other Tribes provide
donations of coffee and water. The
Native American Rehabilitation
Association was unable to serve its
mini fry bread at noon due to the
inclement weather farther north in
the Portland area.
In years past, Gov. Kate Brown
and her predecessors would often
stop by, but Brown was unable to
make it this year.
Tribal Governments Day has
been held for more than 12 years
and provides an opportunity for
Oregon’s Tribes to highlight who
they are and what makes Tribal
governments different from the
various special interest groups and
stakeholders with whom legislators
and state agencies mostly interact.
“Tribes and attendees all seemed
pleased with the event,” Legislative
Commission on Indian Services
Executive Director Karen Quigley
said. “Each Tribe’s table was dis-
tinct and thoughtful in its display
— a great way to reinforce the mes-
sage that all Tribes are individual
sovereigns.”
Quigley said she observed school
groups, Capitol staff, agency direc-
tors and staff, legislators and staff,
lobbyists and members of the public
at the event.
“Grand Ronde had a wonderful
display and plenty of council and
staff willing to talk and share
throughout the day,” she said. “As
always, we are grateful for Grand
Ronde’s generous contribution. Vis-
itors and Tribal reps alike enjoyed
the breakfast treats.”
Simi said that it was the third
time most Youth Council members
have attended Tribal Governments
Day.
“This is exposing them to life
outside of what they usually ex-
perience in the Tribe,” she said.
“Bringing the youth here, letting
them experience the day and min-
gling with others is important. It
would be great if we could have
more kids in the community attend
this event.”
Simi and Zimbrick also took
Youth Council members on a guid-
ed tour of the Capitol afterward.
It was Grout’s second time at
Tribal Governments Day.
“I really enjoyed meeting the
governor last time,” she said. “It’s
fun to be able to see all of the Tribes
and displays.”
Briant said he enjoys seeing the
displays and the opportunity to
tour the Capitol.
“It is a great experience because
you get to learn more,” he said.
In addition to giving away salm-
on, the Warm Springs Tribe includ-
ed a display about the 1855 Treaty
with the Tribes of mid-Oregon.
Umatilla featured information on
first foods, Burns Paiute had a
Tribal history display, Klamath
had information on programs and
departments, Siletz had informa-
tion on available outreach and sup-
port services, Coos, Lower Umpqua
and Siuslaw featured traditional
foods, the Coquille Tribe focused
on culture, and Cow Creek featured
information on its coffee company
and cultural items.
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