S moke S ignals
MARCH 15, 2018
13
Sean Gerbrandt, right, round dances with his mother and Tribal Council member Kathleen George and his brother Noah Gerbrandt during the 16th
annual Agency Creek Round Dance held in the Tribal gym on Friday, March 9. The event, which also took place on Saturday, March 10, celebrates
sobriety, community health and wellness.
Round Dance
and
Iskam
Jordan Community
Mercier drums Health
and sings
with
other MǝkʰMǝk
invited singers during the 16th
annual Agency Creek Round Dance held in the Tribal gym on Friday, March 9.
Community
Health
Iskam
MǝkʰMǝk-Haws
Community
Health and
and Iskam
MǝkʰMǝk
Meal Cooking
Come join us in cooking chicken, broccoli and cheese skillet meal
Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
At the Grand Ronde Food Pantry
Learn to cook healthier for you and your family
Please
RSVP to Kim at 503-879-2079, spots are limited
Oh, did we mention you could win a prize from our raffle drawing??
Oh, did we mention you could win a prize from our raffle drawing??
Ila Mercier, left, and Nevaeh Grijalva take a break
from round dancing to eat an apple during the
16th annual Agency Creek Round Dance held in
the Tribal gym on Friday, March 9.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Judge rules against complaint
U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You ruled on Friday, March 2, that
the federal government’s destruction of a sacred burial ground during
the widening of U.S. 26 west of Government Camp did not interfere with
Tribal religious freedom.
You dismissed a claim made by three Tribal Elders, including Grand
Ronde Elder Carol Logan, that the road widening violated their rights
under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“For centuries Native Americans have endured the destruction of sacred
places by the federal government, and it’s heartbreaking that the court
would say this completely preventable destruction was OK,” Logan said
in a prepared statement.
You found that the work did not “substantially burden” Tribal rights to
exercise religion.
The 2008 road work damaged and destroyed historical burial grounds
known as Ana Kwna Nchi nchi Patat (The Place of Big Big Trees) by cut-
ting and removing trees on approximately five acres on the north side of
U.S. 26 about 13 miles west of Government Camp.
Logan was joined by Wilbur Slockish and Johnny Jackson, the hereditary
chiefs of the Klickitat and Cascade Tribes of the Yakama Nation, in filing
the lawsuit, as well as two nonprofit groups.
You’s ruling now goes before U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez for
review before a final order is issued.
Logan, Slockish and Jackson said they plan to challenge the ruling.
Includes information from The Oregonian