Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
S moke S ignals AUGUST 1, 2018 7 Council: Enrollment audit findings were improperly inputted into Tribal files By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Smoke Signals file photo Isabelle Grout dances a jingle dress dance during the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Contest Powwow held at Uyxat Powwow Grounds last August. More than $50,000 in prize money available POWWOW continued from front page Besides the eclipse, however, the 2018 edition of the Contest Pow- wow will be very familiar to Tribal members and contestants alike. More than $50,000 in prize mon- ey will be danced for thanks to the adult dance categories remaining in junior adult and senior adult sub-categories. Junior adults are 18 to 35 years of age and senior adults are dancers between 36 and 54 years of age. Other dance categories include juniors (6-12), teen (13-17), ju- nior golden age (55-64) and senior golden age (65 and older). This is the first year that the golden age category also has been split based on age. Dance prizes range from $1,000 for first place in the adult categories to $25 for taking fifth in the junior dance categories. Head staff for this year’s Con- test Powwow includes master of ceremonies Bart Powaukee (Ute), arena director Fred Ike Jr. (Ya- kama), head dance judge Charlie Tailfeathers (Cree/Blackfeet) and head drum judge Chase Sayer from Saskatchewan, Canada. Cree Confederation will be the host drum and drums will compete for $22,000 in prize money with the best drum taking home an $8,000 prize. Specials will include an old style jingle dance sponsored by the Na- tive Wellness Institute of Gresham If you go Grand Ronde Contest Powwow When: Grand entries at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. Where: Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9600 S.W. Hebo Road. Cost: Camping, $5 with parking; parking, $1 a day or canned food; weekend passes, $3. More information: 503-879- 2037. that has a $1,000 first-place prize with three $200 consolation prizes; a junior and teens team dance spon- sored by the Grand Ronde Youth Council with a $75 first-place prize; a round bustle/chicken dance with an $800 first-place prize; and an old-style grass dance also with an $800 first-place award. The Tribe’s Education Committee will be hosting its annual School Is Cool dance special for K-12 dancers who are wearing regalia or not. Everyone will receive a prize. A shuttle will be available from Spirit Mountain Casino to the powwow grounds and people are asked to not display gang affiliation or bring drugs, alcohol or weapons to the event. And don’t look directly at the sun! There is no eclipse this year. MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT Tribal Court is now issuing marriage licenses and is able to perform marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40. For questions regarding scheduling, contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. A statement issued by Tribal Council during its Wednesday, July 25, meeting says that the findings from the 2012 enrollment audit conducted by New Mexico-based Anuskewicz & McCabe were not properly inputted into Tribal mem- ber files. “At the beginning of this year, significant problems in the manage- ment and operation of the Tribe’s Enrollment office came to light,” the statement says. “Among oth- er things, we found that Enroll- ment staff had reduced the Grand Ronde blood quantum of some Tribal members. In addition, blood quantum and other information had been entered incorrectly in the Tribe’s enrollment database, known as Progeny.” In February, the top two em- ployees in the Member Services Department were removed from their positions. The enrollment audit resulted in more than 10 Tribal members being disenrolled for violating the dual enrollment clause in the Tribal Constitution and also identified 67 members who descended from Willamette Valley Treaty signer Chief Tumulth for disenrollment because he did not reach the Grand Ronde Reservation to appear on an official roll or record created by the Department of the Interior before being executed by the U.S. Army. The Tumulth descendants even- tually won a long and divisive legal battle when the Tribal Court of Ap- peals ruled in August 2016 that the Tribe had waiting too long – more than 20 years – before attempting to disenroll them. After an initial investigation, it was determined that the audit of enrollment files did a “good job” of identifying missing documents in individual enrollment files. Howev- er, a “poor job” was done in making corrections to the files based on the audit findings and it did not consistently identify errors in blood quantum calculations. In reaction to these findings, the Tribe has limited the use of Proge- ny because it is “unreliable because wrong information was entered in it” and the Tribe is now searching for new enrollment software. In addition, all new enrollment ap- plications will be researched using original documents in the files of lineal ancestors and family mem- bers and a “comprehensive” review of all enrollment files has been initiated to ensure their accuracy. “It has been suggested that the 2012 audit findings should be fully implemented before proceeding with any additional review of en- rollment files,” the statement says. “This suggestion ignores several issues: 1) many corrections from the audit have not been made; 2) additional errors were made by Enrollment staff in implementing some corrections; and 3) all files in each family line must be reviewed to address blood quantum discrep- ancies among family members.” The statement also says that not all blood quantum has been accu- rately calculated or recorded, not all eligible sources of blood quan- tum have been properly identified and blood quantum changes were not applied consistently to all lines of a family. Moving forward, Tribal Council said in its statement that it will be guided by several principles that seek to heal a divided Tribe, promote the common good and see to “the best interests of all Tribal members and the stability of our Tribe to provide a secure founda- tion for the next generation.” “Since the enrollment audit was initiated in 2012, Tribal members have lived through an anxious time and, in some cases, hardship in re- lation to their enrollment status,” the statement says. “Enrollment issues have pitted Tribal member against Tribal member. The coun- cil has no intention of extending this difficult episode in our Tribe’s history.” In addition to finding new enroll- ment software, the Tribe is seeking to hire a new Member Services Department manager, encouraging Tribal members to review their en- rollment files, developing proposals for fixing enrollment file problems that do not involve disenrollment proceedings and eventually submit- ting a report to the membership. For more information about Tribal Council’s enrollment state- ment, contact Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez at 503- 879-2304 or stacia.martin@gran- dronde.org. WALK-IN DENTAL APPOI NTMENTS FOR KIDS <6 NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY FOR DENTAL CHECK-UPS FOR KIDS 5 AND UNDER WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE SEEN AT THE TRIBAL CLINIC. JUST COME ON IN! We will check your child’s teeth during any of our clinic hours without an ap- pointment. Dental check-ups are recommended beginning with the first tooth! Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Dental Clinic Phone 503-879-2020 Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 8:00—5:00; Thur 9:30-5:30
