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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2018)
12 S moke S ignals OCTOBER 1, 2018 Grand Ronde Youth Council Payton Smith — Chair Aspen Wilson — Vice Chair I am 17 years old and I currently attend Rainier Junior/Senior High School in Rainier, Ore. I have a younger brother named Donovan who is 13 years old. We are the great-great-grandchildren of Ester M. LaBonte and the great-grandchildren of Rosetta LaBonte Manangan. My grandmother is Marcia Stake who resides in Grand Ronde. My parents have been telling me to be a leader every morning when I go to school since I was little. I defi- nitely taken this to heart. I have been playing sports Payton Smith since I was in kindergarten, and some before that. I tend to gravitate to the leader’s position naturally. Currently I play football and I hold different positions on the offensive and defensive teams. I have wrestled since I was in kindergarten; it’s one of my favorite sports. However, I had a season-ending concussion two years ago and I am now on the swim team, where I swim butterfly and freestyle and I am looking for a district placement for 100-meter butterfly. I also run many events in track and field, but my favorite event is the javelin throw. We moved to Rainier about 12 years ago and I have been with the same friends and students since then. My town and school are so small that the school campus holds all K-12 students. When I was younger, I remember these big wrestlers coming in to help me and the others. I’m very fortu- nate that I can now return the favor and help coach and referee the youth wrestlers. I like the feel of giving back and the sense of leadership when I see young students and athletes around school. I also teach swim lessons and lifeguard. I love science and math and am currently in advanced classes for both. Something that you might find interesting is that I used to hate reading. I was never good at it and had to be in special reading classes. I am now in honors English and have found my groove when it comes to reading things that I like. School has not always come easy for me, but I have always worked hard and had the support of my mom and dad. While only being 17 years old I am finding that adult decisions are coming fast. I have most recently inquired about information on the Air Force and the Navy academies. While these are not the only options that I wish to pursue, they are the frontrunners in my search for future schooling. I would love to fly in the service, but I also like the thought of working with my hands. Engineering planes, pediatrics and anesthesiologist are some of the other things I think about. In closing I would like to tell you that I am a man of my word. I work hard and play hard. I am serious, but fun loving and a little crazy, too. I once told my mom that I would one day have my own private island. I am a big dreamer and goal setter. I love being with my friends and family. These are the people most important to me. I am just starting to see myself in this big world that I will one day be a part of as an adult. I look forward to discovering what I can do and who I will become. Greetings, my name is Aspen Wilson. I am 17 years old and I am a senior at Willamina High School. I am thankful to have this opportunity to serve a second term on the CTGR Youth Council as the vice chair. My hobbies include playing basketball, beading and sewing, traveling, singing and listening to music. My passion right now is powwowing all over the country, which has opened a whole new world to me, creating lifelong friendships with many amazing people. Powwow has taught me so much Aspen Wilson and brings so much joy and happiness to my life, and I have so much love for this cultural piece in my life. My goals are to graduate high school and go to college for my dream of becoming a business owner. My long-term goal is to one day own my own clothing line. I am thankful to have this opportunity to represent my family and com- munity because this role allows me to be a voice for many. My message is to bring awareness that education is important and that your dreams can happen if you are willing to work hard for them. For the young people, we are the generation that needs to teach our ways to the younger generations because I feel that it’s important to keep our cultural traditions alive and ongoing for many more generations to come and so they don’t get lost. I am excited and honored to work with a wonderful and amazing team. Thank you all for your support. Kailiyah Krehbiel My name is Kailiyah Krehbiel. I am 17 years old and I am a senior at Willamina High School. I enjoy playing basketball and softball, and participating with the Canoe Family and in powwows. After high school I would like to go to the Northwest Indian College. Kailiyah Krehbiel Jason Page — Treasurer My name is Jason Page. I live in Happy Valley, Ore., and I am a sophomore at La Salle College Preparatory in Milwaukie. This is my second term as a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Youth Council. After high school my goal is to go to college and get a degree. I have a 4.0 GPA and my favorite subjects are language arts and math. I enjoy playing tennis and track and field for my school. I have fun going to my school’s basketball and football games and speaking Jason Page Spanish occasionally. In the past I have been involved with numerous fundraising and char- itable events, and I look forward to working with the other members of the Youth Council to promote positive opportunities for Tribal youth and community members in the area. Kaleigha Simi — Secretary My name is Kaleigha Simi, I am 12 years old and I am an eighth-grader at the Sheridan Japanese School. I am the great-great-granddaughter of Nora Kimsey, Theodore Houck and Leona Severin; the great-granddaughter of Marvin and Eleanor Kimsey and Annabelle Poole (Houck) and Robert Simi; the granddaughter of Virginia and Lonnie Roof and Janet Titus; and the daughter of Shannon Simi and Josh Baker. I have two brothers and one sister. I am from the Kalapuya, Umpqua, Wasco, Rogue River and Molalla peoples. I have been participating in CTGR Royalty since I was 6 years old, I have held the title of Little Miss Grand Ronde four times and I have held the Kaleigha Simi title of Junior Miss Grand Ronde two times. I am currently your 2018-19 Junior Miss Grand Ronde. Participating in Royalty has taught me many tools and skills that I will use throughout my life. It has helped me become comfortable with public speaking and given me the ability to have conversations with adults and other youth. I have learned self-respect as well as respect for my Elders. I have learned the history of our Tribe and the efforts of our ancestors that helped restore us. I have gained new friendships and met inspirational adults and youth. Participating in Royalty has taught me how to be lead- er, to be a positive role model and mentor and to encourage youth to be active in our culture. Through Royalty, I have traveled to several places to represent myself, my family and my Tribe in a good way. I started learning our Native language when I was 3 years old. I was a student in our language program from pre-school to third grade. I’m currently on my third year of learning Japanese. Last year I was selected as a Director’s Honors student and a Japanese language honor student. I maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout the year and I was the sixth-grade Student Council representative. I technically should be in the seventh grade, however I have been in advanced classes the last two years and at the end of the last school year, I was given the opportunity to skip the seventh grade and I accepted the challenge. I’m currently a candidate for the eighth-grade Student Council representative. My hobbies include playing volleyball, traveling to powwows, participat- ing in the Canoe Family, beading, sewing, crocheting and spending time with my friends and my cat. In my future, I plan to attend college at Western Oregon University and UCLA to become a lawyer, representing Native American people throughout Indian Country. I’d also like to become a professional photographer and travel Indian Country, meeting new people, learning their cultures and sharing mine. This is my first term on Youth Council and I am currently serving as the secretary. I’m excited for this new opportunity and I look forward to working with my fellow members to provide healthy and positive activities and to continue to promote good leadership skills and encourage our youth to be active members in our Tribe. I would like to say hayu masi for this opportunity and I am honored to serve as a member of the Youth Council.
