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.