S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2018
13
Longtime Indian Services director retiring
Karen Quigley leaving
state employment
after 28 years
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
SALEM — Karen Quigley has
served as the executive director of
the Oregon Legislative Commission
on Indian Services for nearly a
quarter century.
Quigley, 64, officially retired on
Saturday, Dec. 1, to pursue other
interests with husband Bill Clump-
er, whom she first met while they
were community organizers for the
American Friends Service Commit-
tee in the early 1970s.
She has worked for the state of
Oregon for more than 28 years,
serving 25 of those in the legislative
branch and almost 24 as executive
director of the Indian Services
Commission.
“(It has been) an incredible oppor-
tunity to work with so many Tribal
leaders, representatives, (former
governor) Vic Atiyeh and others
dedicated to improving state-Tribal
relations over the past 25 years,”
Quigley said.
Quigley first became involved
with improving state-Tribal rela-
tions during the 1993 Oregon leg-
islative session, where she served
as counsel to the Senate Judiciary
Committee as it evaluated, and
eventually passed, Senate Bill 61.
This was considered by many to be
a landmark bill as it strengthened
state laws protecting Native Amer-
ican burials and other archaeologi-
cal sites, and cultural items on both
state public and private lands.
“In contrast to the archaeologists,
university professors and ‘pothunt-
ers’ who testified to protect their in-
terests, it made a deep impression
to hear the hours of heartfelt testi-
mony by Tribal leaders and other
Smoke Signals file photo
Karen Quigley , longtime executive
director of the Oregon Legislative
Commission on Indian Services ,
officially retired on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Tribal members who talked about
the importance of their ancestors,
these sacred items and culturally
significant places,” she said.
The following session, Quigley
served as counsel to the Senate
Water and Land Use Committee
and interacted with Tribal lead-
ers and other representatives as
they tried to educate legislators
and the public about the impor-
tance the lands and waters have
had for Tribes since time imme-
morial.
When Tribal representatives
asked her to consider applying
for the new position as executive
director of the state Legislative
Commission on Indian Services in
1995, she was honored.
“I like to think that I may be the
only state agency employee ever
hired by Tribal leaders and now
governor but then-legislator Kate
Brown, who were then all members
of LCIS,” Quigley said.
Grand Ronde Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle A. Ken-
nedy said Quigley is the “go to”
expert on Oregon Tribal issues
and organizing trainings for state
agencies about Tribes and govern-
ment-to-government consultation.
“There are so many changes that
were brought about under Karen’s
leadership and I am confident that
all nine Oregon Tribes immensely
appreciate the work she has done
for and with Tribal leaders,” Ken-
nedy said. “Karen is the real deal
and I wish her the best.”
Kennedy cited examples of Quig-
ley coordinating legislative action
relating to Tribal issues, such as
the removal of “squaw”-named plac-
es and promoting Tribal involve-
ment in renaming of those areas.
“Karen (also) worked with the
police to ensure that Native Amer-
ican remains were returned to their
respective Tribal people,” Kennedy
said. “Additionally, Karen helped
develop a training video to educate
the public on how to handle inad-
vertent discovery of Native remains
and artifacts.”
During her opening remarks at
the annual Tribal-State Govern-
ment-to-Government Summit on
Tuesday, Nov. 27, Gov. Kate Brown
mentioned Quigley’s accomplish-
ments.
“I was on the hiring committee
that helped hire Karen,” she said.
“She sure has done a phenomenal
job and the work we have accom-
plished was in part due to her.”
Looking back on her career as
LCIS director, Quigley said two
major highlights are the work on
Tribal cultural items and the gov-
‘Without the strength of
our ancestors, none of
us would be here today’
RESTORATION continued
from page 11
Ad created by George Valdez
ernment-to-government consulta-
tion executive order by then Gov.
John Kitzhaber. She notes that the
1996 executive order mandating
state agencies work with Oregon’s
Tribal governments was the first
in the nation.
“Perhaps even more important
is the ongoing work to keep the
relationship strong, and based on
mutual trust and respect,” Quigley
said.
The second highlight is the work
on Tribal culture, getting state
agencies, and eventually universi-
ties and public schools, to see what
items they have on display or in
storage that may be associated with
Oregon Tribes.
“This should lead to conversa-
tions about the most appropriate
‘place’ for each item,” Quigley said.
Before working for the state of
Oregon, Quigley held positions as
a Peace Corps teacher in East Afri-
ca, director of education programs
in Massachusetts, Oregon and
Washington, and as a foreign legal
adviser in Tokyo.
In retirement, she is looking for-
ward to traveling and continuing
an active lifestyle.
“Bill and I will be taking walks,
kayaking, reading and traveling in
the months and years ahead,” she
said. “We're thinking someplace
warm for a while in late winter,
sailing in Maine this summer
and we are already set for a visit
again to East Africa this time next
year.”
saying its meaning was “beyond
words.”
“Meteorites, as you know, are not
commonplace at all and the signifi-
cance of Tomanowos is paramount
to our people,” she said. “Thank
you.”
Restoration closed with a Ca-
noe Family procession of singing,
drumming and dancing led by
Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier.
Approximately 50 Tribal members
from infants to adults joined in for
“New Beginnings,” “Salmon Song
and Dance” and “Traveling With
Our Ancestors.”
“Without the strength of our an-
cestors, none of us would be here
today,” Bobby Mercier said. “But
generations after us will always
know who they are and where they
came from.”
After the ceremony concluded,
tables and dishes were quickly
whisked away for the Restoration
Powwow, which attracted so many
people that the room dividing panel
had to be removed and more seating
provided.
The powwow began with host
drum Woodsmen providing grand
entry music as the Honor Guard
brought in the colors, followed by
Tribal Council members and Au-
Coin, and members of the Culture
and Restoration committees, Roy-
alty and Youth Council.
Perry Thompson (Navajo) and
Spirit Mountain Casino Marketing
Director Shawna Tom (Shoshone)
served as powwow headman and
headwoman. The master of cere-
monies was Tribal member Fabian
Quenelle.
Specials were held in the Golden
Age, Tiny Tot, Royalty Past and
Present, and Youth Council Inter-
tribal Spot Check.
Restoration and Culture Com-
mittee members who assisted with
the 35th anniversary event include
Darlene Aaron, Francene Ambrose,
Debi Anderson, Lisa Archuleta,
Steve Bobb Sr., Joanna Brisbois, Ma-
bel Brisbois, Julie Brown, Chelsea
Clark, Sydney Clark, Jon A. George,
Kathleen George, Tiny Gibbons,
Dorene Gillespie, Rachelle Kellogg,
Shannon Ham-Texeira, Stacia Her-
nandez, Susie Lash, Jackie LaBonte,
Nick LaBonte, Brad Leno, Barbara
McKnight Feehan, Toni Mercier,
Jordan Mercier, Tracie Meyer, Chris
Rempel, Shannon Simi, Faye Smith
and Brenda Tuomi.