S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2018
Enrollment Ordinance
open for comment
The Tribal Council is considering amendments to the Enrollment
Ordinance. The proposed amendments were given a First Reading
at the Nov. 7, 2018, Tribal Council meeting.
The proposed amendments replace all references to the Enrollment
Board with the Enrollment Committee; clearly define the role of the
Enrollment Committee and details under what conditions special
meetings may be called; establish an application deadline for quarter-
ly applications; and may also include minor technical (i.e., formatting,
typographical, housekeeping) modifications.
The proposed amendments do not modify or impact enrollment
requirements.
Tribal Council invites comments on the proposed amendments to
the Enrollment Ordinance. For a copy of the proposed amendments,
please contact the Tribal Attorney’s Office at 503-879-4664. Please
send your comments to the Tribal Attorney’s Office, 9615 Grand
Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 or by e-mail to legal@
grandronde.org.
Comments must be received by Dec. 15, 2018.
Tribal crew fights Camp
Fire in northern California
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sent a Type 6 wildland fire
engine with a three-person crew to northern California on Friday, Nov.
9, to fight the Camp Fire, which has become the most destructive fire in
the state’s history.
More than 80 people have been killed by the fire and more than 6,400
structures have been destroyed, according to news reports.
Silviculture & Fire Protection Program Manager Colby Drake said
employees Daniel Schramm, Mike Graham and Uriah Aaron have been
surveying neighborhoods and finding pets and animals and trying to feed
or water them. In addition, they are documenting the animals’ locations
to help find them and have a head count for a later date. Their first shift
was on Saturday, Nov. 10.
“We may make a second Type 6 available this week if employees are
available,” Drake said on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Drake said that Schramm described the devastation north of Sacramento
as “apocalyptic.”
A Type 6 wildland fire engine is specifically designed to assist in fighting
wildfires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with
access, along with water and other equipment.
Optometry hours
• 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday
• 9:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Please call to schedule your appointment
at 503-879-2079 or 800-775-0095.
2013 – Approximately
150 people attended the
first Tribal History Con-
ference after hearing
about the event through
e-mail, word-of-mouth
or seeing announce-
ments in Smoke Sig-
nals and on Facebook.
“I am humbled by the
response,” said Trib-
al Historian Dr. David
Lewis. “It tells me that
2013
File photo
this is needed.” Lewis
said having the event
annually would help remedy the fact that the histories of Oregon’s
Tribes have not been properly documented.
2008 – Tribal Elder Nora Kimsey turned 100. She was honored
during the monthly General Council meeting for her years of contri-
butions to the Tribe. Her grandfather was Chief Bogus of the Umpqua
Tribe, who was killed by vigilantes on the Trail of Tears. She was born
in Grand Ronde in 1908 and lived in the area her entire life. During
Restoration efforts, Nora was among the Tribal Elders who baked,
canned and dried goods to be sold to raise money for Restoration, and
also served on the original Enrollment Committee.
2003 – The Tribe celebrated its 20th anniversary of Restoration
with dinner, guest speakers and entertainment at Spirit Mountain
Casino. Guest speakers included past Tribal Council Chairwoman
Kathryn Harrison and past Tribal Council member Candy Robertson.
Current Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Vice Chair Reyn Leno
also spoke. The keynote speaker was Elizabeth Furse, former Oregon
congresswoman and director of the Institute for Tribal Government
at Portland State University, who helped lead the efforts to lobby
Congress for federal recognition.
1998 – The Tribe’s new Spirit Mountain Lodge was scheduled for
completion and a grand opening later in the month. The $9 million
hotel was the last of three phases of expansion after the completion of
Spirit Mountain Casino. Lodge amenities included a bronze fountain,
Hall of Legends and rustic stripped wood furnishings. “We are try-
ing to provide top accommodations to folks who are vacationing and
passing through, as well as to those folks who chose Grand Ronde as
a spot for conferences, retreats and family gatherings,” Hotel General
Manager Mark Holland said.
1993 – Tribal members Margo Mercier and Debby Childers chap-
eroned 16 Grand Ronde youth on an all-expenses paid trip to Disne-
yland. In honor of National Children’s Day, Walt Disney Inc., Delta
Airlines and the Children’s Defense Fund sponsored a paid trip to
Disneyland for 6,500 children across the United States. The youth
and chaperones stayed at the Sheraton Inn and attended a birthday
party for Mickey Mouse at the Disneyland Hotel.
1988 – Tribal member John Petite passed away at the age of 82.
During his memorial service, Tribal Council Secretary Kathryn Har-
rison and Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier gave eulogies. “It is
traditional that we learn from our Elders and we are richer because
of what he has taught us,” Harrison said. “There are many lessons
to be learned from the life of John Petite.”
She said that one of those lessons would likely be for young people
to “hold on to their youth” since he had to quit school to find work at
an early age.
“He knew his journey on this revolving sphere, this Earth, was a
one-time deal and he made the most of it mentally, physically and
spiritually,” Harrison said.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Ad created by George Valdez
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