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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2018)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 DECEMBER 15, 2018 Report: Willamette Falls fishery managed by Tribe’s ancestors By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor A pproximately 30 Tribal members got up early on Sunday, Dec. 2, to attend a 9 a.m. “Coffee & Conversation” event held at the Tribal Community Center and hear renowned Oregon historian Dr. Stephen Dow Beckham confirm “unequivocally” that the Willamette Falls fishery belonged to the peoples of the Wil- lamette Valley. Beckham’s 160-page report was commissioned by the Grand Ronde Tribe to support its claims to Willamette Falls and rebut assertions by Co- lumbia Plateau Tribes that their ancestors also fished at the falls. Beckham said that as early as 1806 when the Lewis & Clark expedition explored Oregon that 20 Native villages were recorded along the banks of the Willamette River. “It was the shopping center of the Willamette Valley,” he said. The area was the aboriginal homeland of the Clackamas, Clowewalla and Multnomah peo- ples, and was used by the neighboring Kalapuya and Molala. “The Indian fishery at Willamette Falls is well-documented both before and subsequent to the removal of the Clackamas, Molala and Kalapuya to the Grand Ronde Reservation,” a summary of Beckham’s report states. “There is no documentation in the 19th century of use of the fishery by the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla or Nez Perce Tribes of the Columbia Plateau.” The report’s findings are important because the Warm Springs, Yakama and Umatilla all pro- tested the Oregon Department of State Lands’ Aug. 31 decision to allow the Grand Ronde Tribe to build a fishing platform at Willamette Falls. The three Tribes claimed the Grand Ronde plat- form would interfere with their treaty rights to See FISHERY continued on page 9 Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez The Grinch, aka Dawn Doar, playfully greets children during the annual Tribal Council Christmas Party held in the gym on Sunday, Dec. 2. Children and parents had a chance to meet Santa Claus, aka Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr., make crafts and enjoy a meal. More photos on page 6. Party season T ribal Council held its annual Christmas Party in the Trib- al gymnasium on Sunday, Dec. 2. Santa Claus was once again represented by Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. and Trib- al Royalty performed “The Lord’s Prayer. The party also included lunch, door prizes and Tribal chil- dren singing Christmas carols. A snowman welcomes guests to the annual Tribal Council Christmas Party held in the Tribal gym on Sunday, Dec. 2. Children and parents had a chance to meet Santa Claus, aka Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr., make crafts and enjoy a meal. Community Fund exceeds $79 million in giving By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer S pirit Mountain Community Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, exceeded the $79 million mark in giving when it awarded $670,000 in grants on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Eighteen large grants and nine small grants were given out during the fourth-quarter check presentation held in the Gover- nance Center Atrium. Since its inception in 1997, the Community Fund has awarded 2,695 grants to 1,115 nonprofit organizations for a total of $79.28 million in giving. Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George opened the check presenta- See FUND continued on page 7 Constitution amendment election slated for Feb. 25 By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T ribal voters will have a sev- enth opportunity to amend the Tribal Constitution when they vote on a constitutional amendment proposal on Monday, Feb. 25. Tribal Council voted in October to move forward with a proposed amendment designed to address the issue of siblings who are not Tribal members despite having brothers and sisters who are and have the same parent(s). The proposed amendment to the Tribal Constitution would allow the enrollment of applicants who have enrolled brothers and sis- ters by the same Tribal parent(s) who were enrolled before Sept. See AMENDMENT continued on page 9
