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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2019)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Holiday Hoopsters photo page — pg. 8 JANUARY 15, 2019 Registration packets include erroneous information By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T ribal members will not – re- peat NOT – vote on a possi- ble change to the definition of Grand Ronde blood during the Feb. 25 constitutional amendment election despite an incorrect infor- mation sheet that was included in voter registration packets sent to Tribal members beginning in late December. The only proposed change Tribal members will vote on is whether nonTribal siblings who have broth- ers and sisters enrolled in the Tribe and have the same parents, and who meet the membership require- ments under the Tribal Constitu- tion before Sept. 14, 1999, should be allowed to enroll to resolve the split-sibling issue affecting some Tribal families. Senior Staff Attorney Deneen Au- bertin Keller said the side-by-side comparison of current and proposed language related to possible chang- es in the definition of Grand Ronde blood included in the Bureau of Indian Affairs-issued registration packets was “an error.” “The Tribal Council authorized change for this BIA election does not amend the definition of Grand Ronde blood,” states an e-mail sent out by the Tribe on Dec. 30. “The official BIA election ballot will contain the correct amendment language to be voted on.” During a meeting with Tribal Council held on Wednesday, Jan. 2, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez said the Grand Ronde blood language was not See AMENDMENT continued on page 9 Contributed photos Tribal member Kaelynn Simmons has agreed to play NCAA Division II softball for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., after being sought after by three other college programs. She received a full- ride, four-year athletic scholarship to the university and will start attending in September 2019. Tribal member Kaelynn Simmons receives full-ride athletic scholarship to play softball By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer A lthough playing at the college level is the dream of many a high school athlete, few make it that far. But for Tribal teenager Kae- lynn Noelani Simmons of Dal- las, that dream is about to come true. She was offered a full-ride athletic scholarship to West- ern Washington University in Bellingham to play Division II softball for the Vikings. It’s a dream that has involved years of dedication and devotion for the young pitcher: Practicing her craft in the evening after Tribal member Kaelynn Simmons has played softball for Dallas High School for the last three years. homework is complete, playing on her high school team, com- peting in softball tournaments on weekends and for a travel team in the summer. To a casual onlooker, all of this may appear to be just a lot of fun, but only the athlete understands how much work is involved in achieving their personal best; work that few others see. “I always practice a minimum of four days a week and try to get five in whenever I can,” Kaelynn says. “It feels so awesome to know I will play softball at the college level. This is what I have been striving for. … It’s what See SOFTBALL continued on page 7 Government shutdown not affecting Grand Ronde yet By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer T he federal government shutdown that be- gan on Dec. 22 has had a negative effect on Native American Tribes across the country. Navajo Nation members have been trapped in their homes because of unplowed roads while police officers for the Bois Forte Reservation in Minnesota have worked without pay. Similar scenarios are playing out across Indian County. But the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is not feeling the pinch due to having other in- come sources. Federal money only accounts for 17 percent of the overall Tribal budget. “So far there has been no effect on Grand Ronde,” General Manager David Fullerton said. “We’re in good shape and drawn down a majority of our (federal) funds already. We don’t have any major issues with the government shutdown. … We’re in good shape with this shutdown moving forward.” Federal funding is used for Bureau of Indian Affairs contracts, Indian Health Service and Head Start programs, Finance Officer Chris Leno said. He said that many of the programs with federal funding also have Tribal funding to supplement operations, so if the federal money is delayed, Tribal dollars can be used first. See SHUTDOWN continued on page 2
