S moke S ignals
FEBRUARY 15, 2019
7
Tribal Legislative Information Day set for Feb. 21
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
SALEM — “Who We Are” is the
theme of Tribal Legislative Infor-
mation Day to be held on Thursday,
Feb. 21.
Held annually at the State Capi-
tol in Salem, the event provides an
opportunity for Oregon’s nine feder-
ally recognized Tribes to highlight
who they are and what makes Trib-
al governments different from the
various special interest groups and
stakeholders with whom legislators
and state agencies mostly interact.
“This is an opportunity for Tribes
to educate those in the building,
including legislators, lobbyists and
constituents,” said Danny Santos,
interim executive director of the
Legislative Commission on Indian
Services. “To this day, most Ore-
gonians are just starting to learn
about the nine Tribes.”
Grand Ronde Tribal Council
members and Tribal lobbyist Justin
Martin usually attend to meet with
veteran and newly elected legis-
lators. The Tribe plans to provide
light morning refreshments, as it
has in the past.
Tribal Council Chairwoman
Cheryle A. Kennedy is the lon-
gest-serving member of the com-
If you go
Tribal Legislative
Information Day
Where: State Capitol, 900
Court St. N.E., Salem
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thurs-
day, Feb. 21
More info: 503-986-1067
mission, and in the past has served
as event host along with fellow
commission members and staff.
Tribal Legislative Information
Day has been held for more than
13 years.
“Legislative Day is also an op-
portunity for both new and veteran
legislators to learn more about
the nine Tribes and the govern-
ment-to-government responsibili-
ties,” Santos said. “If the governor
is in the building that day, she is
also planning to stop by.”
In addition, the event provides an
opportunity to visit Tribal informa-
tional tables and ask Tribal leaders
and staff members questions from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. All nine Tribes usu-
ally participate in the event.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris
Mercier said that the public still
PROPOSED ELECTION ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Election Board and
the Tribal Attorney’s Office, has proposed amendments to the Elec-
tion Ordinance. The first reading of the proposed amendments was
made at the Jan. 23, 2019, Tribal Council meeting.
The proposed amendments:
• Provide for use of Ballot Boxes in Tribal elections.
• Provide a process for collection of Ballot Box ballots.
• Allow processing of ballots of voters who are living when they vote
but are deceased on Election Day.
• Add an additional transfer of voters address to the mailing service.
• Remove the requirement that new Signature Verification Forms
be sent to voters whose forms on file are five years or more old.
• Add definitions for Ballot Box, Election Day and Post Office Box.
For a copy of the proposed Election Ordinance amendments, please
contact the Tribal Attorney’s Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal
Council invites comment on the proposed amendments. 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 March 4, 2019. 
LEASING ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney’s
Office and Tribal Lands Department, is considering adoption of
a Leasing Ordinance. The proposed Ordinance was given a First
Reading at the Feb. 6, 2019, Tribal Council meeting.
The purpose of enacting this Ordinance is for the Tribe to assume
authority to process and approve leases on Tribal Trust lands. Un-
der the Leasing Ordinance, the Tribe will assume the authority to
process and approve leases on Tribal trust lands, as provided for by
the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeowner-
ship (“HEARTH”) Act of 2012. The Ordinance defines the types and
terms of leases and licenses, describes the process for applying for
both residential and non-residential leases, sets forth the lease and
lease amendment processing requirements, and includes recorda-
tion and reporting requirements as well as enforcement provisions.
Once enacted by the Tribe, the Ordinance must receive review and
approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs prior to becoming effective.
For a copy of the Leasing Ordinance, please contact the Tribal
Attorney’s Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal Council invites com-
ment on the Ordinance. 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 March 15, 2019. 
Smoke Signals file photo
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Director Curt Melcher and Tribal
Council member Lisa Leno talk during Tribal Legislative Information Day held
at the State Capitol building in Salem last February.
knows far less about Tribes than
they could.
“Most people are unaware of the
Tribal presence in the region,” he
said. “They’re not familiar that
there are nine Tribes and in what
areas. You usually have to associate
location with a casino.”
Mercier said he is taking a Tribal
law class at Lewis & Clark Law
School and that even those students
know “surprisingly little” about
Tribes.
“Since Tribal people comprise
only 2 or 3 percent of people here,
it’s important to get the word out
about our history with the region
and the state of Oregon,” he said.
Mercier’s favorite part of Legis-
lative Information Day is sitting at
the Grand Ronde booth.
“When you see people you don’t see
often, that is always fun,” he said.
“You always get people who genuine-
ly want to know as much as possible.
It’s good talking to people who are
interested and eager to learn more.”
During past events, some Tribes
have displayed and shared thoughts
about their baskets, cradleboards,
native plants, first foods, youth and
Elders programs, partnerships with
their neighbors and other govern-
ments, fisheries, health programs
and governmental organization.
Although the Native American
Rehabilitation Association’s serv-
ing of mini frybread was cancelled
last year due to inclement weather,
Santos said he is expecting to see
them this year providing Mother
Nature cooperates. Other Tribes
provide donations for coffee and
water. 
St. Michael’s offers brunch
St. Michael’s Catholic Church offers an open house brunch every Sunday
following Mass. The brunch is free to the community. Brunch begins at
about 11:30 a.m. following the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Mass attendance is not required for brunch attendance. For more in-
formation or for kitchen and hall rental, contact Janelle Justen at 503-
550-0923. 
Snow day!
Photo by Jennifer Clark
Tribal member Benjamin Powley, 13, takes advantage of a snow day as
he snowboards down a hill in Grand Ronde on Monday, Feb. 4. Both the
Willamina School District and Grand Ronde Tribal government closed
for the day because of the snow and icy road conditions. It was the first
measurable snow in the Grand Ronde area this winter. The school district
and Tribal government both re-opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5.