S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2019
7
Showcasing sovereign nations
Legislative Information
Day provides an
opportunity for Tribes to
tell their stories
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
SALEM — Steven Richmond be-
came interested in learning more
about Oregon’s first peoples while
taking a Native American legal
studies class in college.
“I’ve learned a lot about Tribal
issues and want to know more,”
the Western Oregon University
sophomore said.
Since Richmond is also serving as
an intern for Oregon Rep. Dan Ray-
field of Corvallis,
Tribal Legislative
Information Day
at the State Cap-
itol on Thursday,
Feb. 21, provided
ample opportunity
to visit with rep-
resentatives from
Oregon’s nine fed-
erally recognized
Tribes.
Richmond head-
ed to the Confed-
erated Tribes of
Grand Ronde’s ta-
ble first because his legal studies
class is co-taught by Tribal member
and lobbyist Justin Martin. There,
he chatted with Tribal Council
Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez
and Deputy Press Secretary Sara
Thompson.
“I want to learn more about what
the priorities are,” he said.
“Who We Are” was the theme of
Tribal Legislative Information Day.
Held annually at the State Capi-
tol, the event provides an opportu-
nity for Oregon’s 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.
Hernandez said the best part
about the event is the opportunity
for networking.
“It’s a chance to work with legisla-
tors and educate folks who come in
about the Tribe,” she said. “We also
network with other Tribes across
the state.”
Hernandez added that Informa-
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia
Hernandez, left, and Deputy Press
Secretary Sara Thompson talk with
Steven Richmond, an intern with
Rep. Dan Rayfield, (D-Corvallis),
during Tribal Legislative Information
Day held at the State Capitol in
Salem on Thursday, Feb. 21.
At left, artist and former Warm
Springs Tribal Council member
Aurolyn Stwyer, center, talks
with Spirit Mountain Community
Fund Director Michael Cherry,
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Program Director Angie Sears
and Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris
Mercier during Tribal Legislative
Information Day.
tion Day is an important oppor-
tunity to correct misconceptions
Oregonians may still have about
Tribal people.
“A lot of people are completely
unaware of the rich history of the
Tribes in this state,” Hernandez
said. “We have come a long way in
that regard, but many still do not
know the history and the work that
we do in the community.”
Spirit Mountain Community
Fund Director Michael Cherry and
Program Coordinator Angie Sears
were on hand to answer questions
about the philanthropic arm of the
Tribe, which awards grants to bene-
fit qualified nonprofit organizations
in 11 western Oregon counties, as
well as to other Oregon Tribes.
General Manager David Fullerton talks with Oregon Veteran Affairs Director
Kelly Fitzpatrick and Deputy Director Mitch Sparks during Tribal Legislative
Information Day held at the State Capitol in Salem on Thursday, Feb. 21.
“I think it’s important to interact
with all of the different Tribes and
talk with other people,” Sears said.
“That way we learn more about
what they are doing and their
services.”
The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde’s giveaway table included
ceded lands maps, the Community
Fund’s annual report, copies of
Smoke Signals, notepads, pens,
keychains, highlighters, lanyards
and water bottles.
Grand Ronde Tribal Council
member attendees included Vice
Chair Chris Mercier, Secretary Jon
A. George and Lisa Leno. Other
staff members in attendance were
General Manager David Fullerton,
Finance Officer Chris Leno and
Tribal Council Administrative
Assistant Shannon Ham-Texeira.
The Tribe provided a light break-
fast and the Legislative Commis-
sion on Indian Services provided
coffee and water.
During the four hours the Tribes
were at the Capitol Galleria, a
steady stream of school groups,
Capitol staff, agency directors and
staff, legislators and staff, lobbyists
and members of the public visited
the tables.
Tribal Legislative Information
Day has been held for more than 13
years. The Legislative Commission
on Indian Services serves as event
host along with fellow commission
members and staff.
After missing the event last year
due to inclement weather, the
Native American Rehabilitation
Fund returned and brought 1,000
cookies in lieu of frybread to hand
out to attendees. Their table, next
to Grand Ronde’s, proved to be a
popular spot for attendees.
Other Tribal tables included in-
formation on governmental struc-
ture, pottery, baskets, first foods,
stone tools, Native plants, youth
and Elders programs, treaty in-
formation, health programs, social
service offerings, maps and bead
work.
“Tribal Information Day at the
Capitol was a success because
Oregon’s Tribes proudly displayed
information about (themselves),”
said Danny Santos, interim exec-
utive director of the Legislative
Commission on Indian Services.
“Legislators, staff, lobbyists and the
general public had the opportunity
to be educated on Tribal matters.
Whether it was about history, cul-
ture or policy, people got to learn
from the different and unique
perspective of Oregon’s sovereign
nations. The Legislative Commis-
sion on Indian Services appreciates
the participation and support of
Oregon’s Tribes and the Native
American Rehabilitation Fund.”
It was Lisa Leno’s second year
attending since being elected as
a Tribal Council member in Sep-
tember 2017. Last year she wasn’t
sure what to expect, but this time
around she said she enjoyed the op-
portunity to visit with other Tribes.
“I really enjoyed it last year, but in
my second year it’s a chance to recon-
nect with people,” Leno said. “All the
people I’ve seen this year are those I
worked with in Social Services so it’s
been a lot of fun. I enjoy being here.
It’s an opportunity to share about dif-
ferent Tribal issues with each other
and to reconnect. It’s also a good op-
portunity to educate the community
about our Tribe. Everyone has done
a great job of giving a glimpse of who
we are as a people.”
Tribal Council member Lisa Leno talks with people who stopped by during
Tribal Legislative Information Day held at the State Capitol in Salem on
Thursday, Feb. 21.