10
Smoke Signals
JUNE 1, 2019
Honoring partnerships
Spring Celebration fetes relationship between state and its nine Tribes
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
SALEM — Since time immemo-
rial, Tribes have lived on and used
the lands and waterways of Oregon,
and been stewards of the state’s
natural resources.
To honor and protect that long
heritage, the state established the
Legislative Commission on Indian
Services and then an executive
order created a government-to-gov-
ernment relationship between the
state and its nine federally recog-
nized Tribes.
That relationship was celebrated
with the LCIS Spring Celebration
held on Thursday, May 16, at the
state Capitol Rotunda. This year’s
theme was “Moving Forward To-
gether: Being Good Stewards of Our
People, Lands and Culture.”
Representatives from all nine
federally recognized Tribes attend-
ed. Tribal information tables were
on display at the upstairs Senate
Gallery.
Grand Ronde’s table was staffed
by Tribal Council Chief of Staff
Stacia Hernandez, Deputy Press
Secretary Sara Thompson and Pub-
lic Affairs Administrative Assistant
Chelsea Baranski. It included ced-
ed lands maps, pens, note pads,
lanyards, chocolates, highlighters,
key chains and information on
Spirit Mountain Community Fund.
The Spring Celebration began
with a song from Grand Ronde
Tribal drummers, which included
Interpretive Coordinator Tra-
vis Stewart, Historic Preserva-
tion Technician Nicolas Atanacio,
Cultural Resources Department
Manager David Harrelson, Tribal
member Brian Krehbiel, Cultural
Advisor Bobby Mercier, Cultural
Education Coordinator Jordan
Mercier and K5 Tutor/Advisor
Santi Atanacio.
Flags representing the nine
Tribes were brought in by Tribal
government leaders and led by the
Siletz Color Guard. Also included
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
From left, Tribal Council member Michael Langley and Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy look on as Gov. Kate Brown signs a
proclamation declaring May 18-25 as American Indian Week during the
Legislative Commission on Indian Services ’ Spring Celebration held
at the Capitol in Salem on Thursday, May 16. The theme for this year ’ s
event was “ Moving Forward Together: Being Good Stewards of Our
People, Land and Culture. ”
were the American flag, Oregon flag
and POW/MIA flag.
Tribal Council member Denise
Harvey carried in the Grand Ronde
flag. Other Tribal Council members
in attendance were Chairwoman
Cheryle A. Kennedy, Vice Chair
Chris Mercier, Jack Giffen Jr., Lisa
Leno and Michael Langley. Also
attending were Historic Preserva-
tion Manager Briece Edwards and
Finance Officer Chris Leno.
Klamath Tribal Chair Don Gen-
try gave the invocation.
LCIS Interim Director Danny
Santos welcomed attendees to the
Spring Celebration.
Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, who is also chairwoman of
the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, addresses those attending
the Spring Celebration held at the Capitol in Salem on Thursday, May 16.
The theme for this year ’ s event was “ Moving Forward Together: Being Good
Stewards of Our People, Land and Culture. ” Gov. Kate Brown also signed a
proclamation declaring May 18-25 as American Indian Week.
“We have many Tribes here to-
day, some who have traveled a
great distance,” he said. “We also
welcome our non-Native friends.”
Several legislative members of
the Commission on Indian Services
addressed the crowd.
Sen. Bill Hansell said he built
valuable relationships with the
Umatilla Tribe near Pendleton
while serving for 30 years as a
Umatilla County commissioner,
and he continues that positive re-
lationship today.
“I continue to help develop that
government-to-government rela-
tionship and friendship with all
of the nine Oregon Tribes through
LCIS,” he said. “I have learned so
much from them about what is
important. I appreciate your sover-
eignty, what you stand for and with
all of your success today.”
Senate President Peter Courtney
said he loves walking by the Tribal
flags every morning on his way to
work.
“It’s the first thing you see when
you walk out,” he said.
Courtney also mentioned House
Bill 2625, spearheaded by State
Rep. Tawna Sanchez (Shosho-
ne-Bannock, Ute and Carrizo),
which directs Oregon State Police
to study how to increase and im-
prove criminal justice resources
regarding missing and murdered
Native American women in Ore-
gon and report the findings to a
legislative committee no later than
Sept. 15, 2020. Gov. Kate Brown
signed the bill into law later that
afternoon.
“We’re not just saying we honor
them, we are going to try to make
the lives of those who were here
first better,” Courtney said.
House Speaker Tina Kotek said
that Oregon legislators have a long
history of working with the nine
Tribes.
“We all believe in a healthy and
safe Oregon, and have worked on
issues regarding the environment,
education and public safety,” she
said. “It is a commitment we have
at our Capitol.”
After the legislative speakers
finished, children from the Grand
Ronde Chinuk Wawa Immersion
Program performed a Canoe Song.
Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman
and LCIS Chair Cheryle A. Ken-
nedy welcomed attendees to the
Tribe’s homelands.
“I want to thank the drummers
for welcoming us, our children
for dancing and the Siletz Color
Guard,” she said. “I also want to
thank our Tribal leaders. Our voic-
LCIS continued
on page 11
Mila Strutton, 3, joins other members of the Chinuk Immersion Program in
performing a Paddle Dance during the Legislative Commission on Indian
Services Spring Celebration held at the Capitol.