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Smoke Signals
SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8
Tribal Community Center
smok signflz
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Sept. 11...........................................................................5 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 25...........................................................................5 p.m.
Website: www.smokesignals.org
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
It is nearing a year since my grandmother, Margaret Provost, has walked
on. The family has mourned her loss and experience heartache each time we
reach for the phone to call her and remember she is now with the Creator.
She was a wife, mother, grandmother and auntie to her family and Tribe
… a leader, pathfinder and inspiration to us and so many more. She gave
us love, strength and might; a stronger person would be hard to find and
we miss her dearly.
Her legacy is that she believed in the impossible and lived her life striving
for what she believed was right for a nation of our Tribal people.
We would like to thank the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for the
tribute statue of her, her brother, Marvin Kimsey, and their good friend,
Merle Holmes. It serves as a reminder of their collective vision for the
welfare of our Tribe.
On behalf of the family, we wish to thank everyone who attended her
service, helped officiate, provided the opening ceremonies, drummed, sang
and gave tributes, as well as all of the flowers, plants, cards and sentiments
that were sent.
The family will be honoring her memory with a giveaway at the 2019
Restoration Celebration in November. Everyone is welcome.
Most sincerely,
Camille Mercier & the family of Margaret Provost
Roll #1982
Dear Smoke Signals:
On Aug. 15, I picked up the annual distribution of salmon for our family.
We get three portions because of the three Tribal members in our house
and we are thankful to the Tribe for the salmon.
My family loves salmon and I have been smoking about half of it most
years. But this year our salmon was white, not pink. The last time this
happened was two years ago and the salmon was terrible tasting. I tried to
cook it and none of the meat had any consistency; it was like eating paste.
We ended up throwing most of it out. This had happened before, too. In 2014,
the salmon we got was very pale, white and pasty and I tried to smoke it.
The smoked salmon turned out inedible and I had to throw it out.
Studying up on this, it turns out that when salmon spawn, they travel far
and use all of their energy. The closer to the spawning ground the salmon
is caught, the worse tasting they are as they are losing their nutrients. The
meat turns white and they will die soon. Historically, Native people did eat
these salmon, but only when they were starving or poor.
I wondered if anyone else had the same feelings about their salmon distri-
bution. A poll on Facebook revealed that many other people have problems
with the white, tasteless and pasty salmon and that some people now no
longer pick up their salmon because this has happened so often.
I question the mission and policies of the salmon distribution program if
people are not actually able to eat the salmon they are getting. We appre-
ciate the fish, when it is edible, but I feel a little put off when the fish is
inedible, and I am not alone. I wonder if there is a policy that ensures the
quality of the salmon and, if so, how do we make sure that policy is being
followed? Unless changes occur, I will no longer be taking advantage of the
salmon distribution program.
I know a lot of Tribal members who feel the same way. I urge Tribal Council
and the administrative staff to make changes to ensure there is effective
oversight to ensure that Tribal members get quality services at all times.
David Gene Lewis
Roll #2741
Twitter: CTGRSmokeSignal
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDXdTzfGjzJ_j3NPpCrtcw
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA BARANSKI
DANIELLE FROST
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
STAFF WRITER
503-879-1418
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
503-879-1463
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
TIMOTHY J.
GONZALEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
503-879-4663
PAGE DESIGNER
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1961
503-879-2190
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
timothy.gonzalez@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Friday, Sept. 6 ........................... Sept. 15
Friday, Sept. 20 ............................Oct. 1
Friday, Oct. 4 .............................Oct. 15
Monday, Oct. 21 ......................... Nov. 1
Monday, Nov. 4 ......................... Nov. 15
Wednesday, Nov. 20 .....................Dec. 1
Editorial Policy
smok signflz , a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Communi-
ty of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested. Letters must be 400 words or less.
smok signflz reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of smok signflz .
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2019
Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
— ext. 2352
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
Sewing class participants wanted
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
The sewing classes that have been held at the Elders Activity Center have
been canceled due to lack of participation. Classes could resume if at least
six people commit to attending. To commit or find out more information,
contact Elders Activity Assistant Virginia Kimsey-Roof at 503-879-2233.
Michael Langley
— ext. 1777
Jon A. George
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
michael.langley@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor
Day. Offices also will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27, in observance of
National Native American Day.
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr.
— ext. 4555
steve.bobb@grandronde.org