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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2020)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Happy Holidays Lush-tfNtfN lepHet december 1, 2020 Restoration: ‘Let’s be thankful and grateful’ Smoke Signals screenshots by Timothy J. Gonzalez A photo of Tribal ancestors that was included during the 37th Restoration video presented on Sunday, Nov. 22. At left, Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy welcomes viewers inside achaf-hammi plankhouse during the 37th Restoration video presented virtually. By Danielle Harrison T Smoke Signals staff writer he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s 37th Restoration Celebration was the first ever to be virtual, but some of the traditions, like raffles and gifts, remained an important part of the event. Restoration began at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, with a pre-recorded message from Tribal Council posted to the Tribe’s website. The video opened with Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy welcoming attendees virtually at achaf-hammi, the Trib- al plankhouse. Behind her sat Tribal Council members Jack Giffen Jr., Secretary Jon A. George, Kathleen George, Steve Bobb Sr., Lisa Leno and Denise Harvey. After an in- vocation by Bobb, Kennedy reflected on Nov. 22, 1983, when the Tribe was restored by the federal government, and all of the work that had gone into the battle to achieve it. “Over 37 years ago, our people fought a good fight,” Kennedy said. “A fight for our Restoration, to be federally recognized and sit among all the Tribal Nations across the United States. It was a long battle, but we were successful. Thanks to those who worked intimately in this struggle, led and gathered together by Marvin Kimsey, Margaret Pro- vost and Merle Holmes. These are the ones we call our founding fathers.” Restoration was moved online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and state and Tribal restrictions on large gatherings. Ken- See RESTORATION continued on page 6 Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George during the 37th Restoration video. Census: Tribe leads Oregon in getting members counted By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer D espite a global pandemic, wildfires and an extended census deadline abruptly cut short by 16 days, the Con- federated Tribes of Grand Ronde still managed to count more of its members than any other Tribal na- tion in Oregon with a 78.5 percent response rate. This is a more than 17 percent improvement over the 2010 census count. Additionally, the Tribe fared better overall than the state, which had a 69.2 percent response rate, according to Census Bureau data. Nationally, the Tribal response rate was approximately 41 percent. “Tribal nations are historically undercounted in the United States census counts,” Grand Ronde Housing Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger said. “The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde joined forces with our region- al census representatives to make this year more successful.” Dugger said that when the Tribe receives its final response rate in December, she is expecting it to be more than 80 percent. In the 2010 census, Native Amer- icans and Alaska Natives living on Reservations were undercounted by 4.9 percent, according to Census Bureau data. To help increase participation, Dugger organized the Tribal Com- plete Count Committee. Other members included Social Services Manager Dana Leno, Employment Program Manager Michael Her- rin, Local Census Representative Rita LaChance and Employment Program Administrative Assistant Angella Schultz. “This was such a collaborative effort,” Dugger said. “There were so many people involved in so many ways. It’s been a huge privilege to be able to work with everyone and have the support of Tribal Council.” During a virtual presentation to Tribal Council on Wednesday, Nov. 18, Dugger and committee members discussed the results See CENSUS continued on page 8