12
AUGUST 1, 2021
Smoke Signals
2021 Youth Council
ɬaxayam!
Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself.
My name is Anavey Smith, I am a 15-year-old Tribal
youth from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. My
Indigenous heritage also includes Saint Regis Mohawk,
Pyramid Lake Paiute and Mexican. My parents are Lore-
na Rivera and Ronald Smith. I am the granddaughter of
Kelly Lazore, Martin Gonzalez, Miguel Rivera and Kathy
Dyer, and the great-granddaughter of Lorene Smith, Anavey Smith
Russell Lazore and Andres Rivera. My great-great-grand-
parents are Lawrence Smith and Gertrude McCoy. Currently in the ninth
grade, my favorite classes are Chinuk Wawa and English. I am a jingle
dancer and currently Senior Miss Princess 2020-21 and candidate for Se-
nior Miss Grand Ronde 2021-22. Spending time with my family and dog
Delilah are important to me. Baking, dancing, gardening and traveling
are some of my favorite things to do. I look forward to being involved with
the Youth Council and developing leadership skills, uplifting youth voices
and serving our community.
hayu masi
My name is Benjamin Powley. I was born and raised
in Grand Ronde, Ore. I’m 15 years old and I am a fresh-
man at Willamina High School. I am an entrepreneur
of sorts, trying to make a name for myself in this big
world. I have recently, this last year, become a part of
the Youth Council and have made a lot of friends along
my journey through rivers, such as Canoe Journey and
hot deserts in Arizona. I am very extroverted and a jack Benjamin Powley
of all trades. So don’t be shy to ask me for help or say
hello now and then.
My name is Caden Meneley, son of Cory and Loretta
Meneley. My siblings include Logan, Rayauna and Myles
Meneley. I was born and raised in Sheridan, Ore. I’m
currently going to be a freshman in high school. I have
spent a year on Youth Council and it has been a positive
experience and I hope to be more involved in the future.
I want to be a positive influence not only for my siblings,
but the community as well. I enjoy spending time with Caden Meneley
my family and friends and creating memories, going to
concerts, swimming in the creek, learning how to drive and many other
memories.
Hello, my name is Daysia Duran, and I am the current
Youth Council treasurer for Grand Ronde. My plan cur-
rently is to be more informed and helpful in our commu-
nity and work toward more humanitarian-oriented goals.
Gaining experience and learning better social skills that
will help me later in life is high on my list. I currently
play three instruments (soon to be four) and love music,
as well as many other performing arts-related things. I
am also very interested in educating myself and learning
from listening to the people around me.
Daysia Duran
Thank you for letting me introduce myself. My given
name is Lutsa Apup. My grandfather Eddie George Sr.
from the Yakama Nation gave me my name. My full En-
glish name is Leo Tyee Norwest. I am named after my
great-grandfather, my ancestor. I’m an enrolled member
of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and a descendant
of the Yakama Nation and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. I am
Leo Tyee
the son of Shannon Stanton from the Confederated Tribes
Norwest
of Grand Ronde and Eddie George Jr. from the Yakama
Nation. I have four sisters and six brothers. I’m the young-
est sibling. I am 15 years old and a freshman at Sheridan High School.
I like sports, football, basketball, track, wrestling and swimming. I am
looking forward to going to college in business, I want to come back and
work hard for my people. I see my mother working for the Tribe. She loves
the community. I know I will be like her; she’s my rock. This is my second
term on Youth Council. I learned so much serving on Youth Council. They
are like true family. We all support each other and we all have our own
strong voice to be heard.
ɬaxayam. Hello. My name is Seq'hiya Simmons.
I am 15 and I am a freshman in high school. I love
going on adventures and meeting new people. I'm
very friendly and outgoing so never be afraid to
come and say hi. Over the next few years I look
forward to serving this community. I hope you are
all staying safe during these uncertain times, and
as always, wear your masks!
Seq'hiya Simmons
ɬaxayam nayka nim Lyliana Rideout and I come from
the Rogue River Tribe in southern Oregon. My passions
are fancy dancing, basketball, soccer and track. I attend
Amity Middle School and am a part of a school service
group called Warriors Serve. If I go back to school, I will
help with fundraisers and the school's student store. I
joined Warriors Serve to help with my leadership skills
and to help benefit my school. I also joined Junior Youth
Council to help with my leadership skills and to help
benefit my community. These are some of the things I'm
hoping to get out of being on Junior Youth Council.
Lyliana Rideout
ɬaxayam nayka nim Madalyn Volz. Hello, my name
is Madalyn Volz. I have been on Youth Council since
the very beginning. I have held several positions such
as treasurer, vice chairwoman and currently I am the
social media representative for the year 2020-21. I at-
tend McMinnville High School. This is my junior year.
My hobbies include playing softball for the McMinnville
Grizzlies, riding four-wheelers, playing with my dogs,
Madalyn Volz
and spending time with family and friends. After high
school, I would like to join the military to be a combat medic. After the
military, I would like to fulfill my dream of being a nurse. I look forward
to once again representing the Youth Council for the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde. hayu masi.
Shíх kw’í (good day),
My name is Shawnessy Amerie Sohappy. My Indian
name is laa-t-owit meaning Rosebud. I’m 15 and enrolled
in the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. My mother,
Diana Robertson, is also. My father, Richard Sohappy,
is enrolled in the Yakama Nation. This is going to be my
first term on the Youth Council. I am very honored and
excited to have this opportunity. I will do my best to help
and lead my fellow youth. I dance traditional and have
held one royalty position. I have played many sports,
Shawnessy
including rugby, basketball, softball and volleyball. I also
Amerie
enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also love
Sohappy
meeting new people and starting connections with them.
I see how many people are dedicated to the Grand Ronde community and
how they try to make a difference. I hope I can be one of them, too. And
I can see how my fellow Youth Council members are trying their best to
do the best they can. And I am very excited to see what I can learn from
them. Once again, I am very thankful for this opportunity and I hope I
can make a difference and be a voice for those who think they are not be-
ing heard. Thank you for letting me introduce myself. Have a wonderful
day! – Shawnessy Sohappy :)
ɬaxayam nayka nim TasinaLutawin Bluehorse,
Hello, my name is TasinaLutawin Bluehorse (Red
Shawl Woman). I was born in Washington and have
lived in Grand Ronde for most of my life. My parents are
Tessa Grant and Tony Bluehorse, and my grandparents
are Faye Smith Grant and Bruce Grant.
I’m 15 years old and going into the 10th grade. This
is my first year on Youth Council and it has been won-
derful, but also due to COVID-19 it hasn’t been good to
all of us. I am also on Veterans Royalty as the Junior
TasinaLutawin
Veterans Queen. I’ve been participating on it for four
Bluehorse
years now. I enjoy everything about it.
I love traveling, going to powwows and dancing, and representing my
Tribe at events. My favorite sport is playing volleyball. I’ve been playing
for McMinnville Club Volleyball for the past two years, but it had it be cut
short this year due to COVID-19. I’ve been a part of the Tribe for years
now. I made lots of friends and traveled to so many places like Arizona,
Idaho, etc.
After graduating high school, I plan on attending Chemeketa Commu-
nity College and transferring to Oregon State University and then attend
medical school.
hayu masi
YOUTH COUNCIL
continued on page 13