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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2022)
sNok signflz AUGUST 1, 2022 stuxtkin-mun (August) • Wednesday, Aug. 10 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., limited in-person attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via the Zoom teleconfer- ence application. 503-879-2304. • Friday-Sunday, Aug. 19-21 – Grand Ronde Contest Powwow. Grand entries at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. • Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 18-20 – Annual Fish Distribution, 9 a.m., Natural Resources Department Fish Lab, 47010 S.W. Hebo Road. 503-879-2424. • Wednesday, Aug. 24 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., limited in-person attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via the Zoom teleconfer- ence application. 503-879-2304. • Wednesday, Aug. 24 – Grand Ronde Education Summit, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Spirit Mountain Casino, 26820 S.W. Salmon River Highway. • Wednesday, Aug. 24 – Annual Fish Distribution, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Port- land Area Office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., Portland. 503-879-1881 ' kwayts-mun (September) • Monday, Sept. 5 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the Labor Day holiday. • Wednesday, Sept. 7 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., limited in-person attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via the Zoom teleconfer- ence application. 503-879-2304. • Saturday, Sept. 10 – Tribal Election Day. Ballots due by 6 p.m. 503- 879-2271. • Wednesday, Sept. 14 – Tribal Council swearing in-ceremony, 11 a.m., Tribal Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Wednesday, Sept. 21 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., limited in-person attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via the Zoom teleconfer- ence application. 503-879-2304. • Friday, Sept. 23 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the National Native American Day. OFFICIAL TRIBAL FACEBOOK PAGES Smoke Signals: facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde: 3 Setting the record straight on Willamette Falls issue By Cheryle A. Kennedy Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman For the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Wil- lamette Falls is home. It is the home of our ances- tors from the Charcowah Village of the Clowewalla (Willamette band of Tumwaters) and the Kosh-huk- shix Village of Clackamas people. Today, we are taking steps to honor our ances- tors by restoring life at Willamette Falls. We are re-emerging in our traditional role of host and will soon begin hosting visitors at Willamette Falls, just as our ancestors did, for generations to come. Cheryle A. Kennedy Lately, some Tribes and individuals connected to the Willamette Falls Trust have been trying to rewrite history through personal attacks on Grand Ronde. They disregard the documented history of our ancestors living and thriving as year-long residents on the banks of the falls. They take cheap shots at our Tribe in the press, disregard our story and try to paint us as “bullies.” These actions are deeply hurtful, damage Tribal relations and distract from the important work at hand. We know that Willamette Falls holds significance for many Tribes and many people. We also understand that there has been fluidity within Tribes through generations, including intermarriage. However, the history, treaties and geographic ties of each Tribe must be respected. This is the very reason we, the Grand Ronde Tribe, have not made treaty claims in Eastern Oregon, the ceded lands of other Tribes. We respect and honor that history. And we ask that they do the same. I wish I knew why other Tribes feel the need to attack us in our home- lands and fight our actions at Willamette Falls. I suspect, however, that their motivation to disparage Grand Ronde and rewrite history is a thinly veiled power grab to get closer to the Willamette River and the Portland metro area. It comes at a time when deference for Tribal interests is at an all-time high. Normally, we would applaud this newfound awareness and respect for Tribes among elected officials and well-intentioned organiza- tions, but it is damaging when it is manipulated and wielded as a weapon against another Tribe. Despite this negativity, the Grand Ronde Tribe will persevere at Willa- mette Falls. We will not be dissuaded, nor will our vision of healing, res- toration and revitalization be sidetracked. We have always been accurate and honest in our historical representation of Willamette Falls. For us, it is home. It always has been, and it always will be. (Editor’s note: This op-ed was submitted in response to a High Country News story shared by Smoke Signals via Facebook.) facebook.com/CTGRgov Grand Ronde Health & Wellness: facebook.com/GRHWC Election Office opened on July 25 Grand Ronde Children & Family Services: facebook.com/CTGRCFS Grand Ronde Royalty: facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty Grand Ronde Education Programs: facebook.com/CTGREducation Grand Ronde Youth Council: facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil Grand Ronde Station: facebook.com/GrandRondeStation Grand Ronde Social Services Department: facebook.com/CTGRSocialservices Grand Ronde Food Bank: facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank Spirit Mountain Community Fund: facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund Grand Ronde Cultural Education: facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Cultural-Education Grand Ronde Community Garden: facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department: facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Tribal-Police-Department Grand Ronde Employment Services Facebook.com/EmploymentServices Ad by Samuel Briggs III The Tribe’s Election Board office opened on Monday, July 25, and will be open through Friday, Sept. 9. Office hours are 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily with lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. The office is located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271. Blank signature verification forms have been placed in a hanging basket outside the Elections Board office door. Completed signature verification forms – with a notarized signature or legible copy of ID, including your signature (driver’s licenses, member ID card, passport, etc.) – need to be mailed to the Election Board for processing. The form will not be processed unless it has been notarized or includes a legible copy of ID and signature attached. Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednes- day, July 27. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 10. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 10.
