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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2023)
sNok signflz DECEMBER 15, 2023 11 8I thought of our ancestors and the sacrifices that they made9 SUMMIT continued from front page tial Cabinet in the country9s history as head of the Interior Department, she had to deliver her opening re- marks remotely after contracting COVID-19. <In three years, we9ve made big, challenging and transformative accomplishments, all with repre- sentation from all of you,= she said. <This is our third year in ofoce and now things look very different, because we have taken your words and feedback and put them into action.= Cherry also watched Biden sign an executive order to increase In- dian Country access to business capital and listened to a drug use and mental health panel discussion that included White House Ofoce of National Drug Control Policy Director Rahul Gupta, Deputy Sec- retary of Health & Human Services Andrea Palm, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Communi- ty President Martin Harvier and Lummi Nation Chairman Tony Hillaire. <It9s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward,= Biden said during his address to Tribal lead- ers. <But the actions we are tak- ing today are key steps into that new era of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination 3 a new era grounded in dignity and respect that recognizes your fundamental porate Indigenous knowledge into the department9s work, and preserve and protect sa- cred sites around the country. <Since time immemorial, the Earth9s lands and waters have been central to the so- cial, cultural, spiritual, men- tal and physical wellbeing of Indigenous peoples,= Haaland said. <It is essential that we do everything we can to ensure the Indigenous knowledge helps guide our ongoing work as stewards of public lands and waters. <By acknowledging and em- powering Tribes as partners in co-stewardship of our coun- Contributed photo try9s lands and waters, every Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg American will benefit from and Tribal Council Secretary Michael strengthened management Cherry met at the third annual White House of our federal land and re- sources.= Tribal Nations Summit during President During previous White Joseph R. Biden9s first term on Thursday, House Tribal Nations Sum- Dec. 7, in Washington, D.C. During the mits held during the Obama two-day summit, senior administration administration, the Grand officials heard from Tribal leaders and had Ronde Tribe was regularly conversations about the most important represented by Tribal Coun- issues facing Tribal communities. cil Vice Chair Chris Mercier. There were no Tribal Nations Summits held during the Trump rights to grow and govern on your administration. own terms. That9s what this sum- The White House Tribal Nations mit is all about.= Summit is designed to give admin- During the summit, Haaland istration ofocials and Tribal leaders announced the Biden administra- from the 574 federally recognized tion9s commitment to strengthen Tribes in the United States an the nation-to-nation relationship opportunity to discuss ways the with Tribal Nations, including new efforts to increase Tribal co-stew- ardship of lands and waters, incor- federal government can invest in and strengthen relationships, as well as ensure progress in Indian Country. <I am honored to have represented the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde at the White House Tribal Nations Summit this year,= Cherry said. <I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and thankfulness for the opportunity to be present at this momentous occasion. It was a hum- bling experience to not only witness the collective power of Tribal leaders coming together to advocate for their communities, but to also witness the President of the United States sign- ing an executive order reaforming his commitment to support Tribal Nations was awe-inspiring. <The summit had not only pro- vided a platform for dialogue, but it was also a reminder for all Trib- al citizens that our voices matter and that together we can create a brighter future for our communi- ties. Leaving the summit, I carried with me a renewed sense of hope and determination, and my heart is full of gratitude. I thought of our ancestors and the sacrifices that they made for all of us to be there. It really is a testament to the unwavering and resilient spirit of Indigenous people.= To watch a video of the Tribal Na- tions Summit, visit the Department of the Interior9s YouTube page at youtube.com/watch?v=OZID- N9OmuxM. þ Cancellation affects Grand Ronde and Siletz Tribes SERVICE continued from front page We Want to Hear From You! Take the YCAP Needs Survey for a Chance to Win $100 The purpose of this survey is to better understand the unique needs of our community. Scan the QR code below with your phone9s camera or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCAPCommunityNeedSurvey to complete a quick 10 minute survey about the greatest needs in Yamhill County. If you complete the survey, you can enter into a raöe for a chance to win $100. Responses are anonymous. didn9t think it would happen that suddenly but knew it was coming.= Tillamook9s lack of resources, including enough drivers, was be- hind the abrupt route cancellation, according to Tillamook County Transportation District General Manager Brian Vitulli. <At this time, I am making the dif- ocult decision to sacrioce Route 60X, a crucial transit service that provides a vital need to your communities, in order to sustain the services that are critical to the Tillamook County service area,= he said in an email. One job advertisement for a bus driver has been posted to the transportation district9s website for nearly a year and another for more than two years. <From our side, it9s really hard to cancel a service like this,= Vitulli said. <This was a route that was do- ing really well but we are so low on drivers, we were faced with making cuts system-wide.= The route cancellation affects the Grand Ronde and Siletz Tribes. Route 60X had a monthly ridership of 1,398, an increase of 48.5 percent from the previous year, as reported in the September 2023 transpor- tation district ridership numbers. The Tribe receives transportation funding from the Federal Transit Administration and the state, as required by law, and uses this funding to pay for transit contracts. However, Vitulli noted that dis- tance, effort and operating costs for the service were behind cancelling bus route 70X, which had lower ridership than 60X. The Federal Transit Administra- tion has a Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program. In neighboring Washington, for ex- ample, the Cowlitz Reservation has an agreement with C-Tran, Clark County9s public transit system. Mercier is considering a temporary service agreement with Yamhill County, which would only require an amendment to the current agree- ment. However, he said another option is to hire a private bus ser- vice contractor approved by ODOT short-term, allowing Akana time to complete its professional survey regarding the new service contract. <Route 60X is a highly utilized route,= Mercier said. <Cherriots (Salem9s mass transit program) is interested. It9s time to negotiate.= Riders should expect bus service from Grand Ronde to Salem to re- turn in the near future, Mercier add- ed. Meanwhile, Tribal members and Tribal Elders have access to private Tribal transportation for medical appointments and other services. For more information regarding those options, call the Community Health Department at 503-879- 2078. þ