14
APRIL 15, 2024
NATIVE
AMERICAN
WATCHLIST
SMOKE SIGNALS
Tribal nonemergency text line
The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has a nonemergency text
line at 541-921-2927.
“If you have a nonemergency situation or question, feel free to contact
my offi cer via text through this line,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief
Jake McKnight. “When one of my offi cers receives the text, they will call
you back when they have time.”
McKnight said that emergency situations still require calling 911.
For more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474. n
Watchlist: ‘Why some
Native American Tribes
do their best to avoid
seeing an eclipse’
(Editor’s note: It is estimated that there are approximately 149
billion videos on YouTube, and the number continues to grow.
Grand Ronde Tribal member and Social Media/Digital Journalist
Kamiah Koch sifts through those videos twice a month to recom-
mend a worthwhile Indigenous video to watch. Follow her bimonth-
ly recommendations and enjoy!)
By Kamiah Koch
Social media/digital journalist
Although many Tribal members and United Stated citizens fl ocked
to catch a glimpse of the eclipse, Arkansas CBS-affi liated 5News
reports some Tribes have cultural beliefs that encouraged their
people to avoid seeing it.
Navajo Nation Tribal member Alaynna Littlefeather described
her Tribe’s cultural practices during the solar eclipse as a time for
mourning and rest.
“An eclipse is essentially a disturbance or the death of the sun,”
she said. “He is considered a father fi gure in Navajo Culture. He is
the reason why we have everything: Our plants, our harvesting. We
are essentially mourning his disappearance at this time so we are
trying to be very dormant during our regular routine.”
Littlefeather said during the time before and after the eclipse she
will rest, do no heavy lifting and consume little food and water.
“Growing up in a very close community with a lot of Navajos, ev-
eryone knows these rule so you don’t necessarily feel alone or isolated
in these instances,” she said.
Things are different outside of her Tribal community.
During a last eclipse in 2017 she had to email her college professor
to inform him she would not be attending class due to her cultural
beliefs. She also had to refrain from seeing the eclipse herself, which
left her a little disappointed. However, Littlefeather said she follows
those traditions because they are there for a reason.
You can watch the rest of Littlefeather’s interview at www.youtube.
com/watch?v=D2dwuSL546A or fi nd in linked on the Smoke Signals
YouTube page “Watchlist” playlist. n
FREE FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS WORKSHOPS
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is collaborating
with DevNW to offer free Financial Foundations workshops.
Financial Foundations
explores the following topics:
Budget & cash flow planning, Money goal setting, Tackling
debt, Channeling savings for big goals, Financial planning
for retirement, Protecting your assets, Strengthening credit.
Financial Foundations April & May classes:
April Zoom:
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, April 27
May Zoom:
Zoom, 5:30-7:30pm, Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28
Zoom, 9am-5pm, Saturday, May 18
Register online:
www.devnw.org/go/ctgr/
Questions? Email caitlin.zimbrick@grandronde.org
To learn more about IDA’s visit https://oregonidainitiative.org/
Financial Foundations is required to sign up for an IDA (Individual Development
Account) matched savings. Limited space available, must meet eligibility requirements.
Ad by Samuel Briggs III