sNok signflz
APRIL 15, 2024
Next General Council
meeting will be May 5
MEETING continued
from front page
awards that money to nonprofi ts
in 11 northwest Oregon counties
to fund efforts in the areas of
arts and culture, environmental
preservation, education, health,
historic preservation and public
safety, and to the nine federally
recognized Tribes in Oregon
under the fund’s Tribal Grants
program.
Large grant awards are $50,000
maximum for program requests
and $100,000 for capital requests,
and small grants are a $7,500
maximum. Annual Tribal grants
are a $100,000 maximum. All
grants are for a 12-month period.
Schlappie presented a 2023
funding breakdown and infor-
mation about the Youth Grant-
making Program, which began in
2022 as a way to engage Native
high school students with philan-
thropy and community service.
In 2023, the Community Fund
awarded 41 small grants totaling
$281,000, 71 large grants total-
ing $2.95 million, seven Tribal
grants totaling $700,000 and fi ve
youth grants totaling $25,000.
Schlappie also discussed the
Hatfield Fellowship program.
Spirit Mountain Community
Fund annually sponsors a Native
American to serve as the Hatfi eld
Fellow and intern in an Oregon
congressional offi ce. Placement
of the fellow rotates through the
Oregon delegation to enhance
mutual understanding between
leadership in Washington, D.C.,
and Indian Country.
Fellows are provided an op-
portunity to gain knowledge
and understanding of how to
navigate the political process in
Washington, D.C., while work-
ing on issues that affect Native
Americans.
Applications for the 2024-25
Hatfi eld Fellowship program are
being accepted through Tuesday,
April 30. Applicants must be at
least 21 years old and have a
bachelor’s degree.
No questions were asked after
the 35-minute presentation was
completed.
“Thank you to the Community
Fund staff for representing the
fund,” Tribal Council Chairwom-
an Cheryle A. Kennedy said.
“It’s a very worthwhile thing the
Tribe decided to do years ago.
We knew then there are many
worthy organizations out there
that didn’t receive funding…This
follows our cultural beliefs to be
giving and generous people.”
In other action, door prize
winners were Bill Stephens,
Lee Ann Huffman and Brendyn
Smallwood, $100 each; and Tyla
LaGoy, Jack Giffen Jr., Kameron
Crosman, Les Houck and Ester
LaGoy, $50 each. Giffen donated
his winnings to Canoe Journey.
The next General Council
meeting will be held at 11 a.m.
Sunday, May 5, on Zoom and in
Tribal Council Chambers. It will
feature a report from the Educa-
tion Department.
The entire meeting can be
viewed by visiting the Tribal
government’s website at www.
grandronde.org and clicking on
the Government tab and then
Videos. n
5
Tribal Council approves $20
million EPA grant application
By Danielle Harrison
& Michelle Alaimo
Smoke Signals staff
Tribal Council approved a $20
million grant application for an
EPA Environmental and Climate
Justice Community Change Grant
at its Wednesday, April 3, meeting.
If approved for the grant, the
Tribal Engineering, Public Works
and Community Development
Department will use the funds
to provide additional facilities to
support population growth in the
community and provide services
to increase the Tribe’s self-suffi-
ciency while supporting the Tribe’s
cultural values for environmental
stewardship.
According to the EPA website,
these grants will be awarded for
environmental and climate justice
activities to “benefi t disadvantaged
communities through projects that
reduce pollution, increase commu-
nity climate resilience and build
community capacity to address
environmental and climate justice
challenges. These place-based
investments will be focused on
community-driven initiatives to
be responsive to community and
stakeholder input.”
“I have a very exciting grant to
bring before you today,” Tribal
Grants Program Manager Wendy
Sparks said during a Tuesday,
April 2, Legislative Action Commit-
tee meeting. “Because of the scope
of our identifi ed projects, today I am
requesting a resolution for the fi rst
of two grant applications. I will be
coming back to you in a month to
request a resolution for the second
application.”
The Tribe is allowed to pursue
two grants for this project, with
each grant totaling up to $20 mil-
lion.
The fi rst grant services the Tribe
by providing funding for the con-
struction costs and materials for
the resident recreation center. The
second grant will focus on energy
effi ciency and weatherization.
The new facility will provide a
safe place for the community to
gather during climate events, such
as smoky days caused by wildfi res,
or other weather-related incidents.
“For the purposes of this grant,
our emphasis is on obtaining fund-
ing for the facility that can increase
the Tribe’s overall climate resil-
ience,” Sparks said.
The project also includes entering
into an agreement with the Energy
Trust of Oregon, who will serve as
the Tribe’s partner. The Energy
Trust will provide guidance on
appropriate use of energy effi cient
and climate resilient materials that
will be used for this project.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved a fi rst reading of the
Governmental Corporation Or-
dinance amendment changing
the budget reporting date for
corporate boards from Oct. 31 to
Oct. 1;
• Approved a first reading of the
General Council Ordinance
amendment changing the date on
which Spirit Mountain Gaming
Inc. Board of Directors presents an
overview of its operations from the
September to the March General
Council meeting. This will allow
a prior full-year review of Spirit
Mountain Casino and a look at
what’s to come in the current year;
• Approved an application to the
Oregon Department of Education
Grow Your Own grant program
for $375,000 to provide additional
continuing education funding and
support services for staff;
• And approved enrolling three mi-
nors into the Tribe because they
meet the requirements outlined
in the Tribal Constitution and
Enrollment Ordinance.
To watch the entire meeting, visit
the Tribal government’s website at
www.grandronde.org and click on
the Videos tab. n