Smoke signals., June 01, 2024, Page 7, Image 7

JUNE 1, 2024
sNok signflz
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Kotek gained insights on Tribal sovereignty
VISIT continued
from front page
visits, to really get an opportunity
to spend quality time to see things
and listen to people and to just hear
their stories. I feel very thankful, as
does the First Lady, to be able to do
this. Everyone put a lot of effort into
making sure we got good conversa-
tions so I’m just very appreciative.”
Gov. Kotek toured the Research
Center at Chachalu Tribal Museum
& Cultural Center, Native Plant
Nursery at the Tribe’s Natural
Resources Department, the Tribe’s
new homeownership project Tip-
su-ili’i, the new Creekside Elders
Housing Phase III development,
chinuk wawa skul and the grand
opening of the new public health
building, which was named the
Cheryle A. Kennedy Public Health
Clinic in honor of longtime Tribal
Council Chairwoman Ken-
nedy and her dedication to
healthcare.
Kotek said her two favor-
ite aspects of the visit were
visiting the Chinuk Wawa
Immersion Program at the
chink wawa skul and a stop
at the Grand Ronde Cemetery,
where Kennedy refl ected on
the diffi cult years before the
Tribe was restored and the
work that went into rebuilding
a nation after Restoration.
“Those were moments
throughout the day that just
stay with me,” Kotek said. “The
sheer joy of watching the students
at Chinuk Wawa dancing for us and
listening to the drumming, you just
off the cemetery early on because
culturally, that was a diffi cult place
to be. Just listening to the pain
and the hope of that moment that
she was sharing was a particularly
impactful moment for us,” she said.
Kotek added that by the end of
the day, she had gained additional
insights on Tribal sovereignty and
the Grand Ronde Tribe in partic-
ular.
“It’s always a reaffi rmation in
these visits to be reminded of the
comprehensive nature of Tribal
governments, the importance of
self-governance and local leader-
ship that you see being exhibited,”
she said. “The Grand Ronde do
such amazing work in a variety of
ways…You really do get a deep-
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
er sense that this is a sovereign
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek listens as then-Tribal Timber Resource Program
nation and as governor, it’s a
good reminder that we have to be
Manager Michael Karnosh talks about the Native Plant Nursery at the Tribe’s
strong partners with our sovereign
Natural Resources Department on Friday, May 17.
nations. They are doing incredible
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek looks at
work.”
the Tribe’s hunting and fi shing
During a Legislative Action Com-
licenses and tags during her visit
mittee meeting on Tuesday, May
to the Tribe’s Natural Resources
21, Tribal Council member Lisa
Leno refl ected on the visit.
Department.
“It was an amazing
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEO
day,” she said. “We
started at Chacha-
lu and then we were
@SmokeSignalsCTGR @ctgrsmokesignals @SmokeSignalsCTGR
able to have a great
presentation on Tumwata Village
won’t soon forget.
and ended at the health clinic and
“For her to share what it was
it was a great day. We had a lot
like when termination happened
of opportunity to get to share the
and when the land that the ceme-
amazing work that is happening
tery was on was the only land and
here and all the important legis-
how hard it was having it be that
can’t help but be inspired and just
lation and work we are looking
only space to try and bring people
love the moment.”
forward to in the next few years.
together, and what it was like to be
The cemetery stop was unplanned
I think she left here feeling really
among the ancestors and whether
but one of those moments Kotek
good about her visit as we did with
that was the right place to be…She
her.” n
shared how she did a lot of her work
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses and
able to perform marriage ceremonies for a fi ling
fee of $40. Contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. n