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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2024)
6 SMOKE SIGNALS NOVEMBER 15, 2024 ‘I formally apologize as president of the United States of America’ APOLOGY continued from front page “I equated it in similarity to the Holocaust; now people are questioning, did that even happen, and it’s along those same lines. But for me, really, the proof is in the pudding.” number is likely to be much, much higher; lost generations, culture and language; lost trust. “It’s horribly, horribly wrong. It’s a sin on our soul.” Yet, until this year, the federal government had never apologized for its actions. “I formally apologize as president of the United States of America, for what we did. I formally apologize. And it’s long overdue,” Biden said. “It’s long, long, long overdue. Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make. The Federal Indian Boarding School policy and the pain it has caused will always be a signifi cant mark of shame, a blot on American history.” Some Tribal council members praised Biden’s words during a Leg- islative Action Committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29. “It really doesn’t matter which side of the fence you’re on political- ly; that was a beautiful moment,” Tribal Council member Matthew Haller said. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy was more reserved. “Before it even started, someone asked me, ‘What do you think about that?’” Kennedy said. “I said, ‘Well, I think it’s about time. It was some- thing that happened that’s been swept under the rug … I equated it in similarity to the Holocaust; now people are questioning, did that even happen, and it’s along those same lines. But for me, really, the proof is in the pudding.” ~ Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy Kennedy said she recalls working with other Indigenous leaders in the Pacifi c Northwest to help draft language for the Indian Child Wel- fare Act, passed in 1978. “It was passed, but with zero dol- lars,” Kennedy said. “So, in essence, it just became writing words on a paper. And I said, ‘So hopefully, that there will be funds that come with this acknowledgement, with this apology, and that we have the appropriations. … Increase funding for the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Education, because they kept silent; they didn’t publish this, they didn’t teach those things.’” Kennedy said she believes Biden was sincere and added “I believe all Tribes are probably watching this to see what happens with it. I think it’s high time we all weigh in as Tribes and request those additional funds in those areas.” Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George said that during a meeting of the governor’s task force on Trib- al consultation, some Oregon Tribal members questioned the timing of the apology. “Some of them were about, ‘Well, why now?’ George said. “Even though it’s been going on for 150 CTGR 2024 Winter Surplus Grand Ronde Fish Distribution years, why the apology now, and why hadn’t other presidential ad- ministrations ever apologized be- fore then. I think we really have to thank (U.S. Interior Secretary) Deb Haaland for bringing the boarding school issue forward.” Tribal Council member Kath- leen George said the apology was important, while the pain of those who were not and cannot be made whole by it must also be recognized. “It’s absolutely true that noth- ing, nothing can make up for the horrors that were forced on the Tribal people,” she said. “And I also think it’s important to recognize that this man, while in this seat of tremendous power, is the one and said out loud that day, ‘It is wrong and a shame on this nation that no one in my role has stood up, acknowledged the shame and the horrors of that era, that belong to the United States.’ He said those words out loud. And then also was the one who said out loud, ‘And we apologize. We acknowledge nothing can repair the damage that has been done and that your people continue to suffer from it, and I unequivocally apologize.’” George said she is sympathetic to people who were unmoved by CTGR 2024 Winter Surplus Portland Office Fish Distribution CTGR Portland Office Natural Resources Department 4445 SW Barbur Blvd #101 Portland, OR 97239 Fish Lab Pre-Registration Not Required For Surplus Distribution. 47010 SW HEBO ROAD Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Contact Crystal Smith (503)879-1881 with any questions (503) 879-2424 When: Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:00am – 4:00pm Friday, December 13, 2024 9:00am – 4:00pm GRAND RONDE LIVING and ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS ONLY Must show current photo I.D. - Fish will be handed out in a drive through system. Please follow the signage up the hill to the fish lab, receive your fish and then follow the exit loop road out. - If picking up for others: A Signed release and copy of Tribal ID or CIB is required! - No Early or late Pickups and fish will not be mailed. When: Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 10:00am – 2:00pm GRAND RONDE LIVING and ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS Must show current photo I.D. - If picking up for others: A Signed release and copy of Tribal ID or CIB is required! - Pre-Registration Registration NOT required for surplus Distribution. Fish will be given out on a fist come first served basis - No Early or late Pickups and fish will not be mailed. Fish cannot be picked up in both Grand Ronde and Portland. 2024 Fish Distribution Release Example 2024 Fish Distribution Release Example I, I, Roll Number, Give Permission to pick up my fish. Signature of Tribal Member: Date: Roll Number, Roll Number, Give Permission to pick up my fish. Signature of Tribal Member: Date: 2024 Fish Distribution Release Example 2024 Fish Distribution Release Example I, the apology. “I completely understand and feel for those folks too, who rightly ac- knowledge that nothing can make up for that and that this is diffi cult because it comes so late; that is absolutely true,” she said. “And I also think we need to acknowledge when people in power do the right thing while they’re there. They take responsibility for their time in their seat and they say the words out loud that need to be said, and so for me, that was just important. To own the truth of the atrocities that occurred and spend time refl ecting on them openly, with a nation, with the world watching, and openly say what words could be said, to apol- ogize. So that’s important … while (remembering) all the people and families that still are harmed and suffering to this day in our heart.” Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkely issued a statement following the apology, saying he is fi ghting for funding for Tribal communities and programs. “We need to learn from the mis- takes of the past and continually consult Tribal communities to fully repair this lasting, generational damage,” Merkley said. “As chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I have secured $21 million to date for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s Indian Boarding School Initiative to examine and help repair these devastating, his- toric wrongs. I’ll keep fighting to secure funding for this important initiative and to uphold our com- mitment to honoring the solemn promise that the United States has made to Tribal communities to fulfi ll our trust and treaty obligations.” n I, Roll Number,
