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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2025)
sNok signflz APRIL 1, 2025 ENROLLMENT ORDINANCE OPEN FOR COMMENT The Tribal Council has moved forward with a fi rst reading of amend- ments to the Enrollment Ordinance at the Tribal Council meeting held on March 19, 2025. The amendments to the Enrollment Ordinance will (1) Update sections of the ordinance including the duties of staff section, the committee section, the Tribal roll section, the application section, the proof of descendancy section and the publication section; (2) Add sections to the ordinance including a waitlist section, a 2025 open enrollment section, and an enrolled in error section; (3) Remove the blood degree correction section and other unnecessary references to blood quantum; and (4) other minor technical changes. Tribal Council invites comments on the amendments to the Enrollment Ordinance. For a copy of the ordinance, contact the Tribal Attorney’s Offi ce at 503-879-4664. Send comments to the Tribal Attorney’s Offi ce, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 or by email to legal@grandronde.org. Comments must be received by May 1, 2025. n 9 ECE move Photos by Michelle Alaimo Shayim classroom Teacher’s Aide Aleah Patterson places books on shelves in the library area as the Tribe’s Early Childhood Education Program moves into the new Early Care and Education building on Monday, March 24. The 26,000-square-foot building includes 12 classrooms, two outdoor play areas, community room, large commercial kitchen, 16 administrative offi ces, break room, restrooms and other support areas. Students started classes in the building Monday, March 31. FREE Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Where: ODFW rescinds Siletz consent decree Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Procurement Building V 9635 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 When: Saturday April 12 9 a.m. – Noon Tips for Safe Household Hazardous Waste Delivery 1. Use safe containers Keep products in securely-sealed original containers when possible Place items in boxes or sturdy containers. Please do not put inside plastic garbage bags. No containers larger than 5 gallons. 2. Waste collected from vehicle Keep products in securely-sealed original containers when possible. Please stay in your vehicle. Materials will be collected from trunk, cargo area, or truck bed. Please do not bring additional passengers or pets. No smoking. 3. Follow instructions at event Teacher’s Aide Wendy Mercier cleans a cubby in the Chak Chak classroom as the Tribe’s Early Childhood Education Program moves into the new Early Care and Education building Monday, March 24. Bring This: Pesticides and poisons Thermometers Thermostats Mercury and mercury- containing items Fluorescent lights/ballasts Polishes Household cleaners Pool chemicals Rust remover Antifreeze Parts cleaners Automotive fluids Paint and paint thinners Batteries Not That: Radioactive waste Asbestos Ammunition Explosives Sharps Pharmaceuticals Electronic Waste SALEM — On Friday, March 14, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wild- life Commission rescinded a 1980 consent decree between ODFW and the Siletz Tribe. This means that Grand Ronde is now the only Tribe in the state of Oregon, as well as the United States, to still be bound by a consent decree. Consent decrees are enforced by federal agreement and were used as a means of negotiation in order for terminated Tribes to get their reservation lands back. In exchange, Tribes agreed to have very limited hunting, fi sh- ing, trapping and gathering rights. Decades after these agreements were signed, the state of Oregon has acknowledged that these were a product of the times and represented a distorted view of Tribal sovereignty. “I couldn’t be happier for the Siletz people,” Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said. “Not only is the repeal of the Siletz Tribe’s consent decree historic in its own right but it signifi es that the state is moving forward to right these historical wrongs. We look forward to working with the state to address our own.” The state’s action came after congressional legislation and a federal court’s vacating of the Siletz consent decree. “Today’s action rights a historic wrong and continues to advance our cooperation with the Siletz Tribe towards our shared goal of healthy fi sh and wildlife populations,” ODFW Director Debbie Colbert said. In February, U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley reintroduced legislation to restore traditional hunting and fi shing rights for Grand Ronde. The House version of the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Reps Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum. The Senate version is cospon- sored by Ron Wyden. If passed, this legislation would allow the Tribe to return to federal court to request the termination or modifi cation of their current consent decree with the state of Oregon. n
