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Today
staff added the new event: 2010 Tribal Transit Conference
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- This year's Tribal Transit Conference will focus on useful information for everyone involved in transit. You can choose from more training sessions featuring important strategies for training staff, improving customer service, managing technology and marketing your transit service. In addition, you'll get the latest news from agency officials o ...
11:12 AM
10:09 AM
staff added a new article: Group that urged Indian Health Care Act now seeks to secure program funds
09:51 AM
Deanrhodes Schrader's office hires Grand Ronde Fellow
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Chalk up a giant success for the Grand Ronde Tribe’s Mark Hatfield Fellowship program.
Tribal member Stacia Martin, who is ending her fellowship in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, has been hired as the freshman congressman’s communications director.
The news was announced by Schrader representative Jon Pugsley, who read a letter from Schrader, during the annual Hatfield Fellowship Reception held Aug. 19 in the Atrium of the Governance Center in Grand Ronde.
“Stacia served the honor of Mark Hatfield well,” Schrader wrote in his letter. He complimented Martin on her diligence and work ethic.
“She set a high bar for the next Fellow,” Schrader wrote.
Martin, 25, was the 2009-10 Fellow.
“The Hatfield Fellowship is designed to give Natives from the Pacific Northwest an opportunity to learn the federal political system by working in an Oregon congressional office,” said Tribal member and Spirit Mountain Community Fund Director Shelley Hanson. “It’s always an honor when one of our fellows is hired by the office they serve in.
“It’s the strongest statement about the skills and abilities of our Fellows. Stacia Martin was hired before even completing her fellowship. Stacia’s communications abilities shone and Congressman Schrader rewarded her hard work by hiring her as a full-time member of his team.”
The new 2010-11 Fellow is 26-year-old Shana Radford (Nez Perce/Cayuse), who grew up on the Warm Springs and Umatilla reservations in eastern Oregon and currently lives in Pendleton.
Radford has a bachelor of science degree from Portland State University in political science and Native studies.
“This will be a great opportunity to improve my public policy skills and serve the Tribes of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” Radford said.
Radford will work in the office of Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden.
The annual changing of the fellows started with Sho Dozono, Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board chairman, and Hanson briefing the audience on Hatfield’s legacy and introducing dignitaries.
Hanson pointed to past successes in the Hatfield Fellowship, including Grand Ronde Tribal members Peter Wakeland, who now works for the Tribe as Director of Development, and Bryan Mercier, who works for the Bonneville Power Administration.
“This fellowship gives people an opportunity to go back to Washington, D.C., and see what it’s like there,” said Tribal Council Secretary Kathleen Tom, who welcomed people to the reception. “It is important to have Indian people in public positions and the Grand Ronde people believe in giving back and sharing our blessings.”
Martin briefly recapped her nine months of working in Schrader’s office, saying that the most important piece of legislation she worked on was the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and getting Schrader to support it.
“It’s been a challenging, rewarding experience,” Martin said. “The important thing I learned is you have to experience everything Washington has to offer. I learned so much from this.”
Martin was presented a gift and framed Spirit Mountain Community Fund poster from Hanson.
Fritz Graham, a field representative for Wyden’s office, read a letter from the senator welcoming Radford to his office and complimenting the Hatfield Fellowship program because it elevates federal staff knowledge of Tribal issues.
Radford, who worked as an executive assistant for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, will begin working in Wyden’s office in December for nine months.
“I am looking forward to serving you all,” she said.
The reception also was attended by Tribal Council members Reyn Leno, Chris Mercier, Toby McClary, June Sell-Sherer, Valorie Sheker and Steve Bobb Sr., who gave the invocation.
“We have two passionate, talented young ladies,” Hanson said.
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09:39 AM
Deanrhodes Grand Ronde plankhouse to officially open Sept. 17-19
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
“Can they bring a pile of rock up to use as a base for the woodshed?” Tribal member Bobby Mercier asked Tribal Engineer Eric Scott.
“Yes,” said Scott. “It won’t be enough, but it will be a start.”
The Tribe is just about ready for the Sept. 17-19 grand opening of its plankhouse.
The plankhouse building is completed and work on the surrounding buildings, like a woodshed, and the grounds, including ramps compliant with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, are under way.
Tribes from as far north as Chiliwack, British Columbia, and as far south as the Smith River in California are expected to come for the weekend, according to Mercier, Language and Culture specialist for the Tribe.
He has been planning and supervising the event with a team of people, including Tribal Elders Carol Logan and Dolores Parmenter, Tribal members Lenny Logan and Eirik Thorsgard, who is also Cultural Protection coordinator for the Tribe, Brian Krehbiel, also Cultural Education specialist, and Greg Leno, also Maintenance Technician II for the Tribe.
Mercier is leading the final drive to officially open the ceremonial plankhouse.
“This is a big deal because it is the first plankhouse that we have been allowed to build since being removed to the Reservation,” said Mercier.
Over the weekend, when hundreds of Native Americans from across the region will arrive and give blessings to the Grand Ronde Tribe’s newest building, the plankhouse will share duties with one of the Tribe’s oldest buildings, the Community Center, where meals will be served.
As part of protocol, the Tribe will have an usher to guide visitors into the plankhouse, with guests seated on the south side and Grand Ronde Tribal members on the north.
All day Saturday, guests will sing and dance and offer blessings to the Grand Ronde Tribe for the occasion.
“The guests are here to give blessings,” said Mercier. “And the Tribal members are here to receive the blessings.”
And on Sunday, Grand Ronde Tribal members will do the singing and dancing, a response and appreciation for the gifts of the blessings.
In the evenings, the plankhouse will be filled with fire, and the fire will be tended as long as people remain in the plankhouse.
“We’ll have people taking care of the fire for us,” said Mercier. In addition, he said, Cultural Resources will have people around to maintain the decorum and to keep all of the childrens’ running down to a minimum.
Until 7 p.m. Sunday, the Community Center will be the site for all meals. Friday evening, reserved for arrivals, will nevertheless feature a dinner including ceremonial elk stew. Breakfasts at the Community Center will take place Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. Lunches will be at 1 p.m. The ceremonies at the plankhouse will start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
After lunch on Sunday, the plankhouse will be the scene of a big Tribal giveaway.
“We’ve been collecting stuff all year long,” said Mercier. “Elders have been contributing the fruits of their craft and art skills to the giveaway. And we’re still accepting giveaway items.”
Items can be delivered to the Cultural Resources Department or brought to the plankhouse on Sunday. Money donations for the plankhouse also are being accepted by the Tribe’s Accounting Division.
For most of the time, an expected overflow crowd will share prayers and blessings, memories and old wisdom.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, however, the last meal will be served in the plankhouse, the first meal to be served there, with ceremonial fish and elk and all the trimmings.
Contact Mercier to volunteer with the opening or for further questions at 503-879-2076.
09:34 AM
09:33 AM
spiderwriter added a new bulletin: The arrival of cool Autumn weather ushers in the season for making homemade wines.
08:51 AM
spiderwriter added a new bulletin: Apartment seekers need help in today's competitive rental unit market.
08:49 AM
spiderwriter added a new post in the group: Native Writers
A network is only as strong as its members. Join, post, and participate.
08:36 AM
Yesterday
staff added a new article: Challengers fail in bid for more time to file in case against Shinnecocks
08:27 PM
08:24 PM
Cloud9Crown Native Beloved Family, For this funny Keyboard problem i say i will rectify it Anon & say will Wakan Tanka's Grace BE yours Alway's Love Geoff.
07:10 PM
