Tribal Government Day set for May 13

Camas, lamprey, salmon, deer and elk probably will be among some of the food items discussed during Tribal Government Day on Friday, May 13, in Salem.

The annual event will include a "First Foods" presentation between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. in Hearing Room C of the State Capitol.

In addition, there also will be a Tribal leader panel presentation and discussion from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on "Sovereignty and Resources" and Tribal government information tables will be set up in the State Capitol Galleria between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Starting at 11:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony marking the 15^th anniversary of the executive order that directed state agencies to operate on a government-to-government basis with the nine federally recognized Tribal governments in Oregon.

The ceremony also will fete the 10^th anniversary of the passage of Oregon's state-Tribal government-to-government law and there will be the signing of the 2011 proclamation declaring May 9-15 the 15^th American Indian Week in Oregon by Gov. John Kitzhaber.

After the ceremony, a lunch buffet hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Spirit Mountain Casino will be held at noon outside the Senate Chambers.

On Thursday, May 12, representatives of state agencies will have a chance to learn about Native First Foods from 2 to 3:30 p.m. or attend a discussion entitled "Tribal Governments: The Role of Tribal Values, Traditions and Relations with Other Governments."

The event is sponsored by the state Legislative Commission on Indian Services and endeavors to teach state employees about Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes.

The Friday event is open to the public.