Tribal Governments Legislative Day set for Feb. 13

SALEM -- Tribal Governments Legislative Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in the State Capitol's Galleria.

The Oregon Legislature only meets for a one-month session in 2014 beginning in early February.

In order to take advantage of Tribal-state interactions that can occur during a legislative session, the Legislative Commission on Indian Services reserved the Galleria to give Tribal governments an opportunity to provide information about their Tribes while the Legislature is in session.

"Members of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services indicated at their retreat last summer that educating Oregonians, including Oregon's policymakers, about Tribes is a high priority," said Karen Quigley, executive director of the LCIS. "One of the functions of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services is to arrange a variety of meetings and events throughout the year that address this core priority. It will be a time for Tribes to showcase who they are and what is important to Tribes, and to get that message across to state policymakers while legislators are at the Capitol and involved in taking action that may affect Tribal interests."

The Legislative Commission on Indian Services was created by statute in 1975 to improve services to Indians in Oregon. Its 13 members are appointed jointly by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House to a two-year term. Members select their own officers to serve one-year terms of office.

Quigley said the goal of the Legislative Day is to encourage legislators, legislative staff, state agency employees, Capitol building staff and the public to visit Tribal government information tables and to visit with Tribal leaders and Tribal staff to talk about their Tribe, Tribal priorities and programs, and culture.

"It is also an opportunity for Tribal representatives to visit legislators, sit in on committee hearings and visit with each other," Quigley said.

Grand Ronde's representative on the Legislative Commission on Indian Services is Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy.

Grand Ronde Public Affairs staff members will be present with Tribal informational material, Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor said.

Quigley added that American Indian Week in Oregon is May 17-24. A proclamation signing is being planned with details to be released at a later date.