Legislative Day showcases Oregon Tribes

SALEM -- State employees, elected officials and members of the general public swarmed around nine tables set up by Oregon’s federally recognized Tribes in the State Capitol Galleria on Thursday, Feb. 19, during Tribal Governments Legislative Day.

Those dropping by included Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who went from Tribal table to Tribal table, thanking representatives for being in the State Capitol building.

“I am here to honor what you’re doing,” she told Grand Ronde Public Affairs Administrative Assistant Chelsea Clark, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Martin and Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Shannon Simi, who were handing out copies of Smoke Signals, the Tribe’s ceded lands map, Tribal lapel pins and the very popular chocolates shaped in the form of the Grand Ronde Tribal logo.

“I heard you had chocolate,” more than one person said while approaching the Grand Ronde table.

Sponsored by the Legislative Commission on Indian Services and Oregon’s Tribes, the day’s intent was to provide a time for state legislators and government employees to visit and chat with Tribal representatives. The event was titled “Oregon Is Indian Country: Say Hello to Your Neighbors.”

After a slow first hour between and 8 and 9 a.m., it appeared that coffee had kicked in and the Galleria was full of people interested in the Tribal tables.

In addition to the aforementioned Rosenblum, State Sens. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) and Jackie Winters (R-Salem) visited the Grand Ronde Table to talk with Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno and Tribal Council members Ed Pearsall, Chris Mercier and Denise Harvey.

“It’s great to see all the displays,” Roblan said while talking with Leno and Pearsall. “This is always a great day.”

Curt Melcher, recently appointed head of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Department, visited with Leno and Pearsall.

Afterward, Leno said the Grand Ronde Tribe sent a letter of support on behalf of Melcher, who was one of three finalists for the position.

“We have worked with him a lot regarding installing a fish ladder at Willamette Falls,” Leno said. “We are all happy about it.”

Other Tribes had their own displays and areas of interest. The Klamath Tribe in southern Oregon displayed a banner that urged support for passage of U.S. Senate Bill 133 to “bring the salmon home.”

The Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Tribe displayed a miniature plankhouse on their table while the Siletz showed off intricate basketry.

At the Grand Ronde table, Clark explained the ceded lands map to state employees and how the Tribe ceded most of western Oregon from the Columbia River to the California border to the federal government in seven ratified treaties during the 1850s.

“Don’t you have a hotel there?” a man said, pointing to Grand Ronde on the map.

“Yes, we do. Spirit Mountain Lodge,” Clark replied.

“Yes, I’ve been there,” he said.

“I hope you had a good time,” Clark answered to an affirmative nod.

Even Grand Ronde Tribal member April Campbell, the Tribe’s former Education Department manager who now works in the state Department of Education as the Indian Education Specialist, dropped by to visit with former colleagues and Tribal Council members.

Light refreshments, including fruit, lunch meat and crackers, were served. The Grand Ronde Tribe donated $100 to help fund the snacks.

At noon, the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest served fry bread on the Capitol steps.

Also occurring on the day was a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding Senate Bill 343, which would eliminate the sunset clause included in the 2011 bill that granted Tribal police the same enforcement abilities as their nonTribal counterparts in the state.

And the unavoidable topic of former Secretary of State Kate Brown being sworn in as Oregon’s new governor the day before could not be avoided.

While speaking with Roblan, Leno explained that Brown had served on the Spirit Mountain Community Fund Board of Trustees.

“We’ve been working with her for years,” Leno said.