Legislative Commission on Indian Services turning 40

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

SALEM -- The Oregon Legislative Commission on Indian Services will mark its 40^th birthday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the State Capitol with the appropriately named “A Day to Celebrate.”

A morning program in the Capitol Rotunda starting at 9 a.m. will include cultural program presentations and speakers. The Grand Ronde Color Guard has been asked to lead the flag procession and the Canoe Family dancers have been invited to perform a 10-minute program.

Scheduled speakers will include Senate President Peter Courtney, Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins and Gov. Kate Brown, who will sign a proclamation honoring the 40^th anniversary.

From 10:45 to 11:30 a.m., Tribal leaders will participate in a panel discussion titled “What, How and Why My Tribe Celebrates.”

A lunch buffet served from noon to 1 p.m. will be provided by the Grand Ronde Tribe and Spirit Mountain Casino.

Celebration cupcakes will be served in the Galleria starting at 12:30 p.m. and a week-long display of the Oregon Historical Society’s “Oregon Is Indian Country” exhibit will be shown in the Capitol Galleria.

The celebration also will kick off American Indian Week in Oregon.

The Legislative Commission on Indian Services was created by statute in 1975 to improve services to Native Americans in Oregon. Its 13 members are appointed jointly by the president of the Oregon Senate and speaker of the Oregon House to two-year terms. Commission members select their own officers to serve one-year terms.

Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy has been the Grand Ronde Tribe’s longtime representative on the commission, serving 12 years. She is currently the longest serving member on the commission.

“LCIS is a vehicle to identify and promote legislation that serves the nine Oregon Tribes,” Kennedy said. “Powerful legislation and work that came from LCIS throughout the years includes recognizing Tribal languages and incorporating them in schools, establishment of an Indian Education Office, including Oregon Tribes as a government eligible for surplus county land and placing of Oregon Tribal flags on the Capitol Mall. While each Tribe is unique in the way its government is set up, LCIS commissioners focus on common issues to address and have done so throughout the years.”

Besides representatives from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, Sens. Ted Ferrioli and Arnie Roblan and Reps. Caddy McKeown and Greg Smith sit on the commission.

According to the Oregon State Legislature’s website, before the commission’s establishment there was no suitable mechanism in state government to consider Indian concerns directly.

“LCIS serves as the main forum in which Indian concerns are considered. It serves as a conduit through which concerns are channeled through the network to the appropriate entity; it serves as a point of access for finding out about state government programs and Indian communities; and it serves as a catalyst for bringing about change where change is needed.”

Karen Quigley has been the commission’s executive director for the last 20 years.

“All are welcome to the ‘Day to Celebrate’ ” Quigley said. “We invite everyone to dress for the celebration and join us at the Capitol.”