Grand Ronde helps celebrate ‘model’ for state-Tribal relations

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

SALEM – Gov. Kate Brown called the Oregon Legislative Commission on Indian Services a “national model” for state government interactions with Tribal sovereign nations during the commission’s 40^th anniversary celebration held Thursday, May 14, in the State Capitol rotunda.

Brown was the final speaker during an 80-minute ceremony that honored Oregon’s trailblazing method of including the nine federally recognized Tribes within its boundaries in state government.

The Legislative Commission on Indian Services was created by statute in 1975 to improve services to Native Americans in Oregon. Its 13 members – nine Tribal and two each from the Oregon House and Senate -- 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.

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

All proposed state legislation is filtered through the commission so that Tribes can provide input when necessary.

Grand Ronde participation in the 40^th anniversary celebration was large and quite visible.

Grand Ronde drummers – Jordan and Bobby Mercier, Travis Stewart, Brian Krehbiel, David Harrelson and Santiago Atanacio – opened the event as the Honor Guard brought in the U.S., Oregon and nine Tribal flags. In the flag procession were Grand Ronde Tribal Elders Steve Bobb Sr. (U.S. flag), Raymond Petite (Grand Ronde Tribal flag), Alton Butler (POW/MIA flag) and Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno, also carrying a Grand Ronde Tribal flag.

Tribal Elder Jolanda Catabay sang the national anthem as Tribal Council Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr., Secretary Toby McClary and Tribal Council members Denise Harvey and Kennedy looked on. Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath gave the invocation.

Siletz Tribal Chairwoman Dee Pigsley acted as the master of ceremonies and the event featured speeches from Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins, Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, Speaker of the House Tina Kotek and Brown, who signed two proclamations.

The first proclamation honored the 40^th anniversary of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services and the second proclaimed May 16-23 as American Indian Week in the state.

“Thoughtful state and Tribal leaders like then Senator Vic Atiyeh and Warm Springs member and first chair of the commission, Rudy Clements, 40 years ago designed a permanent forum for state-Tribal discussion in the legislative branch,” Brown said. “Today, we celebrate 40 years of this national model of government-to-government; a model that strives to make this place we call Oregon a better place for the next seven generations.”

“Oregon is one of the few states that recognizes Tribal sovereignty,” Pigsley said. “The commission is the guardian of that government-to-government process.”

Pigsley presented certificates of appreciation to the state legislators who serve on the commission – Sens. Ted Ferrioli and Arnie Roblan and Reps. Caddy McKeown and Greg Smith.

Atkins called the relationship between the state and its Tribes “precious” and Courtney said that demand among legislators to serve on the commission prompted the Legislature to increase participation from two to four members in 2013.

“The relationship with the Tribes is not partisan,” Courtney said. “The Legislature has a special relationship with Native American Tribes in Oregon; we work together as partners.”

Courtney also noted that the nine Tribal flags are mounted first at the Capitol’s Walk of Flags, which flies all 50 state flags.

“We celebrate an auspicious occasion,” Kotek said. “Today, myself and the other members of the Legislature continue to respect the sovereignty of our Tribal nations here in Oregon. We are committed to working with the Tribal governments.

“It is extremely important to have a relationship of respect and intergovernmental communication between Tribal governments and the Oregon Legislature. We have been a leader for 40 years in showing how we can work together on many issues in making sure that Oregon is a state where every person can thrive and succeed. The Legislative Commission on Indian Services has played a pivotal role in that communication and partnership … I hope for 40 more years of collaboration and friendship.”

Following the formal ceremony, which was closed by the Grand Ronde drum group, Tribal representatives sat on two panels for presentations entitled “What, How and Why My Tribe Celebrates.” Kennedy joined representatives from the Klamath, Coquille and Umatilla Tribes to discuss Grand Ronde Tribal practices.

She gave a brief history of Termination and Restoration, and said that the Grand Ronde Tribe celebrates its ancestors, Elders and children.

“When I talk about our people, I am talking about a people who are tenacious, about a people who are strong and about a people who are family values-centered,” Kennedy said. “Elders have a very sacred place in our Tribe. … When I think holistically about our Tribe, I know that we are working hard on building on our culture, and that really builds on our families.”

Following the panel discussions, Spirit Mountain Casino Head Chef Richard Burr and his staff served a lunch buffet for Capitol employees and ceremony attendees. The meal included cedar plank salmon, meatballs with watermelon and barbecue sauce, pina colada salad, Greek pasta salad, rolls, butter, desserts and bottled water courtesy of the Grand Ronde Tribe.

Following the meal, celebration cupcakes were served.

In the afternoon, Oregon Rep. Brian Clem invited Tribal leaders to an informational briefing about their concerns before the House Committee on Rural Communities, Land Use and Water.

Leno invited Clem and committee members to visit the Grand Ronde Tribe and also discussed public safety issues and the creation of the Tribal Police Department, the Tribal Employment Rights Office memorandum of understanding with the state Department of Transportation and the Tribal history curriculum being used in several school districts at the fourth-grade level.

Helping to ensure the event went off successfully were Public Affairs Administrative Assistant Chelsea Clark and Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Shannon Simi. Tribal member and lobbyist Justin Martin also attended the celebration.

“We worked hard to create a day in which Tribal government leaders, state leaders and those who work for state and Tribal government could come together to celebrate a pretty amazing 40-year history of achievement, conversation, education, information gathering and partnering connected to the LCIS,” said commission Executive Director Karen Quigley. “It was a day of stunning ceremony, memorable remarks by state officials in the Capitol Rotunda followed by heartfelt sharing by Tribal leaders to fascinated audiences in two crowded hearing rooms.

“How appropriate to have the day end with a respectful legislator to Tribal leader exchange in a committee hearing promising future dialogue at Tribal locations. The LCIS anniversary celebration had lots of great food, plenty of visiting and smiles and clapping. It was a very good day. Our thanks to Grand Ronde for their big part in making it so.”

The event also featured performances by the Siletz Nee-dash Singers and the Umatilla Bell Signers, as well as Indian fry bread provided by the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, which is based in Portland.