Tribal Council OKs June 15 per capita distribution date

The second per capita payment date of 2018 will occur on Friday, June 15, after Tribal Council approved the distribution date at its Wednesday, May 23, meeting.

Tribal Finance Officer Chris Leno said the payment amount will not be known until early June.

In other action, Tribal Council approved the re-appointments of Tribal member Kevin Schultz and Dennis Dinsmore to the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission. Both terms will run through June 2021.

Tribal Council also approved amendments to the Tobacco Ordinance that will establish a minimum age of 21 for sale or distribution by licensed operators, bringing the Tribal law in line with state law. However, the ordinance is not intended to interfere with the use of tobacco for ceremonial purposes.

An infant also was enrolled into the Tribe because they meet the requirements outlined in the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

Also included in the May 23 Tribal Council packet were approved authorizations to proceed that transferred $30,000 from contingency to Economic Development for the 2018 Chemawa Station operating budget and OK’d a letter from the Tribe to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding hydrologic connection.

An authorization to proceed to spend $10,000 to install bullet resistant steel plating on the inside wall of Tribal Council’s bench in Tribal Council Chambers and the Community Center failed.

Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy made the cultural presentation to open the meeting and discussed the welcoming event held earlier in the day for 16 items from the Summers Collection that are held by the British Museum in London. To see pictures from that event, go to https://www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/.

“It was a very moving experience to see some of those objects,” Kennedy said.

“The Rise of the Collectors” exhibit at Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center opens to the public on Tuesday, June 5.

The entire meeting can be viewed on the Tribal website www.grandronde.org by clicking on the News tab and then Video.