Tribal Council appoints new Youth Council member

Tribal Council had a light agenda with only two decisions – appointing a new Youth Council member and approving the enrollment of an infant into the Tribe – during its Wednesday, Oct. 25, meeting.

Tribal Council appointed Willamina High School junior Aspen Wilson, 16, to the Youth Council with a term expiring in March 2018 or until she graduates from high school.

Wilson joins Payton Smith, Raven Harmon, Isabelle Grout, Madalyn Volz, Dominik Briant and Jason Page on the Youth Council.

Membership on the Youth Council is open to enrolled Tribal members, direct descendants of enrolled Tribal members or an enrolled member of a federally recognized Tribe that receives services from Grand Ronde. Applicants have to be in sixth grade or higher and have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.

Tribal Council appointed the first group of Youth Council members in August 2016 after finalizing the bylaws for the new entity in May of that year.

Wilson received a certificate and necklace from Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy in honor of her appointment during the meeting.

The infant was enrolled into the Tribe because, based on the evidence submitted, he or she meets the requirements outlined in the Enrollment Ordinance and Tribal Constitution.

Cultural Resources Department Manager David Harrelson gave a brief presentation about wapato collection by Tribal ancestors to open the meeting.

Also included in the Oct. 25 Tribal Council packet were approved authorizations to proceed that appoint Tribal Council member Brenda Tuomi to the Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. Board of Directors, Tribal Council member Lisa Leno to the Oregon Youth Authority and Tribal Council member Jack Giffen Jr. as the Tribal representative to the Willamette Falls Locks Commission and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians.

Another approved authorization to proceed instructed staff to create an update on Spirit Mountain at Wood Village for the Sunday, Nov. 5, General Council meeting and not to spend more than $8,500 in creating the presentation.

Under other business, Tribal Council also approved a resolution to release a copy of the investigatory report on the Spirit Mountain Community Fund coordinator interviews to the parties in the Knight v. Harvey matter as long as the names of the job applicants not involved in the case are redacted, the report only is given to the parties involved and their legal counsel, and that the report remains sealed from public access.

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