By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor

Just as they did in 2005 after a tsunami killed more than 225,000 people living in and around the Indian Ocean, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and Spirit Mountain Casino are coming to the aid of natural disaster victims – this time in Haiti.
On Jan. 19, the Grand Ronde Tribal Council donated $5,000 from the Tribe and $5,000 from Spirit Mountain Casino to Mercy Corps, the Portland-based non-profit that works to alleviate suffering and poverty throughout the world, for its relief efforts in Haiti.
In 2005, the Tribe and casino donated a combined $10,000 to the American Red Cross to help tsunami victims in the Indian Ocean area.
“The donation from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to Mercy Corps’ response to the Haiti earthquake will do a great deal of good on the ground helping survivors immediately access water and food,” said Johanna Thoeresz, vice president of development at Mercy Corps.
“Mercy Corps specializes in meeting the immediate needs of survivors and quickly transitioning into longer term recovery and rebuilding programs. This generous donation will go a long way to helping the people of Haiti find hope for the future.”
And the Tribal giving will not stop there.
Spirit Mountain Casino Chief Executive Officer Rodney Ferguson said the casino will request donations from guests and employees to aid the earthquake victims in Haiti.
“There will be a centralized drop box for donations within the casino,” Ferguson said.
Tribal Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor said Tribal Council will promote donations throughout the Tribal governmental offices as well.
The Jan. 12 earthquake that struck Haiti leveled the poor country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, killing an estimated 200,000 people, injuring another 250,000 and leaving 1.5 million people homeless.
A massive, worldwide effort led by the United States and its charitable organizations have been trying to help the victims since then.
 “We have been blessed with so many gifts that we can’t even begin to count them while so many in this world suffer each day from poverty and starvation,” Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. said.
“As Native Americans, we always proclaim to be the protectors of this earth. If we truly are, then we need not only care for our people, but all peoples of the world.”
“The events that have taken place in the country of Haiti are catastrophic,” said Tribal Council member Toby McClary. “It will take years for them to recover and I am proud of our people for taking the initiative to help.
“We will reach out to the people of Haiti in an attempt to lighten their burden as much as possible.”
“As a Tribe, I think we’ve always proven ourselves to be a caring people,” said Tribal Council member Chris Mercier, “and in situations like this it would be hard to come up with a reason not to help.”