Tribal Council approves $15 million grant application to National Park Service

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved a grant application to the National Park Service for up to $15 million during its Wednesday, Oct. 14, meeting.

If approved, the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program three-year grant would be used for construction at the Tribe’s tumwata village property in Oregon City, specifically, for what is known as Riverwalk blocks three and four.

The project would include a 150-foot-long, 14-foot-wide, elevated, ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge spanning the site's river, as well as a vista point and public gathering plaza at the bridge's end with views of Willamette Falls. There would also be accessible ramps, railings, signs and Tribal cultural interpretive elements. The project includes stabilization of the native basalt riverbank beneath the bridge to re-establish shallow-water refuge alcoves for migratory fish.

“Just a little bit of background, this grant funding was authorized by Congress in 2014 and it remains continuously funded,” Tribal Grants Program Manager Wendy Sparks said during a Tuesday, Oct. 13, Legislative Action Committee meeting. “It has provided $488 million in funding over the past 11 years…of that amount, Tribes have received less than 1%. To address that disparity, the Tribe has been selected by the National Park Service to receive assistance to support development of our funding application.”

In other news, council:

• Approved the terms of service with Apple to include a sovereign immunity waiver only in reference to legal action;
• Approved appointing Serena Layman to the Housing Grievance Board with a term ending March 31, 2029;
• Approved emergency amendments to the Tribal Personnel Management Ordinance to update the Tribe’s observed holidays and provide the sharing of background investigation information by the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission related to Tribal employees required to have a license with the commission in specific sensitive circumstances for employment purposes only;
• Approved amendments to the Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. articles of incorporation and bylaws to allow Tribal Council to increase its number of board seats on the SMGI Board of Directors in the event of “emergency or other circumstances,” where there is concern about the corporation’s ability to perform its functions or the board’s ability to function effectively;
• Approved an application to the Oregon Health Authority Traditional Health Care Practices Grant for up to $381,818. If approved, the grant would be used by the Tribal Health & Wellness Department to upgrade and enhance its electronic health record capabilities;
• Approved removing former Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier and adding current council member Valeria Atanacio as an authorized signer for Tribal bank accounts and authorizing Atanacio’s use of a Tribal credit card.
• And approved enrolling three infants into the Tribe because they meet the enrollment requirements in the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

To watch the entire meeting, visit www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.