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Dewberry, Carol Holcombe, Suzanne Danielson and Arnold Buchman -- argued that Gov. John Kitzhaber did not have the constitutional authority to enter into a gaming compact with the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. "We are very pleased with the decision," said Senior Assistant Attorney General Stephanie Striffler, who is also the state Department of Justice's Native Affairs coordinator. "We've been at this litigation for 10 years and it is gratifying to see …

by 20 percent, Rowe said. “We are also looking at alternative medicine more in 2019, such as physical therapy, acupuncture and pain management,” Rowe said. “I’m excited about this. A holistic look at the body is very important.” In Behavioral Health, efforts are underway to collaborate with other departments in an effort to “treat the whole person.” Other updates include launching a medication-assisted treatment program for those struggling with opioid dependence, adding a staff psychiatrist two …

By Dean Rhodes

Smoke Signals editor

CLACKAMAS -- Approximately 50 Tribal members listened to Natural Resources Department Manager Michael Wilson brief General Council on management of Tribal lands during the Sunday, Feb. 3, meeting held at the Monarch Hotel & Convention Center.

Wilson discussed several Natural Resources efforts, such as growing Native plants in a nursery at the Natural Resources offices for restoration projects, harvesting older than industry standard timber and the fire program.

“I enjoy working in natural resources,” Wilson said. “I enjoy working for the Natural Resources Department for the Tribe. We have just an outstanding, great group there. … We have a lot of really, really dedicated people and a lot of diversity in professions and perspectives, and that plays out really well in taking care of your lands.”

Natural Resources is responsible for managing 12,789 acres of forestland, growing larger than industry-standard timber.

“We’re growing trees on the Reservation that are quite old,” Wilson said. “Our age when we’re harvesting trees is primarily around 70. A lot of them are older than that. This works well for us. We’re growing habitat and there not as much impact on the land.”

Wilson said Grand Ronde is bucking an industry trend toward smaller logs for smaller sawmills, but that staff has done a good job finding specialty markets for larger logs. Most of the logs go to Hull Oakes Mill in Bellfountain.

Tribal Reservation logs have been used to build a Bass Pro Shop in Memphis, Tenn., as well as the new Long Timber Brewery in Monroe north of Eugene.

“This beam is going to go out to somebody who really wants and appreciates that wood and the story that is being exposed in the grain of this tree that’s been on our Reservation,” Wilson said while showing a video of a large log being planed at Hull Oakes. “It’s very, very tough for any in the forest industry now where they’re growing trees that are about 40 years old or such, they can’t grow that. We’ve looked for the specialty market where we can continue our management and continue our style and our philosophy that the Tribal membership wants to see on our Reservation, but also get a good value for them.”

The Natural Resources Department’s Fire Program clears logging sites after harvesting by piling slash and burning the debris instead of using pesticides. That allows for tree planting to occur afterward.

Wilson said the Tribe keeps that program in-house and does not have to contract out for the service.

“It’s always great to have the membership taking care of their own land when we can,” Wilson said.

Wilson fielded nine comments and questions from Tribal members following his presentation.

In response to questions, Wilson said the Tribe primarily plants Douglas fir, western hemlock and red cedar on the Reservation and that the surplus salmon distributed to the membership originates in fish hatcheries and not fish farms.

Before the meeting, about 35 Tribal members attended a 10 a.m. Coffee & Conversation with Dr. Stephen Dow Beckham, who repeated his historical presentation regarding the Willamette Falls fishery that was given in Grand Ronde in early December.

Beckham said his research has established that Willamette Falls was the “exclusive fishery of the antecedent Tribes of Grand Ronde and no other Tribes.”

His 160-page report can be found www.grandronde.org/about/archives/.

Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said that research by such a renowned Oregon historian as Beckham only goes to prove that the oral histories handed down by Tribal ancestors is “probably 100 percent true.”

Following the presentation, Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George presented Beckham with a salmon-themed necklace.

Tribal Council also honored Tribal member Bryan Mercier, who was recently named as the regional director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs office in Portland, succeeding Stanley Speaks who retired in 2018. Mercier received a Tribal Pendleton blanket.

Michelle Anderson, Tracy Moreland and Kaalogi Mercier won the $100 door prizes and Keekoa Mercier, Francine Peterson, Joyce Ham, Lisa Archuleta and Perri McDaniel won the $50 door prizes.

The next General Council meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 3, in the Tribal Community Center in Grand Ronde.

Jon A. George, Tribal Elder Greg Archuleta, Cultural Resources Specialist Chris Bailey, Cultural Resources Manager David Harrelson, Tribal member Eric Bernando, and Tribal Council members Lisa Leno and Kathleen George performed the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting.

Natural Resources staff members Fish & Wildlife Program Manager Kelly Dirksen and Biologist Brandon Weems also distributed fish to Tribal members who attended the meeting.

Following lunch, the first of three Community Input meetings was held to solicit Tribal member input on possible advisory votes to be held during the September Tribal Council election. About 25 Tribal members participated in the discussion.

The other two Community Input meetings will be held following the March 3 General Council meeting in Grand Ronde and after the April 7 General Council meeting in Eugene.

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

going.” Giffen, who ran on a slate with former Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno and Peter “Boon” Grout, was the only one successful with 634 votes. He will start serving his sixth term on Tribal Council on Wednesday, Sept. 11. “I was very humbled and grateful that the membership re-elected me for a sixth term,” Giffen said outside of the Tribal Community Center on Sunday, Sept. 8. “There’s not many Tribal members who have been on Tribal Council for six terms. It’s just very humbling to me …

philanthropic arm, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Auger met virtually with outgoing 2019-20 Fellow Cholena Wright (Klamath), Spirit Mountain Community Fund staff members and Tribal Council members for an afternoon briefing. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” Auger said. “Tribal affairs is an area of interest I have that means a lot to me. I’m stepping into the fellowship working remotely, but I’ve worked remotely for many years, so it’s not that foreign to me …

was very active in school sports, playing basketball and football for the Crow Cougars. He was well-liked throughout school with many friends and companions. After school, Toye started logging at an early age, carrying on as the third-generation family tradition of logging. Toye’s brother, Mark, and brother-in-law, Mike Parker, became a well-known team amongst the local logging industry. They were featured in the Logging World newspaper. The three logged together until the issue with the spotted owl …

, as well as the changes the Education Department has undergone in the past year and its future goals. “I am really excited to share everything the Education Department has done this past year and I’m honored to work with such an amazing group of people,” she said. “They managed a very difficult situation and brought the best education services they could to the membership.” Fasana described 2021 as a “rollercoaster ride.” “We re-opened in March, closed for a bit during the summer and we’re back …

since we did our first preschool immersion class in 2000, right there in the development of it. They’re very familiar with our program, Tribe, history, language and culture. They helped us develop so much curriculum. That’s huge because we can’t buy it. We have had to create it and make it work at different grade levels. That’s really big, not to mention all the teacher trainings in linguistics, teaching methodologies, immersion strategies, all kinds of stuff.” The Northwest Indian Language …

Council members Denise Harvey, Brenda Tuomi and Michael Cherry, who is also a former Community Fund director. Harvey welcomed attendees to the virtual event. “I’m so grateful for all of the work you do,” she said. “Oregon and our community wouldn’t be the same without it. … This is our opportunity to give appreciation back. This is one of my favorite duties as a Tribal Council member and I love meeting all of you. I very much appreciate you all.” The event was the ninth virtual check presentation …

the street,” Rowe said. Currently, the most common form of fentanyl is a powder form that is put into tablet form, or crushed up to be smoked or injected. “It is very powerful and people are trying to use it and it takes over the neuro receptors in a person’s body, and they will do anything to get ahold of it,” Rowe said. “We see their struggles at Great Circle Recovery and at the clinic in Grand Ronde. We’re trying to do everything we can, collaborating with the Tribal Police and Social Services …