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in-person meetings and outside visitors to the Tribal campus. Fullerton also said that the Tribe still has rental assistance funds available to members whose incomes have been affected by COVID-19 and to contact Social Services at 503-879-2077 for more information on how to access the funds. Mercier announced that the Tribe has two new grants set up for Tribal member households to access. One is for healthy eating and the other is exercise related. “One of the good things that came out …

of Grand Ronde celebrated the beginning of onsite work at the former Blue Heron Paper Mill property. A private demolition event, held on Tuesday, Sept. 21, marked the start of a new era at the site. “I just want to say about 10 years ago, if you told me we would hold this property here, I’m not sure I would have believed you,” Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier told a group of approximately 25 people who attended. “One thing I really like about this site is its history. Our roots run deep …

will no longer be allowed in the casino except in designated areas. “Our plan is to stay nonsmoking so the need for separate table games in a nonsmoking area has been reduced,” Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Bruce Thomas said. “We will redesign the area and make it into a $5 (table) to go after five dollar business that is very popular.” Additionally, the Stadium Bar, which currently has one serving window is being expanded to three windows, tripling its food and beverage service area …

Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, attending his third White House Tribal Nations Summit held Wednesday, Nov. 30, and Thursday, Dec. 1, was a worthwhile return to normalcy. First convened during the Barack Obama administration, the summit was one of many Obama federal-Tribal initiatives that were abandoned during the administration of President Donald Trump. The Biden administration restarted the summit last year, but it was held virtually because of continuing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic …

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier during a special Nov. 2 Tribal Council meeting, adding that the result will alleviate fear among Tribal members that they one day might be the subject of disenrollment proceedings because of incomplete or faulty enrollment records possessed by the Tribe. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy called it a “moment in time.” “Today is a great day for the Tribe,” Kennedy said. “The Tribal membership’s passage of the constitutional amendment to ban …

Tribal Government & News Kennedy discusses disenrollment vote on OPB 01.05.2023 Dean Rhodes Disenrollment , Tribal Constitution Smoke Signals file photo By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy appeared on the Oregon Public Broadcasting talk show “Think Out Loud” on Thursday, Jan. 5, to discuss the Grand Ronde Tribe’s recent constitutional election that limits disenrollment to only cases of fraud and dual enrollment. “The CTGR is one of the few Tribes …

for a divisive era of disenrollment proceedings within the Grand Ronde Tribe was ultimately deemed unreliable. “(It) cannot be relied on to confirm whether an individual’s blood quantum in the Tribe’s system is actually correct,” stated a 2019 Tribal Council memorandum. “The scope of A&M’s work … did not include looking at how an error or change in the blood quantum of one individual affected his or her family.” In October 2019, Tribal Council approved a maximum $50,000 contract with Arizona attorney …

Tribal Government & News All three incumbents seeking re-election to Tribal Council 05.31.2023 Dean Rhodes Elections , Tribal Council By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council incumbents Chris Mercier, Lisa Leno and Michael Langley will be seeking re-election during the Sept. 9 election. Mercier, Langley and Leno set new benchmarks for the most votes received in a Tribal Council election in 2020 with each one receiving more than 960 votes each. Mercier, 47, will be seeking his seventh …

Tribal Government & News Tribal Elder represents Iowa Purple Heart recipients 09.28.2023 Dean Rhodes Tribal member Tribal Elder Patrick Burgess was chosen to be one of the nation’s 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. Burgess was Iowa’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded during events held Monday through Friday, Sept. 18-22, in Newburgh, N.Y. (Contributed photo) By Dean Rhodes …

but has since been brought back under new General Manager Angie Blackwell. “I saw the position come open and I had done it previously, so I had a familiarity with what the job was and then just started looking at my resume and updating it, and seeing that I met all of the requirements, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ So, I decided to jump into the ring and give it a shot.” Langley was one of six Tribal members interviewed for the position. “They were all excellent candidates; any one of them could have done …