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Health & Education Willamina High graduating 51 seniors on Saturday, May 29 05.25.2021 Dean Rhodes Education Willamina High School will hold its 2021 graduation exercise at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29. (Smoke Signals file photo) By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor WILLAMINA – Willamina High School graduated 51 seniors during ceremonies held 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, on the Oaken Hills campus. Admission to the event was by ticket only. However, a livestream of the graduation ceremony was available …

Culture Watchlist: ‘To stop uncontrollable wildfires in California, look to this once-outlawed Indigenous practice’ 06.14.2022 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist Summer is almost upon us, which means wildfire season is looming. The Grand Ronde Tribe’s Silviculture and Fire Protection programs work throughout the year to prevent extensive widlfires. They do so through a traditional practice called “prescribed burns.” Or, as a University of California’s Fig. 1 …

Tribal Government & News Eight names being added to Veterans Memorial on May 29 05.12.2023 Dean Rhodes West Valley Veterans Memorial , Military , Holiday West Valley Veterans Memorial By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Eight names, including that of Albert J. “Joe” Martineau, will be added to the West Valley Veterans Memorial during the Monday, May 29, ceremony being held on the Grand Ronde Tribal campus. Martineau walked on Feb. 1 at the age of 63. He was from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake …

Tribal Government & News ODFW Commission to consider Grand Ronde MOU Aug. 4 07.31.2023 Danielle Harrison ODFW If you go ODFW Commission meeting When: 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Grand Ronde’s agreement will be considered at 1:30 p.m. Where : ODFW headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive Southeast, Salem. More information: Call 503-947-6044 or visit dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/23/08_Aug/index.asp By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals editor After it was abruptly pulled from the agenda …

Culture Walking On -- Reginald Leroy Dompier and Yvonne Rose Merrow 08.14.2023 Dean Rhodes Walking On Reginald Leroy Dompier Reginald Leroy Dompier July 23, 1969 – Aug. 1, 2023 Tribal member Reginald “Reggie” Leroy Dompier, 54, of Lake Stevens, Washington, sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. He spent his final days surrounded by friends, family and loved ones. Those close to him will forever miss his biting sense of humor and infectious smile. Reggie was a loving …

category for a graphic depicting where all of the Indian boarding schools were located in Oregon that was published on June 1, 2022. Smoke Signals Page Designer and Tribal member Justin Phillips took second place in the Design competition. Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison and Social Media/Digital Journalist and Tribal member Kamiah Koch received a second-place award for the series titled “Parenting From Prison” in the Best News Writing competition. Former Smoke Signals Photojournalist Timothy …

notified that the Housing & Urban Development Section 184-approved lender 1 st Tribal Lending would not provide loans for new construction on Grand Ronde Tribal lands despite HUD guidelines stating that new construction is eligible for the federally-backed loans. With the Tribe approving the supplemental budget, the five homes will not be classified as “new construction” and that will streamline the lending process with 1 st Tribal Lending or another approved Section 184 lender for the families …

of Grand Ronde gifted two basalt carvings and a large bronze medallion to TriMet for its new bridge across the Willamette River. Along with the bridge’s Chinuk Wawa name, Tilikum Crossing, meaning “Bridge of the People,” the gifts were meant to remind Portland and its residents that Native Americans have lived and continue to live along the shores of the river since time immemorial. 2010 — The Tribe’s new $1 million fire station was scheduled to open May 5. It was to be operated and managed …

Culture Yesteryears - June 1, 2025 05.28.2025 Yesteryears 2020 2020 — Spirit Mountain Casino reopened with limited hours on June 1, after 2.5 months of being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional safety measures included age restrictions and requiring masks at all table games. The Tribe’s roughly 500 employees were also back in the office, with new protocols, including daily screening and temperature checks. 2015 — Silviculture and Fire Protection Program Manager Jeff Nepstad …

Culture Walking On: Joseph Nicholas Grammer, June Ann Burnham, Charlene Gail Howard-LaChance, Walter Francis Simmons 06.18.2025 Walking On Joseph Nicholas Grammer July 19, 1974 – June 15, 2025 Tribal member Joseph Nicholas Grammer passed away June 15, 2025, at the age of 50. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the Tribal gym. Bollman’s Tribute Center is assisting the family. June Ann Burnham March 19, 1961 – June 14, 2025 Tribal Elder June Ann Burnham passed away June …