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attended. “We look forward to keeping the positive relationship and improving on it in the future,” Beck said. “I am honored and humbled to be here and to share in the management of these lands,” Ingersoll said. “Our working relationship with the Tribe’s amazing staff is also deeply appreciated.” “It is really important to us to create relationships at the local level because that it what matters most,” Northrop said. “I look forward to hearing more about what is important to you.” Walker said …

in the valley, of not only our ancestors, but of most Oregonians. The celebration reaffirmed the Tribe's commitment to being a good steward of our ancestral lands and waterways." The event started at 5 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres prepared by chef Matt Bennett of Sybaris Bistro in Albany. Attendees sampled a "Northwest sushi" of seared venison loin in a hazelnut Oregon roll, lightly pickled mussels, teriyaki eel and foie gras, steelhead rillettes and a "canoe" of crayfish salad. At 5:45 p.m. …

. All agree that medication-assisted treatment would be helpful to add to the clinic’s services. “This is different than our abstinence-based programming,” Rowe said. “We want to look at how we can help the most people in our community. The conversation we’ve had tonight informs us. We’re all about wanting to make people well and healthy.” In addition, in late October Tribal Council approved hiring a legal firm to represent the Grand Ronde Tribe in a multi-district opioid litigation on a contingency …

says. “It just felt so right.” Off the softball field, she said she plans to major in psychology and earn a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing. Kaelynn encourages fellow Tribal youth to “never give up” on their dreams and keep at it, even when it seems progress is slow. “Keep working,” she says. “If you know what your dream is, you have to work for it. Do more work than what is average if you want to achieve success.” Most student athletes have had mentors along the way and Kaelynn …

used by employees and Education Department students.” During the past 16 years, the library has been expanded and remodeled, and its collection has grown from 800 to 18,000 items. After five years as Education Department manager, Mercier started working as the librarian in 2006 when the Tribe began funding the library. “I enjoy the people that come into the library the most and I also enjoy the collection we have here,” she says. “This is a great work environment and has been an awesome …

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.

and personnel the Tribe needs and, when available, provide funding for no more than a few years.” Kennedy said that adequate funding of Tribal police also would be one of the most effective ways of preventing violence against Native women. “Our Tribal police are sensitive to our culture and ways of living,” she said. “As such, they are easily approached by residents who know of situations that may soon lead to violence.” Kennedy also cited the other Terminated and Restored Tribes in Oregon. She said …

is in trouble.” When sea lions were previously removed from Willamette Falls and transported to Newport Bay and released, it only took some of the sea lions three days to return to the falls, Dirksen added. “This is the most immediate threat to the species right now,” Dirksen said. Tribal Council member Kathleen George said the agreement is “completely necessary” to control the sea lion population at Willamette Falls’ horseshoe. “If predation at the falls isn’t controlled and reduced, both our …

Tribal Government & News 12-year-old Tribal member seeking to become stand-up comic 04.15.2019 Danielle Frost People Sean Gerbrandt, 12, son of Tribal Council member Kathleen George, performs some of his stand-up comedy at his Sheridan home on Monday, April 8. On March 16, Gerbrandt performed in the West Valley's Got Talent competition. (Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez/Smoke Signals) By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer SHERIDAN -- Ask most parents of a middle school boy and they’ll …

thought of the men’s safety and their teamwork that would complete their task that day and to let them know that the spirit of our ancestors were with them,” he said. “Also, for them to hear what they were doing that day is something that instills what is to come for generations.” George said he looks forward to a day when Tribal children won’t know anything different, a day when the only question is when they will go to fish at the falls. “This is the most meaningful aspect of returning …