Search

Tribal Government & News Tribal Council accepts grant to expand artist fellowship 01.11.2023 Danielle Harrison By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer In its first meeting of 2023, Tribal Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday, Jan. 11, to approve an $113,972 grant from Meyer Memorial Trust for the new Indigenous Place Keeping Artist Fellowship. Grand Ronde Cultural Resources Department Manager David Harrelson said during the Tuesday, Jan. 3, Legislative Action …

Tribal Government & News Yesteryears - Jan. 15, 2022 01.12.2023 Danielle Harrison Yesteryears 2018 2018 – Tribal member Lisa Watson became the first Native American female leader of the City Club of Portland when she was named president of the organization. She became involved with the civic organization four years earlier at the urging of friend and past club executive director, and Portland Mayor Sam Adams. She joined the board of directors two years later. “We are working on becoming …

Culture Yesteryears - Oct. 1, 2023 09.28.2023 Danielle Harrison Yesteryears 2018 2018 – The seventh annual Coffee & Conversation was held in southern Oregon to commemorate the 1853 treaty signing at Table Rocks and the September 2011 signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy to manage the Table Rocks area north of Medford. “I hope our joint efforts are helping turn the dial to a better place,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. …

Tribal Government & News Tillamook County ends bus services in Grand Ronde 12.14.2023 Sherron Lumely Transporation (Contributed photo) By Sherron Lumley Smoke Signals staff writer The Coastal Connector bus service, operated by the Tillamook County Transportation District, ended all service to Grand Ronde effective Monday, Dec. 11. The Coastal Connector, bus route 60X, offered a three-zone standard fare for $6, running from Lincoln City to Salem via Grand Ronde. The latest cancellation follows …

Culture Watchlist: ‘The tragic story of this famous meteorite’ 04.30.2024 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist The culturally significant Tomanowos meteorite from the Willamette Valley is currently held on display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Every year, a few Grand Ronde Tribal members coordinate with the museum to pay a visit to Tomanowas to smudge it, clean it with cedar branches and spend time with it. In 2023, a welcome brunch …

Culture Yesteryears -- Aug. 1, 2024 08.01.2024 Yesteryears 2019 Yesteryears 2019 – Chachalu Museum opened a new temporary exhibit, “Witness,” that told the story of Tomanowos, and included a 110-pound foam replica of the sacred meteorite, created by artist Garrick Imatani. The exhibit was 4 years in the making, and included items loaned from several other institutions, and a video of visits to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where the meteorite is now housed. The exhibit …

Tribal Government & News Tribal Council approves $3.4 million loan for RV park expansion, slot machines 03.06.2025 Danielle Harrison Tribal Council , Spirit Mountain Casino By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council approved a maximum $3.4 million loan to Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. to cover costs for an RV park expansion and purchase of slot machines at Spirit Mountain Casino at its Wednesday, March 5, meeting. Currently, the RV park offers full hookups and the renovated …

Health & Education Tribal members testify in support of state grant program 04.29.2025 Katherine Warren and Nicole Montesano Education , State government Tribal members Justin Fasana, left, Darien Leno, second from left, and Bayleigh Leno, right, with their grandfather, Tribal Elder Reyn Leno, second from right, testified Wednesday, April 9, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, in support of the Oregon Tribal Student Grant. They testified to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee …

Culture Yesteryears: June 12, 2025 06.12.2025 Yesteryears 2000 2020 — Tribal Council approved a temporary amendment to the Election Ordinance, to make the 2020 election for Tribal Council an absentee ballot process due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The change was intended to protect the health of Elders serving on the Election Board, as well as the health of people voting in person. 2015 — The Willamina School Board was scheduled to consider a revised policy on flag displays, to …

. “But everyone is really friendly,” Smith said. “I wasn’t expecting that. And there are a lot of people. My favorite part is being in the hall of meteorites or just coming in here where Tomanowos is at. We have learned a lot about the universe.” Reid, 17 and a Willamina resident, said he appreciates the opportunity to soak in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple. “I like all of the food and exploring the city,” he said. “It’s definitely different than Willamina and I am learning what I can about …