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years of service to the Grand Ronde Tribe at a virtual awards ceremony held Wednesday, Dec. 16. In past years, the ceremony was held in conjunction with the Tribe’s annual employee Christmas party held at Spirit Mountain Casino. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person event was canceled in favor of an online one. Health & Wellness Center Business Office Manager Tresa Mercier continues to set the employment longevity record with the Tribe with 36 years of service. One other Mercier …

.” To create a more home-like environment, Larry was allowed to bring several cultural items to his new digs. Maintenance staff helped to safely hang everything. “Larry and Kathy have really brought a breath of fresh air to this facility,” Godown says. Carving is a longtime hobby Larry began carving 25 years ago after one of his daughters bought him a book on the subject. “I thought, ‘Hey, I could do that,’ and so I did,” he says. “I’ve carved up to 21-foot totem poles, innumerable bowls …

Tribal Government & News General Council briefed on Human Resources, TERO programs 05.03.2021 Danielle Harrison General Council Camille Mercier By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer Human Resources Director Camille Mercier briefed Tribal members on the department during a Sunday, May 2, General Council meeting held via the Zoom video conferencing application. Following Mercier’s presentation was one from Tribal Employment Rights Office Director Harris Reibach. “The challenges we face …

Tribal Government & News The cooler side of things 05.27.2021 Danielle Harrison People Ashley LaBonte looks on as her husband, Tribal member Gene LaBonte, demonstrates one of the bottle openers on a cooler at their Kalama, Wash., home on Saturday, May 22. They started a business, Zilla Outdoor Authority, in April 2020 to design and sell coolers aimed at people who enjoy fishing, hunting and camping. (Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez) By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer KALAMA, Wash …

Culture Roads to Recovery: From treatment center client to CEO 07.29.2021 Danielle Harrison People , Health & Wellness Christopher Dickie (Contributed photo) (Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of Smoke Signals stories in 2021 that examines addiction and recovery). By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer When Tribal member Christopher Dickie was in high school, he was voted by his classmates as most likely to end up on the TV show “Cops.” Having been arrested 14 times in one …

communications and media strategies for the Tribe, and served on the Tribe’s executive team providing counsel to Tribal Council. One of her most noteworthy accomplishments while working for the Grand Ronde Tribe occurred in 2014-15 when she suggested to Tri-Met that a new car-free suspension bridge spanning the Willamette River honor the original peoples of Oregon. The bridge eventually was named Tilikum Crossing. She also produced the Tribe’s 25 th Restoration Celebration video and oversaw …

period that began in mid-March 2020. “Whether they’re one of our dedicated clinic staff working on the frontlines, someone interacting with Tribal members to provide services, processing emergency or COVID-19 relief payments for Tribal members or a temperature check station employee, this service has been invaluable and the Tribe wanted to recognize that effort,” the statement said. The premium pay sparked debate on social media by Tribal members who primarily criticized Tribal Council members …

,” Fasana said. The Indian reorganization era was about trying to make Tribal governments resemble American ones so that officials would know how to approach Native leaders. “Tribes began economic development and repurchased their lands and starting building their people back up,” she said. “But things took a tragic turn with the Western Oregon Termination Act of 1954. My Tribe was one of those which was terminated, I believe because there was a lot of timber here. By terminating us, we no longer …

equipment that had been purchased and there was none.” The plans were relegated to one of Bailey’s computer files until Tribal members and employees seeking new outdoor recreation opportunities began reaching out after the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Disc golf was a favorite. “We looked at the Tribal campus first because it is within walking distance for employees, and those in Tribal and Elder housing, but there were too many issues so we settled on this site, close to the powwow …

started as a grassroots effort in 2014. “There were overwhelming rates of domestic violence in our community,” Murrell said. “Anne Falla has earned and gained trust in our community through her tireless work. We are lucky to have her as a victim assistance advocate.” Falla recalled when it was just her working with domestic violence victims, which eventually became overwhelming. “We were a team of one,” Falla said. “We had a very strong medical staff who were seeing things at the clinic and weren …