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Corp. of Eugene, $3,600, for operational support for its emergency support fund; MediaRites of Portland, $5,000, for “Theatre Diaspora: Family Ties That Bind”; Metropolitan Youth Symphony of Portland, $2,500, for its Beginning Strings and School Outreach programs; North End Senior Solutions and Adult Day Services of Otis, $5,000, to support adult day service, transportation and nursing services; Open Hearts Open Minds of Portland, $2,500, for its Theatre at Coffee Creek; Paradise of Samoa of Keizer …

, spending two years of being abused like that,” Davis said. “I come here and it just charges me and fires me up. … I’m 60 years old. This happened in my 20s. I thought I got it under control and I never did. It was my personal shot back at those guys who did it.” Davis now handles military sexual trauma claims as the Veterans Service Officer for the Yamhill County Disabled American Veterans chapter. An estimated two-thirds of women who have served in the Army have endured some degree of sexual …

and distributions are now handled by the Tribe’s Finance Department. “The decision to bring those distributions in-house were to be able to have better control and provide better customer service for the members,” said Finance Officer Chris Leno. “If members have an issue with their check we’re able to respond to that versus having them call an external company like ADP. We can react more quickly if there are errors of any kind. The goal is to save the Tribe money by bringing that all in-house …

loans, GI Bill benefits and veteran-owned small business opportunities. The summit also will focus on listening to Tribal leaders and veterans residing in Indian Country about their experiences with accessing VA health care and benefits. Bentley said the summit will be a success if it connects veterans with their benefits. Fullerton said the summit is important to the community for many reasons and that Tribal resources expended to provide the service to veterans are well used. “It puts us …

plants as the Tribe is doing here, said Chris Adlan, a biology and botany student, is “really, really cutting edge.” “The more diversity of plants,” said Guenther, “the bigger the service we are doing for the community.” Share On Facebook Share On Twitter Share Article Link Subscribe Subscribe to our Newspaper for latest updates: Subscribe To Our Newspaper For Latest Updates: …

by his wife, Karen; children, Jeff Larsen, Joey Larsen, Jennifer VanScoyk and Craig VanScoyk; 10 grandchildren, Devin, Kenna, Corey, Nick, Caden, Ray, Edi, Bobby, Imarianah and Isaiah; brothers, Eddie and Kenny Larsen; and sisters, Susie Gilliam and Carol Larsen. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanne. Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, in the Grand Ronde Tribal gym to be followed by a meal service in the Elders' Activity Center. Visitation was held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. …

Tribal Government & News Asghar joins Tribal economic development effort 02.11.2011 Ron Karten Tribal employees Name: Sajeed "Titu" Asghar. Age: 38. Family: Married to wife, Shahida; two sons, ages 5 and 3. Birthplace: Bangladesh. Education: Graduated from the University of California in Santa Barbara in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs; received a master's degree in International Affairs: Political Economy from School of International Service, American University …

has been training with Mercier to learn the ins and outs of library work. “I truly believe this is the best job at the Tribe,” she says. “I believe that because when people come in here, they want to be here. That makes a real difference.” She advises her successor to remember that people come first in the job. “When you are working at the library, you are there to provide a service,” Mercier says. “You want people to feel welcome so they can accomplish what they need. We are there to serve …

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.

to Grand Ronde’s, proved to be a popular spot for attendees. Other Tribal tables included information on governmental structure, pottery, baskets, first foods, stone tools, Native plants, youth and Elders programs, treaty information, health programs, social service offerings, maps and bead work. “Tribal Information Day at the Capitol was a success because Oregon’s Tribes proudly displayed information about (themselves),” said Danny Santos, interim executive director of the Legislative Commission …