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Smoke Signals staff writer Fifty Tribal employees, all hired in the last quarter of their respective year, were honored for a combined 678 years of service to the Grand Ronde Tribe at a Years of Service awards ceremony held Thursday, Dec. 19, during the staff Christmas party at Spirit Mountain Casino. Health & Wellness Center Business Office Manager Tresa Mercier continued to set the longevity record of employment with the Tribe with 35 years of service. One other Mercier – Public Works …

to develop “greener” novel systems for medical health care packaging. “Life takes us on such amazing journeys and, as I have found, we never know where it will take us next,” she says. She says that immigrating to live in another country has been an “eye-opening” experience. “It is exciting and wonderful in learning about other people, cultures and mostly about one’s own self. There have been times when it was especially difficult … when you want to be home to be with family. Thankfully …

, Steve Bobb Sr. and Kathleen George. Giffen and Kathleen George also serve on the Community Fund Board of Trustees. “What an honor it is to have you here today,” Cherry said. “Our time of check presentations is one of joy and happiness.” Attendees watched a 14-minute video that surveyed the Tribe’s history and featured organizations that have been helped by Community Fund grants. Community Fund Program Coordinator Angela Sears said it was important to recognize how far the Tribe had come since …

professionals who are on the front lines in the battle against the virus. It is the first time the Tribe has declared a state of emergency since its 1983 Restoration as a federally recognized Tribe. "The COVID-19 outbreak is constantly changing. This declaration allows us to seek the help of our partners in a time where working together is key to stopping the spread of COVID-19," Kennedy said. "We need to come together as a community. We need to check on one another, make sure our Elders are taken care …

, which is currently the closest gaming enterprise to the Salem market. The Salem market has become even more important to Spirit Mountain Casino since the Cowlitz Tribe opened its Ilani Casino approximately 17 miles north of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area in April 2017. The Siletz Tribe would need approval from the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Gov. Kate Brown before proceeding with its newest proposal. The state’s current gaming policy of one casino per Tribe …

Liaison Laura John (Blackfeet/Seneca) to gather their input. One of the requests made by Umtuch was that leaders represent themselves and not their organization. “We want them to show up as who they are and take the information back to their organization,” Umtuch said. “We don’t want the organization leading; it is everyone’s vision. We have a lot to offer as a people. It’s everyone standing up to walk the talk.” Harvey participated in a Zoom meeting in mid-June with other Native American leaders …

writer Navy veteran Ramona Quenelle is the Grand Ronde Tribe’s first Veterans’ Services Officer. “This is a real opportunity for development and growth,” Quenelle said. “Ultimately, I want people to understand I am really passionate about serving Tribal veterans and that will be my number one goal.” She has worked for the Tribe for two years as Tribal Court Programs coordinator and has a background in veterans’ education services. The new position was created at the behest of Tribal leaders who …

along the river rather than along Main Street. An updated Phase One estimate puts the cost at about $49 million. State officials have pledged $10 million toward construction costs while Metro has $20 million available from a bond approved by voters in November 2019. Includes information from the Lake Oswego Review. Share On Facebook Share On Twitter Share Article Link Subscribe Subscribe to our Newspaper for latest updates: Subscribe To Our Newspaper For Latest Updates: …

tentatively expects this to begin in late September. The school year will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 15. “There are no onsite meals, recess and a bus can have no more than 10 at one time,” Zimbrick said. “(We’re) back to the drawing board.” The kindergarten through third-grade in-person learning exception outlined in previous state guidance requires counties to have less than 30 cases per 100,000 and test positivity rates of less than 5 percent. “We still don’t meet the criteria for the K-3 exception …

and casino planning. The two Tribal casino proposals, if approved, will end the longstanding Oregon policy toward Native American gaming – one casino per Tribe on Tribal lands. The Grand Ronde Tribe has not talked with Gov. Kate Brown about the proposal and contacted Wood Village city officials the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 2 to broach the casino concept. Brown was noncommittal in a letter to Bureau of Indian Affairs Northwest Regional Director Bryan Mercier regarding the Siletz casino proposal. She said …