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Culture Watchlist: ‘UC Berkeley has been slow to repatriate Native American remains’ 04.13.2023 Kamiah Koch Watchlist By Kamiah Koch Social media/digital journalist In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which requires institutions to return stolen ancestral remains to their respective Native American communities, was approved. According to a ProPublica investigation, more than 30 years after the act was passed, 200 institutions have not repatriated any of the …

Tribal Government & News Tribal Council approves signing authority for Haller 09.27.2023 Danielle Harrison Tribal Council By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals editor It happens whenever there’s a new Tribal Council member. Tribal Council approved adding newly elected member Matthew Haller as an authorized signer on Tribal bank accounts and also approved his use of a Tribal credit card during its Wednesday, Sept. 27, meeting. Haller finished third in the 2023 election and will serve his first …

Tribal Government & News Man sentenced for tumwata village fire 12.05.2025 Blue Heron Paper Mill A Clackamas Fire District firefighter applies water to extinguish a blaze at the Tribe’s tumwata village property, the former Blue Heron Paper Mill, in Oregon City January 30. Christian Gannon Dukes pleaded guilty to arson in the first degree Thursday, Dec. 4, for setting the fire at the property. OREGON CITY -- A Clackamas County judge has sentenced 22-year-old Christian Gannon Dukes to five years …

Culture Walking On: Thomas Leroy LaChance, Sharon Louise Mitchell, Kenneth Eugene Martin, Howard Leslie Davis 01.20.2026 Walking On Thomas Leroy LaChance (Contributed photo) Thomas Leroy LaChance May 23, 1939 – Dec. 3, 2025 Tribal Elder Thomas Leroy LaChance of Dayton, Oregon, passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born May 23, 1939, in Astoria, Oregon, to Harvey LaChance and Virginia Krippendorf. Tom was married to Charlene Howard LaChance and moved to Dayton, …

also was crowned under the tent. Dancing as the West Coast Boys drummed, 16-year-old Kiana Leno, a junior at West Salem High School, was named Senior Miss Grand Ronde for 2012-13. In 2000-01, she was Little Miss Tiny Tot. Before that, she was an honorary princess. Starting this summer, Leno has once again been busy with Tribal activities, starting with a summer intern position in the Cultural Resources Department. "I realized I did want to be a lot more involved with the community and the Tribe …

wants to honor everyone with a giveaway and I believe we should all come together and just be together in a good way to share this time," committee member and Elder Linda Brandon says. "Restoration is a time of sharing and feeling good. My grandma, Nora Kimsey, has always been my inspiration and she loved her community and her Tribal family and showed her love in different ways like this." "We encourage families to step forward to be a part of this. We want everyone to be involved," says Sarah …

. His knowledge, teasing and sense of humor will be missed. He wanted to be remembered as a good man who lived a good life. Duke’s family would like to thank Serenity Hospice, Willamette Valley Medical Center staff, Dr. Pathial, Dr. Spear, Dr. Lance Loberg and the Grand Ronde Health Clinic staff, and Lincare of McMinnville. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, in Grand Ronde at the Tribal gym, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, immediately followed with a meal at the Tribal Community …

Soderberg was appointed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski to serve on the Methamphetamine Task Force, which was formed in January 2004. Soderberg had been involved on the Tribe’s Meth Task Force run by Social Services, as well as serving as a representative on a Tribal task force that fights illicit drug use among Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. “Being on the Governor’s Task Force, there’s a lot of people there who deal in different fields,” Soderberg said. “They are all good, creative people …

Tribal Government & News Kennedy poised to take lead in cumulative count for most votes received as a Tribal Council candidate 08.31.2021 Dean Rhodes Tribal Council , Elections Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy stands a good chance of taking over the lead for most cumulative votes received by a Tribal Council candidate during the 2021 election. (Smoke Signals file photo) By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy became the longest-serving Tribal Council …

was hired 10 years prior and assigned to the patrol division and also worked undercover to investigate drug and gang activity. She said her career goals were to continue being promoted within the Sheriff’s Office. 2002 – The second annual Spirit Mountain All-Indian Rodeo held in Grand Ronde was deemed a success, with more than 450 spectators during the two-day event. “It’s nice to be able to put on a good rodeo,” Committee Chairman and Tribal Elder Marvin Kimsey said. “It makes the Tribe look …