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Tribal Government & News Charging up on campus? There’s a policy for that 03.11.2026 Danielle Harrison Tribal employees , Tribal government The Tribe is requesting that all Tribal employees review and sign the electric vehicle charging station policy before using the EV charging stations on the Tribal campus. (Smoke Signals file photo) By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals editor Are you a Tribal employee with an electric vehicle who wants to plug in while at work? If so, the Tribe is requesting …

determination and other positive influences, it has moved in a good direction. Today, the 28-year-old Grand Ronde Tribal member is poised, proud of her Native heritage and pursuing a master’s degree, all while raising a toddler with her husband and tackling a new job as the Tribe’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention coordinator. It’s not her first tenure with the Tribe. Atanacio has worked in different capacities in Grand Ronde since she was 18, most recently as an assistant preschool teacher. “I have done …

in.” Harrelson and Mercier hope the people who attend will begin or continue to increase their own personal and professional scope. “The idea is to bring fresh ideas in that people can grab on to and also give these presenters that are doing this work in these other communities a chance to network here and network with any of the people who are at the conference,” said Mercier. “It’s good to get people talking and excited about things that the Tribe works on. Seeing people talking and engaging each …

there. It's a personal thing for me. "It's easy to make money when you have money, but how do you make money when you are struggling? We have good ideas and very good people who are willing to work hard. If we can capitalize that and funnel their strengths and energies for the right cause, I see this Tribe becoming very progressive." "I believe that we have selected a very talented man for the job," Wakeland said. "I look forward to working closely with him where community development and economic development …

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.

Gaming Citizens panel says 'No' to private casino initiative 08.30.2012 Ron Karten Gaming , Spirit Mountain Casino An idea that was overwhelmingly rejected by Oregon voters in 2010 is off to a bad start in 2012. The Oregon Citizens' Initiative Review Commission, which is charged with reviewing measures that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot, voted against a proposal that would allow Oregon's first nonTribal casino to be built in the east Portland suburb of Wood Village. After hearing from …

and regional perspective, its inspirational quality, a reflection of how the bridge connects people, how the name rolls off the tongue and what the name will mean 100 years from now. Bridge construction is scheduled for completion in 2014 and the bridge will open in 2015 when the last of the light rail and lighting systems are completed, and when light rail makes its first crossing. The bridge connects west and east Portland south of the Marquam Bridge with a west side landing at John's Landing near …

use only. Karnosh said staff members are still seeking input on the Ceded Lands Plan, which gives people a basic understanding of what "ceded lands" are to the Tribe and how Tribal ancestors were forced off their lands under duress. "It goes treaty by treaty," Karnosh said, with maps detailing each area. George said the Ceded Lands Plan is a direct result of the 2010 Tribal Strategic Plan, which seeks to "assert Grand Ronde rights in its ceded lands and educate the public about these lands …

. Leno also acknowledged the veterans in the audience. “Veterans are held in high esteem in Indian Country,” he said. After attendees watched a video that briefly recounted the Tribe’s history and explained the Community Fund, checks were distributed by Tribal Council members Ed Pearsall and Toby McClary, who also sit on the fund’s Board of Trustees, while Program Coordinator Louis King read off the names. Organizations receiving grants on Dec. 17 were: A Social Ignition of Portland for its Ignition …

. Two necklaces donated by Tribal Council Secretary Jon A. George also were raffled off. General Council attendees joined together to sing “Happy Birthday” to Tribal Council member Michael Langley, who turned 51. George, Culture Committee member Eric Bernando and Riggs performed the cultural singing and drumming to open the meeting. During the meeting, Tribal members also were able to pick up a salmon distribution from the Natural Resources Department. After the meeting, the first of three community …