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Culture Tribal Elder Chuck Williams has spent his life fighting in the trenches 11.30.2012 Dean Rhodes People Chuck Williams, 69, is likely the Tribe's most prolific author and photographer. The list of his publications and photography shows is long and comprehensive. Subjects include Tribal, natural and political events of the Columbia River Gorge and beyond. He needs six pages to list all of the Oregon and Northwest celebrations he photographs regularly. "He has visited celebrations and …

Health & Education Repeal of 'Obamacare' could negatively affect health care in Indian Country 02.14.2017 Dean Rhodes Health & Wellness , Federal Government , Tribal Employees Concern is growing in Indian Country that repeal of the Affordable Care Act – also known as ‘Obamacare” – by the Republican-controlled Congress and Trump administration could have a negative and possibly devastating effect on health care in Indian Country by limiting Tribes’ ability to generate revenue to fund their …

Culture Second phase expansion construction set to begin at Chachalu 02.14.2017 Brent Merrill Culture , Tribal Employees The planned Phase II construction and expansion project for the Tribe’s Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center is underway and the building will be closed to visitors until the project’s completion. According to the project plan, the Cultural Resources Department staff housed in the building, which used to be the home of Grand Ronde Elementary School and then Willamina Middle …

Tribal Government & News Tribe reassessing its banking relationship with Wells Fargo 02.14.2017 Brent Merrill Tribal Council , Culture , Tribal Employees Recent negative news about Wells Fargo Bank coupled with the bank’s funding of projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota has prompted Grand Ronde Tribal members to question the relationship between the Tribe and financial institution. Among those members asking questions was Tribal Elder Tracie Meyer at the Wednesday, Jan. 25, …

Tribal Government & News 10 names added to West Valley Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day 05.31.2017 Dean Rhodes Tribal Council , Culture , People , Events For U.S. Navy veteran Dennis Kleffner, who also is a member of the Grand Ronde Honor Guard, seeing his named etched on the Navy pillar of the West Valley Veterans Memorial elicited ambivalent feelings on Monday, May 29. “I wish my mom could see it,” Kleffner said before the annual Memorial Day event held on the Grand Ronde Tribal campus. His …

Culture Devin Larsen's career path traverses entire Tribal Education program 11.14.2016 Brent Merrill People , Education , Tribal Employees In the life of Tribal member Devin Larsen, the key to success has been in her attention to details. And if you’re trying to figure out what launched her success, you also will need to pay attention to the details like when she calmly shares a story of being impaled as a child by a stick after a fall on a bicycle in her hometown of Willamina. She has no …

Health & Education Proposed Native education curriculum termed 'ambitious' 09.15.2015 Brent Merrill Education , State Government After almost 30 years of sitting on the shelf, a “new” mandatory American Indian/Alaskan Native education curriculum plan could become a reality in Oregon. Grand Ronde Tribal member April Campbell, the Tribe’s former Education Department manager and now the Oregon Department of Education’s Indian Education specialist, presented an updated plan to the State Board of …

Tribal Government & News Merkley tours Tribe, holds Town Hall in Grand Ronde 06.30.2015 Brent Merrill Tribal Council , Events , Federal Government Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley toured Grand Ronde on Saturday, June 20, and started his visit to the Reservation by stopping at the Tribe’s powwow grounds to view the new arbor. “It’s absolutely amazing,” said Merkley. “It is just jaw-dropping. It’s beautiful. I have never seen anything like it.” Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno, Tribal Council Vice …

Culture Jeff Nepstad retires after 25 years of service to Tribe 05.29.2015 Brent Merrill People , Natural Resources , Tribal Employees After spending the last 25 years working for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Natural Resources Department, Silviculture and Fire Protection Program Manager Jeff Nepstad retired on Friday, May 29. Nepstad, 52, has served the Tribe almost half of his life and he says that he is proud of the work that was accomplished during that time. After 30 years of …

Tribal Government & News Experts think Tribe's plan to purchase Blue Heron site has promise 06.28.2019 Dean Rhodes Economic development The Blue Heron Paper Mill site in Oregon City may be purchased by the Grand Ronde Tribe if a due diligence process currently going on finds it to be a worthwhile Tribal economic development investment. (Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez/Smoke Signals) By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Portland-area commercial real estate experts think the Grand Ronde Tribe’s …