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as the administrative assistant to the Health & Wellness Center’s director, took her new position as Shaver’s administrative assistant in mid-June. “I always loved my job over there,” said Buswell. “When I saw this job I knew the work would be something I would be familiar with. It also had a lot of new things and I thought it was time for me to do something different; create some growth and learn new things. Getting the opportunity to work with our Elders and do some activity planning sounded like a lot …

your way. And now you have come to all this and it’s a remarkable achievement. I can’t even imagine how you did it.” Tuomi said she felt the visitors were impressed with the Tribe’s culture and how it cares for its people. “I absolutely loved this meeting,” said Tuomi. “I got the sense from their city manager that they would really like to see our culture up there. That made me feel so excited. I think that was a very important step for them to come here and get to know us and see what we do …

that business went under, he started his own trucking company called Richard Ray Trucking. At one point, his company had five trucks after starting with just two. “When Zimbrick’s actually went out of business, Mushy went on his own in his mobile home towing business,” says Tribal Elder Bob Mercier. “We were both truck drivers and so we had a lot in common, and we used to in our business complement each other by he would help me and when I could I would help him and it just went that way. He …

at 26820 Salmon River Highway on the Spirit Mountain Casino grounds. “I am having so much fun,” says Nelson. “I love working here. This is the best job I’ve ever, ever had. For the first time in my life I’m excited to come to work every day. Everybody has been so supportive and so helpful since I’ve been here. I just love it.” Nelson actually delivered her daughter’s baby when the doctor stepped out of the room. “Me and the nurse had to deliver the baby,” says Nelson. “It was awesome …

said he looks at his new position as both a challenge and an opportunity. “I honestly believe that we all have a calling,” said Warden. “My job, my calling, my desire is to be a peacekeeper. Not an enforcer, but a peacekeeper; somebody that is there in the interest of public safety. There are a lot of guys like me who genuinely care.” Warden, who lives in Newberg with his 12-year-old daughter Aliyah, came to work in Grand Ronde as a replacement Tribal police officer a couple of months ago when …

Vice Chair Marcus Gibbons blessed the spirit plate and then performed a water blessing ceremony that culminated in everyone drinking water simultaneously. “I just want to welcome everybody here to our First Foods ceremony and celebration,” said Gibbons. “To me it’s a ceremony. It’s an honor for me and a blessing for me to be standing here. I don’t take any of this stuff lightly.” Gibbons recognized the people who gathered, readied and prepared food for the ceremony. “Thank you for the time …

in Albuquerque, N.M. “They had me on it (the bucking barrel) that whole week,” said Marcel of his grandfather and his cousin. “I signed up for a rodeo a couple of weeks later. I just like really ended up liking it. “He (Allen’s grandfather) just explained everything to me,” said Marcel. “He taught me everything I know.” Marcel’s first time entering a rodeo turned out not to be the best experience for him. “I got on my first calf when I was about 10, it wasn’t good.” remembered Marcel. “I got kicked …

for continuing to select Portland as its Winter Convention site. “I really appreciate all the work you do to protect the environment,” Wheeler said. “Creating relationships with Tribal governments is very important to me personally and my colleagues on the City Council. … We have to acknowledge our history to move forward. There is so much dark history to reckon with.” Wheeler highlighted the city’s Tribal liaison Laura John (Blackfeet/Seneca), who began her job more than a year ago to help …

, obtaining a contractor’s license and bonding cost $21,000, something that his limited income could not cover. That’s where the Tribe stepped in to help. “I got everything I needed,” Phil said. “The Tribe paid half my insurance and bond to get me started, and the state covered the other half through a program for people with disabilities who want to go back to work. Mine was a pretty special case so the process took a while.” The times when Phil wanted to quit, his wife Carie and Rideout …

of Northwest Indian College and served as vice chairman of the Northwest Indian Veterans’ Association Veterans Memorial Committee. In 2002, he joined Vietnam War-era Marine Corps veteran Steve Bobb Sr. on a 265-mile Trail of Tears walk from Table Rock outside of Medford to Grand Ronde to raise funds for the West Valley Veterans Memorial. “Me and Brent are forever tied together because of that walk,” Bobb said. “We were friends before that. What I remember is we told each other all of our life …