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Culture Tribal teen receives Courageous Heart Award for work with animals 11.30.2011 Dean Rhodes People Sixth-grade Tribal member Teegan Ritchey has a lot of heart. Officially. At the end of October, Desert Paws, a Palm Springs, Calif.-based nonprofit that promotes compassion and respect for all living creatures, awarded Teegan its Courageous Heart Award. Singer and board member Barry Manilow made the presentation. "I was a little nervous because everyone was clapping and everything, but when …

Tribal Government & News German intern learns forestry in Tribal department 02.11.2011 Dean Rhodes Natural resources Julian Filipp, the second exchange student for the Tribe from the University of Applied Forest Sciences in Rottenburg, Germany, is getting rave reviews from the Natural Resources Department. "Julian's been a major help for us," said Senior Forester Jason Bernards. "He's gotten us ahead on our stream mapping by a couple months, and that's something we have to do before any timber …

By Danielle Frost

Smoke Signals staff writer

After 29 years with the Tribe, Librarian Marion Mercier is trading in her library card for retirement adventures.

“It’s time,” she says. “I’m looking forward to visiting libraries, museums and small towns across the state, and doing some rock hounding.”

A lifelong Oregonian, Mercier, 64, grew up in Grand Ronde and began working for the Tribe’s Social Services Department in 1990 as a caseworker. Her tenure puts her among some of the Tribe’s longest-serving employees.

“I was going to retire at 62, but our library patrons are wonderful and I feel like I have the best job at the Tribe,” she says. “But it’s time for new things.”

After three years with Social Services, Mercier transferred to the Education Department, where she served in several roles before becoming the librarian. She helped plan the library building’s construction while serving as the Tribe’s Education manager.

“It was a big change when the library moved here (in 2002),” she says. “Prior to having a location, the library collection was very limited and mainly used by employees and Education Department students.”

During those past 16 years, the library has been expanded and remodeled, and its collection has grown from 800 to 18,000 items.

After five years as Education manager, Mercier started working as the librarian in 2006 when the Tribe began funding the library.

“I enjoy the people that come into the library the most and I also enjoy the collection we have here,” she says. “This is a great work environment and has been an awesome experience. We get a lot of support from our Tribal Council.”

Although Mercier has enjoyed her time working for the Tribe, especially as a librarian, she wants time to pursue other passions while she is still young and healthy enough to do so.

“I feel like I have been working since I was 9 years old,” she says. “I’m tired of being on a schedule and am ready to do some other things I have put off doing. It will also be nice to visit family more. Even though I live in the local area, we don’t get together the way we used to. Just dropping in on people is a thing of the past. When I was growing up in Grand Ronde, we did that a lot.”

Mercier is the daughter of Rose (Reznicsek) and Marion Mercier. Her grandparents were Agnes (Leno) and Arthur Mercier, and Myrtle (Robson) and Adam Reznicsek.

She has two children, Candi Buswell, who works for the Tribe’s Adult Foster Care lodges, and Anthony Henry. She also has two grandchildren, Ava Buswell and Josh Henry.

Although Mercier acknowledges it will take some getting used to, she is excited about the prospect of sleeping in on the weekdays if she feels like it, and having the time at home to do projects such as organizing and painting.

Her favorite memories of being a librarian are having all of the youth groups come into the library and listening to the volunteer readers tell stories to groups of children.

“They each bring their own personality, and it is fun to listen to different people read about different things,” Mercier said.

She has several favorite books, which range from classics to children’s stories. Some of these are “The Giving Tree” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell, “Treasure Mountain” by Evelyn Sibley Lampman, “The Last Yoncalla” by Dean Baker, “Reservation Blues” by Sherman Alexie, “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Words Under the Words” by Naomi Shihab Nye, “Wild About Books” by Judy Sierra, “Duck on a Bike” by David Shannon and “Someday” by Eileen Spinelli.

“If it’s a fun topic and somewhat inspirational, I love that book for kids,” Mercier says. “Young kids need something fun and meaningful. I also like the classics, poetry and good stories in general that keep my attention and have enough details.”

When Mercier retires Jan. 31, Recreation Specialist Harris Reibach will serve an interim librarian. He has been training with Mercier to learn the ins and outs of library work.

“I truly believe this is the best job at the Tribe,” she says. “I believe that because when people come in here, they want to be here. That makes a real difference.”

She advises her successor to remember that people come first in the job.

“When you are working at the library, you are there to provide a service,” Mercier says. “You want people to feel welcome so they can accomplish what they need. We are there to serve and I hope the library always remembers that is a priority.”

Mercier is also grateful for the Tribe’s Restoration in 1983, which has allowed her to work in Grand Ronde.

“It’s been nice to stay in our community and have a job that allowed me to be here and raise my family, and not have to move away,” she says. “Being a part of the Tribe is such a blessing and our library patrons are wonderful.”  

Tribal Government & News Murrell reinvigorating Tribal aid to domestic violence victims 02.14.2019 Dean Rhodes Tribal employees Danielle Murrell is the Tribe’s new Domestic Violence coordinator. Her office is located in the Tribal Community Center. (Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez/Smoke Signals) By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor When Tribal member Danielle Murrell relocated to Oregon from Southern California in mid-September and walked in for her first day of work as the Tribe’s new Domestic …

Tribal Government & News Tribal Council makes numerous appointments to committees, special event boards 04.17.2019 Dean Rhodes Tribal Council By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council made its annual appointments and re-appointments to numerous committees and special event boards during its Wednesday, April 17, meeting. Appointments and re-appointments included: Re-appointed Jade Unger and Guy Schultz and appointed Steven Rife and Martina Gilbert to the Ceremonial Hunting Board with …

Tribal Government & News Meeting envisions 2033 in Grand Ronde 10.31.2019 Dean Rhodes Events Tribal Planning Director Rick George leads a listening session about what services Tribal members want to see in 2033 on Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Tribal Community Center. More than 50 Tribal members attended the session and provided input on the future of health care, social services, education and employment in Grand Ronde. (Photo by Dean Rhodes/Smoke Signals) By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor The …

Tribal Government & News 36th Restoration Celebration scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22 10.31.2019 Danielle Frost Events If you go 36th Restoration Celebration When: Doors open at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, a meal will be served at noon and a powwow will follow at 3 p.m. All are welcome Where: Tribal gymnasium, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. RSVPs: Not necessary By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer Restoration is a time for Tribal members to reflect, reconnect and celebrate together. “For me, the …

Tribal Government & News Tribal Council moves meetings to 4 p.m., approves Dec. 13 per capita payment date 11.20.2019 Dean Rhodes Tribal Council By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council approved amendments to the Tribal Council Ordinance on Wednesday, Nov. 20, that move regular meeting times to 4 p.m. year-round, as well as designated Friday, Dec. 13, as the final per capita payment date for 2019. The proposed amendments to the Tribal Council Ordinance received one comment from the …

Health & Education General Council briefed on education issues 12.02.2019 Danielle Frost General Council , Education Education Committee Chair Tammy Cook addresses the General Council meeting held Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Tribal Community Center. (Photo by Danielle Frost/Smoke Signals) Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has some of highest rates of members with doctoral degrees among Native American Tribes. “We have 13 doctors in our Tribe that we …

Culture Sundance bound: Grand Ronde-oriented film to be shown at prestigious film festival 01.14.2020 Danielle Frost Tribal employees , People A scene from “maɬni – towards the ocean, towards the shore,” a film by Sky Hopinka that features Grand Ronde culture and is narrated in Chinuk Wawa that will be showing at the Sundance Film Festival later this month. (Courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival) By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer The Grand Ronde Tribe’s ancestral homelands, culture …