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May 15,
199S
MAY 15, 1998
University of Oregon Library
Received on: 05-S9-98
Smoke signals
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Tribe partners with Conservation Service to preserve wetland area
Just outside Corvallis lies a parcel of land about 75
acres which a band of Kalapuya once considered part
of their home country. These acres, which lie adjacent to
the Mary's River, hold special meaning for many tribal
people. In former days it was an area plentiful in camas,
tarweed and other traditional food plants.
Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) and
the Cultural Resource Protection department of the Tribe
hope to form a partnership in preserving these acres. A
number of project ideas are being discussed to revitalize
the traditional plants in the area and provide an opportu
nity for tribal members to resume traditional burning and
harvesting methods.
The land was originally going to be a housing develop
ment, but when the historic and cultural importance of
the area was brought out, the plan to build on the prop
erty was halted. The owner transferred the land into the
Wetland Reserve Easement program under the manage
ment of the City of Corvallis and NRCS.
According to Allen Makinson, NRCS Area Soil Scien
tist assigned to the project, "The purpose of this ease
ment is to restore, protect, manage, and enhance the func
tional values of the wetlands, and for the conservation of
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Allen Makinson (center) NRCS Area Soil Scientist, explains the significance of camas
and other traditional plants on the wetlands site.
Tribal Council nominations held at General meeting
The May General Council meeting, held on Sunday,
May 3 included a report from Bruce Thomas, President
of Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. as well as Tribal Coun
cil nominations. There are twelve tribal members run
ning for Council this year; fourteen were nominated, and
two declined the nomination. The nominations preceded
as follows:
Ronald Rife nominated J. KEN GREGG, who ac
cepted; Ed Pearsall nominated KATHRYN HARRISON,
who accepted; Albert Peters nominated ED LARSEN,
who accepted; Monte Parazoo nominated DELORES
EDWARDS, who accepted; Thomas McKnight nomi
nated RICHARD MCKNIGHT, who accepted; Tracy
Dugan nominated BARBARA LAKE, who accepted;
Cheryle Kennedy nominated MARGARET PROVOST,
who accepted; Reyn Leno nominated SANDA "SAM"
HENNY, who accepted; Carol Gleason nominated ROB
ERT HALLER, who accepted; Stanley Jeffers nominated
Jan Reibach, who declined; Dorothy Greene nominated
GENE LABONTE, who accepted; June Sherer nomi
nated EARL FLOYD "BUTCH" LABONTE, who ac
cepted; Connie Rhode nominated CONNIE HOLMES,
who accepted; and Dave Brummitt nominated Cheryle
Kennedy, who declined. (NOTE: at the time of publica
tion, Connie Holmes has withdrawn her candidacy.)
Bruce Thomas and Adam Henny (Marketing Special
ist) spoke to the membership about Casino expansion.
"The expansion area opens on May 4," said Bruce. "It
was finished before we planned, and on budget."
Bruce said the Casino will be adding another 150 ma
chines in the area, but it can accommodate up to 400 more.
The expansion is open to the general public, but there
will be a grand opening ceremony in July, at which time
the extended bingo area and additional eating areas will
be complete. There are new table games and slots, and
the added square feet now makes Spirit Mountain Casino
the largest in the state of Oregon. There is a brand new
poker room, as well as an off-track betting and Keno
room, fully equipped with about a dozen TV screens.
Bruce also stated that the retail center in Salem and the
Casino's hotel are both on schedule.
A special presentation was made to Mychal Leno, who
after nearly ten years of working in the Tribe's Indian
Child Welfare program of Community Resources, has
recently accepted a position at Spirit Mountain Casino.
Community Resources staff and Tribal Council expressed
their appreciation to Mychal for her years of work with
the Tribe and tribal families.
Door Prize drawing winners were: Buddy White, $50;
Simone Koch, $50; Charlene Hoover, $50; and Sharon
Hanson, $100. The Tribal Council Election will be held
on September 5 and the following day will be the first
General Meeting after summer hiatus.
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A retail center, located at South Commercials St. and
Fairview Avenue in Salem, is a new project from
Spirit Mountain Development, Inc.
Two officers will leave
the Tribe this month
Francis Somday, Executive Officer,
and Pat Mercier, Financial Officer,
will be leaving the Tribe at the end
of May to pursue other interests
and career opportunities.
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Francis Somday, Executive Officer
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Pat Mercier, Finance Officer