' I I ( f I ) t I I I i i
1 I I I V M M I I I I M I I .
MCC
LlMrA
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
March 1, 2000
OR. COLL.
E
78
.OS
B&B TA
March 1, JA
A
'A
KUliUt HIVER
Rbeir Wafcsoim bmgs wealth of
experience to Spirit Moynntaiiini Casimio
Former state corrections chief is no stranger to casino operations.
W:
hen the Spirit Mountain
Gaming Inc., board tapped
Robert J. Watson as in
terim chief executive officer and
president of Spirit Mountain Casino,
it was the second time the Grand
Ronde Tribe had turned to Watson's
leadership.
The Tribe drew on Watson's expe
rience as head of the state correc
tions departments in Oregon and
Delaware to take over as its top gam
ing regulator when it decided to es
tablish Spirit Mountain Casino.
"The dedicated and capable staff
at Spirit Mountain Casino has made
it the premier casino in the North
west and Oregon's favorite attrac
tion," Watson said. "I'm proud to
have this chance to be more closely
associated with them and to be of
service to my Tribe."
The board named Watson, an en
rolled member of the Grand Ronde
Tribe, to lead the Casino after Bruce
Thomas resigned last month to work
for Spirit Mountain Management &
Consulting Inc., another Grand
Ronde tribal enterprise. Watson is
overseeing the day-to-day operations
of the casino and its 1,500-person
workforce while the board conducts
a national search to fill the top ca
sino job. Watson is taking a leave of
absence from his post as chair of the
Grand Ronde Gaming Commission
I will spend the
upcoming months
sustaining the
excellent work
that's been
going on here
at the casino. 99
Bob Watson
c
3
o
.Q
ft 1 ci-
and plans to return in about six
months.
Watson's work with the Gaming
Commission is what drew him back
to Oregon. After serving as head of
corrections for the State of Oregon
from 1976 to 1986, he took a similar
appointment in Delaware, where he
remained until 1994.
"I watched from afar as the tribal
leadership carried out its remarkable
vision for the future," Watson said.
"I was impressed at the way this
tribe has worked toward self-sufficiency
and the wise way it is plan
ning for the future."
Grand Ronde tribal leaders asked
Watson to come back to Oregon to
set up the Grand Ronde Gaming
Commission as required under the
National Indian Gaming Commis
sion rules and the Tribe's compact
with the State of Oregon. The
Grand Ronde Gaming Commission
is a separate entity, entirely inde
pendent of the tribal government
and casino management. Watson's
stellar reputation in the law-enforcement
field underscored the integrity
of the new casino and the Tribe's
commitment to work closely with
Oregon law enforcement officials.
The Gaming Commission super
vises financial controls, performs
regular audits and conducts thor
ough background checks on all ca
sino employees and vendors.
"It is impossible to describe how
important Bob Watson's contribu
tions have been to the Tribe and to
Spirit Mountain," said Mike Larsen,
chair of the Spirit Mountain Gam
ing Inc. board of directors. "He is a
key contributor."
During the last few weeks, Watson
has been busy meeting with Spirit
Mountain staff and familiarizing
himself with current casino issues.
"I am pleased to take on this role,"
he said. "I will spend the upcoming
months sustaining the excellent
work that's been going on here at
the casino."
Watson grew up in Corvallis, one
of four children. His parents died
when he was five, and the family
was split up. Watson lived in a va
riety of foster homes, and attended
Forest Grove High School before
graduating from Salem High School.
He earned a bachelor of arts in soci
ology from Willamette University in
Salem.
Watson's return to Oregon brought
him closer to his family.
"In a real way for me, the restora
tion of the Tribe has helped bring
my family back together," Watson
said. "I feel connected to the Tribe
though our rich culture and family
history. And that's where a lot of
my energy comes from."
Tribe hosts Youth Leadership Academy
By Brent Merrill
The qualities of leadership are the
same as the attributes of Native
Pride and the importance of getting
that message to young Native
Americans today is extreme.
That was the message of guest
speaker Howard Rainier when he
addressed an audience of young
Native people on Wednesday, Feb
ruary 9, in Salem.
"You see, all we are trying to do
here is self-awareness," said Rainier.
Rainier said he makes the young
people in the audience ask them
selves some serious questions. He
said he tries to give them some an
swers as well.
"Who am I?" asked Rainier rhe
torically. "What do I have going for
me? And, what can I do with it?
"That is the power and it is re
ally called self-discovery," said
Rainier. "Once these kids see who
they are they have choices to make
in life. 'What can I do as a Native
American in today's world?' A lot.
But, we hold back. 'Why are we
holding back?' We hold ourselves
back.
"What I want to do is heighten
that high expectation and start self
evaluating," said Rainier. "A lot of
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Address Service Requested
PRESORTED
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 178
Serials Dept. - Kni9ht Library
1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
EUGENE OR 97403-1205
them say, well this is the first guy
that really made me face myself.
The urgency is there and there are
thousands that will doubt you.
Whether they are Indian or not In
dian. That message is so vital. We
bring these kids together and say
'this is who you are. This is what
you can do and this is what you
should be doing.' And that is the
essence of why I'm here."
Rainier's appearance was part of
an ongoing Youth Leadership Acad
emy program operated by the Grand
Ronde Tribe, Chemawa Indian
continued on page 4
.. if. hi j . v w w i c uuii iiurdrv i
i i
1
University of Or
Received on: 03-iZG-!ZiiZ)(3 '
Smoke sirjnals
' -.'
Youth participate in pride-building exercise.
Photo by Brent Merrill