MARCH 1, 2001
Smoke Signals 3
ALL "GRAND
RONDE
Vote for New Water Association Board Members on March 8
Since the effort toward restoring the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
began, we have been a Tribe that has placed emphasis not only on re
establishing our identity, but also in revitalizing the community in which we
live. We are facing complex issues regarding water and infrastructure in
our area. We need your help to support community members that are will
ing to take a responsible role in finding solutions for the future of our com
munity. So come out and vote for new Water Association Board members at 7:30
p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at the Grand Ronde Elementary School. We
want to invite you to a lasagna dinner just before the election on March 8th,
starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Grand Ronde Community Center. Please come
as our guest to enjoy a meal and visit with the candidates that will help
guide our future. Shuttle service from the Community Center to the El
ementary School will be available.
0
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH As our community continues to grow
and Tribal members return home, we have a responsibility to contrib
ute to the infrastructure for the Grand Ronde area. As the largest employer
in the area we also recognize the need to find creative solutions to accommo
date sustainable growth.
0 HISTORY The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have worked
very hard over the past 20-plus years to create a solid community envi
ronment in Grand Ronde. These are lands the Tribe has developed a great
affinity for over the years, and has always been a place of history, culture
and tradition.
0 COMMUNITY The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity of Oregon have always believed in a strong community. A
community that provides for all of its citizens and works in partnership with
local governments and all constituencies in a unified effort for problem solv
ing and for providing services necessary to the area.
0
EDUCATION As our community continues to grow, we need to be
able to provide ample services for our future children, both Tribal and
non-Tribal. We need to contribute to the building blocks of our community
and that is done through providing essential education services to the chil
dren living in and around the Grand Ronde area.
0 HOUSING As the need for housing within the Grand Ronde com-,
munity continues to rise, we need to tackle complex problems about
fulfilling the need for water and infrastructure in the area. We need to estab
lish leaders in our area that are willing to face these complex problems, and
roll up their sleeves to work hard to find solutions for the entire community.
0 PARTNERSHIP The Tribe recognizes its obligation to be an active
partner in managing growth in our community. Tribal contributions
to the Grand Ronde Community Water Association have reached nearly $4
million dollars to date. These contributions include construction of a 500,000
gallon storage reservoir, installation of 2,400 feet of 8-inch water main and
tank improvements to the Rowell Creek reservoir system, installation of over
three miles of needed 12-inch transmission main, fire hydrants and spring
improvements. It is worth noting that prior to these improvements, the com
munity was facing a complete development moratorium due to lack of stor
age and there was virtually no fire fighting capabilities.
Wew Education! Building 001 the Works
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By Chris Mercier
For Education Manager Marion
Mercier, this project has been a long
time coming.
"You know, I'd say since 1993 we've
been talking about getting a new
education building," she said. "I'm
happy for this."
April looms as the probable start
date for construction of the Tribe's
latest architectural advent, a nearly
25,000 square foot complex consist
ing of four buildings. Including site
work, infrastructure and furnish
ings, the total project will cost ap
proximately $6.8 million.
The layout will sport four struc
tures of various sizes. Youth Educa
tion will have a nearly 3,800 square
foot building. A second, nearly 6,500
square foot building, will house the
Tribe's Preschool and Head Start
programs. The third will house Adult
Education, a roughly 11,500 square
foot building, with a library and
classrooms.
Plans for three buildings have been
in the works since Tribal Council ap
proved the project in late 2000. The
project expanded in January when
council approved a fourth building.
The addition of a 13,000 square foot
GymnasiumAuditorium may delay
the start date, yet sources are opti
mistic site work will begin this spring.
Eric Scott, Director of Public Works,
noted that consideration was given
to moving forward with the original
plans of the first three buildings, and
simply beginning the fourth under
a separate time frame. But ulti
mately, it would be more cost-effective
to include the architectural and
engineering design and site work for
the Gymnasium along with the other
Education buildings.
Scott, like Mercier, is genuinely ex
cited, as the project has been a true
collaborative effort, involving archi
tects, the Education department, and
of course the Public Works department.
"This is definitely a team effort," Scott
said. "It reflects everyone's input."
If everything goes according to
plan, that collective input will spawn
some eclectic results. Scott hopes for
designs that would be "in harmony
with cultural functions," structures
that are spacious, earthy, and above
all unique. The design team envi
sions cedar siding, earth tones and
timber posts. The interiors will fea
ture "Earth Smart" design concepts
such as natural day lighting, wood
products from certified sustainable
forests, materials made from recycled
products, and energy efficient heat
ing and mechanical systems. And on
the exterior of the Adult Education
building, one wall will be left bare
for a Native artist to get creative.
The complex will be located across
from the Tribal Governance Center
so as to preserve the large common
space used for pow-wows, rodeo and
other events.
The parking lot, when finished will
provide 120 spaces that can be used
for other cultural events. The Gym
nasium likewise will be a multipur
pose facility available for use by all
Tribal programs and functions.
"You've got to like the value that
Council and Tribal membership as a
whole place on education," Scott said.
Mercier concurred.
"We need to recognize Tribal
Council's generosity," she said.
Tribal Council member Ed Pears
all expressed similar sentiments.
"This is the most important thing
we've done in recent years," he said.
"It will make a difference in people's
lives for years to come."
Pearsall has spent seven years as
the Council liaison for the Education
Committee, and even after this, he
said, education will continue to be a
priority for the Tribe.
"I think it's safe to say this shows the
commitment Council's making toward
the Tribe's future," said Pearsall.