4 APRIL 1,2009
Smoke Signals
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Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Russell Leno cuts a cake during a get-together at the
Facilities Department on Tuesday, March 24. Leno's co-workers in the
department, including Tribal Elder Bob Mercier, left, gathered to honor
and celebrate his retirement. Leno's last day as senior groundskeeper
at the Tribal Cemetery was Tuesday, March 1 7, and he worked for the
Tribe for almost 22 years.
2004 Groundbreaking and foundation work for the five-story,
150-room expansion of Spirit Mountain Lodge was set to begin. The
addition will form a "T" on the west side of the current lodge. Comple
tion is expected in February or March 2005.
1999 The U.S. government asked the Grand Ronde Tribe to
waive its right to more than $1 million in federal subsidies for Tribal
programs, such as forest management, education and social services.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was reacting to a congressional man
date to come up with alternative ways to allocate federal funds to
the nation's 557 Tribes. '
1994 Dustin Leno, son of Reyn and Liz Leno, captured his third
straight wrestling championship at the Class 2A State Wrestling
Championship held in Monmouth. He followed in his brother Shonn's
footsteps, making him only the second wrestler to have won three
state championships in Willamina High School history.
1989 Tribal member Camille Van Fleet was hired s the John
son O'Malley coordinator for the Tribe. She was attending Western
Oregon State College as a freshman and majoring in social sciences.
She will work part time from April through June and begin working
full time in June.
1984 The Interim Tribal Council scheduled meetings at 6 p.m.
Mondays throughout April.
Yesteryears, a look back at Tribal history, is taken from back
issues of Smoke Signals in five-year increments.
Skookum Health Plan benefit
update effective July 1, 2009
There will be an emergency room benefit change to the Skookum Health
Plan occurring on July 1, 2009. Currently, the health plan covers a non-emergency
visit to the emergency room with a 50 percent co-insurance; after July
1, 2009, non-urgentnon-emergent use of the emergency room will no longer
be a covered benefit. Tribal members who go to an emergency room to receive
non-urgentnon-emergent services will be responsible for the entire charge.
The reason for this change is over utilization of the emergency room.
Many of the claims received from emergency room visits are for services
that should be received through a physician's office or an urgent care set
ting. For non-emergency service, the average cost of an emergency room
visit is close to $500, while the same service in a provider's office or urgent
care setting is only around $100. Use of the emergency room for non-urgentnon-emergent
services results in higher costs to the Tribe.
If you or someone you know is in need of medical attention and you do not
know if you should go to the emergency room or not, take the time to contact
the 24-hour Nurse Line at 800-970-7138 or your personal physician. If you
are instructed to seek services at the emergency room by the Nurse Line or
by your physician's office, it will be covered by the Skookum Health Plan.
If you have questions about this important benefit change, contact Bar
bara Steere at 503-879-2487 or Jim Holmes at 503-879-2221. U
Transportation to Grand Ronde
The Portland Satellite office has a transportation day to Grand Ronde
once a month for medical or dental appointments or enrollment cards. A
minimum of three people must sign up. Call Lisa at 503-235-4230.
We will leave the Portland office at 8 a.m.
Plca.se call in advance for the scheduled monthly date.
Behavioral HeaDtlto
sttarttDing Menu's Group
The Behavioral Health Department is starting a Men's Group, which
will be open to members of all Tribes. Topics that will be covered include
healthy relationships, communication skills, anger management, spiritual
ity, emotional intelligence and how to live one's life from a place integrity
and authenticity.
The Men's Group will meet every Thursday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at
the Behavioral Health Department at Health & Wellness. A certificate
of completion will be awarded to men who have completed the training.
Transportation may be available for those in need.
Please contact Tom Bender with any questions at 503-879-2067.
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL
EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions. If you are interested, please complete an application and
submit it to Dakota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator,
CTGR, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Ceremonial Hunt Board 3 Vacancies
Culture Committee 1 Vacancy
Cultural Trust Board 2 Vacancies
Education Committee 1 Vacancy
Enrollment Committee 1 Vacancy
Rodeo Special Event Board 2 Vacancies
Social Services Committee 1 Vacancy
Timber Committee 1 Vacancy
CULTURAL GATHERINGS
APRIL S: TROUTDALE YOUTH POWWOW. Depot Park. 473 E. Historic Columbia High
way. TROUTOALE, OR. 503 679 5683 or 503 666 1740.
APRIL 10-12: CELILO WYAM SALMON FEAST A POWWOW. Celilo Village Longhouse,
Frontage Road and Fulton Canyon Road. THE DALLES, OR. 509-480 5669.
APRIL 18: 3RD ANNUAL DANCING FOR GENERATIONS' INI MIYA'C CHILDREN'S
POWWOW. Native American Student & Community Center, Portland State University.
PORTLAND, OR. 503 467-1 258.
MAY 1-2: UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND UISHE NAIMUMA POWWOW. Peter Stott
Center. 930 S.W. Hall. PORTLAND, OR. 503 725 5671.
MAY 16: 24TH ANNUAL POWWOW IN HONOR OF OUR CHILDREN. Kelso High
School, 1904 Allen St. KELSO, WA. 360 501-1655.
If you or anyone you know ha Information on cultural events happening. Smoke Signals would
be glad to hit It In our Cultural Gatherings please e-mail newsgrondronde.org or write to
Smoke Signals. 96 1 5 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97147.
Gallery showing Native
American photography
Bonnie Knhns Wild West Gallery, 152 1 N.W. 23rd St. No 2, in Portland
will bo showing more than 500 photos of Native Americans from several
Oregon Tribes beginning Thursday, April 2.
The exhibit will feature several photographs from major photographers
of Native Americans at the beginning of the 20th century and will feature
Native American basketry from the 19th and 20th centuries.
John Gogol, a lending authority on Native Americnn photogrophy and
basketry, will lecture from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, and noon to
1 p.m. Saturday, April 4.
The exhibit runs until April 30.
For more information, call the gallery at 503-293-9 114 or send an e-mail
to bonniekahnf'Jaol.com. The gallery's Web site is www.bonniekah.ngal