4 MARCH 1,2012
Smoke Signals
D -A- J
Jan Michael
Looking Wolf Reibach
Reibach appointed to BLM
Surveyor Certification Panel
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal member Jan Michael Looking Wolf
Reibach, who has worked as the Tribe's
Lands Manager for the past 15 years, has
been appointed by the Department of Interior
to the Bureau of Land Management's Certi
fied Federal Surveyor Certification Panel.
Don Buhler, chief cadastral surveyor with
the bureau, said Reibach was appointed be
cause the Grand Ronde Tribe was the first in
the Pacific Northwest to begin working with
the Branch of Cadastral Surveys to ensure
Tribal land boundaries were accurately lo
cated and free of conflict.
"You immediately recognized the signifi
cance of the Certified Federal Survey pror
gram and the standards for Indian Trust Lands boundary evidence," Buhler
said. "So it seems fitting that the Grand Ronde Tribe should continue to
lead through Mr. Reibach's participation on the panel.
"(Reibach) was instrumental in the implementation of the Certified
Federal Survey program as an internal required part of the fee to trust
conversion process and has direct experience regarding how the program
can benefit Tribal organizations."
The panel includes two members of the Certified Federal Survey pro
gram, one Tribal representative and one representative from the Bureau
of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Special
Trustee for American Indians and the American Congress on Surveying
and Mapping.
"It should be noted that this is a very prestigious and honorable appoint
ment," said Certified Federal Surveyor Lee MacDonald. "Out of the entire
nation, there is only one panel seat for a Tribal representative and due
to Jan's expertise in federal realty, this was offered to the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde."
By serving on the panel, Reibach will help train, test, administer, con
sider and determine matters within the jurisdiction of the Certified Federal
Surveyor program. Buhler said most of the panel's business will be car
ried out via e-mail and conference calls, but if travel is required, the cost
will be paid by the program. Grand Ronde Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy and Reibach both accepted the appointment on Feb. 21.
'The appointment relates to a process that I adopted that is partially
responsible for our trust applications processing much faster," Reibach
said. "According to the Department of Interior Office of the Special Trustee,
the average time for an on-reservation trust application can exceed three
years and we are now completing most of ours in well under a year." B
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Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Connie Holmes, left, Human Resources generalist and Tribal member,
checks out the Valentine's Day quilt she won in a raffle after she was
given it by Tribal Elder Louise Medeiros, right, in the Tribe's Human
Resources Department on Thursday, Feb. 16. The quilt was made by
The Crafty Ladies, a club recently formed by Tribal Elders, including
Medeiros, and the winning ticket was picked at the General Council
meeting on Sunday, Feb. 1 2. The idea behind the club is to offer
craft projects, such as quilt and birdhouse making, that anyone can
participate in, not just Elders. The club would like to thank everyone
who purchased raffle tickets in support of their first project. For more
information about the club, contact Elder Activity Assistant Daniel Ham
at 503-879-2233.
Elder Honor Day T-shirt design sought
Tribal Elders are seeking help in the form of suggested designs for a
T-shirt to be worn during Elder Honor Day in July.
T-shirt design submissions should be sent to Julie Duncan at the Tribal
Elders' Activity Center by Friday, March 16.
For more information, call Elders Activity Assistant Daniel Ham at
503-879-2233. B
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Zumba, an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired and calorie-burning dance fit
ness party, is held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday in the
Tribal gymnasium.
The first class is free and $6 thereafter for drop-ins, or $5 if participants
purchase a punch card.
For more information, contact Tribal Recreation Coordinator Alton
Butler at 503-879-1369 or alton.butlergrandronde.org. B
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Ad created by George Valdez
Ad created by George Valdez