Smoke Signals
MAY 1,2013
Tiro ball memlbeirs gjradlwatie flromn) class
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Members of the Confederated
Tribe of Grand Ronde and the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz, as
well as Grand Ronde and Siletz
community members, graduated
on Friday, April 19, from a five
week program designed to improve
their career skills for well-paying
construction jobs.
The Northwest College of Con
struction, in partnership with
the state Bureau of Labor and
Industries, Oregon Department of
Transportation and the two Tribes,
established a specialized curricu
lum for training that was conducted
at the Grand Ronde Governance
Center.
The program, "Highway Con
struction Fundamentals," provided
a strong working knowledge of the
construction trades with industry
recognized certifications, including
first aidCPR, OSHA 10-Hour and
flagging.
The program focused predomi
nantly on the fundamentals of car
pentry, familiarization with hand
and power tools, and paving and
heavy equipment all important
skills in rebuilding Oregon's infra
structure. "Hands-on workforce training
helps our state build a stronger
economy and middle class," said
Brad Avakian, Oregon Labor Com
missioner. "The participants learn
important career and leadership
skills that provide them with great
er economic opportunity and hope
for a better life."
Operating engineers earn an av
erage of $53,438, according to the
state Employment Department.
Eight Grand Ronde Tribal and
community members participated
and nine from Siletz were in the
program. Tribal members enrolled
included Kyler Thompson, Lewis
Riggs, Cameron Riggs and Tribal
Elder Scott Lenaburg.
John Mercier, Grand Ronde Pub
lic Works Department manager,
said he sees the Highway Construc
tion Fundamentals program as a
launching pad for Tribal members
to learn any one of the trades. A
longtime advocate of partnering
and training, Mercier said he was
excited to host the training and
make it more economically feasible
and accessible.
Program funding came from an
American Recovery and Reinvest
ment Act Federal Highway Admin
istration grant secured by the state
Department of Transportation.
The Department of Transporta
tion funds numerous workforce
development programs targeted at
underserved and underrepresented
populations, but, as Equal Employ
ment Opportunity ManagerOfficer
Angela Ramos said, the public-private
partnership is rare.
The Highway Construction Fun
damentals Program brought
together the Department of
Transportation, Bureau of Labor
and Industries, two sovereign
nations of the Grand Ronde and
Siletz Tribes and the Northwest
College of Construction with the
shared purpose of attracting
quality workers into construc
tion crews.
The program was open to
Tribal members and other com
munity members living near the
Tribes.
"This inclusiveness strength
ens the communities as a whole
and opens the door of possibili
ties," Ramos said. D
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Photos by Michelle Alalmo
Lewis Riggs V smoothes a newly poured concrete pad during a Northwest
College of Construction "Highway Construction Fundamentals" class on the
Tribal campus on Wednesday, April 17.
Kalene Contreras,
Vocational
Rehabilitation
programs477
administrative assistant,
places a beaded
necklace on Tribal
Elder Scott Lenaburg
during a graduation
ceremony for Northwest
College of Construction
"Highway Construction
Fundamentals" five
week program on Friday,
April 19. The classes
were held in Grand
Ronde.
V
1 1
2013 Commoomoty
Dnputt Rleettirog
The Tribe's annual Community Input meeting will be held in the
gym after the Tribal Council meeting on Wednesday, May 8, start
ing at approximately 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. Community Input Meeting
Spaghetti Dinner
6:45 p.m. Brief Overview PowerPoint
6:55 p.m. Open house format with several topic tables in the gym
including:
- Education Strategic Plan
- Tribal Museum Project
- Women's Transition House Project
- Food Bank Design & Construction Project
- Secondary Payer Transition (Skookum Health Plan)
- Tribal Police Department
- Public Transit
- Other topics table
There also will be a drawing for door prizes (a Pendleton blanket
and smaller gifts). "
The annual Grand Ronde Community Input meeting is offered as
an opportunity for members to provide comments and suggestions
that will be used in helping guide Tribal programs and in preparing
grant applications, such as the Administration for Native Ameri
cans, the HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant and
""others. Those unable to attend can submit written comments and
suggestions to: Mr. Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants Manager, Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand
Ronde, OR 97347. For additional information, contact Mr. Rogers
at 503-879-2250. B
Elders' Fishing Trip set for May 16
The annual Fish and Wildlife Committee Elders' Fishing Trip and Picnic
will be held on Thursday, May 16, at Henry Haag Lake near Forest Grove.
Vans will leave the Elders' Activity Center at 8 a.m. for this rain-or-shine
event. Transportation, fishing gear and a meal will be provided.
A Tribal fishing license is required. It can be acquired by contacting the
Tribal Natural Resources Department at 503-879-2424.
Food will include hamburgers, hot dogs and a picnic-style luncheon.
The event is for Tribal Elders and their spouses only.
To sign up or for more information, contact the Elders' Activity Center
at 503-879-2233 or Fish and Wildlife Committee Chair Harold Lyon at
971-237-5775. fl
Church holding annual ham dinner
St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand Ronde will be holding its
annual ham dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5.
The menu will include ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole
slaw, green beans and homemade desserts. Cost will be $8 per
person, $6 for senior citizens and $5 for children 6 to 12 years of
age; free for 5 and under. A family rate will not exceed $25.
For more information, call Sally at 971-241-7369. B
Sacred Hoop Ceremony set for May 1 1
The Tribe's Behavioral Health Program is hosting a Sacred Hoop Cer
emony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in the Tribal gym.
The four gifts of the Sacred Hoop are the power to forgive the unforgiv
able, healing, hope and unity. The hoop brings healing for all recovering
from different traumas and it also helps strengthen sobriety or wellbriety
in the community. The ceremony is open to all.
For more information, contact Tribal Alcohol and Drug Counselor Karan
Scharf at 503-879-2029. B