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PERMIT NO. 178
Youth Spring Break 2014
— pg. 9
april 1, 2014
Thorsgard
takes over
at education
By Ron Karten
C
Smoke Signals staff writer
ultural Protection Program
Manager Eirik Thorsgard,
as a member of the Land
and Culture Department, recently
moved his offi ce from the second
fl oor of the Education Building to
the new Chachalu Cultural Cen-
ter and Museum off Grand Ronde
Road.
Now, he’s moving back.
Thorsgard has been named the
Tribe’s new Edu-
cation Depart-
ment manager
and will occupy
an office on
the Education
Building’s first
fl oor.
The position
had been fi lled
eirik Thorsgard
on an interim
basis by Higher Education Manag-
er Bryan Langley since September
when former Education Manager
April Campbell left for a position
as Indian Education specialist with
the Oregon Department of Educa-
tion in Salem.
“I felt I could contribute to my
community and Tribe even more
fully in this position,” Thorsgard,
37, says. “The Education Depart-
ment has an overwhelming amount
of infl uence on helping Tribal mem-
bers become and stay self-suffi-
cient. Being part of that was very
appealing.”
With the benefi t of seeing his fi ve
See EDUCATION
continued on page 15
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Historian David Lewis gives a brief overview of the Grand Ronde Tribe’s history at the Tribal History and
Cultural Practices training for staff held in the Community Center on Thursday, March 13. The trainings will
take place quarterly.
Cultural courses
Training reaches about 100 governmental employees
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
I
n the first of four classes
planned for this and future
years, Tribal Land and Cul-
ture Department staff members
summarized some of the details
of Grand Ronde culture, lan-
guage and history.
Two one-hour sessions at the
Community Center on Thurs-
day, March 13, one repeating
the lessons of the other, served
almost a third of the Tribe’s
more than 300 governmental
employees.
Tribal drums ushered in the
program, which is primarily
intended as a new employee ori-
entation, but all were invited.
Cultural Outreach Specialist
Bobby Mercier explained drum-
ming and song protocols.
“In the early days of the res-
See COURSES
continued on page 14
Women’s Transitional House opens
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
T
he Women’s Transitional House across
from the fi re station on Grand Ronde Road
is bursting with hope that the Tribe has
for the new facility.
It is large enough for eight women and their
children. There is the potential for a mix and
match of women to have their children with
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
them.
“Everything will depend on family need and
the ability to safely accommodate them,” said
Behavioral Health Director Kelly Nelson.
One can see the hope in the kitchen where the
gleaming new silverware and unchipped plates
See HOUSE
continued on page 16
nicole estrada, left, Tribal Youth Mental Health/Alcohol and Drug counselor, and nadine burt, Tribal
behavioral Health secretary, put a mattress cover on a mattress as they prepare the Tribe’s new Women’s
Transitional House for residents on Wednesday, March 19.