S moke S ignals april 1, 2014 Online degree programs Turn your college credits or associate degree into a more powerful four-year degree from Portland State University. Undergraduate degrees offered: BA/BS in Social Science, BA/BS in Arts & Letters and BA/BS in Liberal Studies. For more information about online degree programs, contact the PSU Salem Center at 503-315-4281 or e-mail psusalem@pdx.edu. n ‘Eirik has strong leadership abilities’ EDUCATION continued from front page children interact with the depart- ment, Thorsgard said, “It is filled with passionate and professional people, and I doubt I can improve on the suc- cesses they have already built, but definitely want to be part of.” Still, Thorsgard says that he has a personal goal of developing a paid internship program where Tribal members who are finishing degrees can work for the Tribe for a short time and “develop useful skills to take out into the world, or bring home.” He calls it “a transition program for college graduates going into the professional world.” Thorsgard has served the Tribe as Cultural Protection specialist and Cultural Protection coordina- tor before his most recent work as Cultural Protection Program manager. He was appointed Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by Tribal Council in June 2009 and holds that title today. He includes among his accom- plishments at the Land and Culture Department “the work I did to help the Tribe obtain the Tribal Historic Preservation Office designation and associated funding agreements with the National Parks Service.” Also under Thorsgard, the de- partment started conducting on- reservation archaeological work. He sees the work and planning required in the Cultural Protection Program as having “adequately trained me for this new position.” His previous work also required innovative thinking and partner- ship development. Both are useful tools, he says, in the educational field. “We are excited to have Eirik on board as the new Education manager and see him as moving the education programs forward, including the development of a new strategic plan for the education programs,” Langley said. “Eirik has strong leadership abilities and has a vested interest in the Tribe and the community. Eirik and his children have participated in the education programs, which gives him a personal and well-rounded view of the programs we offer and where the programs are headed.” Thorsgard lives with his wife, Misty, and their children in Grand Ronde. Misty works for the Tribe’s Early Childhood Education pro- gram as a home-based visitor. Thorsgard earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a cer- tificate in Native American studies from Southern Oregon University. His master’s degree is in applied anthropology (archaeology), an- thropology and ethnic studies from Oregon State. His Ph.D work in archaeology, focused on sacred sites in western Oregon, is ongoing from a program at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. His first day on the job was Mon- day, March 24. n Ad created by George Valdez 15 Smoke Signals photo reprint policy See a photo you like in Smoke Signals? Want a copy, or several copies? Want to see if a photo that was taken but not printed in Smoke Signals because of space limitations might be something you’d like hanging on your living room wall? Tribal members can order 8-by-10 inch copies of photos taken by Smoke Signals staff members regardless of if they were published in the newspaper. Charge is $1 for each print ordered. Reprint orders must be pre-paid with a check made out to Smoke Signals. A photo reprint order form is available in the Publications Office of the Tribe’s Governance Building in Grand Ronde, or can be mailed upon request. All photos contained in Smoke Signals’ current archive are available for purchase, but people interested in going through the archive must make an appointment to review photos for possible purchase. No rush orders will be permitted and requestors must allow 30 days for delivery. Requestors must be Tribal members. In addition, reprint requestors must agree that the reprint is for personal use only, and not for use in an ad, or for commercial, political or promotional purposes. Smoke Signals reserves the right to decline a reprint request. To re- quest a reprint order form, write to Smoke Signals at 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347, or call Michelle Alaimo at 503-879-1961 or 800-422-0232. n Help needed identifying plots The Facilities Department is asking for help identifying veteran’s plots. If your family member’s or friend’s plot is a veteran and we do not have a veteran’s flag present on holidays, please inform us. We will do our best to mark all plots of veterans. Contact Adam Leno at 503-879-5525 or adam.leno@grandronde.org. n Ad created by George Valdez