4
S moke S ignals
JANUARY 15, 2015
Certified Application
Assister sets Portland dates
2010 – Spirit Mountain Com-
munity Fund created a Facebook
page and was making a public
plea for “friends.” “By sharing
our rich Tribal history and news
of the charities we fund, we hope
to encourage Tribal members
to join us in making positive
change,” said Community Fund
File photo
Director Shelley Hanson.
2005 – Tribal Council ap-
proved a $10,000 donation to the American Red Cross to help the
victims of a devastating tsunami that occurred in the Indian Ocean.
“We are trying to reach out to those people with the most need,”
said Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy.
2000 – Tribal Council members Ed Larsen and Butch LaBonte
will serve on a new Transportation Advisory Committee for Yamhill
County. The information gathered from 4,000 surveys sent out to
county residents will help plan the future of public transportation.
1995 – Smoke Signals announced its plan to begin publishing
twice a month beginning in February. “This change will allow Tribal
members to read more current news, updated job announcements
and current activities the Tribe will be hosting,” Editor Tracy Olson
wrote.
1990 – Smoke Signals and Tribal archives do not have a copy of
the January 1990 edition.
1985 – A Tribal election will be held in March to elect a new
Tribal Council in accordance with the Restoration Act, which stat-
ed that an election must be held within 120 days of the date that
the Secretary of the Interior signs the Tribal Constitution, which
occurred on Nov. 30, 1984.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year
increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Elders’ phone numbers wanted
The Tribal Elders Committee is compiling a volunteer phone list of
Elders. If you would like to submit your phone number and address to
be available to other Elders, send it to elders.committee@grandronde.
org or leave a message at 503-879-2231. n
Certified Application Assister Loretta Meneley will be at the Tribe’s
Portland office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday,
Jan. 26, and Tuesday, Feb. 10 and 24, and Tuesday, March 10 and 24, to
provide information and answer questions about applying for an exemption
from the shared responsibility payment, as well as to sign up members
for health insurance.
For more information, contact Meneley at 503-879-1359 or by e-mail at
loretta.meneley@grandronde.org. n
Overcoming obstacles
to dental care
The Save Our Skookum team hopes to make accessing dental care
easier for Grand Ronde members. Starting in January 2015, the Skoo-
kum Health Assistance Program will be changing the way payment
for dental care is made. Dental services will no longer be paid at a
percentage of the fee charged to the program. Dental treatment will be
paid at the approved, charged amount, up to the amount available by
the Skookum Health Assistance Program. Hopefully, this new way of
paying for dental services will increase Tribal members’ participation
in receiving dental treatment.
As always, any primary dental coverage you may have needs to be
used first. To avoid denials of payment by Skookum, make sure you use
in-network providers for any primary dental coverage you may have.
We know this may sound confusing and ask that if you have any
questions, call one of the SOS team members and we will be happy
to explain it further.
The following services are not covered by Skookum or are
covered under medical, as stated:
• Cosmetic procedures;
• Personal care items;
• Splints;
• TMJ periodontal splinting;
• Gold dental treatment;
• Culture and biopsy covered under medical.
*Hospital Services – These services may be covered under the
medical provisions of the health plan with proper documentation of
medical necessity; hospital outpatient services, including anesthesia
for pediatric dental.
Tresa Mercier: tresa.mercier@grandronde.org
Barbara Steere: barbara.steere@grandronde.org
Melody Baker: melody.baker@grandronde.org
Tauni McCammon: tauni.mccammon@grandronde.org
Erica Mercier: erica.mercier@grandronde.org
Sydney Clark: sydney.clark@grandronde.org
Loretta Meneley: loretta.meneley@grandronde.org
Any member of the SOS team also can be reached at 1-800-775-
0095.
Construction workers needed
for work on upcoming projects
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Employment
Rights Office (TERO) is seeking construction workers who are CTGR
Tribal members and enrolled members of federally-recognized In-
dian Tribes to participate in a workforce that is being prepared for
deployment on construction projects. Projects are located on the
Grand Ronde Reservation and on ODOT projects in various locations
in northwestern Oregon.
TERO is looking for workers in the following job classifications:
• Carpenter
• Laborer
• Equipment operator
• Cement masons
• Truck driver
• Electricians
• Ironworkers
• Loggers
• Painters
• Asphalt workers
In addition, TERO is also seeking experienced Native American
highway traffic control flaggers for assignments to projects. A limited
amount of training positions in construction trades are available to
candidates who meet apprenticeship requirements.
For an application to be considered for these opportunities or for
more information, go to www.grandronde.org/tero, e-mail at: tero@
grandronde.org or call 503-879-2188. n
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