S MOKE S IGNALS
MAY 15, 2015
9
General Council briefed on TERO
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
,QLWVÀUVWIXOO\HDURIRSHUDWLRQ
the Tribe’s Tribal Employment
5LJKWV2IÀFHKHOSHG7ULEDOPHP-
bers obtain jobs that paid approx-
imately $299,506 in wages, said
TERO Director Greg Azure during
the Sunday, May 3, General Coun-
cil meeting held in the Community
Center.
“We’ve changed some lives with
these job opportunities,” Azure
said. “That is what we’re all about;
that is what motivates us. We know
we’re making a difference in some
people’s lives.
“Part of that is what they are do-
ing. They’re getting up every day,
sometimes driving quite a distance
to these jobs and sticking with it,
and learning a lot.”
Tribal Council adopted the Tribal
Employment Rights Ordinance in
2013 and the Employment Rights
2IÀFHEHFDPHIXOO\RSHUDWLRQDOLQ
JURZLQJWRVL[HPSOR\HHVÀYH
of whom are Grand Ronde Tribal
members. The ordinance’s goal is
to ensure that Native people can
participate in economic opportuni-
ties on and near the Grand Ronde
Reservation.
7KH(PSOR\PHQW5LJKWV2IÀFH
is supervised by a TERO Com-
mission, which reports to Tribal
Council.
The ordinance applies to Tribal
enterprises, such as Spirit Moun-
tain Casino and the government,
as well as to contractors conducting
business on the Reservation.
TERO also enables the Tribe
to work with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation to obtain
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Tribal Employment Rights Office Director Greg Azure briefs the membership
on his office’s 2014 accomplishments at the Sunday, May 3, General Council
meeting held in the Tribal Community Center.
construction project jobs for Tribal
members within a 60-mile radi-
us of the Reservation. In 2014,
TERO began dispatching workers
to good-paying ODOT projects and
is looking to send workers to 19
such projects in 2015 as the con-
struction season revs up.
Azure said highlights for 2014
included referring 67 people to 12
construction projects, Tribal and
ODOT, which provided job opportu-
QLWLHVWRZRUNHUV7KHRIÀFHDOVR
recruited more than 130 applicants
WRLWV6NLOOV%DQNDQGFHUWLÀHG
Indian-owned businesses that are
able to exercise a 5 percent bidding
advantage on Tribal projects.
TERO also signed more than 90
WIC to visit Community Health
Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Does your family include a child under the age of
5? If so, you may qualify for the Women, Infants and Children program. With
WIC, people can receive answers to nutritional questions and access fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, eggs, milk, cheese, juice, cereal and more. A WIC
UHSUHVHQWDWLYHZLOOEHDW&RPPXQLW\+HDOWKRQWKHÀUVWDQGWKLUG7XHVGD\RI
the month between 9 and 11 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information
or to schedule an appointment, call 503-879-2078. Q
Construction workers needed
for work on upcoming projects
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Employment Rights
2IÀFH7(52LVVHHNLQJFRQVWUXFWLRQZRUNHUVZKRDUH&7*57ULEDO
members and enrolled members of federally-recognized Indian Tribes
to participate in a workforce that is being prepared for deployment on
construction projects. Projects are located on the Grand Ronde Reserva-
tion and on ODOT projects in various locations in northwestern Oregon.
7(52LVORRNLQJIRUZRUNHUVLQWKHIROORZLQJMREFODVVLÀFDWLRQV
• Carpenter
• Laborer
• Equipment operator
• Cement masons
• Truck driver
• Electricians
• Ironworkers
• Loggers
• Painters
• Asphalt workers
In addition, TERO is also seeking experienced Native American
KLJKZD\WUDIÀFFRQWUROÁDJJHUVIRUDVVLJQPHQWVWRSURMHFWV$OLPLWHG
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. Q
TERO compliance agreements with
construction contractors in 2014
and held seven training events that
helped 67 participants improve
their job skills.
Locally, Azure said TERO has
sent workers to such Tribal projects
as the new apartment complex,
the employment services build-
ing construction, Uyxat Powwow
Grounds arbor construction, ren-
ovation work at Spirit Mountain
Casino and remodeling of the Pro-
curement storage building. TERO
workers also have been involved in
the completed Grand Ronde Food
Bank building, Ackerson Road
pump station project, Community
Garden pole building construction
and extension of the sidewalk on
Grand Ronde Road to the Women’s
Transitional House.
In the first quarter of 2015,
Azure said TERO wages exceeded
$80,000. “For the most part, this
is new money to Tribal members
and new money circulating in the
community,” he said.
%HVLGHVPRQHWDU\EHQHÀWV7(52
has also started a Worker of the
Month Award recognition. So far,
winners have been Richard Bris-
bois in December, Marcus Gibbons
in January, Steve Bobb Jr. in
February and Ferrell DeGarmo
in March. TERO will be holding a
Worker of the Year Award dinner
on Saturday, May 30, at the Elders
Activity Center.
Other accomplishments, Azure
said, were holding training sessions
that ranged from teaching Native
$PHULFDQVKRZWREHFRPHÁDJJHUV
on construction projects to learning
KRZWRRSHUDWHDIRUNOLIWWRÀUVWDLG
FRXUVHV7(52DOVRKDVFHUWLÀHG
81 contractors that bid on select
ODOT projects within the TERO
boundary.
Azure added that TERO’s Work-
force Program has been working
behind the scenes to help Tribal
members in their attempts to ob-
tain and retain jobs and in career
advancement at Spirit Mountain
Casino and in the Tribal govern-
ment.
He said that Tribal member
employment at the casino has in-
creased from 10.86 percent in 2009
to 12.6 percent in 2014 with 19.7
percent of those hired during the
ÀUVWTXDUWHURIEHLQJ7ULEDO
members. At the Governance Cen-
ter, Tribal members hold 190 of
384 positions (49.4 percent). Data
showed that of those hired in the
ÀUVWTXDUWHURIE\WKH7ULEDO
government, 33 percent were Tribal
members. The Grand Ronde Food
& Fuel Co. has 42 percent Tribal
member employment.
After the presentation, Azure
fielded five comments and ques-
tions from people in the audience.
During the comment session, Azure
said TERO collected more than
$290,000 in fees in 2014 as the
(PSOR\PHQW5LJKWV2IÀFHPRYHV
closer to its goal of being self-sus-
taining.
A scheduled presentation by
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
was postponed until the Sept. 13
General Council meeting.
The next General Council meet-
ing will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday,
June 28, at the Community Center.
Tribal Council nominations will be
the only item on the agenda.
Tribal Elders Val Grout and Ann
Lewis and Tribal spouse Richard
Vanatta won the $50 door prizes
and Tribal spouse Terry Gray won
the $100 door prize. Necklaces
made by Tribal Council member
Jon A. George and apple butter
donated by Veronica Gaston also
ZHUHUDIÁHGRII
Land and Culture employees
Bobby and Travis Mercier and
George, accompanied by Tribal
Royalty, opened the meeting with
drumming. Tribal Elder Dakota
Whitecloud gave the invocation.
The meeting, in its entirety, can
be viewed on the Tribal website,
www.grandronde.org, under the
News tab and then click on the
Video link. Q
TERO Open House
TERO will be hosting an Open House Event for those of you who are interested in learning more
about the program and job assistance. TERO staff will be available to answer any questions you
may have and will also be on hand to assist with filing out TERO applications. We hope to see
you there!
When: June 25 th from 5-6pm
Where: Adult Education Building Room 126 A & B
Light refreshment will also be served.
If you have any questions you can call Keri Kimsey at 503-879-2188