S moke S ignals
JUNE 1, 2015
Let it ride
Photo courtesy of Sam Tenney/Daily Journal of Commerce
Tribal Council member Denise Harvey looks out at Tilikum Crossing
during TriMet’s first ride of the MAX Orange Line in Portland on Friday,
May 15. Tilikum Crossing is a new bridge that was built across the
Willamette River as part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit
Project. Tilikum Crossing, the Tribe’s suggested name for the bridge that
was chosen from four finalists, will open for public use on Sept. 12.
Association starts registration
The National Indian Education Association started registration for its
46th annual Convention and Trade Show on April 1. The four-day conven-
tion is being held Oct. 14-17 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland
and will be the first time in more than 30 years that the association has
held its convention in the Rose City.
“Portland is central to the Tribes living throughout the Northwest,
ensuring equity for all of our students and NIEA members in the area,”
said board President Melvin Monette. “The city is well-known for its long-
standing and positive working relationship with Tribal entities.”
This year’s theme is “Building Education Nations Through Tradition-
al Foundations” and will emphasize innovation, creativity and culture
throughout the convention.
Teachers, school administrators, Tribal leaders and education faculty
will be able to choose from more than 100 workshops focusing on advanced
educational programs for Native students. Workshops will be coupled with
a tradeshow where vendors will showcase Native art, career opportunities
and educational technologies.
For more information or to inquire about attending the convention as
a member, sponsor or tradeshow exhibitor, visit www.niea.org on the
Internet. n
Ridgebear hired as casino’s
director of marketing
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Shawna Ridgebear, 39, was hired
by Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. as
the new marking director. Her first
day was Monday, April 27.
Before joining Spirit Mountain,
Ridgebear worked in casino mar-
keting, business development and
marketing with Circus Circus
Reno/MGM Resorts International
for more than 14 years.
“Shawna’s greatest strengths
are her creativity, drive and lead-
ership,” said Stan Dillon, general
manager of Spirit Mountain Ca-
sino. “She thrives on challenges,
particularly those that expand the
company’s reach as well as increase
the brand management.”
Ridgebear discovered her pas-
sion for numbers while studying
accounting at Great Basin College
in Elko, Nev., but she said she also
realized that she wanted to grow her
creative side.
“Marketing within a casino envi-
ronment proved to be a perfect fit,”
she said.
“She brings with her a passion
for marketing, VIP services, events
and community,” Dillon said.
Ridgebear is an accomplished
public speaker, having spoken at the
National Indian Gaming Associa-
tion, the National Casino Marketing
Conference held at the University
of Nevada’s Gaming Education De-
partment and other notable speak-
ing engagements on various gaming
and public relations topics.
One of her proudest moments,
she said, was being recognized in
Shawna Ridgebear
a feature article in the 2012 Indian
Country Today G2E article “Native
Women in Gaming” in which her
career and commitment to culture
were spotlighted.
Ridgebear is an enrolled member
of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western
Shoshone and is also a member of
the Edge Water Clan of the Dine
Nation and Mescalero Apache Tribe
of New Mexico. She started her
career working with the Tribal gov-
ernment for more than six years in
Te-Moak Tribal administration and
public relations. She also served
as a board member of the Te-Moak
Tribe’s Powwow Committee.
Ridgebear is the mother of three
sons – Dale, 20, Darion, 16, and
Devon 14 – and is an avid beader.
She frequently travels the powwow
trail with her family, dancing in her
traditional southern dress. Howev-
er, she said, most of her powwow
life is spent dancing in the jingle
dress category.
She is living in the Dallas area. n
St. Michael’s offers brunch
St. Michael’s Catholic Church offers an open house brunch every Sunday
following Mass. The brunch is free to the community.
Brunch begins at about 11:30 a.m. following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Mass
attendance is not required for brunch attendance. For more information,
contact Janelle Justen at 503-550-0923. n
2015 Community Input meeting
The Grand Ronde Tribe’s annual Community Input meeting will be held
at the Tribal gym and at Youth Education on Wednesday, June 3. The meal
will start at approximately 6:15 p.m.
There will be open house tables on projects and programs, and door
prizes will be awarded, including a Pendleton blanket.
The Education Department will have tables in Youth Education available
starting at 5 p.m. as part of the Summer Kick-Off meeting.
• 6:15 p.m.: Welcome & blessing in the gym; dinner (hamburgers, hot
dogs, baked beans and potato salad).
• 6:35 p.m.: Brief overview PowerPoint
• 6:45 p.m.: Open house tables in the gym and in Youth Education building
• 8 p.m. Drawing for 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 which
will be used in helping guide Tribal programs and in preparing grant ap-
plications, such as the Administration for Native Americans, the Indian
Community Development Block Grant, Head Start and others.
Those unable to attend can submit written comments and suggestions
to Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants manager, Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
For additional information, contact Rogers at 503-879-2250. n
5
6 to 8 p.m. in the gym
1 - Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center
2 - Housing & CMI North Apartments Project
3 - Employment & Training programs/new facility
4 - Tribal Police Dept. & Station ICDBG Project
5 - Emergency Management
6 - Education Dept. Recreation Program
7 - Health & Wellness Dept. (Skookum Health Plan)
8 - Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention
9 - Children & Family Services – Foster Care
10 - Social Services (LIHEAP, etc.)
11 - Swimming pool planning
12 - Food Bank and Community Garden
13 - Natural Resources (Parks & Recreation)
14 - Public Transit
15 - Other topics table
5-7:30 p.m. Youth Education Building
16 - Youth Education
17 - Early Childhood Ed./Head Start
18 - Chinuk Language K-3
19 - Chinuk Language Lilu
20 - Higher Education
21 - Library
