S moke S ignals
JULY 1, 2015
Dirksen wins award
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Fish and Wildlife Program
Manager Kelly Dirksen received
the Earle R. Wilcox Individual
Achievement Memorial Award
for the Northwest Region during
the 39th annual National Indian
Timber Symposium held Thursday,
June 11, at the Mill Casino in North
Bend.
The award, according to the In-
terTribal Timber Council of Port-
land, honors individuals who have
made significant contributions in
the field of Indian forestry and
natural resources.
The award is given in honor of
Wilcox, who is remembered for his
significant achievements on behalf
of Native people and their forests.
The InterTribal Timber Council
was established in 1976 and is a
nonprofit, nationwide consortium
of Tribes, Alaska Native corpora-
tions and individuals dedicated to
improving the management of nat-
ural resources important to Native
American communities.
Dirksen has worked for the Con-
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde
for more than 19 years.
“I didn’t know I was getting this
award,” Dirksen said. “I thought
I was invited to the event to have
dinner with Reyn (Leno, Tribal
Council chairman) and Mike (Wil-
son, Natural Resources Depart-
ment manager). I was a bit shocked
and don’t remember everything the
master of ceremonies said. I just
remember thinking, ‘Wow, this guy
is describing a lot of the stuff I do.’
I vaguely remember hearing about
help on the ceremonial hunts, the
Tribal Wildlife Management Plan
and the NRD Youth Crew, and as-
sorted details about those projects.”
Despite the name of the award,
Dirksen said at the Wednesday,
June 17, Tribal Council meeting
that he did not win it individually.
“I have not done anything indi-
vidually in years,” he said. “I have
a great team that really won the
award. This is a great reflection on
the Tribe. One of the great joys of
working for the Tribe is that the
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Tribal Fish and Wildlife Program
Manager Kelly Dirksen received
the Earle R. Wilcox Memorial
Individual Achievement Award for
the Northwest Region during the
39th annual National Indian Timber
Symposium held Thursday, June 11,
at the Mill Casino in North Bend.
Tribe gives you no excuses. Every-
thing that you need is given to you,
so you have no excuse for failure.”
“Kelly has done a lot of fantastic
work for this Tribe,” said Tribal
Council Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr.
“Not only on our timberlands, but
also in fish recovery and eel habitat.”
Giffen also recognized Dirksen for
his work to restore lamprey above
Fall Creek Reservoir southeast of
Eugene. “Fish are in Fall Creek
for the first time in 50 years solely
because of the Tribe,” Dirksen said.
“Kelly was nominated for this
award in part due to his persistence
with the state of Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission to get
approval for the implementation
of the Tribal ceremonial hunting
rights and the Grand Ronde Tribal
Wildlife Management Plan,” said
Wilson. “This is an important part
of our Tribal sovereignty and will
benefit the Tribal members for
years to come. We are proud of
Kelly and happy to see him get this
recognition of his hard work.” n
7
Tribal Elder publishes two books
Tribal Elder Samantha Dala has published two books, “A Special
Case” and “The Holly Tones,” which became available on Friday, June
12, in the bookstore section of the website www.xlibris.com.
“A Special Case” is a 128-page detective story that Dala has been
working on for about five years. The book’s summary reads: “Someone
stole an important document from the White House, a blueprint of
how to make underground bunkers. Sam is the detective who was
assigned this case and her cleverness and resourcefulness is put to
the test. She wasn’t alone in this sleuthing business, though. Join
Detective Sam and her newfound friends on a mystery adventure as
they solve the crime and nail the guilty.”
The 25-page “Holly Tones” is about Holly and Nick, who go on a
“whirlwind of Christmas adventures just to take their singing team
to the top.” Dala said “The Holly Tones” was a Christmas movie
screenplay that was converted into a book.
“You name a subject and I will write about it,” she said. “I just love
to write. It keeps me out of trouble.”
Dala is already working on a sequel to “The Holly Tones,” appro-
priately named “The Holly Tones 2.”
The softcover books sell for $19.99 and $21.99, respectively. Dala
said they also will be available at www.amazon.com soon.
Next up? “I’m working on a book titled ‘Growing Up in Oregon,’ ”
she said. n
Lamprey season opened on June 1
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has designated the lamprey
harvest season at Willamette Falls as 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through
Monday between June 1 and July 31.
Harvesting is not allowed Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Harvesting is confined to the east side of Willamette Falls and does not
include the horseshoe area at the peak of the falls. Gear is restricted to
hand or hand-powered tools only.
A permit is required, but Tribal members are allowed to use their Tribal
enrollment card in lieu of a state-issued permit.
Catches must be recorded on an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
harvest card available from the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department or
by contacting the Clackamas ODFW Office, 17330 S.E. Evelyn St., Clack-
amas, OR 97015. Harvest cards must be returned by Aug. 31, 2015.
For more information, call the Natural Resources Department at 503-
879-2424. n
Blessing ceremony set for Little Libraries
There will be a blessing ceremony and grand opening for the Lit-
tle Libraries project from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Tribal
Housing’s fire pit area.
Boxed picnic lunches will be served and there will be a drawing for
a Pendleton blanket.
The project is still seeking books to fill the Little Libraries. It accepts
books for all age groups and paperbacks or hard covers.
Drop off book donations at Adult Education or call 503-879-2069
or 503-879-2095. n
Royalty seeking past members
Previous Grand Ronde Royalty queens and princesses are being sought
as the current Royalty Court is compiling a picture and biography collec-
tion of current and past Royalty for the Chachalu Museum & Cultural
Center, 8720 Grand Ronde Road.
“It would be great to have any past pictures and dates that you were
on Royalty Court, as well as a short bio of who you are,” said Royalty
Coordinator Chelsea Clark.
Contact Clark at 503-879-1418 or through e-mail at chelsea.clark@
grandronde.org. Letters can be sent to 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand
Ronde, OR, 97347. n
Elders seeking baby
food jars for jelly, jam
Tribal Elders are seeking donations of baby food jars in which to make
jelly or jam for Elder Honor Day being held Monday, July 13, at Spirit
Mountain Casino.
If you have jars to donate, please leave them at the Elders Activity Cen-
ter, 48940 Blacktail Drive.
For more information, call the center at 503-879-2233. n
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