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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2015)
16 S MOKE S IGNALS AUGUST 1, 2015 Native voice joins Fort Yamhill State Park staff By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer Grand Ronde Tribal member Harris Reibach has been hired as a seasonal park ranger assistant at Fort Yamhill State Park in Grand 5RQGHEULQJLQJD7ULEDOYRLFHWR the former U.S. Army outpost origi- nally built to keep Tribal ancestors in check. According to Park Ranger Matt +XHUWHU5HLEDFKLVWKHÀUVW*UDQG 5RQGH7ULEDOPHPEHUHYHUWRZRUN at Fort Yamhill as a park ranger assistant. “It’s important for the community and us,” said Huerter. “It’s a neat RSSRUWXQLW\:HKDYHQ·WKDGWKDW before.” Reibach, who married Teal An- derson on June 20, had been work- ing for his parents Jan and Tawnya Reibach and their Strong Horse Construction Co. when his father told him about a job with the Ore- gon Parks and Recreation Depart- PHQWWKDWKHKDGVHHQDGYHUWLVHG in Smoke Signals. ´,ÀOOHGRXWDQDSSOLFDWLRQRQOLQH and I told them about all the skills ,KDGDQGDOOWKHWKLQJVWKDW,KDYH done,” said Reibach, 26. “I was so persistent in getting this job. I FDOOHGVHYHUDOWLPHVµ Huerter said Reibach made a strong first impression and has followed up on that since he has been hired. “Harris’ attitude and enthusiasm IURPWKHYHU\EHJLQQLQJVHWKLP apart from all the other applicants,” said Huerter. “That attitude has continued and he has brought that WRZRUNZLWKKLPHYHU\GD\,WLP- SDFWVP\OLIHEHFDXVH,ZDQWWRKDYH a good day and I want to treat other SHRSOHSRVLWLYHO\+HEULQJVTXLWHD bit of respect for other people. It has been a huge joy to work with him. I’m excited to continue to work with him throughout the season.” Reibach, who graduated from Wil- lamina High School and Western 2UHJRQ8QLYHUVLW\LQ0RQPRXWK ZDV LQWHUYLHZHG DW :LOODPHWWH 0LVVLRQ6WDWH3DUNLQ*HUYDLV 5HLEDFKÀUVWVSRNHZLWK+XHUWHU at Fort Yamhill and then Dennis Lucas, the park ranger for the Wil- lamette Mission Management Unit. “His experience is what I was looking for. Harris’ knowledge of the area is really, really good,” said Lucas, who has worked for Oregon State Parks for 30 years. “His en- thusiasm and excitement, and his personality really stood out to me.” Huerter couldn’t agree more with Lucas when it comes to Reibach’s SHUVRQDOLW\DQGKRZWKDWEHQHÀWV the park. “He has amazing interpersonal skills,” said Huerter. “He makes people feel welcome, he shares his enthusiasm and people just feel comfortable. He’s a good host.” Reibach said it took about a PRQWKWRÀQDOO\JHWHYHU\WKLQJLQ SODFHDIWHUUHFHLYLQJWKHMRERIIHU DQGWKDWKHKDGWRÀOORXWDPRXQ- tain of paperwork. In preparation for the job, Rei- bach took 15 online exams on topics ranging from what to do if he witnessed child abuse on park grounds, to using chemicals, to ap- Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal member Harris Reibach is the new seasonal park ranger assistant at Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area in Grand Ronde. proaching wild animals, to backing up trucks and using power tools. “I was so stoked,” said Reibach. “I was dancing around crow hopping you know.” Reibach will be responsible for RYHUDOO SDUN PDLQWHQDQFH DQG upkeep, and he will be conducting WRXUVIRUSDUNYLVLWRUV “The thing that stood out the PRVWZKHQ,ÀUVWPHWKLPZDVKLV smile,” said Lucas. “That’s what I ZDQWRXUYLVLWRUVWRVHH+LVWRULFDO knowledge is really important for that location. His knowledge of what’s going on in the community is important and a lot of people ZRXOGQ·W KDYH WKDW NQRZOHGJH 7KDWLVZK\KHZDVSLFNHG-REÀW LVYHU\LPSRUWDQWµ Huerter has been impressed with Reibach’s work ethic since he has been working at the park. “He carries through with things from the beginning to the end. He ZLOOVWDUWDSURMHFWJHWHYHU\WKLQJ he needs together, get organized and he will complete the project just the way I instructed,” said Huerter. ´:KHQKHLVGRQHKHZUDSVHYHU\- WKLQJXSDQGSXWVHYHU\WKLQJDZD\ and it just shows some maturity and responsibility and care for the job and for the site.” Reibach said he is proud of his 1DWLYH KHULWDJH DQG FRXOGQ·W EH happier that knowledge of his 7ULEH·VKLVWRU\ZLOOEHQHÀWKLPRQ the job now and possibly in the years ahead. “They (Huerter and Lucas) told me I was the perfect candidate because of my personal connection to Fort Yamhill and the community around it,” said Reibach. “I find myself sharing things with park YLVLWRUVWKDW,JXDUDQWHHQRRWKHU SDUNUDQJHUZRXOGEHVD\LQJ,ORYH communicating and that is what is awesome for me and why this is such a cool job.” Huerter said he feels comfortable KDYLQJ5HLEDFKPHHWLQJDQGJUHHW- LQJYLVLWRUVWRWKHSDUN ´(YHU\WLPHZHKDYHYLVLWRUVFRPH to the park and he has been outside he just lights up and welcomes them to the site,” said Huerter. “I was really thrilled to get someone ORFDODQGWRKDYHD7ULEDOPHPEHU LVHYHQEHWWHU6RPHRQHWKDWLVHG- ucated and knows the history from WKH7ULEH·VSHUVSHFWLYHLVVRPHWKLQJ ZHKDYHQ·WEHHQDEOHWRRIIHULQWKH past. So this is a really exciting op- SRUWXQLW\IRUXVWREHDEOHWRGHOLYHU WKDWPHVVDJHLQSHUVRQ:HKDYHLW on our storyboards but to actually KDYHLWIURPD7ULEDOSHUVRQLVPRUH powerful.” According to the Oregon State Parks Foundation, Fort Yamhill ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG LQ WKH V WR control the eastern border of the *UDQG5RQGH$JHQF\5HVHUYDWLRQ 'HYHORSPHQWRIWKHFXUUHQWSDUN was done in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is promoted by State 3DUNVDVD´VKDUHGYLVLRQµ The foundation secured initial IXQGLQJIRUWKHÀUVWSKDVHRIWKH UHVWRUDWLRQDQGSUHVHUYDWLRQRIWKH park that included archaeological LQYHVWLJDWLRQVDQGUHVWRUDWLRQRI WKHRIÀFHU·VTXDUWHUV7KHRIÀFHU·V building was the only remaining VWUXFWXUHRQWKHVLWHDQGLVEHOLHYHG to be where then-1st Lt. Phil Sheri- GDQOLYHGIURPWR Future planned work will include DQHZYLVLWRU·VFHQWHUJKRVWVWUXF- tures showing the location of other structures and replication of the block house that was once on the property. Park officials will protect and identify archaeological features making Fort Yamhill the state’s ÀUVWDUFKDHRORJLFDOVWDWHSDUN “I feel so in tune here,” said Rei- EDFK´,·YHEHHQKHUHIRUVRORQJ and that history is something that makes me proud. That is what’s cool about working up there is that I get to use all that. If I was working someplace else, they could probably care less what I know about Chief Joseph Shangretta.” Lucas said he is happy with his decision to hire Reibach. “I would rank him pretty high,” said Lucas. “His enthusiasm is sec- ond to none and that is important to me.” Q Royalty seeking past members 3UHYLRXV*UDQG5RQGH5R\DOW\TXHHQVDQGSULQFHVVHVDUHEHLQJVRXJKW as the current Royalty Court is compiling a picture and biography collec- tion of current and past Royalty for the Chachalu Museum & Cultural &HQWHU*UDQG5RQGH5RDG &RQWDFW&KHOVHD&ODUNDWRUWKURXJKHPDLODWFKHOVHD clark@grandronde.org. Letters can be sent to 9615 Grand Ronde Road, *UDQG5RQGH25Q Sometimes first aid isn¶t a bandage or CPR or calling 911—Sometimes, First Aid is YOU! Someone you know could be experiencing a mental health crisis. You can help them. Mental Health First Aid teaches you about the common warning signs and risk factors for mental health, suicidality and substance use that are common among youth (ages 12-25 years) and adults and the resources for helping someone who may be struggling or in crisis. Whether you are a first responder, teacher, faith communi- ty leader, human resources professional, parent, employer, employee, coworker, or some other caring community member, this 8-hour certification course has information you can use. 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