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
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the former U.S. Army outpost origi-
nally built to keep Tribal ancestors
in check.
According to Park Ranger Matt
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at Fort Yamhill as a park ranger
assistant.
“It’s important for the community
and us,” said Huerter. “It’s a neat
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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-
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in Smoke Signals.
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and I told them about all the skills
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done,” said Reibach, 26. “I was so
persistent in getting this job. I
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Huerter said Reibach made a
strong first impression and has
followed up on that since he has
been hired.
“Harris’ attitude and enthusiasm
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apart from all the other applicants,”
said Huerter. “That attitude has
continued and he has brought that
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a good day and I want to treat other
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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
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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
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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
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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
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upkeep, and he will be conducting
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“The thing that stood out the
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smile,” said Lucas. “That’s what I
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knowledge is really important for
that location. His knowledge of
what’s going on in the community
is important and a lot of people
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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
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he needs together, get organized
and he will complete the project just
the way I instructed,” said Huerter.
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and it just shows some maturity
and responsibility and care for the
job and for the site.”
Reibach said he is proud of his
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happier that knowledge of his
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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
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communicating and that is what
is awesome for me and why this is
such a cool job.”
Huerter said he feels comfortable
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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
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ucated and knows the history from
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past. So this is a really exciting op-
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on our storyboards but to actually
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powerful.”
According to the Oregon State
Parks Foundation, Fort Yamhill
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control the eastern border of the
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was done in collaboration with
the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde and is promoted by State
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The foundation secured initial
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park that included archaeological
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building was the only remaining
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to be where then-1st Lt. Phil Sheri-
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Future planned work will include
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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
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“I feel so in tune here,” said Rei-
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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
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as the current Royalty Court is compiling a picture and biography collec-
tion of current and past Royalty for the Chachalu Museum & Cultural
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clark@grandronde.org. Letters can be sent to 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
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