4
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2015
Tribal Council OKs new bank
account, distribution date
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
2010 – The Health & Wellness Clinic scheduled an open house to
show off its $2.25 million renovation. The clinic was larger by 4,000
square feet, which added six more work stations in the Dental Clinic.
In addition, a new metal roof was installed and the Pharmacy moved
and doubled in space.
2005 – The Tribe cele-
brated its 22nd year of Res-
toration in the bingo hall
at Spirit Mountain Casino.
The event included Tribal
member CeCe Kneeland
performing an honor song
and her daughter, Nakoo-
sa, performing a traditional
dance.
File photo
2000 – Retired Congress-
woman Elizabeth Furse
was the featured speaker at the Tribe’s 17th Restoration celebration
held at Grand Ronde Elementary School.
1995 – The Tribe was preparing to establish a Housing Author-
ity, which would be similar to a nonprofit corporation and require
a Board of Commissioners to oversee all housing management and
operations for the Tribe.
1990 – The Tribe celebrated its seventh anniversary of Restoration
at Grand Ronde Elementary School with a traditional holiday feast
of salmon, ham salad, mashed potatoes and gravy. “This is a very
important day for our people,” said Tribal Council member Kathryn
Harrison. “I just hope that they appreciate everything that went into
the Restoration effort so that all of this could happen.”
1985 – Tribal members Chris Leno, Mike Colton and Steve Bobb
Jr. received letters for playing on the Willamina High School football
team while Melanie Smith received a letter for playing on the junior
varsity volleyball team.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
LIHEAP program available
to Tribal members
In preparation for December
distribution of casino and timber
revenue monies to the membership,
Tribal Council approved several
measures at its Wednesday, Nov.
18, meeting.
Tribal Council approved creation
of a new bank account with Wells
Fargo that will be used for internal
distribution of timber revenue mon-
ies to Tribal members in December.
In addition, Tribal Council estab-
lished Dec. 11 as the per capita and
timber revenue distribution date.
During the Nov. 17 Legislative
Action Committee meeting, Tribal
Council Chairman Reyn Leno said
that the amount of the distributions
probably will not be known until
early December.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved an intergovernmental
agreement with Tillamook Coun-
ty regarding the sale and transfer
of surplus forest land from the
county to the Tribe;
• Approved a funding agreement
with the Department of the In-
terior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs
for 2016;
• Appointed Tribal Council Vice
Chair Jack Giffen Jr. to the Wil-
lamette Falls Navigation Canal
& Locks Task Force. Senate Bill
131, passed by the Legislature,
mandates that a Grand Ronde
Tribal representative serve on
the Task Force;
• And approved the enrollment
of three infants into the Tribe
because they meet the require-
ments established in the En-
rollment Ordinance and Tribal
Constitution.
Also included in the Nov. 18
Tribal Council packet was an au-
thorization to proceed permitting
Leno to sign a comment letter to the
Environmental Protection Agency
about its consultation process re-
garding Tribal treaty rights.
Culture Department employees
Bobby Mercier, Brian Krehbiel
and Jordan Mercier performed the
cultural drumming and singing to
open the meeting.
The meeting, in its entirety, can
be viewed on the Tribal website,
www.grandronde.org, by clicking
on the News tab and then Video. n
Natural Resources issuing wood permits
The Natural Resources Department started issuing wood permits
on Oct. 16.
Wood gathered with Natural Resources-issued permits is for per-
sonal use only and not for sale.
There is still road work being performed on the Reservation and it
is also hunting season, so there will be traffic.
Have the following information when obtaining a permit: Tribal
ID, current address, phone number, vehicle information and driver’s
license.
For more information, contact Natural Resources Secretary Toni
Mercier at 503-879-2424. n
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps pay
heating bills, is now available for eligible Tribal members in the six-county
service area and Clackamas County.
LIHEAP is a first-come, first-served program and income criteria applies.
For more information, contact Social Services Department Adminis-
trative Assistant Tammy Garrison at 503-879-2077 or tammy.garrison@
grandronde.org. n
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