8
S moke S ignals
APRIL 15, 2016
Native Caring Conference slated
PENDLETON – The 11th annual Native Caring … A Conference to Learn,
Connect & Share will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 20-21, at
the Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton.
The conference, hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian
Reservation, will give caregivers of Native Elders and relative caregivers
of children a chance to attend valuable workshops that will enhance care-
giving skills and provide a break from their daily responsibilities.
For more information, contact Ben Bearchum Jr. at 541-278-7533 or
Lindsey Watchman at 541-278-7560.
Learn about Broccoli and Everything Salad and
Baked Zucchini Sticks!
Free Hands-on Cooking Class
Contributed photo
Tribal member Bryan Mercier, right, accepts the Bonneville Power
Administration Administrator’s Extraordinary Team Accomplishment award
from BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer at the Portland headquarters in March.
Mercier manages Bonneville Power’s Environmental Fish and Wildlife business
operations and the team won the award for its “Let’s Talk Culture” series.
Bonneville Power Administration
honors Bryan Mercier with award
PORTLAND — The Bonneville Power Administration presented Grand
Ronde Tribal member Bryan Mercier with one of its highest honors as part
of the agency’s Administrator’s Excellence Awards program.
Mercier, who lives in Portland, manages Bonneville Power’s Environ-
mental Fish and Wildlife business operations and is part of the American
Indian/Alaska Native Council. The Native Council’s team members re-
ceived the Administrator’s Extraordinary Team Accomplishment award
for its “Let’s Talk Culture” series.
The annual Excellence Awards Program honors employees and members
of the public whose innovation, initiative, superior service and courageous
acts have made exceptional contributions to Bonneville Power’s mission,
the electric utility industry or the local community.
Bonneville Power Administrator Elliot Mainzer presented the awards
in March at the Portland headquarters.
“These individuals represent excellence in everything they do,” Mainzer
said. “No matter their corner of the organization or their specific job, they
all do their work in the context of a bigger picture and for the greater cause,
and they’ve made a difference through their tremendous contributions to
BPA’s public service mission.”
During the “Let’s Talk Culture” series, Native Council team members
who are all Native American shared their personal experiences and invit-
ed dialogue to improve understanding and break down stereotypes. The
creative, engaging sessions made a positive and profound effect on fellow
employees and enhanced Bonneville Power’s intercultural competence.
Mercier is a 1992 graduate of North Salem High School and a 1997
graduate of the University of Oregon School of Business. He worked for
10 years for the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department.
Award recipients were nominated by their peers and were evaluated
on numerous criteria, such as excellence in their chosen field, technical
achievement, community outreach and service as an “unsung hero.”
Broccoli and Everything Salad
Baked Zucchini Sticks
Tuesday, April 19
5:30 p.m.
Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws
9675 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Sign up TODAY! !
Call Francene Ambrose, coordinator at 503-879-3663 or
fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org
Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on
age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's
status. Oregon State University Extension Service and Marion-Polk Food Share are Equal Opportunity Employers.
Join us for a fun night of basketball to support safe and
happy childhoods & healthy families for
Child Abuse Prevention Month!
Friday , April 22 5:30pm
3 -on- 3 Basketball
More fun!
at the CTGR Tribal Gym
3 Point Shoot-Out
2 Divisions: 6th-8th
Divisions: 5th Grade &
under, 6th-8th,
& 9th-12th Grades
Register by April 19th!
9th-12th & Adults
(registration not required)
Get your 4 players together and
register at the CTGR Community Service Center or
call Mike Barry at 503-879-1646.
...Fun...Prizes...Snacks…& Great Info!
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Children & Family Services
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Please call Amanda Mercier at
503-879-2039 with any questions.