PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 DECEMBER 1, 2016 ‘We stand together in unity’ Tribe celebrates 33rd Restoration anniversary, honors Provost By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer T he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde partied like it was 1983 at the 33rd annual Restoration Cel- ebration meal and powwow held in Grand Ronde on a rainy Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Tribal gymnasium. As many as 250 Tribal mem- bers gathered for the daylong event to give thanks and share in the many blessings that Trib- al members have received over the years since being restored to federal recognition in 1983 by the stroke of President Ron- ald Reagan’s pen on the Grand Ronde Restoration Act. Tribal member Bobby Mercier was joined by Brian Krehbiel, Santiago Atanacio, Jordan Mer- cier, David Harrelson, Trib- al Council Secretary Jon A. George, Nokoa Mercier, Izaiah Fisher, Kaikanim Mercier, Red Sky Clawson, Jacob Holmes and Siletz Tribal member Tim Stuart to open the celebration with almost an hour of hand drumming. Kimberly Roybal, See RESTORATION continued on pages 10-11 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal Elder Margaret Provost, left, is thanked by Tribal Elder Beryle Contreras as Provost is honored for her work on getting the Tribe restored during the Tribe’s 33rd Restoration Powwow held in the Tribal gym on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Behind Beryle is her daughter Kim Contreras. Pharmacy ‘transition period’ affects services By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer A s the Tribe evolves so does its many pro- grams aimed at providing services. Tribal programs are continually upgrading, updating and improving to meet membership needs. The Tribal Pharmacy offers a service to Tribal members, as well as community and staff mem- bers, both at the Governance Center and Spirit Mountain Casino, and Tribal members who live across the country. “I would say, in general, we are focusing on quality over quantity and when you do that it slows things down,” said General Manager Dave Fullerton. “I think that the end result will be a faster, more efficient process, but it’s a transition period.” Fullerton said there have been major changes at the Pharmacy recently. “We have changed from 10-hour shifts to eight- hour shifts, which is focusing on the consumer not necessarily the hours of the staff,” said Fullerton. “We are really trying to meet the con- sumer needs. There is a lot of effort and thought going into making sure we’re providing a good service to the membership and the people who use the clinic. Nothing has been taken lightly in the process of making these decisions.” Tribal member and Pharmacy Director Dr. Leatha Lynch said there have been many chang- es affecting the program since she took over earlier this year. She said she has implemented See PHARMACY continued on page 7 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Marie Hetherington, a pharmacist at the Tribe’s Pharmacy, pours pills out of a bottle to fill a prescription at the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center on Wednesday, Nov. 16.