4
JANUARY 15, 2017
S moke S ignals
Public radio interview
2012 – Chinuk Wawa
language classes debuted
at Willamina High School.
Tribal member and Cultural
Resources Program Manager
Kathy Cole was teaching the
class to seven Tribal high
school students. “It’s our
culture,” said junior Jade
Colton, who dropped Spanish
File photo
to instead learn the Tribe’s
language. “I’d rather learn about our culture.”
2007 – Tribal member Pete Wakeland became the Tribe’s first
director of development. He will supervise the departments of Plan-
ning & Grants Development, Engineering, Lands Management,
Public Works and Natural Resources, as well as Round Valley
Construction, a Tribally owned company,
2002 – The Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center started of-
fering an optometry program with Dr. Charlene White and optical
aide/technician Tamora Hermann providing quality eye care to
Tribal members.
1997 – Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathryn Harrison and Oregon
Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a new gaming compact that allowed the
Grand Ronde Tribe to expand its gaming options at Spirit Mountain
Casino. The new compact allowed craps, roulette, sports betting
and pai gow poker.
1992 – Youth Council Chairman Jeff Mercier said he loves being
on the council because it gives him a chance to help people in the
Tribe and surrounding community. He meets with Alcohol and Drug
Prevention Education Counselor Camille Van Fleet three times a
month to plan youth group activities.
1987 – Tribal Council Chairman Mark Mercier reported that
Tribal Council released a draft agreement to local timber companies
regarding the Tribe’s proposed Reservation Plan that would ban the
Tribe from exporting and competing for public timber for 10 years.
Meetings with local timber company representatives to discuss the
proposal were being scheduled.
1982 – A new Enrollment Committee was selected by Enrollment
Clerk Cheryl Carl. Merle Leno was named chairman with Russ
Leno and Marion Henry picked to be co-chairman and secretary,
respectively. Other committee members were John Mercier, Margo
George, Marvin Kimsey, Nora Kimsey, Jackie Colton, Velma Mercier
and Candy Robertson.
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Cultural Resources Department Manager David Harrelson, left,
is interviewed by Eric Cain, an Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon
Experience series producer, in achaf-hammi, the Tribal plankhouse,
on Tuesday, Jan. 3. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and
Harrelson’s interview will be featured in an episode of Oregon
Experience titled “Broken Treaties” that will air on OPB on March 20.
Board sets meeting
The Tribal Domestic Violence Advisory Board meets the second Tuesday
monthly at the Community Center.
The Domestic Violence Program invites interested staff and community
members to attend the 30-minute meetings.
For more information, contact Anne Falla at 503-879-1660 or anne.falla@
grandronde.org or Carmen Mercier at 503-879-1304 or carmen.mercier@
grandronde.org. n
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year
increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Hunting & Fishing
Ad created by George Valdez
Lifeways of the Grand Ronde People
Who: All Grand Ronde Tribal members.
What: We would like to record your family’s hunting and
fishing stories for inclusion in the Tribe’s cultural
and historical collections.
Where: Chachalu: Tribal Museum and Cultural Center
When: Starting September 1st, 2015
How: Contact Stacey Runningbird @ 503-879-2381
Ad created by George Valdez