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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2017)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Easter egg hunt photos — pg. 11 MAY 1, 2017 Riverbank erosion at Tribal Cemetery a grave concern Drone being used to survey conditions By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer T ribal Council unanimously signed an authorization to proceed on March 23 allow- ing Engineering and Public Works Manager Jesse White to seek a geotechnical engineer to help him assess the Yamhill River bank along the west side of the Tribal Cemetery in Grand Ronde. White is working with River Design Group of Whitefish, Mont., to perform the work and an on- site inspection with the engineer occurred on Wednesday, April 26. River Design Group has a second office in Corvallis. River Design Group is a private consulting firm specializing in riv- er, stream and wetland restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest and other western states. It will provide White and Tribal Council with a report on the current status of the riverbank where it meets the back side of the cemetery for approximately 850 feet. White said the report should identify any risks of further erosion in that area and if there are prob- lems identified in the assessment the report also would include rec- ommendations on how to correct or mitigate those issues. “We’re just being proactive at the cemetery,” White said. “There are graves right on top of that bank and so we’re concerned if the river were See CEMETERY continued on page 16 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal GIS Analyst Alex Drake is the Tribe’s first Unmanned Aircraft Systems pilot. Drake obtained license through the Federal Aviation Administration to pilot the drone that the Tribe’s Cultural Resources Department purchased. Fly like an eagle? Drake appointed to be Tribe’s first drone pilot By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer B lending ancient values with new technology continues to permeate throughout every program the Grand Ronde Tribe has created for the benefit of the membership. The latest blend of old and new to benefit the Tribe is the pur- chase of a drone by the Cultural Resources Department. On Tuesday, April 11, Tribal GIS Coordinator Volker Mell and GIS Analyst Alex Drake present- ed information to Tribal Council at its regular Legislative Action Committee meeting about Drake becoming licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration to become a remote drone pilot. Mell and Drake work for the Tribe’s Geographic Information Systems program, which provides a critical tool for Tribal planning and strategic missions. Tribal Council gave final ap- proval for Drake to become the Tribe’s first Unmanned Aircraft Systems pilot at its Wednesday, See DRONE continued on page 15 Gaming differs in Oregon, Washington casinos Spirit Mountain accentuating its Vegas-style machines By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer W ith the opening of the new Cowlitz Tribal casino 15 miles north of the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area on Monday, April 24, the differences between gaming in Oregon and Washington are receiving renewed attention. And, not surprisingly, Spirit Mountain Casino, which has relinquished its 21-year run as the closest casino to the Portland gaming market, is pointing out those significant differences. Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Stan Dillon wants guests to know about the dif- ferences and has placed large signs throughout the casino and sent out mailers explaining that all slot machines “are not created equal.” “The truth is we actually do have one thing that they (Washington casinos) don’t have. We actually truly do have traditional Nevada-style slots and they have a version of a video lottery terminal that is being distributed among guests,” Dillon says. “We want to make sure the guests know the difference.” Signs placed around Spirit Mountain Casino point out that Oregon Tribes are allowed Las Vegas-style slot machines in their casinos because of the compacts negotiated with the state. Tribal casinos in Washington are not allowed by compact to Stan Dillon operate Las Vegas-style slot machines and instead offer players scratch ticket See CASINOS continued on page 14
