4
S moke S ignals
MAY 15, 2017
George confirmed to state
environmental commission
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Brown is
tasking the
Environmen-
tal Quality
Commission
with new rules
under Clean-
er Air Oregon,
a change to
the state’s air
Kathleen George
quality rules
announced in the wake of reports
about toxic emissions in Portland.
George was elected to Tribal
Council in September 2016. Before
her election, she was director of
Spirit Mountain Community Fund,
the Tribe’s philanthropic arm, from
September 2011 through her elec-
tion to council.
She also worked for the Tribe’s
Natural Resources Department as
its environmental coordinator from
1996 to 2002 before moving to east-
ern Oregon to work for the Umatilla
Tribe as a water policy and senior
policy analyst. She also worked for
the Department of Environmental
Quality in Pendleton and owned a
natural resources consulting busi-
ness, Cedar Consulting.
George graduated from Domini-
can University in California with a
bachelor’s degree in environmental
biology. 
2012 – The Grand Ronde Tribe’s efforts to continue improving the
local community received a $500,000 boost from the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development. The federal grant will be used
to a build a new, more accessible food bank capable of handling and
meeting federal Department of Agriculture commodities program
requirements for the local community.
2007 – Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski visited Grand Ronde and met the
oldest living member of the Tribe, Nora Kimsey. In addition to meet-
ing with Tribal Council, the governor visited the Health & Wellness
Clinic, the Tribal Library, Education Complex and made a surprise
visit to Tribal Elder Hubert Mercier.
2002 – The eighth annual
Government-to-Government
Summit was held in Grand
Ronde at Spirit Mountain
Casino. Oregon Gov. John
Kitzhaber made what many
believed would be his final
appearance at the summit.
He spoke about Executive
File photo
Order 96-30 that mandated 2002
state agencies develop rela-
tionships with Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes.
1997 – Spirit Mountain Community Fund made its first grant:
$174,000 to enhance Life Flight Network’s ability to save lives in
medical emergencies that occur in rural Oregon. The grant will help
implement a state-of-the-art satellite navigation system and will help
pinpoint exact accident locations and flight routes, and help provide
medical rescues in bad weather.
1992 – The Elders meal site dropped its meal price in half to $1.50
for anyone who is not an Elder in an attempt to increase attendance.
Of course, Grand Ronde Tribal Elders continued to eat for free.
1987 – Tribal and urban Indian representatives attended a luncheon
meeting with Gov. Neil Goldschmidt. Tribal Council Chairman Mark
Mercier represented the Grand Ronde Tribe and reviewed the progress
being made on the Tribe’s Reservation Plan and updated the governor
on timber company concerns relating to exporting timber from the
proposed Reservation.
SALEM – The Oregon Senate
voted 24-5 on Tuesday, May 2, to
appoint Grand Ronde Tribal Council
member Kathleen George as one of
three new members of the Oregon
Environmental Quality Commission.
George was nominated to the
commission by Oregon Gov. Kate
Brown in March to replace three
members who were fired.
The commission is a five-member
panel appointed by the governor
to four-year terms. Members serve
as the state Department of En-
vironmental Quality’s policy and
rulemaking board. It also issues
orders, judges appeals of fines or
other departmental actions, and
appoints the department’s director.
George will join the commission
along with fifth-generation Orego-
nian Wade Mosby, who was approved
19-10, and Oregon State University
associate professor Molly Kile, who
was approved 16-13. Current com-
mission members Sam Baraso and
Ed Armstrong will continue serving.
The former board members said
they were fired over their choice to
lead the Department of Environ-
mental Quality. However, Brown
said the decision was not related to
that choice, but that new leadership
was necessary to execute her vision
for the department, which includes
new air quality rules.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year incre-
ments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Includes information from Oregon
Public Broadcasting.
The Tribal Court is now issuing marriage licenses and is able to per-
form marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40. For questions regarding
scheduling, please contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. 
Space
is limited!
We will be
taking the fi rst 40
people who sign up.
8:30 a.m. - Sign-in/breakfast
.
9 a.m. - Bow Camp begins
Noon - Lunch
3:30 p.m. - Snack
5 p.m. - Bow Camp ends
Please come in a good way
and have lots of fun learning
• Th e last day to sign up will be June 28
• Th ere will be no EXCEPTIONS for signing up late.
• We will need a release form signed by your parent
or guardian.
• Open to all ages, 12 and under must be chaperoned
by a parent or guardian.
• Food will be provided
Sign-ups please contact Flicka Lucero at 503-879-2268
or fl icka.lucero@grandronde.org
Ad created by George Valdez
Ad created by George Valdez