Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2017)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Eye safety important during total solar eclipse — pg. 23 AUGUST 15, 2017 Effect of Cowlitz casino not as dire as predicted on Tribe By Dean Rhodes Journey jaunt Smoke Signals editor W hen the Cowlitz Tribe opened its new casino, Ilani, in late April, Grand Ronde Tribal representatives and Spirit Mountain Casino executives braced for a possible catastrophic downturn in casino business and revenue. Ilani, if nothing else, has location, location, location, being only 15 miles north of the Vancouver-Port- land metropolitan area off heavily traveled Interstate 5. See CASINO EFFECT continued on page 4 Tribe Council starts LISTSERV e-mail service By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor I n an effort to continue improv- ing communication with Tribal members, the Tribe is starting a LISTSERV service that will allow for multiple e-mail distribution groups to be established for differ- ent types of information. The first distribution group will be for Tribal Council News, which will include agendas for meetings as well as other general Tribal news. Tribal Council Chief of Staff Sta- See E-MAIL SERVICE continued on page 6 Photo courtesy of Lisa Archuleta The Grand Ronde Canoe Family arrives in Stankiya to Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 5, for Landing Day of the 2017 Canoe Journey. This year’s journey was hosted by We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations and had the theme of “Standing Together.” The Canoe Family left Grand Ronde on Saturday, July 29, to start the journey. See more photos on page 9. Will 700-vote total be surpassed in 2017 election? By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor I Graphic created by George Valdez n the history of Grand Ronde Tribal Council elections since Restoration in 1983, only six candidates have ever garnered 600 or more votes and no candidate has ever received 700 votes. Current Tribal Council Vice Chair Cheryle A. Kennedy holds the record for most votes received, capturing 690 votes in 2006 with a field of nine candidates running for office. Also in 2006, current Tribal Council member Jack Giffen Jr. and former Tribal Council member Valorie Sheker also topped the 600-vote threshold, gar- nering 633 and 608 votes, respectively. The fourth-place finisher in 2006 was a distant 242 votes behind Sheker. Other candidates who have received 600 or more votes are current Tribal Council members Kathleen George in 2016 with 624 votes and Chris Mercier in 2007 with 607 votes. Former Tribal Council member Angie Blackwell re- ceived 604 votes in 2004. Blackwell ran in a field of 13 can- didates while Mercier ran against nine other candidates and George ran against eight other candidates. “I think the candidates owe it to the See ELECTION VOTE continued on page 11