8
OCTOBER 15, 2017
S moke S ignals
'Everything had meaning behind it'
ANNIVERSARY continued
from front page
ed beaded necklaces to those who
signed the guest book.
Health & Wellness Center staff
handed out reusable grocery bags
that contained lip balm, a memo
pad and dental care items.
Tribal Council Secretary Jon A.
George led the invocation to start
the event. He said that for 20 years
the building has been improving
the community’s health and serves
as a cultural reminder to Tribal
members of who they are.
The Color Guard included Tribal
Elder Raymond Petite, community
members Dennis Kleffner and Al
Miller, and Tribal spouse Richard
VanAtta. Drummers included
Cultural Resources Department
employees David Harrelson, Bri-
an Krehbiel, Bobby Mercier and
Jordan Mercier, as well as Tribal
members Nicolas Atanacio, Iz-
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
abella Atanacio,
Tribal Elder and Health
Jade Unger, Chel-
Committee member Claudia
sea Clark, Lisa
Archuleta and
Leno untangles beaded
Kailiyah Krehbiel.
necklaces to be gifted to
Other Tribal
attendees of the Grand Ronde
Council members
Health & Wellness Center’s 20th
in attendance
anniversary celebration held at
included Chair-
the clinic on Friday, Oct. 6.
woman Cheryle
A. Kennedy, Vice
Chair Chris Mer-
c i er a n d Trib a l
Council member
Denise Harvey, in
addition to past
T r i b a l C o u n c i l A carving inspired by a traditional Chinook burl bowl is
by Northwest sculptor and
members Wesley unveiled during the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center’s
mixed media artist Lillian
“ B u d d y ” W e s t , 20th anniversary celebration at the clinic on Friday, Oct. 6.
Pitt, a member of the Warm
Steve Bobb Sr. and
The permanent piece was revealed by Tribal Elders and Health
Springs Tribe.
Bob Mercier.
Committee members Bernadine Shriver, second from left, and
George created both the
Grand Ronde
original and 20th anniver-
Health Services Alan Ham, middle, and Tribal Activities/Wellness Promotion
sary Health and Wellness
Executive Director Coordinator Kandee Little, right.
logos. Spirit Mountain is at
Kelly Rowe said it
the center and the four figures sur-
health services. Using that informa-
was “an honor” to serve her Tribe
rounding it with hands intertwined
tion, we started moving forward.”
and that the last two decades have
represent Elders, adults, youth and
Kennedy said that due to the
been an amazing time of growth
children. The feathers on the fig-
long-term effects of Termination be-
and opportunity.
ures represent the five main Tribes
fore Tribal Restoration, it was very
“Tribal member health and well-
and the triangles on the outer ring
important
that
health
and
healing
ness has always been a priority,”
represent the number of programs
be implemented at all levels.
Rowe said. “Today, we are celebrat-
offered in 1997. Lines on the inner
“The foundation was laid that
ing a structure that was a result of
ring represent the number of em-
healing is a center part of the build-
the Tribe’s priority. It was brought
ployees when the clinic opened.
ing for our community,” she said.
to life by the foresight and per-
“Lots of effort went into this,”
“There was a healing that needed
sistence of a visionary, dedicated
Kennedy said. “Everything had
to occur in us.”
to elevating the health status of
meaning behind it. We wanted to
Kennedy also reflected on how far
the Tribe and Indian people across
make sure this building was a place
health care has improved since its
the state of Oregon and the nation.
of healing, a safe place. … I also
beginnings in modular buildings
… This visionary is Cheryle A.
want to also acknowledge Tribal
with only a sheet to separate an
Kennedy.”
Council. If they didn’t share the
exam room from the waiting area.
Kennedy, who was one of the
vision, this would have been very
“Grand Ronde didn’t have any
Tribe’s first three employees after
difficult to achieve.”
of these facilities here, there were
1983’s Restoration and a former
Other speakers at the celebration
none. … It took many years to get
Health & Human Services director
included state Sen. Arnie Roblan,
here. With these humble begin-
for the Tribe, received applause as
Interim Tribal Employment Rights
nings, we started working and
she approached the podium.
Office Director John Mercier and
started planning things … we put
“It’s a pleasure to stand before
Tribal artisan Brian Krehbiel.
all of our heart, soul and ener-
you today and welcome you to this
“It is an honor to be with a group
gy into this,” Kennedy said. “We
facility of healing,” Kennedy said.
of
people who are determined, per-
cleaned
the
buildings,
took
care
of
“I just want to say it really is a
sistent and willing to do the hard
the office and served as assistants
privilege and an honor to have been
work to keep yourselves together,”
to the general manager … this
part of the Tribe’s development. I
Roblan said. “For the sake of all the
involved a huge community effort.
sat on the first Tribal Council after
young people who are here, your
It is what you told us you wanted,
we were restored, and there was a
Tribal Elders and leaders have
and we listened.”
needs assessment. The return rate
given you an example from their
Kennedy also pointed out various
was around 97 percent … all of the
heart of what it meant to be a part
artistic
features
on
the
interior,
thoughts went into creating what
of Grand Ronde. Now, you have the
such as the bronze masks, created
was needed here at Grand Ronde for
opportunity to move forward.
“Twenty years ago, your Tribe
came to the conclusion that you
needed a home and a place where
health care was the number one
thing. … They looked at the past
and looked to the future, and they
decided to build something that will
last, an amazing building. They
brought the outside in, making this
a place people want to come and
spend the time that they need to.”
The center was one of the first
buildings constructed by the Tribe
after the 1995 opening of Spirit
Mountain Casino.
The Health & Wellness Center
began with 20 programs and 61 em-
ployees. According to past articles
in Smoke Signals, a major change
after the building opened was that
Tribal members who lived out of the
area were willing to travel to Grand
Ronde to receive their health care.
John Mercier served as the facil-
ity’s project manager.
“We did have a lot of help on
this,” he said. “Teamwork is what
made the whole thing successful.
… The building is 20 years old,
but the effort to bring it here is 30
years old. … There were a lot of
challenges that came about, but
with all that, here you are. I thank
you all so much for what you do in
this building.”
Krehbiel spoke briefly about the
carving he helped create for the an-
niversary celebration with Jordan
Mercier and Bobby Mercier. It is
representative of a traditional Chi-
nook burl wood bowl, which were
considered wealth items, usually
owned by important people of a
village and passed down as family
heirlooms. The wood used for the
carving is western red cedar, tak-
en from planks left over after the
construction of achaf-hammi, the
Grand Ronde plankhouse.
“When you look at it … it’s really
whatever you want to see,” he said.
In addition to the speakers, present
and past Health Committee mem-
bers were thanked for their support
and contribution to the construction
and promotion of the Grand Ronde
Health & Wellness Center. They in-
clude Ham, Hobbs, Shriver, Claudia
Leno, Allison Empey, Anna Hannan,
Annabelle Hamm, Bonnie Mercier,
Camille Mercier, Diane Lane, Dor-
othy Greene, Faye Smith, Janet
Phillips, Merle Leno, Nancy Renfrow
and Patti Tom-Martin.
The Health & Wellness Center
was originally designed to house
the medical and dental staff, sup-
port services and wellness, and
counseling, which included drug,
mental health services and voca-
tional rehabilitation. New services
made possible with a larger build-
ing were optometry, pharmacy,
medical lab and radiology.
“It is amazing to be able to work
with the membership, and it is
important for me to know what we
do here is meaningful,” Rowe said.
After the speakers, attendees
took facility tours and sampled
plenty of food, which included
salmon, cheese, crackers, fruit,
vegetables, fry bread and three
commemorative cakes.