2
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 15, 2017
General
meeting
General Council meeting
11
Jan. 5 7
11 a.m.
a.m. Sunday,
Sunday, Feb.
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 27............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 10............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 24............................................................................4 p.m.
Website: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
Our nation recently celebrated Thanksgiving Day. To me, Thanksgiving
is not about an opulent meal; it is to remember that our ancestors reached
out to those in need.
I am thankful for my family, for my brothers and sisters, and for my
extended family. The Tribal family blesses in so many ways, reaching out
to those in need like our ancestors did.
I recently lost my Dad, Darrel Mercier, and dear friend, Mary Ring, both
residents of the Adult Foster Care Program. The AFC has provided per-
sonal care and medical supervision with an abundance of love and respect.
The staff members are to be commended for their professionalism and
are held in my heart as precious for their loving care. I am truly grateful.
This opportunity to show my gratitude is a shadow in the light the staff
shines on their residents.
I am grateful for the Burial Fund the Tribe provides. What a blessing!
I am very impressed with Bollman’s/Dallas Tribute Funeral Home. The
professional services are offered with respect, love and kindness. The will-
ingness the staff provides to stretch the Burial Fund is above and beyond.
This establishment has proven through the years that they are family.
They repeat dedication over and over.
I am thankful for our Tribal Council and staff. The past vision of return-
ing Tribal families to Grand Ronde for building strength, love and respect
could not be possible without programs. We have health care, education
benefits, housing, cultural ties nationwide and professionalism of staff
whose purpose is rooted in love and respect.
I am thankful for our economic ventures. I love to take friends to our
beautiful casino and library, and tour our community. These improvements
are not possible without the economic proceeds.
I am thankful for our non-Tribal families. Those who provide services
to our community: stores, utilities, churches and schools.
All of the above are precious and not possible without our veterans,
military, police force, security and first responders in our medical field.
I have witnessed the positive and continual evolving of love, respect and
dignity of our community.
I am truly grateful!
Margo Mercier
Roll No. 885
Dear Smoke Signals:
I am writing this letter in regards to lodging at Spirit Mountain Casino.
As a Tribal member who lives out of the Grand Ronde area and a pet owner,
I find it very inconvenient that the Lodge does not have any pet-friendly
rooms. I would stay at the casino nearly every visit if my pet was allowed,
but I am forced to spend my money elsewhere. I would imagine that I am
not alone in feeling these frustrations. It would be nice to see someone
look into the option of adding some pet-friendly rooms.
Manny Mercier
Roll No. 1478
LIHEAP program open in service area
The Tribal Social Service’s LIHEAP – Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program – is open to eligible Tribal members in the six-county service area
and Clackamas County.
This is a first-come, first-served program and income criteria applies.
LIHEAP is federally funded through the Department of Health and Human
Services and is designed to help low-income households with home heating
costs.
For more information, contact Social Services at 503-879-2034.
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closing on Friday, Dec. 22, at noon and closed
on Monday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas. Offices also will be
closing on Friday, Dec. 29, at noon and closed on Monday, Jan. 1,
2018, in observance of New Year's Day and closed on Monday, Jan.
15 , 2018, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA CLARK
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/
PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1463
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
503-879-1961
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
503-879-1418
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
DANIELLE FROST
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
PAGE DESIGNER
STAFF WRITER
503-879-2190
503-879-4663
503-879-1416
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
george.valdez@grandronde.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
SHANNON HAM-TEXEIRA
CENTRAL PHONES
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
503-879-1446
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
shannont.ham-texeira@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Thursday, Dec. 21 ................Jan. 1, 2018
Friday, Jan. 5 ...............................Jan. 15
Friday, Jan. 19 .............................. Feb. 1
Monday, Feb. 5 .......................... Feb. 15
Editorial Policy
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu-
nity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested. Letters must be 400 words or less.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2017-18
Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
— ext. 2352
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Michael Langley
— ext. 1777
Jon A. George
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
michael.langley@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
Brenda Tuomi
— ext. 4555
brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org