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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2018)
10 S moke S ignals MARCH 1, 2018 TERO workers feted at Friday feast By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer Will James was working for the Postal Service and struggling to make ends meet when he first learned of the Tribal Employment Rights Office program offered through the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. “I needed a change from my current work situation because I wasn’t getting the hours I needed to be financially stable,” James said. “I really appreciate the opportunity TERO gave me to get into a pre- vailing wage job. Now, I have been hired on full-time.” It is stories like these that make TERO Compliance Officer Duke Kimsey smile. At a Friday, Feb. 23, dinner held at the Elders Activity Center honoring TERO employees, he noted that many of those work- ers he had referred out for jobs have built strong relationships with various contractors and the Oregon Department of Transportation. “We have become a resource for the contractors when they need employees and they even call us when it’s not a TERO job or they are not required to, and that makes our staff very proud because we know that they are all working very hard and proving themselves out on these jobs, which require a lot of stamina and hard work.” TERO was enacted in November 2013 to promote the interests of self-governance and ensure that Indian people can participate in economic opportunities on and near the Reservation. The opportunities include job preparation and train- ing, and Tribal contracting and subcontracting. The ordinance requires all em- ployers, including Tribal gov- ernment, Tribal businesses and contractors who perform work on the Reservation, to provide Grand Ronde Tribal and Indian prefer- ence in employment, and Indian preference in contracting and sub- contracting. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy gave the in- vocation. She thanked Tribal staff who manage the program and TERO employees who work on the various projects and are able to earn living wages. Vice Chair Chris Mercier, Tribal Council member Denise Harvey and past Tribal Council member Wink Soderberg, who serves on the TERO Commission, also attended the dinner. Interim TERO Director John Daniel Alexander, Jeremy Bailey, Randall Bennett, Sean Beauchamp, Nick Bishop, Erin Case, Sydney Clark, Derrick Cooper, Craig Fermore Jr., Alan Crain, Elisa Crawford, Richard Cummings, Alan Cureton, Sage David-Mill- er, Steven Devault, An- drew Edwards, Justin Erickson, Murray Farlow, Christopher Freeman, David Garcia, Keith Gon- zalez, Timothy Grefsrud, Joe Ham, Shane Har- mon, Collins Hinch, David Holmes, Austin James, Chris Johnson, Fred Jo- seph, Joshua Kneeland, Kenny Lafferty, Joseph Lane, Reynold Lane, Tim Lane, Tyson Lee, Scott Lenaburg, Chad Leno, Photo by Michelle Alaimo Brett Leno, Leon Luey, Tribal Employment Rights Office Compliance Officer Duke Kimsey, right, hands Robert Martinez Veda, Wayne Miller, Sean Mitchell, Rife a prize he won during the TERO Worker Appreciation Dinner held at the Elders Michael Moore, Richard Activity Center on Friday, Feb. 23. Nevarez, Mike Norwest, Jason Norwood, Paris Nunes, Wil- Mercier described the group as a “TERO helps me to help others. I liam Patching, Jesse Peone, Sergio team. enjoy helping people get connected Ramirez, Robert Rife, Dakota Rock, “We all work together to be em- and showing them the ropes.” John Runningbird, Jeremy Russell, ployed in good-paying jobs, but Connections are what make Sam Sampson, Jesse Sampson, also in transportation and trans- TERO work well, Kimsey said. Isreal Scot, Michael Shaw, Luke portation construction,” he said. “I want to thank ODOT for these Soderberg, George Spino, Ste- “We forged this partnership with opportunities that have been giv- ven Taggart, Jordan Tinoco, Don the Oregon Department of Trans- en to our Tribal people,” he said. Wabaunsee, Tim Watson, Corey portation for the betterment of our “Without them not all of this would Weston, Travis Weston, Calib Wil- TERO workers.” be possible. Our TERO is kind of son, Jimmy Wilson, Lee Wilson and ODOT has entered into agree- the middle man between these Matt Zimbrick. ments with various Tribes to give projects and our people. We get While attendees dined on meat- Indian preference for qualified thanks all the time when we refer loaf and mashed potatoes, draw- workers on various projects, par- someone out to these jobs, but all ings were conducted for two $25 ticularly those that are near Tribal the thanks really are to be given to Lowe’s gift cards, Shell gas cards lands. ODOT and the workers themselves, and Spirit Mountain Casino gift In 2016, there were 69 TERO because without them none of this cards, along with safety T-shirts employees who worked on 16 trans- would be possible.” and TERO bags. portation projects for a total of TERO workers honored were 19,322 hours. “It was a busy year,” Mercier said. “In 2017, things slowed down a bit, but that happens.” ODOT Regional Field Coordina- tor Paul Joiner attended the dinner and said when he first became in- volved with the TERO program, he “didn’t have a clue.” Seeking your donations for 4 organizations! “I have been in workforce de- G RAND R ONDE H ELPING H ANDS velopment most of my career, and I SKAM M ƎK ʰM ƎK -H AWS , T HE C LOTHES C LOSET , E MPOWERMENT O UTREACH MINISTRIES , AND I have to say this is one of the A C AUSE FOR P AWS ARE WORKING TOGETHER best or very best programs I have seen,” he said. “People are being You’ve got it. We want it! trained and going to work. This is SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2018 wonderful.” 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. Randall Bennett, a certified flag- ger, has been with the program for GIVE TO 4 ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE LOCATION! three years. “I really enjoy helping and men- Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws is seeking small kitchen appliances and personal care items. toring the new people,” he said. The Clothes Closet is seeking school supplies and warm clothing. Empowerment Outreach is seeking camping equipment, bedding, sleeping bags (broken zipper ok) for homeless families. A Cause for Paws is seeking pet food, toys, and beds. We will take books for our lending library. Clean out your food pantry, we’ll figure out the expiration dates! If you are not sure, bring it or give us a call. Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws 9675 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 503-879-FOOD (3663) Follow us on Facebook
