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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2018)
6 S moke S ignals JUNE 1, 2018 Coming home Tribal member Sara Thompson assumes new deputy press secretary role By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer Accepting the newly created role of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s deputy press secretary was more than just a career opportunity for Sara Thompson. The Tribal member also sees it as a chance to come home. “We’re raised in Indian Country to serve our community and this was an opportunity for me to do that,” she says. Thompson’s job will include at- tending various Tribal functions, drafting social media content, working with the news media, assisting the executive office with media releases, quotes and other press content, taking photographs and community outreach, among other duties. Before accepting the job in Grand Ronde, Thompson, 39, worked for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission in Portland doing public relations and media work for12 years. “My work was focused on salmon policy and natural resource issues,” she says. “I got to work with some amazing folks on issues I adored, but now I get to expand that.” Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree from Oregon State Uni- versity in fisheries and wildlife science, but realized late into her major choice that she preferred the human aspect of natural resources. “But at that point, being so far down that path, I wasn’t going to start over,” Thompson says. After taking a year off from school post-graduation, she headed back Photo by Michelle Alaimo Sara Thompson is the Tribe’s new deputy press secretary. Her job will include attending various Tribal functions, drafting social media content, working with the news media, assisting the executive office with media releases, quotes and other press content, taking photographs and community outreach, among other duties. to Oregon State and earned her master’s in natural resources and Tribal policy in 2006. Although Thompson enjoyed the time spent with her previous employer, she is happy to tackle new projects and forgo the Portland commute. “This was an opportunity to not only come home, but expand the breadth of issues I get to work with,” she says. “Education, hous- ing, the Tribal museum, cultural department and to tell those sto- ries. That is really exciting for me.” In her first few weeks working in Grand Ronde, Thompson says she has enjoyed seeing how the Tribe has changed and evolved over the years. tumwata lecture series june 16, 2018 1 pm to 5 pm End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Organized by | The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 1726 Washington St, Oregon City, OR 97045 Hosted by| The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center greg archuleta 1:00 pm | virginia butler | stephen dow beckham | david harrelson 2:00 pm 3:00 pm 4:00 pm native plants and tribal uses in western oregon archaeology of the portland basin the surprising adventures of george gibbs in the oregon country grand ronde tribal member and lifeways instructor professor and chair , dept . anthropology , portland state university pamplin professor of history emeritus , lewis and clark college vanishing race , buried treasure , and the noble savage : modern misconceptions of native americans cultural resources dept . manager confederated tribes of grand ronde “It is nice re-acquainting with home, spending time at the cul- tural center, and just going back and visiting memory lane to when powwow was held in the gym at the elementary school,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed reconnecting with the com- munity and getting to know folks.” Thompson served on the Tribe’s Fish & Wildlife Commission from February 2000 to November 2003 and worked several summers for the Natural Resources Department while in college to help fund her education. One of the first things Thompson did after starting her new job was to look for her name among the plaque on the Tribe’s list of graduates. “I’ve used so many of these pro- grams, such as education and hous- ing,” she says. “This is a chance to give back.” Thompson is hoping to bring a fresh set of eyes and new ways in which to share the Tribe’s stories with the media and community. “I want to bring a fresh perspec- tive,” she says. “There are amazing stories to tell about work that we do and the community that we are. I can’t wait to tell them.” Thompson says her biggest chal- lenge so far is having several events going on at once. “There are so many things happen- ing right out of the gate, but everyone has been very helpful. … I don’t have the institutional memory associated with people who have been around for years,” she says. “There are so many big things going on but it makes for an exciting time, too.” When she is not working, Thomp- son says she enjoys tropical vaca- tions with husband, Rod, as well as kayaking, hiking, yoga and diving. The couple has visited locations such as Mexico, Fiji and Belize with plans to go to Hawaii soon. They live in Keizer. Tribal Police issue 26 citations as part of effort The Grand Ronde Tribal Po- lice Department issued 26 cita- tions and 11 warnings and made three arrests during its partici- pation in a DUII High Visibility Enforcement effort during the weekend of May 25-28. Tribal police officers worked 12 hours of overtime during the Memorial Day weekend event, which focused on stopping im- paired drivers and careless, reckless and other aggressive driving habits. Sixteen citations were issued for speeding violations, five were issued for driving while suspend- ed, and five citations and 11 warnings were issued for other traffic-related violations. One subject was arrested for driving under the influence of controlled substances and transported to the Polk County Jail in Dallas. In addition, on the morning of Monday, May 28, a Tribal police officer assigned to the traffic grant made a traffic stop of a vehicle that was reported as part of a driving complaint. The two female passengers had valid warrants for their arrest and were arrested on the warrants, as well as resisting arrest, inter- fering with a police officer and unlawful possession of heroin. The male driver was issued a citation for failure to drive within lane and released. Tribal Police Sgt. Rod McAllis- ter said in a press release that the intent of the heightened pa- trols is to prevent deaths, injuries and property damage caused by DUII drivers by removing them from the road. “Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department officers are trained to look for signs of impairment beyond just alcohol, as many other substances, legal or illegal, can impair a person’s ability to operating a vehicle safely,” he said. “The officers of the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department are committed to making Grand Ronde the safest community in Oregon. Preventing, locating and arresting DUII drivers is one of many ways they are working to accomplish this vision.” Funding to support the en- hanced DUII patrols is provided by a High Visibility Enforcement grant awarded by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Call 503-879-2123 to report suspected DUII drivers in Grand Ronde or anywhere in Oregon by calling 800-243-7865.