S moke S ignals
NOVEMBER 15, 2018
11
es who built Falls fishing platform
General Manager David Fullerton, left, talks to the Tribal members and staff gathered in the Tribal gym to celebrate
the completion of the ceremonial fishing platform at Willamette Falls on Wednesday, Nov. 7 as Cultural Resources
Manager David Harrelson, right, prepares a presentation.
that a fishing platform had been
constructed and the Tribe had
overcome numerous obstacles, from
getting fishing and hunting rights
restored by the Oregon Department
of Fish & Wild-
life to Portland
General Electric
revoking permis-
sion to access the
fishing platform
site.
“What a joy it is
to see you all here
today,” Kennedy
said. “My heart
feels very glad,
proud, thankful
and blessed that
we have a group
of individuals
who share our vi-
sion, who believe
in what we’re do-
ing and will put
themselves at
risk in order to fulfill the goals of
this Tribe.
“So I stand here today, very
humble to be a part of all of this …
to know that the blood that flows
through my veins is attached to
Willamette Falls, as many of you
as well.”
Kennedy also reminded employ-
ees about how the Tribe had to sac-
rifice its hunting and fishing rights
in the 1980s to secure state support
for its Reservation Plan.
“We were held hostage by the
state,” Kennedy said.
Fullerton recognized a slew of
employees who helped, including
Tribal Attorney Rob Greene, Se-
Former Tribal Council Chairwoman
Kathryn Harrison embraces Utility
Maintenance Supervisor Joe
Loomis during a celebration for the
completion of the Tribal Ceremonial
Fishing Platform at Willamette
Falls held in the Tribal gym on
Wednesday, Nov. 7.
nior Staff Attorney Jennifer Bie-
sack, Procurement Manager Larry
Leith, Procurement Supervisor
Kevin Mueller, Lead Shipping &
Receiving Clerk Nathan Rolston,
Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia
Hernandez, Executive Assistant
Barbara Branson, Deputy Press
Secretary Sara Thompson, Real-
ty Coordinator Teresa Brocksen,
Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier,
Maintenance Supervisor Andrew
Freeman, Career Development
Case Worker David DeHart, Nu-
trition Program Manager Kristy
Criss-Lawson and Lead Cook Kevin
Campbell, as well as Tribal Council
members and Youth Education, Sil-
viculture and Cultural Resources
employees.
Fullerton and Tribal Council
Tribal Council member Kathleen
George, left, presents a blanket
to Maintenance Technician Daniel
Mooney during a celebration
for the completion of the Tribal
Ceremonial Fishing Platform at
Willamette Falls in the Tribal gym
on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
members Kennedy, George, Jack
Giffen Jr., Kathleen George, Steve
Bobb Sr., Denise Harvey, Lisa
Leno and Michael Langley pre-
sented Pendleton blankets to the
main workers who were at the
falls everyday installing the fish-
ing platform. Those employees
included Fish & Wildlife Program
Manager Kelly Dirksen, Aquatic
Biologist Torey Wakeland, Biolo-
gist Brandon Weems, Engineering
& Public Works Manager Jesse
White, Utility Maintenance Su-
pervisor Joe Loomis, Maintenance
Technician Daniel Mooney, Fish &
Wildlife Technician Matt Zimbrick,
Groundskeeper Nick Kimsey, GIS
Coordinator Alex Drake and em-
ployees of contractor Chris Scholten
Construction in Willamina.
“It took this whole organization
to make this happen,” Fullerton
said. “Everyone really contributed
to this project.”
Elder and former longtime Tribal
Council Chairwoman Kathryn Har-
rison offered to hug and thank those
who did the hard work, ferrying
heavy equipment and supplies across
Willamette River from the Oregon
City side to the West Linn side and
navigating slick rocks to install the
platform. The employees took her up
on the offer and each received a hug
and heartfelt thank you.
Tribal Council also honored Ful-
lerton with a Pendleton blanket for
his work in getting the platform
built.
All Tribal employees received a
black sweatshirt and can of salm-
on. The back of the sweatshirt
bears an image of a Tribal member
dipnetting over the words “Keeping
Culture Alive at Willamette Falls.”
“The one thing I will say about
our people is that we don’t give
up,” Kennedy said. “That seed has
been planted in you all as well. It
was planted in me that we have to
move forward. This is the future
of our children. That is why we do
this, for our children so they will
know who they are. That they will
be able to, with pride, say, ‘I’m a
Grand Ronde Indian.’ ” n