S moke S ignals
FEBRUARY 1, 2019
Ceremonial Hunt Update
As we start the new year, I am excited to share information on our
new Meat Distribution Policy. Last year we developed a list of events
and gatherings that qualify for meat. A complete list is available at
Natural Resources, but a few new events that qualify are weddings,
sweats, prevention gatherings and Coming of Age ceremonies. Dona-
tion requests are available at Natural Resources also.
I look forward to a productive year and hope we can continue to meet
the needs of the Tribe to partake in traditional foods.
If you have questions, feel free to call me.
Marline Groshong, chairperson
Availability of Transit Grant Funds
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is providing notice that
eligible transportation providers may apply for federal 5310 grant
funds ($98,095) allocated to the Tribe for the 2019-2021 biennium by
the Oregon Department of Transportation. Projects providing trans-
portation services to seniors and persons with disabilities are eligible
for funding including those that also serve the general public. In past
years the Tribe has chosen to select internally generated proposals
to use these funds in agreements for the transit service to Salem
through the Tillamook County Transportation District (TCTD) and to
McMinnville through the Yamhill County Transit Area.
Applications submitted for projects serving the Grand Ronde com-
munity must be submitted to the Grand Ronde Tribe not later than
noon Feb. 18, 2019. Contact Kim Rogers at 503-879-2250, kim.
rogers@grandronde.org for more information. The Tribe will also be
applying for its ODOT Special Transportation Fund (STF) allocation
($135,400) and suggestions and comments can be provided for use
of those funds as well. STF funds have been used for these same
routes and agreements and for transit service to Lincoln City through
an agreement with TCTD.
The Tribe’s STF Advisory Committee will meet to review 5310 and
STF proposals received (internal and external) at 12:15 p.m. Feb.
19, 2019, at the Elders Activity Center (dining hall north end), 48940
Blacktail Drive, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 (which is west of Grand
Ronde Road). The public is invited to attend this meeting.
It is expected that the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde, which is an STF Agency, will vote on the recommend-
ed uses of these funds at their council meeting on 4 p.m. March 6,
2019. n
Sewing class participants wanted
The sewing classes that have been held at the Elders Activity Center
have been canceled due to lack of participation. Classes could resume if
at least six people commit to attending.
To commit or find out more information, contact Elders Activity Assistant
Virginia Kimsey-Roof at 503-879-2233. n
2014 – The country’s lon-
gest car-free bridge over
the Willamette River had a
one in four chance of receiv-
ing a Chinuk Wawa name.
Out of 9,000 submissions,
the Grand Ronde Tribe’s
suggested name “Tillicum
Crossing,” or “Bridge of
the People,” was among
the finalists. “It is very
representative of use by
people,” Tribal Historian
File photo
David Lewis said. “And it is 2014
connected by Tribal history
and mythology with the nearby Bridge of the Gods.”
2009 – Bus service began between Grand Ronde and Salem. The
Salem Area Mass Transit District and Tribal Council entered into
an agreement that started nine round trips daily Monday through
Friday between the Salem-Keizer Transit Mall and Spirit Mountain
Casino. “This new agreement with the Tribe allows us to lower our
layoff rate by using Salem drivers to staff these new Grand Ronde
routes,” said Tribal member Shelley Hanson, who was secretary of
the Transit District board of directors as well as director of Spirit
Mountain Community Fund. “This is an excellent opportunity for
Tribal members, casino employees, Tribal employees and casino
guests to use mass transit to lower their commute costs as well as
their carbon footprint.”
2004 – Tribal member Erick Estrada was seeing the War in Iraq
from the front row after enlisting in the Army following the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks. “Just keep your eyes open and don’t trust too many
people,” advised his grandfather, Tribal Elder Bud Leno, who served
in World War II. In Kuwait, Estrada and fellow soldiers lived in
tents with outside temperatures soaring as high as 130 degrees. As
a nuclear, biological and chemical specialist with the 30th Medical
Unit in Baghdad, Estrada also distributed uniforms that helped
defend soldiers against weapons of mass destruction.
1999 – The opening of Spirit Mountain Lodge included Tribal
members, community members and other guests who toured the
hotel, casino and Hall of Legends. Tribal Council member Val Grout
gave an opening blessing. Tribal Council Chair Kathryn Harrison
thanked those who had supported building the hotel. “On days like
this, I always think back to where our people came from,” Harrison
said. “I am sure they didn’t live in a place like this. I hope when
the future generations take over, they will have good things to say
about us because, then, we will be the ancestors.”
1994 – Grand Ronde Tribal Council, Spirit Mountain Development
Corp., Tribal members and staff traveled to the state Capitol in
Salem for a dedication of Native American artifacts that had been
recently found along the Columbia River. SAFECO Properties Inc.
was in the process of developing land in Gresham when the arti-
facts were found. Archaeologists determined the artifacts to have
originated from two separate settlement periods, approximately 950
A.D. and 1400 A.D. The artifacts were presented to the Tribe at a
ceremony and were to be kept temporarily by the Marion County
Historical Society.
1989 – Five Tribal members attending Willamina High School
spoke at a Tribal Council meeting to request support for a school trip
to Florida to visit the Kennedy Space Center, EPCOT Center and
Sea World. The five students — Trevor Aaron, Angela Leno, Leanna
and Tommy McKnight, and Cory Meneley — needed $575 each to
pay for round-trip costs to visit Florida. The students were looking
for sponsors and donations, and had raised approximately $200.
1984 – Due to its newly federally-recognized status, the Con-
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde was an honored guest at the
mid-winter Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians conference held
at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Portland. Tribal Council Vice Chair
Kathryn Harrison talked to the group about the Tribe’s history and
the struggle for Restoration.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Ad created by George Valdez
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