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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2019)
14 Smoke Signals JUNE 1, 2019 Casino in the final year of its second three-year sponsorship FLOAT continued from front page at the casino and I said, ‘What is current right now, today, that we could reflect?’ Of course, it was the falls and the fishing.” Sticking within the $70,000 budget for the float, Bobb created a design that reflects the Native American tradition of fishing at the falls. Spirit Mountain Casino is in the final year of its second three-year sponsorship deal with the Grand Floral Parade. Casi- no Sponsorship Administrator Jocelyn Huffman said that the parade sponsorship continues to promote the Grand Ronde Tribe’s primary economic enter- prise and is important now that the Cowlitz Tribe opened Ilani north of Portland. “The marketing and advertis- ing benefits are phenomenal,” Huffman said previously. “But it’s also just a great platform to tell the Tribe’s story.” This year marks the 112th year of the Rose Festival and the 107th time the parade has been held. Because of war and con- struction issues over the years, the parade has not always been held. It is the 24th year that the casino has participated in the Rose Festival, Huffman said. The Rose Festival Court made its annual visit to Grand Ronde on Thursday, May 9, stopping off at Chachalu Tribal Museum & Cultural Center and achaf-ham- mi, the Tribal plankhouse. Tribal Royalty will participate in the Starlight Parade being held 9 p.m. Saturday, June 1, in downtown Portland and Tribal Royalty and Veterans Royalty will accompany the casino float when it exits Memorial Coliseum and starts the route through downtown Portland on June 8. The casino also is recruiting em- ployees and community members to travel to Portland on Wednes- day and Thursday, June 5-6, to put the final decorating touches on the casino’s float. Those interested in participating should contact Huffman at 503-879-3054. Last year’s float, “Nature’s Playground,” won the Roseboro Award for the most artistic de- sign and presentation. “We’re thrilled to be back and again telling the Tribe’s sto- ry,” Huffman said. “The design tells a story that we can tell throughout the three-week fes- tival. It’s something going on in the Portland area that reflects that our people have been there since time immemorial. It was kind of a perfect fit for our float design.” The job hunter Herron heads to Vietnam to teach English By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Editorial Board member Monty Herron became the ninth Grand Ronde Tribal member to live over- seas on Tuesday, May 21, when he boarded a plane in Seattle bound for Vietnam. Herron, 46, accepted a position teaching English at a language school in the Mekong delta city of Vinh Long, which has a population of about 150,000. Herron is now the Tribal member who is the sixth farthest away from Grand Ronde. Two Tribal members live in west- ern Australia, two live in Qatar and one lives in the United Arab Emirates, which are all farther away than the approximately 7,500 miles between Grand Ronde and Vinh Long. Herron said he decided to accept the positon in Vietnam after a series of unfulfilling jobs he has worked at since graduating from and teaching at Portland State Uni- versity. During his last job, which involved making potato chips, he injured his hand and now has a permanent partial disability. The teaching position in Vietnam is for one year, with a four-month escape clause for either himself or employer in case it does not work out. Herron said he found out about the teaching position from a close friend who found him English teaching positions in either Japan or Vietnam with the latter position paying better. Herron started preparing for the move about a month ago, including getting vaccinations for numerous diseases. He already possessed a passport. “It’s been a whirlwind,” he said. Herron does not speak Vietnam- ese, but was told that should not be a problem. “They said, ‘You’re here to teach English, not learn Vietnamese,’ ” he said. “There is a huge push there to learn English.” Herron’s job will include teaching Timothy J. Gonzalez/Smoke Signals file photo Editorial Board member Monty Herron speaks at the General Council meeting held in the Tribal Community Center on Dec 2, 2018. Herron, 46, accepted a position in Vietnam teaching English at a language school in the Mekong delta city of Vinh Long. English to elementary school-aged children in the mornings and then teaching high school-aged students and adults in the evenings. Herron said he is looking forward to the adventure, from trying the cuisine to adapting to the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia. “I’m a big fan of pho,” he said. “I’m excited for the adventure. I want to go teach again because teaching is what I am really passionate about. I just wish I could take the people I love with me. That’s the rough part.” Herron also plans on keeping up his responsibilities as an Editorial Board member, participating in meetings through Skype despite the 14-hour time difference. Herron has been a board member since June 2017. “It is my hope since I was just reappointed and it would be a bad deal for me to bail,” he said. “I was one of the people who pushed for us possibly having a member at- large on our board because I think it speaks to us really serving our mission of serving Tribal members everywhere.” cultural education A re you missing out on what Cultural Education has to offer? Follow us on Facebook to get detailed class information, photos from events, and updates. Plus, check out the tribal calendar for a quick glance of upcoming events and classes. Open to Tribal and Community members. Join us! Search Facebook for Grand Ronde Cultrual Education Tribal Calendar // www.grandronde.org/tribal-calendar
