smok signflz
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
7
Meeting envisions 2033 in Grand Ronde
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The year 2033 in Grand Ronde
might not have flying cars, but it
could feature a skate park, Adopt
an Elder program, virtual class-
rooms and a drop-in mental health
clinic, according to Tribal members
who attended a listening session
on Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Tribal
Community Center.
The 50th anniversary of the
Grand Ronde Tribe’s Restoration is
less than 15 years away and Tribal
government is already inquiring of
the membership what they want
the Grand Ronde community to
look like at the half-century mark
after Restoration.
A second community listening
session focused on the future of
health care, social services, ed-
ucation and employment needs.
The session was intended to help
planners understand the needs of
Tribal members and allow Tribal
members to share their own ideas
and insights, said Planning Direc-
tor Rick George.
“We want to listen to you to deter-
mine the future of Grand Ronde,”
he said about the evening’s goal.
The Tribe launched the Sha-
wash-ili?i 2033 – nsayka KHapa
aLqi (Grand Ronde 2033 – Our Fu-
ture) effort in May. The 16-month
community development planning
process will help guide the deci-
sions and setting of priorities for
the Tribe as the 50-year mark
approaches.
“The Tribe hopes that the active
participation of Tribal membership
will help create a plan that will
further a vision for the community
that reflects the values of the Tribe
as well as the aspirations of the
people,” George said.
After a dinner of salmon, wild rice
and green beans, the more than 50
attendees sitting at seven tables
offered their suggestions on the
four main topics in 15-minute seg-
ments while facilitators captured
their myriad ideas on large sheets
of paper.
Facilitators included General
Manager David Fullerton, Health
& Wellness Quality Improvement
Manager Dawn Doar, Education
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Tribal Planning Director Rick George leads a listening session about what
services Tribal members want to see in 2033 on Thursday, Oct. 17, in the
Tribal Community Center. More than 50 Tribal members attended the session
and provided input on the future of health care, social services, education
and employment in Grand Ronde.
Department Manager Angela Fasa-
na, Human Resources Manager Ca-
mille Mercier, Housing Department
Manager Shonn Leno and Admin-
istrative Program Manager Joan
Dugger, Education Department
Family Services Coordinator Au-
dra Sherwood and Social Services
Employment Program Manager
Michael Herrin.
Education was the first topic
tackled as Higher Education Man-
ager Bryan Langley briefed attend-
ees on current programs and asked
attendees what services people
foresee being necessary in 2033 to
meet the needs of the membership.
Answers from around the seven
tables included such things as a
Native food program, a skateboard
park for children, a program to help
students with learning disabilities,
more vocational training opportuni-
ties and the availability for virtual
classrooms.
The format continued through
the evening.
Next up was Social Services
with Children & Family Services
Program Manager Kristy Petite
briefing attendees on current pro-
grams and then asking what the
community’s social services needs
might be in 2033, as well as how the
Tribe can keep youth and Elders
stay connected.
A sampling of responses from
around the tables included more
space at the community garden,
mindfulness trainings, a commu-
nity center with a pool that would
connect Elders and youth, finan-
cial literacy classes for Elders and
families, and an Adopt an Elder
program.
The third topic covered was em-
ployment and vocational training
with Human Resources Manager
Camille Mercier asking attendees
what employment opportunities
should look like in 2033 and what
employment barriers Tribal mem-
bers currently experience.
Responses included offering child
care for employees, career develop-
ment programs, succession training
to help Tribal members take over
when nonTribal member managers
leave or retire, on-the-job training
and more equity between govern-
mental and Spirit Mountain Casino
employees.
The final topic covered was health
care with Doar asking attend-
ees what medical and behavioral
health services they’d like to see
offered in Grand Ronde in 2033.
Responses ranged from providing
acupuncture and more naturopath-
ic health care to encouraging tradi-
tional natural birthing to creating
a drop-in mental health office to
improving the image of the Tribe’s
Behavioral Health program when
it comes to confidentiality concerns.
George said the input will be
compiled and be developed into a
summary report. During the next
three months, staff who manage
the four departments will be briefed
on the results, and then goals and
priorities will be developed into a
plan that will be taken to Tribal
Council and Tribal administration
for possible implementation.
“We’re trying to break the bound-
aries of administrative departments
and move it to a more organic pro-
cess driven by community needs,”
George said.
Previous subjects discussed in
the first listening session were
Housing, Public Safety, Needed
Services and Recreation, Facilities
and Gathering Spaces.
Tribal Council members Steve
Bobb Sr., Kathleen George, Michael
Langley and Jon A. George attend-
ed and participated in the listening
session.
The meeting closed with a raffle
during which Nike and gas gift
cards and T-shirts were given
away.
For more information about the
community development process,
visit the Tribal government’s web-
site at www.grandronde.org, e-mail
grandronde2033@grandronde.org
or call George at 503-879-2112.
T h e a n n u a l Ve t e r a n s M e a l
5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8
Social hour begins at 5 p.m. with a meal being served at 6 p.m.
Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road
All veterans and their family members welcome
Brought to you by the Tribe’s Veterans Special Event Board
Drawing for prizes
Guest Speaker: Retired Army Colonel Gale Sears
For more information, contact Tribal Council member
Steve Bobb Sr. at 503-876-3118 or Rich Van Atta at 541-730-1947
Ad by Samuel Briggs III