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APRIL 1, 2020
Smoke Signals
Tribe moving forward with online services
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
In an effort to continue serv-
ing the Tribal membership safely
during the COVID-19 pandemic,
the Tribe is moving many of its
services online or over the phone.
“We have been tracking
COVID-19 since December and
working closely with local, state
and national officials in respond-
ing,” General Manager David Ful-
lerton said. “We’ve established a
helpline for resources not related to
health concerns and are continuing
to prepare as this event unfolds.”
Since the first case of coronavi-
rus was reported in Oregon in late
February, everything regarding
“normal” has shifted.
Gov. Kate Brown has issued mul-
tiple executive orders that included
closing schools until April 28, limit-
ing in-person work to essential ser-
vices, suspending routine medical
and dental appointments, and or-
dering all Oregonians to stay home
unless absolutely necessary to leave.
Tribal leaders detailed the Tribe’s
response to the pandemic during
a Facebook Live event held on
Wednesday, March 25, that in-
cluded Tribal Council Chairwoman
Cheryle A. Kennedy, Fullerton,
Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez and
Health Services Executive Director
Kelly Rowe. More than 240 people
attended remotely, Hernandez
said.
“I’m pleased to be able to talk
Smoke Signals screen captures
From left, Grand Ronde General Manager David Fullerton, Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Health
Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe participated in a Facebook Live outreach event to the Tribal membership on
Wednesday, March 25, to discuss the Tribe’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The social media event
attracted an online audience or more than 240 people, Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez said.
For a full list of updated
remote services, visit
www.grandronde.org/
services/health-wellness/
covid-19-preparedness/
to you about this pandemic that
is covering the world,” Kennedy
said. “We are hopeful that soon we
will overcome this disease. Three
years ago, we set up an Emergency
Management Team and one of the
drills we did was a pandemic. From
that moment until today, we have
been practicing, so we are well po-
sitioned to address this. … As we
move forward, I have great faith in
our Tribe and who we are.”
Services that will be offered re-
motely include Head Start virtual
lessons, replacing home visits with
phone calls, online GED tutoring,
Youth Education tutoring, a Cul-
tural Education YouTube channel,
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant positions.
Housing Grievance Board – 1 vacancy
TERO Commission – 1 vacancy
Please send completed applications to
Stacia Hernandez, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Sheridan, SW Polk and West Valley Fire Districts
are recruiting volunteers for fire response,
emergency medical response, and support functions.
Please see our websites for volunteer applications
and instructions.
sheridanfd.org – swpolkfd.org – westvalleyfd.org
Alcoholics Anonymous remote sup-
port, free mail delivery and local
delivery for Grand Ronde Pharmacy
prescriptions, Chachalu AV Club
online and Chinuk Immersion Pro-
gram remote access.
For non-health related concerns
or information on community re-
sources, call 503-879-HELP. The
line is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday to Friday.
“The biggest part of combating
this virus is prevention,” Rowe said.
“Keep washing your hands, using
hand sanitizer and stay home if
you are sick. Also, please call your
health care provider before coming
to the clinic. This is to protect staff
so we can provide services.”
Fullerton said that during the
COVID-19 outbreak, Tribal Hous-
ing will be implementing a rent
relief policy so that families that
have had their employment affected
will not be evicted for failure to pay
rent on time.
Additionally, the Tribe is working
on setting up a donation drop-off
area for items such as diapers, toilet
paper, paper towels, rubber gloves
and cleaning supplies. Those who
want to donate are asked to call
the helpline.
To help ease the financial burden
on employees who must stay home,
the Tribe authorized an additional
120 hours of paid time off. In the
event that the 120 hours are de-
pleted and the Tribe has not yet
resumed regular operation, Fuller-
ton said the intent is to continue to
take care of employees.
“We want to ease our employees’
fears,” he said. “We have around
450 and now it’s down to 50 to
75 people on site. Our intent is to
have another plan on the table if
needed.”
In response to a question, Ken-
nedy said the closure of Spirit
Mountain Casino probably will
affect future per capita payments
for Tribal members. She said it
would be untrue to say it wouldn’t,
but that “we’re all in this together”
in making sacrifices to stem the
spread of the virus.
Kennedy closed the Facebook Live
meeting by thanking staff members
for their hard work during the pan-
demic and offering practical advice
to viewers.
“Soap is like a miracle for this dis-
ease,” she said. “Wash your hands
more than you ever have before and
don’t touch your face.”
The Tribe will hold a second
Facebook Live event at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 1, that will fea-
ture Kennedy and Spirit Mountain
Casino General Manager Stan
Dillon.