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APRIL 1, 2020
9
Rivera is Tribal Court’s new administrator
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
When asked what the most chal-
lenging aspect of being the Tribe’s
new Court Administrator was,
Lorena Rivera didn’t hesitate to
answer.
“Definitely COVID-19,” she says.
“Since we have to social distance,
there have been no in-person court
proceedings, which is very chal-
lenging for delivering our services.
But during these difficult times, I
assure my staff that I am here for
them and the primary goal to make
sure everyone stays healthy.”
The Tribal Court’s lobby will be
closed to the public until May 1 and
all notary and facilitation services
are suspended until then as well.
Rivera, a Grand Ronde Tribal
member, moved back to the com-
munity after 10 years of living in
Oakland, Calif., to accept the job
of Tribal Court Administrator. Her
first day was March 9. She succeeds
Angela Fasana, who moved over
to lead the Tribe’s Education De-
partment.
“Now that I have come back
home, I am getting used to long
drives for reasonably priced gro-
ceries,” she jokes. “Another thing
I have to readjust to is the weath-
er. But I am looking forward to
reconnecting with the people and
engaging my 14-year-old daughter
(Anavey Smith) in the youth activ-
ities offered by the Tribe.”
Rivera is the daughter of Trib-
al member Kelly Lazore, Martin
Gonzalez and Miguel Rivera, the
granddaughter of Tribal Elder Lo-
rene Smith and Andres Rivera, and
great-granddaughter of Lawrence
Smith and Gertrude McCoy.
Rivera, 39, decided to apply for
Tribal Court Administrator be-
cause she has always wanted to
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Tribal member Lorena Rivera
was hired as the new Tribal Court
Administrator, starting her new job
on March 9. She succeeds Angela
Fasana, who performed the job for
19 years.
work in the legal field and has a
keen interest in federal Indian law,
which she studied while earning a
master’s degree in Tribal adminis-
tration and government from the
University of Minnesota in Duluth.
“That was when I really became
interested in the different eras of
Indian policy and how they shaped
the law,” she says. “Being around
my professors and learning more
really re-lit my fire to work in the
legal field.”
When the job of Court Adminis-
trator came open a few months ago,
Rivera decided to apply.
“I told myself, ‘Just go for it, this
will be a great experience,’ ” she
recalls. “I wanted to experience
firsthand how a court operates.
In my former job, I worked for the
Washoe Tribe in the Native Tempo-
rary Assistance to Needy Families
program and helped them navigate
the system.”
This will be Rivera’s third job
with the Grand Ronde Tribe. When
her daughter was younger, she
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worked in the Records Department
at the Health & Wellness Center,
and as a cashier at Spirit Mountain
Casino.
Although she doesn’t have direct
experience as a Court Administra-
tor, Rivera feels her educational
background and five years of expe-
rience working for a Tribe puts her
in a good place.
“It puts me in a place of under-
standing federal Indian law and
helps me understand how the Tribe
and court operate,” Rivera says.
Fasana hired Rivera for the job.
She served as the Court Adminis-
trator for 19 years.
“I am excited to welcome Lorena
back to the Reservation,” Fasana
says. “Lorena has a great deal
of experience working in Indian
Country and I think she will bring
a big picture view to the court. We
are delighted she has stepped into
this role and look forward to all she
has to offer.”
The Tribal Court handles civil
cases, such as name changes and
housing appeals, and juvenile cases
which include adoption, abuse and
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guardianship. It also offers pro-
grams including the Tribal Member
Review Board, Court Appointed
Special Advocates for Children,
Peacemaker Program, Indigent
Defense and Tribal Bar.
“I am trying to stick closely to
Angela to learn,” Rivera says. “She
is such an incredible resource to
me. This is a new opportunity and
a learning experience, and it’s help-
ful for me to have experts around.
I’ve also been learning a lot from
my staff.”
Her goals during the first year are
to continue to develop the court pro-
grams and to learn everything from
the “counter to the courtroom.”
“I want to work on understanding
Tribal ordinances and procedures,
and support partnerships between
our court and the city, county and
state courts,” Rivera says. “I also
want to continue building relation-
ships with the staff and support
them however I can. We’re a small,
but mighty department.”
Rivera can be reached at Lorena.
rivera@grandronde.org or at 503-
879-4596.