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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2020)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Siletz Tribe submits application to build new casino — pg. 6 june 15, 2020 Pandemic affecting 2020 Tribal Council election process By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor he COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is now affecting the Tribe’s annual process for nominating and electing Tribal Council members. During its Wednesday, June 10 meeting, Tribal Council approved a temporary amendment to the Election Ordinance that will make the 2020 election an all absentee ballot process. The amendment will close the Tribal Community Center polling location and reduces the weekly Election Board office staffing from 20 hours to 15 hours. During the 2019 Tribal Council election, 143 Tribal members cast in-person bal- lots and there were three Election Day voter registrations. This year, voters will have to mail their ballots in or place them in election boxes placed around the Grand Ronde Tribal campus. After consulting with the Elec- tion Board, Tribal Council decided to make the change to protect the health of Elders who serve on the board, as well as the health of those who vote in person and would have to touch surfaces and computer screens that other people have al- ready contacted. “The intention of this is to protect our Elders out of an abundance of caution,” said Tribal Council mem- ber Kathleen George. The amendment was adopted on an emergency basis, meaning it takes effect immediately, and it will T See TRIBAL COUNCIL continued on page 8 Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez A guest prepares to enter Spirit Mountain Casino after it re-opened to the public at 6 a.m. Monday, June 1. The casino had been closed for the past 2.5 months because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Spirit Mountain Casino re-opens to grateful customers By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer ’m so glad to finally be able to go somewhere!” a woman exclaimed as she entered Spirit Moun- tain Casino on Monday, June 1, after it had been shuttered for an unprecedented 2.5 months. That sentiment was apparent given the number of vehicles occupying the casino’s parking lot. By 9 a.m. Monday, three hours after the casino re- opened, one-third of the public lot was filled, even though Monday mornings are typically the slowest I times. As visitors entered the casino, there were visual reminders everywhere to help them follow the new rules. Social distancing is required. Guests are to walk on each side of the casino hallways and foyers, and not loiter in the middle. A temperature check area is set up at all entrances, along with comple- mentary masks and hand sanitizing stations. All See CASINO continued on page 5 The doctor is in … his travel trailer By Danielle Frost M Smoke Signals staff writer ost people have heard stories about how gruel- ing residencies can be for new doctors, with some staying at work so often they feel as if they live there. But one doctor at the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center has literally lived onsite during the COVID-19 outbreak in his travel Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez trailer. Before the pandemic hit, family practice physician Marcel Tam split time between Grand Ronde and Warm Springs as a contract- ed employee, often staying in his camper or at Spirit Mountain Lodge. However, when the lodge closed suddenly in mid-March, he See DOCTOR continued on page 7 Dr. Marcel Tam sits outside of his trailer on Thursday, May, 28. Tam has been parking the trailer outside of the Health & Wellness Center to stay closer to work.