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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2020)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Reibach receives lifetime achievement honor — pg. 7 august 1, 2020 School districts, Tribe weigh school re-opening options By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer W ith the start of school just around the corner, district leaders are grappling with how to best educate children while keeping everyone safe. School leaders predominantly fa- vor a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual learning, which allows them to switch gears if needed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the state’s evolving efforts to flatten the curve. However, updated guidance from the state is resulting in an all-on- line experience for at least the first few weeks or months of school. On Tuesday, July 28, the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon De- partment of Education released up- dated metrics that will determine if schools can return to in-person instruction in the fall, with certain exceptions. Each school district will de- termine the decision based on COVID-19 numbers in the county in which it is located in addition to overall state numbers. If a dis- trict serves students in multiple counties, case rates and positive numbers must be considered for each county. Currently, county cases must be below 10 per 100,000 people in the past seven days for three weeks, and positive test results must be less than 5 percent in the preceding seven days for three weeks at both the county and state levels. Exceptions for students in kin- dergarten through third grade, re- mote and rural school districts with See SCHOOLS continued on page 10 Creek renamed after prominent Grand Ronde family By Danielle Frost Smoke Signals staff writer I n the late 19th century, Levi Bobb (also known as Levi Tillamook or Levi Nestuc), a leader of the Nestucca Tribe of Tillamook Indians, resettled at the Grand Ronde Reservation and became a community leader, as did several of his descendants. Some 140 years later, a 3.3-mile-long stream in Tillamook County has been renamed Nestucca Bobb Creek in his honor thanks to the combined efforts of for- mer Tribal Historian David Lewis, the Bobb family and Tribal Council. The creek name is a combi- nation of the original Tribal name with the Bobb sur- name. Tribal Elder Sequoia Bobb Raya, a former oral histo- rian for the Tribe, said he is pleased with the change, especially since the stream was previously called Squaw Creek, a racial slur. “I feel like we’re getting some of our history back,” Raya said. “Levi Bobb was an important member of the community. He was my great-great-grandfather.” See CREEK continued on page 8 Contributed photo Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Squaw Creek has been renamed Nestucca Bobb Creek in southern Tillamook County. Above from left, Tribal members Ann Lewis, David Lewis (no relation) and Sequoia Bobb Raya recently visited the site. David Lewis worked to help get the creek renamed. Tribal Council OKs transition plan to take over fire station By Dean Rhodes The Grand Ronde Fire Station will soon become operated by the Grand Ronde Tribe instead of the West Valley Fire District. The station has been open for 10 years. Smoke Signals editor T Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will be respon- sible for fire and emergency medical response in the community by 2025, according to a five-year transition plan approved by Tribal Council during its Wednesday, July 22, meeting. Fire suppression and emergency medical response responsibilities for the community are currently supplied by the West Valley Fire District located in Willamina. As early as December 2019, the Tribe expressed its desire to add fire to its list of sovereign nation public safety responsibilities that currently include operating its own police department and emergency management office. Tribal Council approved on Dec. See MEETING continued on page 9
