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november 1, 2020
Restoration Celebration moves to online format
By Danielle Harrison
Smoke Signals staff writer
or the first time since 1984, the Confederat-
ed Tribes of Grand Ronde will not be host-
ing an in-person Restoration Celebration.
This year’s commemoration of the 37th anni-
versary will be held online due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic and state restrictions on
indoor gatherings. With the arrival of fall, coro-
navirus cases have been surging nationally and
in Oregon.
The Tribe announced its decision in a Facebook
post on Friday, Oct. 23.
“On Nov. 22, 1983, Grand Ronde’s federal
F
recognition as a Tribal government was re-
stored when the Grand Ronde Restoration
Act was signed into law,” the Tribe’s Facebook
post stated. “Every year since then, we have
gathered as a Tribe, a community and a family
to celebrate our Restoration. Unfortunately,
2020 has left us in unprecedented times and
we can’t gather in person this year. Restoration
will still be celebrated, but the celebration will
look a little different because we’re moving it
online.”
There are no details yet as to what the online
event will include. It will be held on Sunday,
Nov. 22. To see updates, visit the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde Facebook page.
On Nov. 22, 1983, President Ronald Reagan
signed House Resolution 3885 restoring the
Grand Ronde Tribe, which had been terminated
29 years earlier, to federal recognition. His sig-
nature on the bill officially ended the dark time
of Termination.
Every year since, the Tribe has held a celebra-
tion that includes a meal, giveaways, speeches,
dancing, drumming, singing and a Restoration
Powwow. Approximately 200 Tribal members,
family, friends and elected officials traveled to
Grand Ronde in 2019 for the event, which was
held in the Tribal gym. n
Project chief
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
The Tribe has hired Englishman Ryan Webb as a project manager to oversee various ventures in Oregon
City and Wood Village, as well as projects closer to home such as the Elder housing expansion and the home
ownership program.
Tribe hires Ryan Webb to oversee large developments
By Danielle Harrison
T
Smoke Signals staff writer
he Tribe has hired a project manager to over-
see various ventures in Oregon City and Wood
Village, as well as projects closer to home
such as the Elder housing expansion and the home
ownership program.
Ryan Webb, 34, began his new job last month.
“I’m really excited to be here and be a part of the
Tribe’s future,” he says. “I’m ready to really dive in,
and start working and contributing.”
Webb is the husband of Tribal member Ashlee
Webb and the father of Tribal descendants Violet
and Amelia, 5; and Andrew, 3.
He grew up in Gloucester, approximately two
hours away from London, England, and attended
college and graduate school at the University of
See PROJECT
continued on page 9
On-time graduation
rates increase for
Native students
By Danielle Harrison
T
Smoke Signals staff writer
he number of Native Amer-
ican students graduating
high school within four years
continues to increase in the Willa-
mina School District despite the
COVID-19 pandemic that has left
schools shuttered since March.
Willamina saw a 6 percent in-
crease, from 82 percent in 2019 to
88 percent in 2020. Approximately
35 percent of the Willamina student
population identifies as Native
American/Alaska Native.
In Sheridan, the statistics were
unavailable due to the small num-
ber of students. If the number is 10
or fewer, the state doesn’t report
the numbers.
Overall, the Sheridan district has
5 percent Native American/Alaska
Native students.
The graduation information was
part of Oregon’s annual school
report card, which provides a snap-
shot of the state’s educational
system and includes data about
students, teachers and schools.
This year’s profiles do not include
statewide assessment data, class
sizes or attendance as a result of
the school closures that started in
March.
Overall, the four-year graduation
rate for all students in Oregon is
80 percent.
“This annual data release comes
roughly seven months after our
students, families and educators
started overcoming the toughest
education challenge our state has
ever faced,” Oregon Department of
See EDUCATION
continued on page 8