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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2020)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 HAPPY 37TH RESTORATION CELEBRATION november 15, 2020 Virtual Restoration Celebration to include gifts, raffle By Danielle Harrison If you attend Smoke Signals staff writer he Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s 37th Restoration Celebration will be virtual, but still include gifts for Tribal members. “On Nov. 22, 1983, Grand Ronde’s federal recognition as a Tribal government was restored when the Grand Ronde Restoration Act was signed into law,” a statement on the Tribe’s website says. “Every year since then, we have T 37th Restoration Celebration When: 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 Where: Virtually at www.grandronde. org and www.facebook.com/CTGRgov More info: 503-879-2304 gathered as a Tribe, a community and a family to celebrate our Restoration. Even with our 37th celebration moving online, we want to get small gifts to our Tribal members.” To register for a gift, visit www.grandronde. org, scroll down to recent announcements and click on “Restoration Day 2020 Celebration,” where there is an online form to fill out. See RESTORATION continued on page 9 Two COVID-19 positive tests affect Tribal government By Dean Rhodes O Smoke Signals editor n a day when the Oregon Health Authority reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases in the state with 805, Tribal General Manager David Fullerton announced on Thursday, Nov. 5, that two Tribal governmen- tal employees for the first time have tested positive for the coronavirus. The two positive tests prompted Fullerton to limit campus access on Friday, Nov. 6, and Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 9-10, to only essential staff members. Other staff members were asked to work from home or granted administrative leave for the day. Since Wednesday, Nov. 11, was Veterans Day and a Tribal holiday, the Tribal government resumed normal schedules and operations on Thursday, Nov. 12, with the ex- ception that guests were no longer allowed on the Tribal campus. Fullerton added that the Tribe’s Facilities staff members would begin a deep cleaning of Tribal governmental facilities on Friday. The two positive cases within the Tribal government, which employs more than 500 people, are not the first coronavirus cases to affect the Tribe. Spirit Mountain Casino, which employs more than 1,000 people, re- ported four of its behind-the-scenes employees had tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-October. According to the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center, as of Wednesday, Nov. 11, it has con- ducted 984 COVID-19 tests with 954 negative results, 16 retests and 14 positive results. Fullerton said in his all-employ- See COVID-19 continued on page 6 Submitted photo Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight stands outside the Police Department building with the new accreditation certificate issued by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance. The alliance operates under the authority of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association and the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials. Tribal Police Department receives state accreditation By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer T he Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department is the first Tribal law enforcement agency to become part of the Ore- gon Accreditation Alliance. The alliance was formed in 2011 under the direction of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, the Oregon State Sheriff's Associa- tion and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. Its goal is to improve the quality of law enforcement and emergency services agencies in Oregon and Alaska, as well as the quality of services provided to the citizens of both states. Executive Director Scott Hayes met with Tribal Council members and the Tribal Police via Go to Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29, to virtually present the certification award. “Grand Ronde is the first Tribal agency in Oregon to become ac- credited and this is a great step,” Hayes said. “In normal times, I would have a plaque with me to present, but due to COVID, we can’t do that.” To be accredited, law enforce- See POLICE continued on page 10