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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2020)
sNok signflz DECEMBER 1, 2020 3 Tribe’s eldest Elder walks on at 101 By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor December • Wednesday, Dec. 2 – Tribal Council meeting, 1:30 p.m., Gov- ernance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Sunday, Dec. 6 – General Council meeting, 11 a.m., using the Zoom teleconferencing application. 503-879-2304. • Sunday, Dec. 6 – Tribal Council Christmas Party. CANCELED. • Wednesday, Dec. 16 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover- nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Friday, Dec. 25 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the Christmas holiday. • Wednesday, Dec. 30 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover- nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. January • Friday, Jan. 1 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. • Sunday, Jan. 3 – General Council meeting, 11 a.m., using the Zoom teleconferencing program. • Wednesday, Jan. 13 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover- nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. • Monday, Jan. 18 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. • Wednesday, Jan. 27 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover- nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304. (Editor’s note: All events are tentative depending on the status of the Tribe’s COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic response.) Massage at Health & Wellness Center Mind, Body & Soul Therapeutic Massage started at the Health & Wellness Clinic last year. Remember: Appointments for massage are not managed by the Health & Wellness Center staff. To schedule an appointment, call 971-237-2561. Tribal Elder Ruby Geraldine Bigoni walked on at the age of 101 on Thursday, Nov. 19. Ruby was born on March 18, 1919, in Tillamook, Ore., to James and Emma Langley. Her grandpar- ents were Israel and Mary Langley. Her other grandfather, Andrew Zuercher, moved to Tillamook from Bern, Switzerland, when he was a young man. She married Orlando Pete “Bill” Bigoni on Oct. 24, 1936, in Kelso, Wash. She and Orlando are the parents of Dianne Locklear and Richard and James Bigoni, and adopted Bill Bigoni. Orlando and Bill both walked on in 1990. According to an Elder Spotlight that appeared in Smoke Signals, Ruby worked in a drapery shop for more than 20 years. She also was a banquet manager for the Fraternal Order of Eagles and was installed as Grand Madam President of the Eagles in Boston, Mass., in 1971. She also worked for a number of years as a receptionist for Chinese eatery Lung Rung Restaurant. She traveled throughout North America during her year as Ea- gles Grand Madam President and presided over the International Convention held in Atlanta, Ga. She also was a guest on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Tele- thon, presenting a $25,000 check on behalf of the Eagles. She also volunteered for the Red Cross for 50 years and was active at St. Charles Catholic Church in Portland. Her advice to Tribal youth was, “Be kind to your parents and El- ders, say ‘No’ to drugs, and finish your education, as it will help you get a good job.” Bigoni’s sister, Pearl Lyon, was the Tribe’s eldest Elder for a while, walking on at the age of 105 in No- vember 2017. Ruby lived in Portland and is survived by 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. With Bigoni’s passing, former Tribal Council Chairwoman Kath- ryn Harrison, who was born in March 1924, and Carmilla Faggani, who was born in July 1924, are the Tribe’s eldest living Elders. To read Bigoni’s full walking on notice, turn to page 10 in this edi- tion of Smoke Signals. Afterhours health line Tribal members can contact the Afterhours Health Line for questions about health care concerns they may have when the clinic is not open. You can reach the Afterhours Health Line by calling 503-879-2002 and follow the prompts. The Afterhours Health Line will coordinate care and communicate with Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center providers. CTGR Academic Advising and Coaching Important Services Update The program has assessed the amount of requests for academic coaching and advising services and believe we have the capacity to expand these services to CTGR Tribal descendants and other Native students at our local schools we serve. Please contact the Youth Education Program for more information or to request services. Also note that the current Internet classroom held at the Tribal gymnasium has adjusted and expanded hours of operation to serve our youth better. Contact information: Administrative Assistant – 503-879-2101 or Devon.Mercier@grandronde.org We look forward to hearing from you. Grand Ronde Housing Department Board seeks community input The Grand Ronde Housing Grievance Board is seeking commuity input for monthly meetings. The Housing Grievance Board meets at 4 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the Housing Department conference room, 28450 Tyee Road. Its chair is Simone Auger. For more information, contact the Housing Department at 503- 879-2401. Ad by Samuel Briggs III