2
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7
Being held remotely using the Zoom teleconferencing program.
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Feb. 10...........................................................................10 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 24...........................................................................10 a.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letter s
Dear Smoke Signals:
In these times of a pandemic and social distancing, I am so grateful for
the stewardship and support of our Tribe. The past and present integrity
of caring is evident in today’s leadership and staff.
Our Tribal people have been blessed beyond measure. The Elders meals,
clinic, COVID support programs and much more have produced the fruits
of labor that started out as dreams in the 1970s.
Our Tribal leadership has provided unprecedented solutions in a world
of disease, death and social discord. I hope that all of our Tribal families
join me in thanking our leaders and staff in a job well done.
Margo Mercier
Roll No. 885
Smoke Signals
sNok signflz
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.smokesignals.org
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRSmokeSignal
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDXdTzfGjzJ_j3NPpCrtcw
DEAN RHODES
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
DANIELLE
HARRISON
TIMOTHY J.
GONZALEZ
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1961
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
timothy.gonzalez@grandronde.org
SAMUEL F.
BRIGGS III
JUSTIN
PHILLIPS
KAMIAH
KOCH
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
PAGE
DESIGNER
503-879-2190
SOCIAL MEDIA/
DIGITAL JOURNALIST
503-879-1461
samuel.briggs@grandronde.org
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
kamiah.koch@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
Tribe expands vaccinations
to those 55 and older
The Grand Ronde Tribal Health & Wellness Clinic has expanded
its COVID-19 vaccinations to Tribal members 55 and older, Health
Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe announced on Thursday,
Jan. 21.
However, she added, priority still will be given to Tribal Elders
65 and older.
According to the clinic, there are currently 14 active COVID-19
cases and 60 people have recovered from the virus as of Thursday,
Jan. 28. The clinic has conducted 1,732 coronavirus tests and re-
corded 59 positives for a 3.4 percent positivity rate.
As of Thursday, Jan. 28, the clinic has delivered 655 doses with
499 of those being given to Elders. Tribal health care workers and
employees who have frequent contact with the public, such as first
responders and Adult Foster Care staff members, were some of the
first to receive the vaccine.
The Grand Ronde Tribe received its first 300-dose batch of the
Moderna vaccine on Dec. 22. The vaccine requires two doses given
approximately 28 days apart to help the body build up resistance
to the virus.
Tribal members 55 and older should call 503-879-2032 to schedule
a vaccination appointment.
Letters welcome
Letters should be exclusive to smok signflz.
Letters should be 400 words or less and must include the writer’s
name, address, phone number and Tribal roll number. You will be
contacted to confirm authorship.
All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and, on
occasion, factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed
during a three-month period.
Letters written in response to other letter writers should address
the issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the other writer by
name, should refer to the date of the letter published. Discourse
should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful
manner. Letters deemed in poor taste will not be printed. Send
letters via e-mail to news@grandronde.org, or submit in person
at the Tribal Governance Center in Grand Ronde, Ore., or mail to
smok signflz, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR, 97347.
monday, feb. 8 .......................feb. 15, 2021
monday, feb. 22 ............... march 1, 2021
monday, march 8 ........ march 15, 2021
Thursday, march 25 ......... april 1, 2021
Editorial Policy
smok signflz , a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Communi-
ty of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested. Letters must be 400 words or less.
smok signflz reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of smok signflz .
Members of:
Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2021
Tribal Council
tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
— ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Jon A. George
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 15, in observance of
Tribal Chiefs’ Day.
ISSUE DATE
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
Michael Langley
— ext. 1777
michael.langley@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
jon.george@grandronde.org
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
Steve Bobb Sr.
— ext. 2305
— ext. 4555
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
steve.bobb@grandronde.org