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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2021)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 General Council briefed on Health & Wellness efforts — pg. 5 february 15, 2021 Tribal police chief concerned about ramifications of drug decriminalization Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy named to oversight committee By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer I n November, Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize drug posses- sion after voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 110 with 58.5 percent supporting the proposal. The new law, which took effect on Feb. 1, changes personal possession of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and methamphetamines to a civil fine of $100 instead of hav- ing a criminal penalty with fines up to $6,250 and potential jail time of up to one year. Additionally, those who are fined under the new law can have the fine waived if they agree to complete a health assessment. Drug manufac- turing and selling remain illegal activities. Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight said he has con- cerns about implementation of Measure 110 locally. He said that since November, Tribal officers have been treating drug posses- sion as a civil violation after being advised to do so by attorneys for the state. “Our caseload numbers have more than doubled from the period from November through January,” McKnight said. “I can’t think of a specific reason other than this new law. This is a huge jump for a small department. I believe the general See DRUGS continued on page 11 Illustration by Samuel Briggs III Invasive plants often found on the Grand Ronde Reservation include, clockwise from top left, scotch broom, bull thistle, tansy ragwort and Canada thistle. Natural Resources raising awareness about non-native plants Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer I nvasive plants come in sev- eral forms and many have innocent-enough sounding names: Fox glove, velvet grass and water primrose. However, when not monitored closely, they can pose a serious threat to an area’s ecosystem. This year, the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department will be sending a series of educational staff e-mails with resources on invasive plants and how to best prevent their spread as a part of National Invasive Species Aware- ness Week on Feb. 22-26. The effort is being led by Nat- ural Resources Specialist Anna Ramthun. Eventually, she hopes to have a full educational program with in-person events. “Invasive species affect every community, including Grand Ronde,” Ramthun says. “They are listed as the top five causes of loss of biodiversity, an increase in wildfires and reduction of habitat restoration effectiveness.” See PLANTS continued on page 10 Long shot: Family drives from Reno for COVID-19 vaccination By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer T he Tribe’s two-day vaccination clinic held on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 3-4, attracted droves of people from all over Oregon and Washington. But it’s likely that one family traveled much farther than many. Lauren Klein, 51, and her daughters, Maya Reyes Klein, 19, and Isabela Reyes Klein, 21, Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez left Reno, Nev., at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in order to arrive for their afternoon appoint- ments at the Tribal gym for the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine. The Tribe vaccinated 1,636 people during the event, said Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe. The Klein family heard about the clinic from See TRIP continued on page 8 Isabela Reyes Klein, 21, and her sister, Maya Reyes Klein, 19, drove from Reno, Nev., with their mother, Lauren Klein, to get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the two-day Vaccination Clinic held in the Tribal gym on Thursday, Feb. 4. The three left their home at 3:30 a.m. and arrived in Grand Ronde around 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. They say they will make the same trip in March to get their second dose.