6 APRIL 1, 2021 Smoke Signals Clinic ribbon-cutting Pharmacy adds lockers for prescription pickup The Grand Ronde Pharmacy has added lockers for people to pick up their prescriptions, according to Pharmacy Director Lincoln Wright. The lockers are located at the southwest entrance door marked Pharmacy Locker Pickup and are available 24/7, 365 days a year. “When the order is placed in the locker, the patient receives a random code via text or e-mail,” Wright said. “That randomized code is specific to that locker for that one order. Once the order is picked up that code is no longer useable. There’s also an app they can download on their smartphone so they can track their pickup history and more easily share the code with someone else they want to pick up for them.” Pharmacy patients must fill out a Patient Contact Preference form and provide their e-mail address or phone number to receive locker notifications. “We’ve been testing it for a few weeks, so patients can start using it as soon as we receive the contact preference form and upload their e-mail address,” Wright said. “The upload of e-mail addresses only happens a couple of times a day so the first order can be delayed depending on when everything is ready. After that the e-mail and cell number stay in the system and orders can be delivered to the lockers several times a day. “If patients don’t have an e-mail, like a small child, we have a manual workaround to help the parent get the text message. Generally, the e-mail is used for the first pickup and then the patient can enter in their cell number for text alerts on future orders.” For more information, contact the Pharmacy at 503-879-2342.  Listening sessions set Photo by Great Circle Recovery staff Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, Executive Director of Health Services Kelly Rowe and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb, Sr. participate in the grand opening of the Grand Ronde Tribe’s first medication-assisted treatment clinic to combat opioid addiction on Monday, March 22. Also attending was Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier. The Great Circle Recovery Opioid Treatment Program clinic is at 1011 Commercial St. N.E. in Salem and is the first Tribally operated MAT clinic in Oregon. The Tribe also plans to open a clinic in east Portland on Southeast 82nd Avenue this summer. Portland resident Jennifer Worth was hired to be the clinics’ Operations Director in December. “Opioid addiction is something that does not discriminate,” Kennedy said. “It takes lives, destroys families and haunts Tribal and non-Tribal communities alike. That’s why it was important for the Tribe to bring these services to those seeking treatment.” PORTLAND – The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commis- sion, Prosper Portland and Portland Bureau of Environmental Services are starting an 18-month planning process to engage Tribes, Tribal or- ganizations and the Portland metro area Native American community to seek ideas, identify needs and explore development opportunities for the proposed Center for Tribal Nations and Waterfront Education Park at the OMSI District on the eastern shore of the Willamette River. The property includes 23 acres of which 18 are available for the new development with 3 million square feet of new useable space. As part of Phase One, a series of listening sessions have been scheduled, all running from 1 to 3 p.m. The sessions will be held on March 31, April 13, April 26, May 13 and June 2 and will be conducted using virtual meeting applications like Zoom. People also can complete a survey regarding the proposal at atnitribe.org/center-tribal-nations/. For more information or to provide additional input, contact Don Samp- son at DP@Seventhgenerationllc.com or 541-215-2753 or James Parker at Jparker@atnitribes.org or 541-249-5770.  Tribal Veterans Service Office Veteran Outreach Event 12,748 people have received vaccines, including 6,905 shots for Elders 55 and older BLAZERS continued from front page nated on Twitter, saying: “Just got vaccinated today with my brothers. The faster we get vaccinated, the sooner we can return to our lives with our loved ones.” Forward Robert Covington did the same, saying, “First step in the right direction of life getting back to normal.” The Blazers, citing health and privacy concerns, declined to elab- orate on how the team and Tribe connected in arranging the vacci- nations. The Tribe received its first doses of the Moderna vaccine in late Decem- ber, with priority going to clinic per- sonnel, Tribal first responders, adult foster care workers and residents. The vaccine rollout was expanded to include all Tribal members 55 and older in late January, and to the general public in February. To date, more than 50 percent of Tribal employees have been vacci- nated and 90 percent of Health & Wellness Center employees have received both shots. Total vaccines administered are 12,748, including 6,905 shots put into the arms of Elders, who are at highest risk for complications from COVID-19. Tribal Communications Director Sara Thompson said the Tribe has been able to draw an additional 800 doses from its current supply. “Each dose is important,” she said. “We’re excited to be part of the effort to vaccinate the com- munity, our partners and combat COVID-19.” Second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are usually given 21 to 28 days after the first.  *Memorial Day* Honoring families of Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Veterans who have walked on… Let us express our gratitude and pride for those who served; those who put their lives on the line; and the families who supported them. We raise our hands to acknowledge and honor the service of the Veteran in your family and their memory. hayu masi. To Receive a Memorial Day gift: 1. Be a Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) Tribal Member or, a Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde family member with 2. A CTGR Veteran in your family who has made their journey (from any service era) and, 3. Submit a photo, biography, story, or information about your tribal veteran and/or their military service by May 21, 2021 (to TVSO office by mail/email) . (All information submitted is kept confidential and will not be shared). In return: The first 100 submissions get to choose one of the following gifts:  A gardening tool kit for the veterans gravesite (15 available) or,  A picture frame for the veterans photo (15 available) or,  A 4x6” American flag with a silk flower (40 available)  5.5x8” Military Branch flags (a few of each branch, 30 available)  Gift pick up will be during Memorial Day Week. Individuals who sign up will be contacted to set up a date/time for drive-through pick-up. Arrangements can be made if you would like your gift mailed.