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APRIL 15, 2021
3
2021 powwows canceled
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
April
• Wednesday, April 21 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gov-
ernance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304.
• Friday, April 23 – Walk-through event with information tables,
goodies and door prizes, 4-6 p.m., Tribal Housing covered
area. 503-879-2149.
May
• Sunday, May 2 – General Council meeting, 11 a.m., Zoom
teleconference. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, May 5 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gov-
ernance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, May 19 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gov-
ernance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304.
• Monday, May 31 – Memorial Day observance by invitation
only, 1 p.m., West Valley Veterans Memorial, 9615 Grand
Ronde Road. 503-879-4555.
For the second year in a row,
the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde will not be holding its two
main powwows – the Marcellus
Norwest Memorial Veterans Pow-
wow in July and the annual Contest
Powwow held in August.
“This was a difficult decision to
make and one that we do not take
lightly,” the Tribe announced on its
Facebook page on Monday, April
12. “Over the past year, everyone
has made significant progress
against COVID-19. However, the
ongoing gathering restrictions as
well as the lack of time to plan these
events if restrictions are lifted led
to the decision to cancel.”
The two powwows regularly at-
tract hundreds, if not thousands,
of visitors to the Grand Ronde area
at Uyxat Powwow Grounds off Hebo
Road.
The Tribal government moved
into its third phase of re-opening in
March that limits recreational activ-
ities to a maximum of 50 people and
social distancing guidelines must be
followed. The May 31 West Valley
Veterans Memorial event is return-
ing in 2021 with a 50-person limit.
“We will miss gathering with
everyone at powwow, but we must
put the health and well-being of
our community, and guests, at the
forefront of our actions. We look for-
ward to seeing everyone in 2022,”
the Facebook statement added.
Reported new cases of COVID-19
in Oregon have been fluctuating
between more than 700 to as low as
less than 300 recently, according to
the Oregon Health Authority.
According to www.grandronde.
org, the Tribe has vaccinated more
than 13,000 people since the end of
December and there were five new
active cases detected by the Health
& Wellness Clinic as of Monday,
April 12. 
(Editor’s note: All events are tentative depending on the status
of the Tribe’s COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic response.)
Police Department has non-emergency text line
The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has created a non-emer-
gency text line at 541-921-2927. “Even though this is mostly designed for
children, I don’t want adults thinking that they can’t use it as well.” said
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight.
McKnight said that emergency situations still require calling 911. For
more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474. 
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant positions.
Housing Grievance Board – 1 vacancy
Ceremonial Hunting Board – 2 vacancies
Culture Committee – 3 vacancies, 2 expiring
Fish & Wildlife Committee – 3 vacancies, 1 expiring
Powwow Special Event Board – 1 vacancy
Health Committee – 1 vacancy
Timber Committee – 1 vacancy
Please send completed applications to
Stacia Hernandez, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
OFFICIAL TRIBAL FACEBOOK PAGES
Smoke Signals:
facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
facebook.com/CTGRgov
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness:
facebook.com/GRHWC
Grand Ronde Children & Family Services:
facebook.com/CTGRCFS
Grand Ronde Royalty:
facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty
Grand Ronde Education Programs:
facebook.com/CTGREducation
Grand Ronde Youth Council:
facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil
Grand Ronde Station:
Join us for a QPR training!
facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
Grand Ronde Social Services Department:
Provided by Native Connections and Project I-LAUNCH.
facebook.com/CTGRSocialservices
Grand Ronde Food Bank:
facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
A brief training on how to recognize possible signs of a person being suicidal. Gives you the
tools needed to talk with a person at risk and for directing that person to further support.
Break the Silence. Save a Life.
Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
Grand Ronde Cultural Education:
Join us on Zoom!
facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Cultural-Education
Grand Ronde Community Garden:
April 21st, 9:30 am - 11:00 am
facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department:
facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Tribal-Police-Department
Grand Ronde Employment Services
Facebook.com/EmploymentServices
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
If you have questions or to RSVP, please call:
Amber Mercier at 503-879-1476
Nancy Versaw at 503-879-1396