Smoke signals., October 01, 2021, Page 7, Image 7

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OCTOBER 1, 2021
7
‘It’s actually finally happening’
DEMOLITION continued
from front page
drum song led by Tribal Cultural
Advisor Bobby Mercier, Cultural
Policy Analyst Greg Archuleta and
Tribal member Chris Rempel.
In addition to Mercier, other Trib-
al Council members in attendance
included Jon A. George, Michael
Cherry, Lisa Leno, Denise Harvey,
Jack Giffen Jr. and Secretary Mi-
chael Langley.
“This (property purchase) opened
up the door for us to partner with
other local governments and tell
the story of our people in this area,”
Mercier said. “This is a crown jewel
of one of the goals, to reflect the
values and mission of this Tribe.”
After Mercier finished speaking,
employees of Elder Demolition
started running an excavator to
begin removal of insulation and
aluminum siding from one of the
buildings on site as the crowd
looked on. Tribal Council approved
an $847,852 contract with the Port-
land company on May 5.
“It’s actually finally happening,”
Harvey said. “It’s been a long road
and it’s still a long way to go, but it
is happening. I think 10 years from
now, there will be no regrets. It’s
really nice that the Tribe is clean-
ing up this property. It’s a blessing
for Oregon.”
Cherry, the newest Tribal Council
member, said she feels a personal
connection to the site on the banks
of the Willamette River.
“Just being here today is an
honor,” Cherry said. “This morn-
ing I woke up and thanked our
ancestors, feeling very grateful. I
enjoyed listening to Bobby drum-
ming and have a profound sense
of gratitude. I’m very excited
when I think of my grandkids and
great-grandkids coming here in
the future and partaking in the
culture, never knowing a time
when this wasn’t here. It warms
my heart that that they will be
here on this land.”
The Tribe acquired the 23-acre
Blue Heron site near Willamette
Falls in August 2019 for $15.25
million.
“This is a special time for our
people as we bless the site and
begin our work to heal the land as
stewards of the falls,” said Tribal
Council Chairwoman Cheryle A.
Kennedy in a press release an-
nouncing the demolition event.
“We are excited to take these initial
steps toward real progress toward
our vision for this site and re-in-
troducing the general public to this
special place.”
In March, the Tribe shared its vi-
sion for the site, focused on healing
the landscape through extensive
ecological restoration, celebrating
the site’s Tribal connection and
bringing the public back to Wil-
lamette Falls through mixed-use
development and gathering places.
Potential plans include environ-
mental and cultural restoration
along with new development. Other
priorities are to provide economic
prosperity and return the Tribe to
the role of caregiver over an import-
ant piece of its homeland.
Development could include office,
hospitality, institutional or edu-
cational spaces, as well as Tribal
spaces, public gathering spots,
restaurants, retail and a river walk
area. Any new development would
reflect the story of the Tribe, and its
historical and cultural connection
to Willamette Falls.
The site has been used for nu-
merous industrial purposes since
the 19th century and includes more
than 50 abandoned and dilapidated
buildings.
Since acquiring the property,
the Tribe has worked with the
Oregon Department of Environ-
mental Quality regarding reme-
diation efforts and also received
an $800,000 grant from the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency for
site cleanup. 
From right, Tribal Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier, Cultural Policy Analyst
Greg Archuleta and Tribal member Chris Rempel drum before the start of the
demolition of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill site during an event hosted
by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde on Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Tribe
purchased the property in August 2019 for $15.25 million and shared its
vision for the site in March of this year. The vision is focused on healing the
landscape through extensive ecological restoration, celebrating the site’s
Tribal connection and bringing the public back to Willamette Falls through
mixed-use development and gathering places. Three of the more than 50
buildings at the site are scheduled to be taken down by the end of the year.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier makes remarks to those who attended the demolition of the former Blue Heron
Paper Mill site during an event hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
An employee from
Elder Demolition
of Portland begins
the demolition of
a building at the
former Blue Heron
Paper Mill site
during an event
hosted by the
Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde on
Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez