2
DECEMBER 1, 2021
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5
Smoke Signals
sNok signflz
Tribal members can participate remotely
through the Zoom application.
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 1...............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 15.............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 29.............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letter s
Dear Smoke Signals:
Greetings and blessings to you all. I write this letter with mixed feelings,
fear and anxiety, but always with love and respect for you, my people.
Some of you know a little about me. Some of you helped me over the years
I spent locked up in California state prisons from Dec. 6, 1999, to June
4, 2020. Yes, I am out, but not quite free due to the strict parole I’m on.
When I paroled I got on the phone and contacted the people in the Tribe
I thought could help me get my parole transferred to Grand Ronde. This
was last year and the outcome wasn’t good and left me feeling rejected by
these people whom I see now just didn’t understand how simple state-to-
state transfers can be if you let parole authorities do their part and do not
take on the position of authority on your own. That wasn’t their job, yet that
was the position they took so they denied my request to be placed in the
Men’s Transition House. I didn’t reach out to anyone else after that rejection
because honestly I was angry and deeply wounded. I had just spent nearly
22 years in prison dreaming and planning the whole time of going home.
I let it rest and went about my business having a successful parole. I’m
doing great all things considered, but I could be doing much better if I
were home where I belong where I have far better helpful resources and
opportunities. I’m missing out on so much and at my age every day is a gift.
Most importantly, I’m missing out on being with my 80-year-old pop and
building new relationships and connecting with my people.
I was isolated and alone 22 years, separated from my people and now
that I’m half-free, I’m more alone than ever.
I don’t think it’s too much for me to ask for help getting me home. Our
Tribe achieves the impossible. Bringing me home is peanuts compared to
what our people have achieved. Please help me come home.
Walter F. Simmons Jr.
Roll No. 2317
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is now once again issuing marriage licenses and is able to
perform marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40.
For questions regarding scheduling, contact the Tribal Court at 503-
879-2303.
Christmas Parade set
for Friday, Dec. 10
The annual Grand Ronde Christmas Parade will be held at 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10, organizer Veronica Gaston announced.
Lineup will begin at 5:30 p.m. The parade will loop through Elder
housing and then down Tyee Road and around the Wind River apart-
ments before going around Raven Loop and Tilixam Circle and finally
heading to Grand Meadows.
The Grand Ronde Police Department will lead the parade and be fol-
lowed by Fire Department personnel and vehicles. They will be followed
by decorated cars and the Christmas truck with Santa will be last.
For more information, contact Gaston at mawich69@gmail.com.
Website: www.smokesignals.org
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRSmokeSignal
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/c/SmokeSignalsChannel
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
wednesday, dec. 8 ............. dec. 15, 2021
Monday, dec. 27 ................... Jan. 1, 2022
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
2021-22
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
CORRECTION — A cutline that appeared in the Nov. 1 edition of Smoke
Signals misidentified a man who was the first to enter the Elders Activity
Center after it re-opened its doors again on Tuesday, Oct. 19, for Elders’
meals. The man was Arnie Moralez. Smoke Signals regrets the error.
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closing noon Thursday, Dec. 23, and all day
on Friday, Dec. 24, in observance of Christmas. Offices also will be
closing noon Thursday, Dec. 30, and all day on Friday, Dec. 31, in
observance of New Year’s Day.
ISSUE DATE
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Michael Langley
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 1777
michael.langley@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
jon.george@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Michael Cherry
— ext. 4555
michael.cherry@grandronde.org