sNok signflz
MAY 1, 2022
Smoke Signals seeking
perspectives from
incarcerated moms
Are you a Tribal member and a mother who has been in the
correctional system? What were some of the challenges and ob-
stacles you faced trying to mother from the inside of prison walls?
Were you able to reconnect with your children upon release and
mend fractured relationships?
If so, Smoke Signals would like to hear your story. Staff writer
Danielle Harrison is writing a series on mothers who have been in
prison and the effects on family relationships, and would like to
talk to Tribal members who are in various stages of the process,
from incarceration to post-release.
What has worked for you to stay an active/engaged part of your
children’s lives and why? What services do you wish were more
readily available for mothers in prison?
Your story is important and we would like to hear from you,
no matter where you are at in the process.
Please contact Danielle Harrison for more information at dan-
ielle.harrison@grandronde.org or call 503-879-4663.
‘I look forward to
serving the city I love’
WATSON continued
from front page
be able to bring their full humanity
to their work.”
Rubio was assigned to oversee the
Office of Equity and Human Rights
by Mayor Ted Wheeler last month.
“Equity and anti-racism are core
values of our city,” Rubio stated in a
press release. “They are never just
one person’s or one bureau’s respon-
sibility. For Portland to succeed, we
need Black, Indigenous, and other
Portlanders of Color; LGBTQIA
Portlanders, and Portlanders living
with disabilities to be able to bring
their full selves to their work and
to this city. … I know Lisa and Jeff
share this attachment, and I’m ex-
cited to work with them to see this
vision through.”
Watson has been a Portland com-
munity leader for several years.
She owned and operated Cupcake
Jones for 10 years in the Pearl
District, was deputy director at Our
House and director of development
at Latino Network.
Currently, she is employed as the
executive director of the American
Leadership Forum of Oregon, a job
she’ll be leaving to take the new
position with the city.
“Working to build equitable sys-
tems, structures and policies can
contribute to not just the richness
of working within city government,
but can add to the pride we all
take in living here as Portland-
ers,” Watson says. “I am excited
to work toward building an even
more equitable city working with
this amazing and skilled team. As
a lifelong Oregonian, I look forward
to serving the city I love and have
made my home."
Over the years, Watson, 55, has
served on numerous boards such as
the Q Center, Center for Women’s
Leadership at Portland State Uni-
versity, Travel Portland and Basic
Rights Oregon. She was the first
Native American female City Club
president and she currently serves
on the Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc.
Board of Directors.
Her father is Tribal Elder Robert
Jones Watson and her mother is
Vera Miller. Watson’s aunt is Tribal
Elder and Restoration leader Kath-
ryn Harrison. She has two sisters,
Tribal members Sandy Watson-Pikl
and Roberta Watson.
9
Over a 10 Barrel
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier presents a blanket to 10 Barrel
Brewing co-founder Jeremy Cox with the help of Spirit Mountain Casino
Public Relations Administrator Jocelyn Huffman as co-founder Chris Cox
looks on during the opening of the 10 Barrel Brewing Hop Yard in Spirit
Mountain Casino on Wednesday, April 13. The new dining and drinking
outlet honors Tribal members’ history of working in the Willamette
Valley hop yards with wallscapes that depict historic photos of the
Tribal workers.
From left, Tribal Council member Kathleen George, Vice Chair Chris
Mercier and Spirit Mountain Casino Public Relations Administrator
Jocelyn Huffman talk before the opening of the new 10 Barrel Brewing
Hop Yard.
• Grand Ronde Community •
Clothes Closet
• Open to All •