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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2023)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Spring Break photos 4 pg. 12 april 1, 2023 Mercier named new CEO of Spirit Mountain Casino Taking root By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T he proverbial glass ceiling at Spirit Moun- tain Casino has been shattered. Tribal member Camille Mercier has been named the new chief executive officer of the casino, becoming the orst woman to lead the Tribe9s gaming facility since it opened in October 1995. Mercier, 52, will for- mally take over on May 1, Spirit Moun- tain Gaming Inc. Board of Directors Chair Andrew Jen- ness said. Mercier succeeds Tribal member Bruce Thomas, who has been Camille Mercier interim chief execu- tive ofocer at the casino since June 2021 when Stan Dillon resigned. <I am honored and humbled at the opportunity to serve Spirit Mountain Casino and the Tribe in the role of chief executive ofocer,= Mercier said. <My gaming career began in 1996 and I have been dedi- cated to understanding and the learning the many different facets of the casino business since then. <I9ve been fortunate enough to work with some talented mentors and leaders at three Tribal and nontribal casinos in three different jurisdictions. I look forward to continuing the collaborative work with the team at Spirit Mountain to max- imize revenues, create operational efociencies and recognize our dedicated team members.= Jenness said the board received two Tribal member applications for the job and Mercier was selected because of her depth of experience, ed- ucation, ongoing professional development and commitment to the Grand Ronde Tribe. <We are proud to be able to hire a skilled, ex- perienced Grand Ronde Tribal member to such See MERCIER continued on page 6 Photo by Dean Rhodes Grand Ronde Tribal members, from left, Jesse Norton, Cultural Policy Analyst Greg Archuleta, Tynan George, Tribal Council member Jon A. George and Cultural Resources Manager David Harrelson drum during the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge open house held in Gaston on Saturday, March 18. Harrelson also made opening remarks about the Tribe9s history at the lake since time immemorial when the Atfalati people would winter there because the root vegetable was abundant in the area. The Grand Ronde Tribe has been involved in the process of creating the new wildlife refuge in Washington County for about 10 years and Tribal members planted wapato bulbs in the lake in April 2022. Story and more photos on page 7. Tribe pausing enrollments until April 2024 By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer T ribal Council will pause enrollment ac- tions in early April that contain a blood quantum component until April 28, 2024, affecting enrollment applications, blood quan- tum correction applications and Restoration Roll corrections 3 essentially anything that has to do with enrollment. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kenne- dy made the announcement during the Wednes- day, March 22, Tribal Council meeting, stating that almost 70 percent of current living Tribal members have lower provable blood quantum than what is on ole with the Tribe. <Enrollment has been an ongoing issue since before we were terminated,= she said. <Eleven years ago, an audit was done that found errors in our oles. There are still questions that are See ENROLLMENT continued on page 6 An egg-cellent event returns April 8 By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer T he popular Tribal Hous- ing Department Easter Egg Hunt will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8, since Easter is Sunday, April 9, rain or shine, at the covered area in Tribal housing on Raven Loop. As usual, organizers want to re- mind participants to arrive early or risk going home empty-handed as the young participants are very egg-er about scrambling about for the treats quickly. In past years, the time for all the candy to be spoken for is about one minute after the hunt begins. Attendees are also asked to bring their own basket or bag to carry their treasure home. This is one Tribal event that re- quires hard-boiled promptness on See HUNT continued on page 4 Tribal youth search for Easter eggs during the 2022 Easter Egg Hunt held in Tribal housing. This year9s event will be held on Saturday, April 8, which is the day before Easter. Organizers suggest attendees arrive early for the 10 a.m. hunt. Smoke Signals file photo