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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2023)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Tribe harvests 15 salmon limit 4 pg. 7 june 1, 2023 Revered Restoration figure Kathryn Harrison walks on By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor G rand Ronde Tribal matriarch Kathryn Harrison walked on Sunday, May 21, at the age of 99. Harrison was a key participant in the Grand Ronde Tribe9s early 1980s Restoration efforts and was one of ove Tribal members who testioed before the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 18, 1983, in support of restoring the Tribe to federal recognition. The Tribe9s federal recognition had been Terminated 29 years earlier in 1954. After the Tribe was restored on Nov. 22, 1983, she continued serving her people on Tribal Council from 1984 to 2001. During her time on Tribal Council, she served as secretary, vice chair and six years as Tribal chairwoman. She never lost a Tribal Council election and was the orst woman elected Tribal chair. During her time on Tribal Council, she helped guide the Tribe into gaming through the signing of a compact with Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts in July 1993. She also suggested the Tribe start endowment funds to beneot education, health care, economic development, and social and cultural programs. Those funds continue to be an important economic resource to this day for the Tribe. Harrison was born Kathryn May Jones on March 28, 1924, in Corvallis to Harry William Jones and Ella Flem- ming. Her father was Molalla and her mother Eyak from Alaska. Her grandparents were George A. Flemming Sr. and Elena Kal9Tane and Billy Jones and Philomene Nellie Jones. Her name honored her great-great-aunt, Molalla Kate. See HARRISON continued on pages 8-9 Kathryn Harrison All three incumbents seeking re-election to Tribal Council By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T Tribe as an alcohol and addictions counselor. Martineau9s name was etched on the Air Force pillar, along with the names of Jack Bailey and Jefferie J. Tucker. Approximately 100 people attended the 1 p.m. ceremony, held under sunny skies with a light breeze. A boxed lunch, served to at- tendees at the Tribal Community Center by Veterans Royalty, preceded the event. Veterans Special Event Board member Mol- ly Leno served as the master of ceremonies. <Thank you for joining us today to honor all ribal Council incumbents Chris Mercier, Lisa Leno and Michael Langley will be seeking re-election during the Sept. 9 election. Mercier, Langley and Leno set new bench- marks for the most votes received in a Tribal Council election in 2020 with each one receiving more than 960 votes each. Mercier, 47, will be seeking his seventh and potentially onal term on Trib- al Council and will tie former Chairman Reyn Leno for sec- ond longest-serving Tribal member at the conclusion of his term in September 2026 if he is elected again. <Yes, probably,= Mercier said in an e-mail to Smoke Signals. Chris Mercier <I9ve gone back and forth on it all year. A few months ago, I9d have told you my chances were 50/50 of running again. There are a few things, like enrollment and the problems caused by the 999 amendment, that I9d like to see through, in addition to a few backburner issues. <Right now though one more term is all I can see doing. I love this job, this community and I feel truly lucky to have served this long. Lucky is probably an understatement. Regardless, I9ve a number of unchecked boxes in my life that are nearly impossible to do while doing this. So should I be here another three years, expect me to start making preparations for the next step in life, and hopefully we will see somebody who will make me conodent to step away.= Langley, 56, will be seeking his third consec- utive three-year term on Tribal Council. He has been serving as Tribal Council secretary since September 2021. See MEMORIAL DAY continued on page 10 See INCUMBENTS continued on page 7 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Oregon Department of Veterans9 Affairs Tribal Veteran Coordinator Jon Taylor speaks during the Tribe9s annual Memorial Day observance held at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal campus on Monday, May 29. Taylor was one of two guest speakers at the event. Honoring those who served Eight names added to West Valley Veterans Memorial By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer T he Memorial Day ceremony returned to Grand Ronde9s West Valley Veterans Memorial for the 20th time on Monday, May 29, and included the addition of eight names to the four black granite pillars that represent the major branches of the U.S. military. The eight who were honored during the cer- emony included longtime Tribal employee Al- bert J. <Joe= Martineau, an Air Force veteran who walked on Feb. 1 at the age of 63. He was from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa of Minnesota and worked for the