2
JANUARY 1, 2024
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 7
Tribal Council Chambers
Tribal members can participate remotely via Zoom and in-person
attendance. Call 503-879-2304 for more information.
SMOKE SIGNALS
sNok signflz
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Jan. 10.............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 24.............................................................................4 p.m.
Letter s
Dear Smoke Signals:
At noon Friday, Jan. 12, I will no longer be an employee of the Confed-
erated Tribes of Grand Ronde. I will be ending a more than 16-year run
as editor of Smoke Signals – the longest tenure of anyone who has ever
held the high-profile and high-pressure position.
The last 16 years have been a professionally satisfying experience as
the newspaper has won 131 combined awards from the Indigenous Jour-
nalism Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. I am
most proud of the seven times the newspaper was recognized for general
excellence from the two journalism organizations.
The biggest change that has occurred since August 2007 is Smoke Signals
becoming an independent newspaper; not independent from needing Tribal
funding to exist, but independent from undue influence by either Tribal
administration or the whims of the majority of the sitting Tribal Council.
Although I have tried to maintain a certain amount of professional
distance from Tribal members and fellow employees so I could remain
objective and not be influenced by personal opinions, I have to admit that
I have privately shed tears at the passing of several memorable people:
former Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Dakota Whitecloud, former
Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr. and former Public Affairs Director
Siobhan Taylor to name a few.
As I move into retirement to write for myself, I want to let the general
membership know that working for the Grand Ronde Tribe has been a
positive experience in myriad ways. The best example is how the Tribe
cared for its employees during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
by continuing to pay people despite the 74-day closure of Spirit Mountain
Casino. You should be proud of your Tribe!
I have worked with many fine journalists along the way and Tribal
member Justin Phillips will go down as the colleague that I have worked
with the longest in my more than 40-year career.
The Editorial Board made an excellent decision in promoting Danielle
Harrison to succeed me as editor. I am confident that she will continue
the tradition of journalistic excellence that has made Smoke Signals one
of the best newspapers in Indian Country.
Haya masi — many thanks in Chinuk Wawa — seems paltry in express-
ing my gratitude to have worked for the membership during the last 16
years, but it will have to suffice.
Dean Rhodes
Port Angeles, Wash
Clarification — A story in the Dec. 15, 2023, edition of Smoke Signals
contained incomplete information. Yamhill County Transit does not cur-
rently offer weekend bus service in Grand Ronde, as it has been suspended.
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1, in observance of New
Year’s Day. Offices also are closed on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance
of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Website: www.smokesignals.org
Email: news@grandronde.org
Email: Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
X (formerly Twitter): CTGRsmoksignelz
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/c/SmokeSignalsChannel
MICHELLE
ALAIMO
EDITOR
503-879-4663
PHOTOJOURNALIST/
ASSISTANT EDITOR
503-879-1961
danielle.harrison@grandronde.org
SAMUEL F.
BRIGGS III
STAFF WRITER
503-879-1463
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
sherron.lumley@grandronde.org
kamiah.koch@grandronde.org
JUSTIN
PHILLIPS
SHERRON
LUMLEY
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
samuel.briggs@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
KATHERINE
WARREN
PUBLICATIONS SECRETARY/
ADVERTISING
503-879-1466
katherine.warren-steffensmier@
grandronde.org
ISSUE DATE
Monday, jan. 8 ................................jan. 15
tuesday, jan. 23 ................................. feb. 1
Friday, feb. 23 ..............................March 1
friday, march 8 .......................March 15
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:
indigenous Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2022 IJA General excellence
2024
Tribal Council
tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
— ext. 2352
Letters should be exclusive to smok signflz.
Letters should be 400 words or less and must include the writer’s
name, address, phone number and Tribal roll number. You will be con-
tacted to confirm authorship.
All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and, on occasion,
factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed during a three-
month period. Letters written in response to other letter writers should
address the issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the other writer by
name, should refer to the date of the letter published. Discourse should
be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful manner.
Letters deemed in poor taste will not be printed. Send letters via e-mail
to news@grandronde.org, or submit in person at the Tribal Governance
Center in Grand Ronde, Ore., or mail to smok signflz, 9615 Grand
Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR, 97347.
SOCIAL MEDIA/
DIGITAL JOURNALIST
503-879-1461
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
Tribal Council Chairwoman
Letters welcome
KAMIAH
KOCH
DANIELLE
HARRISON
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Michael Cherry
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 4555
michael.cherry@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
Brenda tuomi
— ext. 2300
brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org
Matthew haller
— ext. 1777
matthew.haller@grandronde.org
Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
jon.george@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org