sNok signflz
MARCH 15, 2024
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses and able to perform
marriage ceremonies for a fi ling fee of $40.
Contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303.
More than 2,000 plastic eggs
stuff ed with candy for event
EGG HUNT continued
from front page
various treats.
“We are very excited to be able to
have the Easter egg hunt,” Housing
Services Coordinator Lacy Leno
said. “We look forward to seeing
everybody and watching the kids
have fun fi nding eggs.”
There are four hunt categories
for children ages 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to
8, and 9 to 12. Typically, there are
approximately 200 participants.
The Easter Bunny will be posing
for pictures with children before
and after the hunt, but parents
will be responsible for taking their
own photos.
Members of the Tribe’s Housing
Department, Community Health
employees and other volunteers
stuff about 2,000 plastic eggs with
candy during the week before the
event. Tribal Council sponsors the
hunt and pays for the candy.
For those who are looking for a
healthy, egg-cellent opportunity
after the hunt, there will be a com-
munity run/walk sponsored by the
Tribe’s Children & Family Services
Program in honor of Child Abuse
Prevention Month. It will feature
grab-and-go lunches, T-shirts and
a goody bag to add to the Easter
candy haul.
Participants are asked to meet at
the West Valley Veterans Memorial
on the Tribal campus following the
egg hunt.
The Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde
OFFSITE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
11 A.M. Sunday, April 7, 2024
Lane Community
College Longhouse
4000 E. 30th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97405
Followed by community
input meeting.
www.grandronde.org
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
5
Tribal Council approves grant
application for voc rehab program
By Danielle Harrison
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council approved a $3.77
million American Indian Vocation-
al Rehabilitation Services grant ap-
plication at its Wednesday, March
6, meeting.
The grant, provided through the
U.S. Department of Education
Offi ce of Special Education and Re-
habilitative Services, will provide 5
years of program operating costs to
help Tribal members with disabil-
ities achieve gainful employment.
“This specifically services the
Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde by providing funding for fi ve
positions,” Grants Program Man-
ager Wendy Sparks said during a
Tuesday, March 5, Legislative Ac-
tion Committee meeting. “This is a
long standing, ongoing grant and is
absolutely critical to the vocational
rehab project so it’s an appropriate
use of grant funds to support full-
time employees.”
The funding will cover a multi-
year contract for a client tracking
system and consultant fees for
client training, as well as assess-
ment services to assist clients with
achieving gainful employment and
work experience.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved a $375,000 grant be-
tween the Tribe and the Oregon
Department of Education Offi ce
of Indian Education to fund proj-
ects that address learning loss as
well as academic, social, emotion-
al and mental health challenges
students have faced in the wake
of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Approved an amendment to a
grant between the Tribes and
the Oregon Department of Early
Learning and Care for language
preservation and revitalization
through the Chinuk Wawa Edu-
cation Program. The amendment
adds an additional $140,955
to the previous grant award of
$133,000;
• Approved a $3 million grant
application to the U.S. Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban
Development Indian Housing
Block Grant for the design and
construction of eight low-income
housing units;
• Approved an application to the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency Assistance to Firefi ghters
Grants Program for $342,444;
• And enrolled one infant into the
Tribe because they meet the re-
quirements outlined in the Tribal
Constitution and Enrollment
Ordinance.
Tribal Council also approved an
authorization to proceed with a
home-ownership preference process
for its new development located
at McPherson Road. First-tier
preference will be given to Tribal
members with a preapproval letter,
lease application submitted to the
Tribal Housing Department and
who are the only Tribal members
interested in a specific lot. They
will have 60 days to close on the lot.
Second-tier preference will be giv-
en to Tribal members with a preap-
proval letter and lease application
submitted to housing but prefer a
lot with multiple people interested.
All interested parties will be placed
in a lottery-style drawing. The
Housing Department will contact
the person who is drawn as the
fi rst candidate on the preferred lot.
If the Tribal member doesn’t close
on the lot within 60 days, then it
will be offered to the next member
on the list.
The remaining lots and homes
will be advertised and sold on a
first-come, first-served basis to
those Tribal members who can
obtain a preapproval letter, lease
application and close within the
60-day time period.
Additionally, Tribal Council ap-
proved an authorization to proceed
with design and construction of 25
one-bedroom units and 20 two-bed-
room units for phase 3 of the Wind
River Apartments, located adjacent
to the Housing Department offi ces
at 28450 Tyee Road.
To watch the entire meeting, visit
the Tribal government’s website at
www.grandronde.org and click on
the Videos tab.