10
SMOKE SIGNALS
APRIL 1, 2024
Community night
Pacifi c University hosing
Reconciliation Powwow
Pacifi c University’s Indigenous Student Alliance is hosting a Recon-
ciliation Powwow. It will be held to honor Forest Grove Indian Training
School students who attended and lost their lives at the school, Indigenous
Student Alliance Advisor Nikol Roubidoux said.
“The May 4 event will not be a competition powwow given the meaning
behind it,” she said. “We welcome dancers, drummers and artisan vendors
to come and celebrate our culture and our future.”
She added that the intent is to celebrate the Kalapuya people and to
establish a meaningful relationship with the Grand Ronde community.
“The students and I thank you and hope you will join us on May 4,”
Roubidoux said.
Grand Entry will be held at 1 and 7 p.m. and admission is free. Pacifi c
University is located at 2043 College Way, Forest Grove.
For more information, contact kata@pacifi cu.edu or vene3117@pacifi cu.
edu.
Photos by Kamiah Koch
Azaela Anderson, 9, shows her mom a book at the Youth Education
Community Night at the Tribal gym on Wednesday, March 13. The event
sponsored by Youth Education off ered a table of free books, T-shirts and
raffl e prizes.
Paisley Smith, 6, jumps into her friend’s arms at the Youth Education
Community Night at the Tribal gym on Wednesday, March 13.
Willamina School District
names new superintendent
The Willamina School District School Board has
selected a new superintendent, Mike Gass.
Gass currently serves as interim superinten-
dent at the Clear Creek School District in Idaho
Springs, Colorado. Previously, he was an elemen-
tary principal for 3 years in the Lincoln County
School District in Newport, Oregon; and the Su-
perintendent for 5 years in the Telluride School
District in Telluride, Colorado.
Additionally, he has held numerous other ad-
Mike Gass
ministrative and teaching positions in Colorado.
He owns a home in Otter Rock, Oregon.
There were 20 applicants for the position to replace longtime Wil-
lamina Superintendent Carrie Zimbrick, who is retiring at the end
this school year.
The board interviewed three fi nalists for the position during the
week of March 11. Gass will begin as superintendent starting Mon-
day, July 1.
McPherson & Jacobson LLC of Omaha, Nebraska, served as con-
sultants in the search process and will continue working with the
School Board and the new superintendent in helping to establish
performance goals.