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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2024)
sNok signflz NOVEMBER 15, 2024 9 TERO holds annual appreciation lunch By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals editor The annual Tribal Employment Rights Offi ce Appreciation Lunch was held Saturday, Nov. 2, at Spir- it Mountain Casino to honor and highlight employees and projects in 2024. TERO Director Harris Reibach served as master of ceremonies, introducing speakers, presenting awards and announcing raffl e win- ners while more than 200 attendees enjoyed lunch and desserts. “We’re here to celebrate all of the good things we do at TERO and each one of you who contributes to that success,” Reibach said. “It’s fun to be able to connect with people whose names I’ve only seen on emails and whatnot. I’ve already heard some cool stories where people have met others here that they’ve only talked to on the phone in the past. That’s what it’s about, just getting together and connecting.” Then, a moment of silence was held for past TERO work- er and Tribal Elder Mar- cus Gibbons, who walked on Thursday, Oct. 31. Tribal member Anthony Quenelle gave the invoca- tion, then he and Reibach performed a drum and rattle song. Reibach took a moment to acknowledge all who had come out for the event, and noted it was the fi rst time they had in- vited primary contractors for various Oregon Department of Transportation projects that em- ploy TERO workers. “We’re really excited to have them here,” he said. Photos by Michelle Alaimo Don Wabaunsee (Warm Springs) is gifted a Pendleton blanket after being named the 2024 Tribal Employment Rights Offi ce Worker of the Year during the TERO Appreciation Lunch at the Spirit Mountain Casino Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 2. On the left is TERO Director Harris Reibach, and the blanket was presented by TERO Compliance Offi cer Duke Kimsey, behind Wabaunsee, and TERO Senior Administrative Assistant Caden Leno, right. Tribal member Ferrell DeGarmo talks about his experience with the Tribe’s Tribal Employment Rights Offi ce during the TERO Appreciation Lunch. Reibach introduced employees in the TERO program, which include Compliance Offi cer Duke Kimsey, Training and Development Co- ordinator Jacob Boekhoff, Senior Attention All Artisans Now accepting bids for our Little Miss crown. Submit full design that includes: • The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde logo including feathers. • Court Year 2025–26. • Title: Little Miss Grand Ronde. • Crowns must be completed and delivered by July 31, 2025. Must submit photos of progress when requested. Administrative Assistant Caden Leno, Adminis- trative Assistant Kristy Summers and Khofi Haws Lead Barista Ariel Hunt. Past TERO staff member Lori Sterling was also in attendance. Lunch and dessert were followed by raffl e prize drawings, an expla- nation of the various services TERO provides and project statistics, among other presentations. Tribal Council member Denise Harvey spoke about her personal history with the program before it was known as TERO. “TERO is very near and dear to my heart,” she said. “Working in the Human Resources department, we had all of these construction projects going on and I was like, ‘How are we tapping into our people and how are we getting jobs for our people?’ At that time, the HR direc- tor said she wanted me to oversee all of our construction projects and that’s all it took. I got involved with ODOT, with the union trades, and started looking at every opportuni- ty pushing forward TERO.” That work resulted in the creation of the Tribe’s workforce development program, a predecessor to TERO. “Our whole goal was to empower our people and to get them living wage jobs, allowing them to realize they could do this whether they were male or female, they could do this and get paid really well for it…It’s amazing to me today to see what Harris has done, what the team has done and where our TERO program is today.” TERO Commission members and Tribal Elders Perri McDaniel and Tracie Meyer spoke on behalf of the commission. They said that Grand Ronde TERO has the best program that they have seen in Indian Country. Reibach then introduced ODOT Assistant Director Serena Stoudamire Wesley and ODOT Offi ce of Equity and Civil Rights Manager Angela Crane. Reibach noted that Grand Ronde is one of only seven Tribes in the nation with a TERO that includes an agreement with the state de- partment of transportation. “We have a long relationship (with Grand Ronde) and we want to keep that relationship and just be ever present in that work and be there and accessible to everyone,” Wesley said. “Thank you to Tribal Council, TERO commissioners, and Harris and your team for bringing us to- gether to celebrate TERO workers and their support network, and know we are here to celebrate all of you today,” Crane said. “I want to share just how much this event has grown. I remember the fi rst TERO celebration was down the road at the Elders Activity Center and it was a full house, maybe 25 people or so then and that was amazing… Looking around the room here today, just be proud of how much you’ve grown over the years.” Toward the end of the event after open mic opportunities, the TERO Worker of the Year award was presented. Warm Springs Tribal member Don Wabaunsee received the honor for 2024. He works as a traffi c control supervisor. “A lot goes into making this deci- sion,” Reibach said. He told the audience that Wa- baunsee has worked for TERO for the past six years. “We have never received any com- plaints about Don’s performance,” Reibach said. “He is a key employee with every company he has worked for and always fi nishes the projects for the full duration…For that, we are proud to name him as the Worker of the Year for 2024.” Wabaunsee said he was grateful to receive the honor. “Thanks to my wife, to the TERO program and to everyone for being here today,” he said. “Thank you.” He received a plaque, Tribal Pendleton blanket, $200 gift card, a one-night stay at Spirit Mountain Casino with a meal and a $50 gift card to the casino giftshop. The event concluded with a fi nal raffl e and photos. n Bid deadline is Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (deadline is firm and no bids will be accepted after 5 p.m.) Tribal nonemergency text line Mail bids and designs to: CTGR Royalty c/o Shannon Simi 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 Questions: Call Shannon at 503-879-1358 or email shannon.simi@grandronde.org *Bids and designs can be sent to the above email address. Ad by Samuel Briggs III The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has a nonemergency text line at 541-921-2927. “If you have a nonemergency situation or question, feel free to contact my offi cer via text through this line,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight. McKnight said that emergency situations still require calling 911. For more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474. n
