2
SMOKE SIGNALS
FEBRUARY 1, 2025
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2
sNok signflz
Monarch Hotel & Convention Center,
12566 SE 93rd Ave., Clackamas
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
Tribal members can participate remotely via Zoom and in-person
attendance. Call 800-422-0232 for more information.
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, Feb. 5...............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19.............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if
needed. In-person attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom.
Inclement weather alert!
Please be sure to call the Health & Wellness Center before traveling
in to appointments at the clinic during inclement weather.
Health & Wellness Center staff will make every attempt to call pa-
tients during closures. Also, sign up for emergency notifi cations about
Tribal campus closures on the Tribal website at www.grandronde.org
or follow the Tribe’s primary page on Facebook. n
The Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde
OFFSITE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
Sunday, February 2
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
DANIELLE HARRISON
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PUBLICATIONS MANAGER / EDITOR
503-879-4663
danielle.harrison@grandronde.org
PHOTOJOURNALIST / ASSISTANT EDITOR
503-879-1961
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
SAMUEL F. BRIGGS III
PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
503-879-2190
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
samuel.briggs@grandronde.org
KAMIAH KOCH
NICOLE MONTESANO
SOCIAL MEDIA / DIGITAL JOURNALIST
503-879-1461
kamiah.koch@grandronde.org
STAFF WRITER
503-879-1463
nicole.montesano@grandronde.org
KATHERINE WARREN
Monarch Hotel
12566 SE 93rd Ave.
Clackamas, OR 97015
SECRETARY / ADVERTISING
503-879-1466 • katherine.warren-steffensmier@grandronde.org
Sunday, April 6
Lane Community College Longhouse
4000 E. 30th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97405
DEADLINE DATE
Followed by Community Input Meeting.
ISSUE DATE
MEMBERS OF:
Thursday, Feb. 6 .............................. Feb. 15
Indigenous Journalists Association
Thursday, Feb. 20 .............................. Mar. 1
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Assoc.
Thursday, Mar. 6 .............................. Mar. 15
2022 IJA General Excellence
Thursday, Mar. 20 .............................. Apr. 1
2023 IJA General Excellence
www.grandronde.org
EDITORIAL POLICY
Smoke Signals, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, is
published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission.
CTGR Member Services
Requests for
Descendancy Options
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 email 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.
Smoke Signals 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 Smoke Signals.
2 02 5 Trib a l Co uncil
1. Descendancy letter (no DNA testing)
2. Certificate of Descendancy (DNA testing required)
Process:
Submit completed application (digital signatures are not accepted)
along with a copy of an original state certified birth certificate (we
cannot accept copies) and proof of payment for the DNA from
the Finance Department. Once application is received, Enrollment
Office staff will process and setup the DNA appointment.
DNA at the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center: Cost of DNA
testing is $50 and you must pre-register with the clinic prior to your
appointment. To pre-register, contact Ashley Stonebrink at
503-879-1325 or Stacy Pond-Bissonette at 503-879-2096.
tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
— ext. 2352
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
To request an application or if you have any questions,
contact the following:
Memberservices@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Enrollment staff:
Tristin Armstrong 503-879-1619, Tristin.armstrong@grandronde.org
Nick Labonte 503-879-2490, Nick.labonte@grandronde.org
Tribal Council Secretary
Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
jon.george@grandronde.org
Please send completed applications to:
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Attn: Enrollment Office
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Ad by Samuel Briggs III
Brenda tuomi
— ext. 2300
brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org
Matthew haller
— ext. 1777
matthew.haller@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Tonya Gleason-Shepek
— ext. 4555
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org
denise.harvey@grandronde.org