2
JUNE 1, 2025
SMOKE SIGNALS
Tribal Council nominations
11 a.m. Sunday, June 29
Tribal Council Chambers
All nominations are required to be done in-person.
Tribal members can participate remotely via Zoom and in-person
attendance. Call 800-422-0232 for more information.
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, June 11............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25............................................................................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.
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
Letter s
Dear Smoke Signals,
Regarding removing the BIA from our election process – It is a bad idea
to remove the BIA from conducting election oversight, which ensures
regulations and guidelines are adhered to in the conduct of our elections.
With questions about national and global election integrity, stolen elec-
tions, voter fraud, ballot harvesting, corruption, threats to democracy,
media manipulation, intimidation of election workers, partisan meddling,
motivations to obstruct or delay election results, to name a few issues…You
have to ask why anyone wants to remove the one source we have to protect
election integrity? What really is the reason? Why now? And why the rush?
Democracy requires the losing side to accept election results. Recent
attempts to change the results of the new constitutional amendment were
not successful thanks to the involvement of the BIA.
Election Boards change. Tribal Council will change. Keep our elections
safe. Keep the BIA.
Sincerely,
Joan Walker Anderson
Roll #2929
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
SECRETARY / ADVERTISING
503-879-1466 • katherine.warren-steffensmier@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
Tribal Election office hours
The Tribal Election Board will be holding office hours at the Tribal
Community Center for the upcoming constitutional amendment election
to remove the Bureau of Indian Affairs from the Tribal election process.
Hours will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Monday,
June 30. The election is Wednesday, July 9.
Office hours will also be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through
Thursday, June 3-5, for any challenges to the voter list.
The board may be reached at 503-879-2271 or by emailing election.
board@grandronde.org. n
Tribal Office Closures
ISSUE DATE
MEMBERS OF:
Thursday, June 5 ........................... June 15
Indigenous Journalists Association
Friday, June 20 .................................. July 1
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Assoc.
Wednesday, July 2 ......................... July 15
2022 IJA General Excellence
Wednesday, July 23 .................... August 1
2023 IJA General Excellence
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.
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.
Tribal offices will be closed Thursday, June 19, in observance of the
Juneteenth commemoration.
2 02 5 Trib a l Co uncil
Contest Powwow
vendors wanted!
tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
— ext. 2352
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
The Grand Ronde Contest Powwow
Committee is seeking vendors for the
2025 Contest Powwow, which will be
held Friday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug. 17.
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Jon A. George
Interested vendors are asked to apply
online at www.grandronde.org.
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
For more information or assistance call:
jon.george@grandronde.org
503-879-5211 • 503-879-2037
503-879-4533
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