PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 College naming Welcome Center after Grand Ronde Chief Wacheno — pg. 6 february 1, 2021 Tribes receive good COVID-19 funding news Deadline to spend monies extended until end of 2021 By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor ative American Tribes na- tionwide received two good Npieces of news in December and January regarding COVID-19 relief funding as the federal govern- ment transitioned to the new Biden administration. Tribes received news on Dec. 12 that their deadline for spend- ing Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding approved in March 2020 has been extended by a year to Dec. 31, 2021, as part of the Consolidated Appro- priations 2021 Act that was signed into law. The Grand Ronde Tribe received a combined $44 million from the Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Treasury Department in three LightWerks Communication Systems Inc. Lead AV installer Beau Krebsbach left and AV Installer Corey Nelson payments and $1.56 million from , , the Department of the Interior in work on installing the second of two 85-inch televisions in the Tribal Council Chambers on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The CARES Act funding. new TVs are part of a major technological upgrade within the Governance Center. The Tribe used approximately 42 percent of that emergency funding – $19.3 million – to fund a COVID-19 Relief Payment program that sent a Council Chambers 2.0 total of $4,400 to each adult Tribal member in eight monthly payments from April through November. Technology upgrades allow full remote participation The relief payments approved in March were designed to help Tribal By Danielle Harrison in meetings. federal government in 2020. members adversely affected by the Smoke Signals staff writer The upgrades, completed by The meeting room improve- nationwide economic downturn he Tribal Council Cham- LightWerks Communication Sys- ments include a room scheduling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic bers and conference room tems Inc. of Carson, Calif., cost system, an electronic sign to and the suspension of quarterly Thave undergone significant $182,000 and were paid for with replace the bulletin board and per capita payments in June and technology upgrades in Janu- Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Eco- a video conference system with September after Spirit Mountain ary that will allow the audience nomic Security Act funds. The and Tribal Council members to Tribe received $45 million in See UPGRADES See COVID-19 more fully participate remotely emergency aid funding from the continued on page 9 continued on page 7 On-time graduation rates dip for Native students By Danielle Harrison day for support.” Smoke Signals staff writer Willamina School District Native American on-time graduation at Wil- igh school graduation rates have de- plans Feb. 9 re-opening date lamina is at 83.7 percent for 2020, a decrease creased slightly for Native students from 2019’s 88 percent, but still a significant — See story on page 9 Hoverall in Oregon and at several local increase from the 60 percent rate when the state school districts. began recording subgroup data in the 2008-09 According to numbers released by the Oregon forced schools to close their doors to in-person school year. Department of Education on Thursday, Jan. 21, instruction. Willamina has the largest Native American Native American on-time graduation for 2020 “I do think the lack of in-person instruction did population in the area, with approximately 35 is at 67.2 percent, down half a percentage point impact some of our students,” Willamina School percent of students identifying as such, and most from the year before. District Superintendent Carrie Zimbrick says. of those students being Grand Ronde Tribal Local school districts also saw moderate dips, “We continue to work very closely with the Tribal members or descendants. which officials say is not unexpected given the Education Department to support students. The sudden pivot to distance learning that occurred guided studies class has been a great resource for See GRADUATION in March 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic our Native students to access during the school continued on page 8 2 FEBRUARY 1, 2021 Smoke Signals General Council meeting sNok signflz 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 Being held remotely using the Zoom teleconferencing program. 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 Website: www.smokesignals.org Wednesday, Feb. 10...........................................................................10 a.m. E-mail: [email protected] Wednesday, Feb. 24...........................................................................10 a.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. [email protected] Twitter: CTGRSmokeSignal Letters www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/ www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDXdTzfGjzJ_j3NPpCrtcw Dear Smoke Signals: In these times of a pandemic and social distancing, I am so grateful for DEAN RHODES DANIELLE TIMOTHY J. the stewardship and support of our Tribe. The past and present integrity PUBLICATIONS HARRISON GONZALEZ of caring is evident in today’s leadership and staff. COORDINATOR STAFF WRITER PHOTOJOURNALIST 503-879-1463 503-879-4663 503-879-1961 Our Tribal people have been blessed beyond measure. The Elders meals, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] clinic, COVID support programs and much more have produced the fruits of labor that started out as dreams in the 1970s. SAMUEL F. JUSTIN KAMIAH Our Tribal leadership has provided unprecedented solutions in a world BRIGGS III PHILLIPS KOCH of disease, death and social discord. I hope that all of our Tribal families GRAPHIC DESIGN PAGE SOCIAL MEDIA/ join me in thanking our leaders and staff in a job well done. SPECIALIST DESIGNER DIGITAL JOURNALIST 503-879-1416 503-879-2190 503-879-1461 Margo Mercier [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Roll No. 885 DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE monday, feb. 8 .......................feb. 15, 2021 Tribe expands vaccinations monday, feb. 22 ............... march 1, 2021 monday, march 8 ........ march 15, 2021 to those 55 and older Thursday, march 25 ......... april 1, 2021 The Grand Ronde Tribal Health & Wellness Clinic has expanded its COVID-19 vaccinations to Tribal members 55 and older, Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe announced on Thursday, Editorial Policy Jan. 21. However, she added, priority still will be given to Tribal Elders smok signflz, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Communi- ty of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted 65 and older. without permission. According to the clinic, there are currently 14 active COVID-19 Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers cases and 60 people have recovered from the virus as of Thursday, about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be Jan. 28. The clinic has conducted 1,732 coronavirus tests and re- signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not corded 59 positives for a 3.4 percent positivity rate. be published unless requested. Letters must be 400 words or less. As of Thursday, Jan. 28, the clinic has delivered 655 doses with smok signflz reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined 499 of those being given to Elders. Tribal health care workers and 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 employees who have frequent contact with the public, such as first editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect responders and Adult Foster Care staff members, were some of the the opinions of smok signflz. first to receive the vaccine. The Grand Ronde Tribe received its first 300-dose batch of the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 22. The vaccine requires two doses given Members of: Native American Journalists Association approximately 28 days apart to help the body build up resistance Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association to the virus. Tribal members 55 and older should call 503-879-2032 to schedule a vaccination appointment. 2021 Letters welcome Tribal Council Letters should be exclusive to smok signflz. [email protected] Letters should be 400 words or less and must include the writer’s , , name address phone number and Tribal roll number. You will be contacted to confirm authorship. Cheryle A. Kennedy Jack Giffen Jr. All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and, on Tribal Council Chairwoman — ext. 2300 [email protected] occasion, factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed — ext. 2352 during a three-month period. [email protected] Denise Harvey Letters written in response to other letter writers should address — ext. 2353 the issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the other writer by Chris Mercier [email protected] name, should refer to the date of the letter published. Discourse Tribal Council Vice Chair — ext. 1444 should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful Michael Langley [email protected] manner. Letters deemed in poor taste will not be printed. Send — ext. 1777 letters via e-mail to [email protected], or submit in person [email protected] at the Tribal Governance Center in Grand Ronde, Ore., or mail to Jon A. George smok signflz, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR, 97347. Tribal Council Secretary Lisa Leno — ext. 2355 — ext. 1770 [email protected] [email protected] Tribal Office Closures Kathleen George Steve Bobb Sr.