Smoke Signals podcasts

Spirit Mountain Casino CEO Camille Mercier and Marketing Director Eric Larsen discuss the casino's partnership with Portland's debut WNBA team on the latest Smoke Signals podcast.

Smoke Signals met with Great Circle Recovery Operations Director Jennifer Worth to discuss the latest updates on their new locations, mobile clinics and expanding services. Contact info:Salem Clinic: 503-983-9900Behavoiral Health: 503-983-9934Main Street Recovery: 503-879-1501Portland Clinic: 971-339-9240

Smoke Signals Social Media/Digital Journalist Kamiah Koch interviews Smoke Signals Editor Danielle Harrison and Smoke Signals Photojournalist/Assistant Editor Michelle Alaimo about the most popular stories from 2025. Together, they discuss the five most popular online stories, going viral on Reddit and their favorite photos from 2025.

Tribal members Tammy Cook, Bruce Thomas and Chris Leno were some of the many names found in the early Smoke Signals coverage of Spirit Mountain Casino. Thirty years later, Smoke Signals interviews them to reflect on what it took to open Spirit Mountain Casino on Oct. 17, 1995. 

Smoke Signals spoke with Finance Officer Chris Leno and Audit Manager Michael Langely to better understand the General Welfare Assistance payments. 

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Valeria Atanacio.As we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find the answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Peter GroutAs we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find your answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Toby McClary.As we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find your answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Pamala Warren-Chase. As we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find your answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Denis Harvey.As we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find your answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

This podcast interviews 2025 Tribal Council candidate Pete Wakeland. As we do every year, Smoke Signals invited the Tribal Council candidates to speak on the Smoke Signals podcast. Looking for an answer to a specific question? Click through the “Chapters” tab on the Spreaker.com platform to find your answer. We ask the candidates about their work-life balance, special interests and their thoughts on the recent constitutional amendment vote.New to this year’s interview, three questions were dedicated to discussing their feelings about the Independent Tribal Press Ordinance (ITPO) and how they would vote if a proposal to repeal the ITPO was presented to the Tribal Council.*Disclaimer: Two candidates chose to direct their campaign efforts elsewhere and did not do an interview with Smoke Signals.

Podcast 109

Podcast 108Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier joined the Smoke Signals podcast to reflect on the creation of the Grand Ronde Tribe's achaf-hammi Plankhouse fifteen years later. Mercier goes down memory lane with photos from the Smoke Signals archive documenting the process of milling and building the plankhouse back in 2008. The achaf-hammi Plankhouse's 15th birthday celebration will be held in at the plankhouse on Saturday, Oct. 19 with doors opening at 4 p.m.

Grand Ronde Tribal Council Secretary Micheal Cherry recently attended the Tribal Elected Official Training at the ilani Casino Resort in Washington. Cherry sat down with the Smoke Signals podcast to share her take-aways from the three-day training.

Smoke Signals Editior Danielle Harrison and Social Media/Digital Journalist Kamiah Koch sat down with Tribal Council member and Indian Gaming Association Tribal delegate Denise Harvey to discuss her recent trip to London for the International Casino Exhibition.

Visitors to the Spirit Mountain Casino have long been able to purchase Tribal memorabilia from the gift shop. Jewlery and beaded items made by Grand Ronde Tribal members sits in a display box next to the cashier for interested buyers. On another wall in the gift shop offers a rotating display of visual artwork and drawings from regional artists for interested buyers. Although there are several Tribal artists from the Grand Ronde Tribe, none of thier visual artwork was available in their own Tribal gift shop. That was until the casino noticed TwahnaCreation.

The Grand Ronde Tribe hosted its first Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Dinner on Friday, Dec. 1. Smoke Signals was permitted to record the full panel discussion as a part of our Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness series, following MMIP Resource Coordinator Amanda Freeman and Great Circle Recovery Operations Director Jennifer Worth's awareness efforts.Upcoming MMIP awareness events: Jan. 13, 2024: Self-defense classJune 1, 2024: MMIP Awareness Walk at Salem Riverfront Park*More details on these events to be released soon and can be found on the Smoke Signals calendar.*

Tribal member Amanda Freeman has been working on a photography project for several years, with the goal of raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people. In the last few months it has reached new heights with the help of the Tribe’s Great Circle Recovery Operations Director Jennifer Worth. Together, along with collaboration from Spirit Mountain Casino, they installed a new billboard along Highway 18 with the words, “How many must go missing before you start to listen?” Smoke Signals talks with Freeman about the story behind this billboard and what she hopes to achieve.Upcoming MMIP awareness events: Jan. 13, 2024: Self-defense classJune 1, 2024: MMIP Awareness Walk at Salem Riverfront Park*More details on these events to be released soon and can be found on the Smoke Signals calendar.*

Podcast #101During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision for economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

Podcast #100During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision for economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

Podcast #99During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision on economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

Podcast #98During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision on economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

Podcast #97During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision on economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

Podcast #96During the 2023 election, Smoke Signals asked all six Tribal Council candidates to elaborate on their vision on economic development for the Tribe, solutions for enrollment issues, their qualifications for the job and more. You can find all six podcast interviews with the candidates on our Spreaker page, or wherever you listen to podcasts, to help you decide on who to vote for.Ballots were mailed to voters with verified signatures on Wednesday, July 26. Tribal members can submit a verified signature card at any time up to and including Election Day on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Grand Ronde post office is no longer open to accept ballots on Saturday, Sept. 9. For Tribal members’ convenience, there will be a ballot box in the Governance Center during the election season and also on Election Day there will be a box in the Community Center where ballots can be dropped off. Ballots will be available, as they have been in the past, for Tribal members who want to vote in person. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure their ballot is received by the Election Board on Election Day and allow for adequate time for the ballot to reach the Election Board by Sept. 9. If you have questions regarding your vote, contact the Tribe’s Election Board office located in the Tribal Community Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, and the phone number is 503-879-2271.

In the spring of 2022, Smoke Signals assistant editor/staff writer Danielle Harrison found four Grand Ronde Tribal members who all share two similar experiences: All four are mothers and all four have served time at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. These are their stories of parenting from prison. Smoke Signals' Parenting from prison continues with written stories online: https://www.smokesignals.org/articles/?tag=Parenting+from+prison

After 18 years on Grand Ronde’s Tribal Council, Jack Giffen Jr. has decided to direct his attention from being a Tribal leader to spending more time with his family. He talks with the Smoke Signals podcast about his time on council and his advice for Tribal members thinking of running for council.

Tribal Council member Michael Cherry recently attended her first National Congress of American Indians meeting held in Anchorage, Alaska. Cherry talks with Smoke Signals Social Media/Digital Journalist Kamiah Koch about the experience, which included attending briefings on murdered and missing Indigenous people, cultural presentations by Alaskan Natives and seeing the sun in the sky at midnight.Link for the Native Teachings Toolkit for survivors of domestic violence: https://www.niwrc.org/resources/toolkit/reconnecting-native-teachings-and-creating-healing-spaces-and-2slgbtq-victim

Full story and video: https://www.smokesignals.org/articles/2022/05/05/corvallis-school-district-renames-elementary-school-after-kathryn-harrison/

Looking to understand how Grand Ronde's Tribal government works? Listen our "crash course" podcast explaining what guides Tribal government and how members can better engage with it. You can also watch the video version on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/oSDGh0t6KQQMore "crash course" videos on Tribal government coming soon. If you have a topic you would like to learn more about, send your ideas to [email protected]. Documents used in this podcast can be found at: https://www.grandronde.org/

Ruse Brewing introduced a new collaboration beer called “Native Land” to its taproom at 4784 S.E. 17th Ave. in Portland on Thursday, Dec. 23. With gold lettering that matches the color of its hazy IPA, the beer’s label reads “brewed on the ancestral homelands of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.”You can read the story at https://www.smokesignals.org/articles/2022/01/12/beer-recognizes-grand-ronde-s-ancestral-homelands/

Indigenous artist and Grand Ronde Tribal member Steph Littlebird was selected to design the label artwork for the 34th release of Deschutes Brewery’s seasonal beer, the Jubelale.

Smoke Signals discusses the 2021 election results with Tribal Council member Denise Harvey.

In this episode we talk with one of the five 2021 Tribal Council candidates, Michael Cherry. To hear more from the candidates, see episodes 79-83 of the Smoke Signals podcast.To jump to specific questions, see the "Chapters" tab below. Music: Jan Michael Looking Wolf - Wind Jammer

In this episode we talk with one of the five 2021 Tribal Council candidates, Perri McDaniel. To hear more from the candidates, see episodes 79-83 of the Smoke Signals podcast.To jump to specific questions, see the "Chapters" tab below. Music: Jan Michael Looking Wolf - Wind Jammer

In this episode we talk with one of the five 2021 Tribal Council candidates, Jon A. George. To hear more from the candidates, see episodes 79-83 of the Smoke Signals podcast.To jump to specific questions, see the "Chapters" tab below. Music: Jan Michael Looking Wolf - Wind Jammer

In this episode we talk with one of the five 2021 Tribal Council candidates, Steve Bobb Sr.. To hear more from the candidates, see episodes 79-83 of the Smoke Signals podcast.To jump to specific questions, see the "Chapters" tab below. Music: Jan Michael Looking Wolf - Wind Jammer

In this episode we talk with one of the five 2021 Tribal Council candidates, Cheryle A. Kennedy. To hear more from the candidates, see episodes 79-83 of the Smoke Signals podcast.To jump to specific questions, see the "Chapters" tab below. Music: Jan Michael Looking Wolf - Wind Jammer

The Smoke Signals podcast invited Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and contracted attorney Robert Lyttle to recap the four enrollment and membership meetings. The meetings intended to provide uniform information to Tribal members about Grand Ronde's enrollment issues. In this podcast they discuss how they think the meetings went and what the next steps are for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.Audio source: Jamendo"Motivation"