Tribe celebrates 39 years of Restoration in person
Tribal members, family, friends and others gathered Tuesday at Spirit Mountain Casino’s Event Center for their first in-person Restoration celebration since 2019. The day, Nov. 22, is commemorated by many in the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to remember the signing of the Grand Ronde Restoration Act in 1983. Since then, the tribe has gone from having little money and only five acres of land to operating a successful casino that generates millions in revenue every year, having its hunting and fishing rights restored, and rebuilding tribal institutions and culture. “Restoration was done to restore you,” Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said. “The culture in you, the memories and history, so you know what we did, how we lived and how important that is.” (Danielle Harrison/Smoke Signals)
Spate of shootings prompts security fixes near Jefferson High School
Portland Public Schools officials hope a traffic project and security cameras will help curb gun violence near Jefferson High School following two drive-by shootings in the area in less than a month. The Portland school district said it’s working with the city’s transportation department in an effort to turn Commercial Avenue into a one-way street, to reduce traffic volume near the school. Jefferson High School is slated to be remodeled in 2024, but planning is in the early stages. PPS staff said it’s too early to know whether the rebuild will lead to other safety improvements. (Courtney Vaughn/Portland Tribune)
Vigil planned to honor Aidan Ellison two years after his death
Two years ago, Aidan Ellison, a Black teenager, was shot and killed outside an Ashland hotel. Robert Paul Keegan of Talent, who is white, was charged with Ellison’s death, and Keegan’s trial is set to begin in February. He faces a variety of charges, including the potential of life in prison. “We should never forget, and Ashland should never forget, that this kid’s life was taken and how it was taken,” said Gina DuQuenne, an Ashland council member. “Yes, this does happen all over the world. And yes, it does happen in Ashland. And that we are not going to accept this type of behavior and to acknowledge it and not just let it go away. So I want to amplify the life of Aidan Ellison.” (Jane Vaughan/JPR)
Eugene 4J school board tensions are rising. Is this distracting from board duties?
Members of the Eugene School Board District 4J and observers recognize that tensions have been rising for months. Those tensions have come to a head with a formal complaint filed by one member against several others and an abrupt adjournment at the most recent meeting. Interpersonal conflicts are becoming a distraction from the board of directors’ education mission, school board members say. “It diverts our attention away from the work that we’re supposed to be doing,” board chair Maya Rabasa said. “It’s important to me that we commit to following the structure of our meeting, as laid out in policy.” (Miranda Cyr/Register-Guard)
Country Natural Beef begins collecting data for regenerative ranching effort
Country Natural Beef, a rancher-owned cooperative that prides itself on sustainable practices and animal welfare, is now working to reinforce that ideology with science. Earlier this year, members began collecting baseline data about their operations for a new program, called Grazewell, which will measure the overall health of the land and suggest methods for improvement. Grazewell is supported by a five-year, $10 million USDA grant in partnership with Sustainable Northwest, a Portland-based nonprofit focused on natural resource stewardship. (George Plaven/Capital Press)
