Grand Ronde Tribe declares state of emergency

For the first time since restoration in 1983, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have declared a state of emergency because of the coronavirus outbreak. A resolution was passed by Tribal Council Wednesday, a day after it closed its Spirit Mountain casino.

"This allows us to access specific resources directly from the federal government to meet the needs of our community - items like personal protection equipment for medical staff," tribal spokesperson Sarah Thompson said, referring to masks and other necessary items.

Tribal Council Chair Cheryle Kennedy said, “The COVID-19 outbreak is constantly changing. This declaration allows us to seek the help of our partners in a time where working together is key to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

"We need to come together as a community. We need to check on one another, make sure our elders are taken care of, and use our strength as a community to see each other through this challenging time.” 

The declaration is the latest in a long line of decisions by Tribal Council to combat coronavirus while protecting the tribal community, employees and customers.

Previous actions by Tribal Council included placing the tribe on a limited shutdown by closing classes and educational programming, limiting services to essential services and closing the casino.