Smoke Signals wins eight NAJA awards

Smoke Signals, the bimonthly newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, won eight awards that included three first places from the Native American Journalists Association for work published in 2015.

Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes won first place in the Associate Division in the News Story category for his April 1 story about federal officials visiting Spirit Mountain Casino and briefing Tribal leaders on Oregon’s legalization of marijuana, which took effect in 2015.

Rhodes competed in the Associate Division for nonTribal members who work for Native publications.

Grand Ronde Tribal members Brent Merrill and Justin Phillips received first-place awards in the Professional Division for Feature Story and Layout, respectively.

Merrill received first for his Sept. 1 story “Betrothal on Break,” a story about Spirit Mountain Casino employee Clint Folden getting married by surprise on his lunch break. Phillips was honored for designing Smoke Signals and was judged by entering three issues of the paper.

The Professional Division is for enrolled Tribal members who work for Native publications.

Tribal photographer Michelle Alaimo received a second-place award in the Associate Division in the Best Photo of Native America category for her May 15 photographs of the Tribe’s First Salmon Ceremony held in West Linn in May 2015 and Merrill received a second-place award in the Professional Division’s Best Sports Story category for his Nov. 15 feature on Tribal member Marcel Allen’s bull-riding successes.

Smoke Signals also received a second-place award in the Professional Division for general excellence. The award goes to the entire staff.

Third-place awards went to Alaimo in the Associate Division’s Best Feature Photo category for photographs of the Tribal Council Christmas Party held in December 2015 and to Rhodes in the Associate Division’s Best Feature Story category for his April 15 story about Tribal Elder Opal Davidson turning 100 years old.

The National Native Media Awards will be distributed during NAJA’s Media Awards Banquet to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in New Orleans.

“Winning awards from the Native American Journalists Association is always a rewarding experience for our staff,” Rhodes said. “The recognition continues to show that the Grand Ronde Tribe supports one of the best Native newspapers in the country and the most honored Native news publication in Oregon.

“We continue to be thankful for the support we receive throughout the year from our Tribal colleagues, Tribal Council and Tribal members in helping us to create and distribute an informative and professional publication for Tribal members and those interested in the Grand Ronde Tribe.”