Smoke Signals (newspaper) facts for kids
| Type | Bimonthly Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Founder(s) | Greg Archuleta |
| Publisher | Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Grand Ronde, Oregon |
Smoke Signals is a newspaper made by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This newspaper has been sharing news in Oregon since the late 1970s. It helps tribal members and others learn about important events and stories.
Contents
The Story of Smoke Signals Newspaper
Smoke Signals was started by Greg Archuleta around 1978. It began as a small newsletter sent every month to members of the tribe.
How the Newspaper Grew
In April 1987, Smoke Signals changed its look. It became a larger newspaper, like a tabloid, printed on regular newsprint. By 1995, it started publishing twice a month, bringing even more news to its readers.
What Smoke Signals Covers
Smoke Signals often reports on important topics for Native American communities. Other news groups and schools have used its stories as sources.
- In 1999, the newspaper shared information about people who were not Native American wanting to join the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
- In 2000, Smoke Signals wrote about finding and returning Native American remains.
- In 2002, the editor, Brent Merrill, was featured in Oregonian newspaper. He walked to remember the Trail of Tears, a sad time in history for many Native American people.
- In 2005, the editor talked about using Native American terms for sports teams.
- In 2018, another newspaper mentioned Smoke Signals' name. They thought it was a creative way to connect the paper to its local community.
Awards and Independence
Smoke Signals has won many awards for its great work. These awards come from groups like the Native American Journalists Association. It also won awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.
In 2017, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde made a special rule. This rule created an editorial board for Smoke Signals. This board helps the newspaper make its own decisions. It means the newspaper can report the news freely without direct control from the tribal government. That same year, it won the Elias Boudinot Free Press Award for its independent reporting. In 2020, it won second place awards for overall quality, news stories, and photography.
