The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund recently announced Simone Auger as the 2020/21 Hatfield Fellow. Auger lives in Vancouver, WA and is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Auger received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Marylhurst University and a Master of Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Environment. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Tribal
Relations from PSU Institute for Tribal Government, and a Course Certificate from NW Energy Policy and the Columbia River – PSU Mark O. Hatfield School of Government.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde established the Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship in 1998 as a living tribute to Senator Hatfield to honor his accomplishments as Governor of Oregon and U.S. Senator. Each year, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund sponsors a highly motivated Native American to serve as the Hatfield Fellow and intern in an Oregon congressional office, enhancing the mutual understanding between leadership in Washington, D.C., and Indian Country.
Auger attended a virtual orientation with American Political Science Association (APSA) in Washington, D.C. and concurrently began working remotely with Congressman Kurt Schrader’s office.
“I look forward to gaining insight to the inner workings of Congress and the political process, especially where it concerns tribal affairs,” said Auger. “I have a background in utility energy programs where my role included helping tribes and businesses navigate program resources so they could take control of their energy destiny. With Rep. Schrader serving on the House Committee of Energy and Commerce, I hope to utilize my expertise in this area and work on energy policy that serves to enhance tribal sovereignty through energy independence.”
“It is a great honor to have Simone join the Schrader team as this year’s Hatfield fellow,” said Congressman Kurt Schrader. “Simone brings a lot of experience working with Oregon tribes to the fellowship, which will be a huge benefit to our office. Despite the challenging circumstances due to COVID-19 and the current remote work environment, we are grateful to Simone for her enthusiasm and flexibility, and the foundation’s desire to make this a valuable experience.”