NESPELEM, Wash. — A member of the Colville Tribal Council died Friday, according to a press release from the Confederation of Tribes of the Colville Reservation on Saturday.
Virgil “Smoker” Marchand was a member of the Colville Business Council as an elected representative from Omak County.
“The Colville Business Council is deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague Smoker Marchand,” said Jared-Michael Erickson, Chairman of the Colville Tribes. “Smoker was a strong voice for his people, and he brought a unique perspective to tribal governance. We will all miss him.”
Erickson said for now they want others to respect the Smoker family’s privacy.
“There will be a time in the future to discuss Smoker’s life and accomplishments,” Erickson said. “For now, we want to respect the privacy of Smoker’s family and loved ones during this period of grief, and we ask that others do the same.”
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