OR. COLL.
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78
06
S66
May 1994
Head Start Tree-Planting
Ceremony, page 6
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE
General meeting features candidate, tribal court update
By Frank King
The General Council meeting
April 10 featured an introduction
to a Congressional candidate,
motions asking Tribal Council to
take another look at their recent
pay raise, and a progress report
from the tribal judge.
State Sen. Catherine Webber, D
Salem, is seeking her party's
nomination in the May 17 primary
election. She is running for the
on gun control. Webber said that
she was not a gun control nut, but
believed that reasonable prudence
had to govern the use of firearms.
She was a supporter of SB334 that
was narrowly defeated mtheOregon
Senate last year. The bill would
have made taking a gun to school a
Council Member
Ray McKnight dies
after suffering stroke
Tribal members everywhere were
saddened by the passing of Council
Member Ray McKnight, 70, on
April 16. Ray had recently suffered
a stroke and was recuperating at
c )
Oakwood Care Center in
McMinnville.
A member of Tribal Council
since 1987, Ray helped pioneer
many programs and policies for the
Tribe, especially those involving
forest management, land
acquisision, and natural resources.
He was widely known as an avid
sportsman, and spent time hunting
on the reservation. He was a native
of Grand Ronde, and worked most
(Continued on back page)
1 mi
i
felony.
Webber said that she supports the
Grand Ronde Tribes in their
programs and efforts towards
economic independence.
Motions for three different
advisory votes by Reyn Leno and
Angela Leno were madeand passed
The votes called for:
-That the Tribal Council
reconsider their recent pay
increases.
-That the Council come up with
a reasonable hourly wage rate for
Tribal Council members.
-That reimbursement for travel to
and from tribal headquarters be
curtailed.
Tribal Council Chairman Mark
Gaming is one step
The idea for a gaining facility
came about after members of
Council and some staff visited the
Poarch Creek Tribe in Alabama.
This was before gaming was very
visible in Oregon.
"The Poarch Creek had a very
good facility," said BruceThomas,
General Manager of Spirit
Mountain Development
Corporation. "Itwasafterthe initial
visit with them that Council decided
to take a closer look at gaming."
The gaming facility is expected
to hold an 800-seat bingo hall, 500
video slot machines, a Keno
operation, and some table games.
It will also have a full-service buffet
restaurant, and will provide
employment to approximately 500
people in the area.
"Our goal is to design a building
that will serve many purposes,"
said Bruce. "It could serve as a
meeting place, or a convention
center. I believe that if we provide
patrons will a good time, in nice
facility, they will come back."
Bob Ryan, new Program
Director at Nanitch Sahallie,
page 8
CRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF ORECON MAY 1994
Mercier said that the Tribal Council
will address this issue at a future
meeting.
Tribal Judge Les Marston said that
the tribal court has been expanding
its stages.
"We want to strike a balance to
meet our needs within the resources
we have available," he said. "We
don't want a complex court, but one
that is simple to use."
Marston has developed simple
forms that can be used in may cases
by litigants.
The tribal court can perform
marriages,; conduct simple,
uncontested divorces that include
child custody and property
agreements; name changes for
(continued on back page)
in big plan for TWbe's future
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This illustration depicts what the gaming facility and
future resort may look like.
University of Oregon Librai
Received on: 05-03-94
Smoke signals (Grand Ronde,
Or . )
Artifacts featured at Tillamook
museum, page 9
1
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Catherine Webber addressed
month.
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the General Council last
Strategic Plan
Help Tribe
Choose A Future
The focus of Tribal Council
during the years since restoration
has been on establishing a tribal
organization, log-run endowments
for its operation and services, and a
community center in Grand Ronde.
These goals are now mostly
accomplished. With a solid
organizational foundation, the
Council is ready to move to the next
phase of tribal development, in
which it can expand services it
offers to all tribal members.
The big questions for Council
and for tribal members, is how the
Tribe should grow. Should growth
emphasize new facilities and
programs? Should it focus on tht
Grand Ronde area?
Council has been involved in a
strategic planning process during
thepastfivemonths. Tribal officials
have identifies issues that will need
to be addressed during the coming
months.
As a tribal member, you have an
important role to play in the long
range planning efforts of the Tribe.
(continued on page3)