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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1994)
Smoke Signals December 1994 Page 2 Editorial and Opinion Thanksgiving and Christmas: A time to be grateful, to give The word for our national holiday of Thanksgiving was coined in the early beginnings of our country. The word and the event were not new. For untold centuries, our ancestors gave thanks in ceremonies to the forests, fields and animals that gave sustenance to our tribes. It is ironic that Europeans get credit for inventing the holiday. Regardless, it is the thought and idea behind Thanksgiving that is important. We give thanks to our Creator for the bounty that has been heaped before us. When we say our prayers of thanks before the Christmas holiday, it would be appropriate for us to remember those less fortunate. That remembrance can be demonstrated by sharing with others. Sharing reminds us that for the Grace of our Creator, we could be in more unfortunate ' circumstances. We have much to be grateful for. Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying that is appropriate: "You can't keep it unless you give it away." We can learn from that. We share our hopes, progress and bounty we also keep our way of life - by giving it away. Grand Ronde planning pays off News of the Siletz Tribes plan to build a gambling casino in Lincoln City came as no surprise to the leaders of the Confederate Tribes of the Grand Ronde. According to articles in the Statesman Journal and the Oregonian Nov. 16, the news sent shock waves through Lincoln County. Reaction was mixed. Some community leaders see the casino as a welcome economic development. Others are concerned because of the threat of increased traffic and other problems. The Grand Ronde Tribes should not be worried about the development Economic studies show that the market for our gaming center will draw mainly from the Willamette Valley. The Spirit Mountain Development Corporation has not encountered major problems in acceptance of the Grand Ronde gaming facility. That is due mainly to the planning and public participation efforts of the Spirit Mountain leaders. Public meetings were held in all of the surrounding communities to inform people of what was being planned. That effort continues. Another community meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Community Center. Holiday safety tips for your Christmas tree and lights Whether you have a natural or artificial tree, many decorations or very few, everyone can benefit from having a safer home during the holiday season, in order to prevent accidents. NATURAL TREES' Always select a fresh tree that is deep green in color, has a strong pine scent, a sticky tree trunk, and secure needles that do not easily .fall off. ... Keep yourtree in a water-holding stand, and keep it full of water. If the tree is not going into the house immediately after purchase, it should be stored in a bucket of cool water on a porch or patio, away from wind and sun. It is very important to water your tree dai ly. An average tree may consume between a quart and a gallon of water per day. Also, keep your tree away from heat sources and traffic patterns in a room. ARTIFICIAL TREES Buy only an artificial tree that has a safety-approved label. Never use electrical decorations on a metallic tree, and keep safely away from open flame. LIGHTING Discard any lights that have a worn or frayed cord, broken or cracked sockets, loose connections, or bare wires. Never use indoor lights outdoors, and keep young children away from electrical lights and decorations. Never place presents too close to the lights of your tree, and always turn them off when you leave the house or go to be at night. OTHER FIRE SAFETY TIPS . Never allow smoking near trees or decorations. Safely dispose of Christmas wrappings after opening gifts, and never burn Christmas wrappings in the fireplace. Be extra careful when wearing long, loose clothing near a fireplace, open flame, or stove. Never leave a lighted candle in a room by itself. Never burn any part of your Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace. . 1 Editorial Policy Letters From Our Readers Smoke Signals is a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. We have recently adopted an Editorial Policy that encourages input from readers about stories printed In Smoke Signals as well as other tribal issues. However, all letters from readers must be received at the Newsletter Office no later than the 20th of each month, with the author's signature, address, and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Letters must be printed or typed, and cannot exceed 300 words. SmokeSignals reserves the right to editany letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain libelous statements or personal attacks. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke Signals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Mail letters to: SMOKE SIGNALS, 9615 Grand Ronde Rd., Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 ATTN: Tracy Olson Chairman-s Report Well, another year is nearing it's ; end, the holidays are coming up- At our November General Council meeting, the Tribal Council gave the Calendar Year 1995 Budget Presentation to its membership. - In Octoberof each year, the Tribe publishes the proposed budget, and designates a -deadline November 18, for written comments. Shortly thereafter, the Tribal Council then takes into consideration any written comments, and the verbal comments from tribal members at the November budget hearing. For 1995, the Tribal Council will , include, our strategic planning in the budget process. As the Tribe proceeds with housing development, we will need to budget funds accordingly, since money will be required for water, sewer, roads, electricity, and other necessary utilities. None of these infrastructure items are cheap. Some funds may be available in the form of grants , and other governmental sources. Since 1992, the Tribal Council has put some timber1 revenue into investments.' This has resulted in the Tribe making substantial earnings. Some will go for education, health, and housing. Some other funds will go towards economic development Given the results of the Nov. 8 election, feds v- tofu.lj;'! WJ :,. " 1 funding may become considerably tighter. Therefore, it is important that the Tribe continue to bui Id these funds up. No doubt, Tribal Council will make, some changes to the budget before it is formally adopted. Council will adopt the 1995 budget prior to the new year.
