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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1995)
Pago 2 June 1,. 1995 Smoke Signals To All Tribal Members: As you know, an election for three Tribal Council members is coming up. All of us outside the reservation and surrounding areas are really interested in, and would like to know where each and every one of them stand on the per capita and medical for all tribal members no matter where they reside. That should be a part of their campaign letters. As concerned members we would like to know why our timber has been harvested for three million dollars a year, yet we still have poverty in our tribe. Where are our monies going? We need the Council to work for each member of our tribe, not only the ones on the reservation. The new Council members we put in are fighting hard, but they need our help to get new members in who want to make it fair for all of us. So ask questions, make them answer. I wrote Mark Mercier and asked questions, because in the last Smoke Signals he said he'd answer any questions. I feel if we want change for the better, then we have to elect mem bers who want to help each and every member of our tribe. A lot of our culture is about sharing and giving. To get back our culture and heritage we need the Council to follow our ancestor's ways. Thank you, Vonnie Edmonson Roll 105 Dear readers: In less than 60 days the federal government will be mandated to sell all surplus land, including the Chemawa's "old" campus. This could take that site out of federal trust status. It is now on the historic register and has grave sites that are nearly a hun dred years old. I am told that there is strong intertribal and state support, but there is a need for a catalysts. Since we may have had treaty ties with this area and it is in our aboriginal territory, Grand Ronde Tribal Council was asked by this community based group to take the leadership role in dealing with the "bid" campus site. The group was told "hands off af terward. Since then the $130,000 (from the his torical society and DAR, for a museumcultural center) had to be sent back and still the "old" cam pus continues to dilapidate. I am asking for your help to come as a decisive voice that our Tribal Council step forward and do something now. We have lost so much, I think it should be unthinkable that we could lose more. I would like to see us as a people turn the legacy of Chemawa's history into something positive for the future. Shawn Hostler Roll 1699 P.O. Box 158 Grand Ronde, OR 97347 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. Letters must be printed or typed, and cannot exceed 300 words. Smoke Signals reserves the right to edit any 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 pub lication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke Sig nals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Mail letters to: SMOKE SIGNALS, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 ATTN: Tracy Dugan Did you know...? Sobering facts for youth and parents Concerned about drug and al cohol abuse in your community? Concerned for your child? Here are a few facts adults should share with the youth in their lives. It costs taxpayers $30 billion per year just to pay the criminal court costs on illicit drug trafficking. American teens spend over $1 billion per year in tobacco prod ucts. The economic cost of alcoholism and alcohol abuse carries an an nual price tag of $117 billion which includes $18 billion is costs related to premature deaths, $66 billion in reduced work effort, and $13 billion for treatment. Alcohol and other drugs are in volved in 60 of all teen suicides and 70 of attempted suicides among college students. High school students account for 35 of all sales of wine coolers. The medical cost for one day of intensive care for a crack baby is $2,000. Nationally, there is a teenage al coholdrug related accident every five seconds. Tobacco is illegal to minors, yet our they are the target of most of the tobacco industry's advertising and young people represent the fastest growing segment of the smoking population. Indian Way means respect for people and the earth L ' f . i i Sr:. .KM.-.. Ao:x.: . The Indian Way is the way of survival. It is a tradition handed down from one generation to another, for thousands of years. Some people call it culture. Others call it language. Others call it custom. No matter what you call it, it means survival. The first principle of the Indian Way is that the welfare of the Tribe is more important than the welfare of the individual. The Tribe comes first, because if the Tribe does not survive, neither will the individual. The second principle of the In dian Way is that people are more important than property. Human values are more important than property values. Therefore, the Indian Way is the way of respect. It is the way of caring for one an other. Without the Indian Way of respect and caring, there can be no justice, no human dignity. Without the Indian Way of re spect, material things begin to break down society. The third principle of the Indian Way is that the earth must be re spected, just as people are re spected. A true Indian believes that the earth is a gift from God. As a gift, it cannot be bought or sold. It is a sin to trade the earth for private profit. The earth is our Mother. It belongs to all people. The Indian Way is the way of hope, because it is the only way to survive on this planet. We must join together and create a better world for all people through jus tice and peace. Some of the tribal staff pose for a photo commemorating National Indian Week, May 14-19. TO ALL TRIBAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES August 1st Smoke Signals will print profiles of all Council Candidates for this year. You must submit your statement and photo of yourself by July 10, 1 995 in order for it to be printed. Your statement must be 400 words or less. We will be available to take a photo of you, if you don't have one you want to publish. Call Tracy or Kim if you have any questions. Our numbers are 1-800-422-0232, or 879-2254.
