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
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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.