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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1995)
Page 2 June 15, 1995 Smoke Signals More reasons to participate in the Tribal Council elections By Tracy Dugan Once again this year there are a large number of candidates running for positions on Tribal Council. The newsletter plays a role in helping to introduce the candidates to the tribal membership by printing com ments from each of them along with a photo. This is in orderto help voters who live outside the community learn more about the people who are run ning. This year there are fourteen candidates. Some changes have been made by the Election Committee regarding voting procedures and how the names will appear on the ballot. They are in random order, not alpha betical order, to avoid confu sion between candidates who may have the same names, etc. I've been coordinating the tribal newsletter for three years now, and every summer I write an editorial urging tribal mem bers to vote in the election, no Office of Tribal Justice By Mark Mercier B H I I I r 1 rv r'. : MOVING... Let us know... If you have recently moved or are planning on moving, let us know so you won't miss a single issue of your favorite newsletter. Smoke Signals newsletter is available to anyone at no cost. Just fill out this form with your new address and mail it back to the Smoke Signals (address below). OLD ADDRESS: NEW ADDRESS: I e e I SMOKE SIGNALS, 9615 matter where they may reside in Oregon, or for that matter, the nation. I have explained the impor tance of each vote, the careful selection each tribal member must make in order to ensure the best and most qual ified can didates are elected into office. I have addressed those tribal members who live out of state, who may think that the Tribe has nothing to offer them that tribal actions and decisions are of no consequence if you are not a local member. I won't go through all that again this year. Except to say that the Election Committee has passed several new ordi nances making it extremely easy for everyone to vote. For example, all registered voters will automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail. All anyone has to do is read about the candidates in the August 1 edition of Smoke Signals, make On June 2nd and 3rd Tribal Council member Kathryn Harrison, Ed Larsen, along with tribal attorney Michael Mason and I travelled to Salt Lake City to at tend the Northwest American In dian Justice Conference, hosted by the United States Department of Justice. Attorney General Janet Reno and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah were the keynote speakers at the conference. Reno told the tribes that on January 30 the Department Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 ATTN: Kim Mueller their selections, and mail the ballot back. It's never been this easy! Of course, if you would like to vote in the election, but you are not registered, you may do so in the Enrollment Office any time between now and the elec tion. You can even register on election day. In addition, for those of you who found last year's Candidate's Forum informa tive, the Election Committee is holding another one this July at the Community Center. It will be on Sunday, July, 1 6 from 1 -3 p.m. Tribal members will be able to ask the candidates questions aboutthe significant issues fac ing the Tribe in the upcoming year. All voters are encour aged to attend. This is an ideal chance to find out how candidates feel about the specific tribal areas you care about most. discussed at Listening of Justice created the Office of Tribal Justice. This office was established to serve as the coordi nation center for all Department of Justice activities relating to Native Americans. The mission of the Office of Tribal Justice will be to coordinate and focus the Department's poli cies and positions on Native American issues, maintain liaison with the federally recognized In dian tribes, and work with appro priate federal, state, and local of I Tribal Council Elections September 1995 at the Tribal Community Center Candidates will be featured in the August Smoke Signals TO ALL TRIBAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES August 1 st Smoke Signals will print profiles of all Council Candidates for this year. You must submit your statement and photo of yourself by July 10, 1995 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. ficials, professional associations, and public interest groups. The major functions are as follows. Communicate with the tribal rep resentatives on Department issues of concern to tribes. Ensure that the Department's policies and positions are clearly communicated to tribes. Maintain liaison between the De partment and the various divisions and bureaus of the Department and the state, county and local governments, professional organi 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 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 Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. ATTN: Tracy Dugan Conference zations, special interest groups, and private entities with interests or responsibilities in tribal matters. Coordinate federal Indian policy with federal agencies that have a role in Indian Country. The actions taken by Reno and her staff deserve recognition and appreciation by all Indian tribes throughout the nation. The Tribe is grateful for all the support that the Department of Justice and the Oregon District United States At torney Office has given. U BBDHQEIBDBBBBDBBBBBBBBSBIDBBBI
