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July 15, 1995
Smoke Signals
Letters
Member feels per capita is fair
To the Editor:
I am a tribal member living in Idaho, and my concerns
are two things: first of all, health care. I know because I
live out of the six county area I am not entitled to medi
cal help, or my family. And I don't believe this to be
right. I am on the tribal rolls, I have an enrollment num
ber. You know, if Washington D.C. would say if you do
not live in Washington D.C. or the five states around it,
we can't help you even though you are an American, that
would make us all mad. But that is what makes this
nation strong. We are one people, no matter how big or
how small. No lines can or should divide a people. The
same blood that flows in your veins flows in mine, and
the same in our forefathers since time began. It is not
where we live that makes us a people, but the blood. We
cannot care and help a few, but all, no matter where they
live.
The next topic is per capita. When I think about us as a
people, I think of Israel. How the Jews' land was taken
from them, and how as a people they were scattered ev
erywhere in the world. And in about 1956, our land was
taken, our tribe was scattered. But just a few years be
fore I was born, the nation of Israel was again formed,
and ten years ago we have gotten our land again.
You know, it doesn't matter to a Jew if he lives in New
York, Las Angeles, Paris, or Jerusalem, he is still a Jew.
And it should not matter to us if I live in Idaho or if you
live in Texas or California. We are one people, no mat
ter where we are, and I believe that any money that is
made should be given to each member. I know that it
has been said that some would become dependent upon
tribal money but we are not judges. We cannot find 100
tribal members, pick five of them and say "You five are
lazy" or "You five will drink up your money" so the 95
others will not get anything because of them. As I said,
we are not judges. If a few want to waste their money,
then let them, but I believe most will pay their bills and
pull themselves up out of poverty. We must have a little
faith in ourselves that this money will help one and all,
and not to a few, but one and all fairly.
Thank you,
Victor Cureton
Roll 104
Tribal Council sponsors
community meetings
Tribal Council recently sponsored community meet
ings in Eugene, Salem, Portland, and Grand Ronde.
Over 180 tribal members participated in the four
meetings which gave tribal members the opportunity to dis
cuss six priority investment areas for tribal revenues over
the next five years.
In early June the Tribal Council identified six priority
investment areas for future revenue generated from Spirit
Mountain Casino. The priority areas included Health Se
curity, Per Capita, Retirement, Education, Housing, and En
dowments. The community meetings were structured to
allow participants to comment on Tribal Council's priori
ties and identify priorities of their own.
Meeting participants separated into small groups allow
ing for open discussion and review of Council's investment
priorities. The small group format also gave tribal mem
bers the opportunity to meet other tribal members in their
i p" ir!; Trn
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b t n 7
Members participate in group discussions at the community meeting.
area, tribal staff, and Tribal Council members.
Each group participant was asked to prioritize Tribal
Council's issues by voting on the issues they felt were most
important to them. After prioritizing, groups spent the
evening discussing the six priority investment areas and
responding to a series of discussion questions. Following
the discussion, tribal members were asked to vote again on
the six issues and to provide other recommendations to the
Tribal Council on revenue disbursement.
Participation in the tribal investment discussion was ex
ceptional. A full range of ideas were generated and dis
cussed at all four meetings. Tribal Administration is com
piling all of the information and comments produced dur
ing the discussions. A summary report will be sent to tribal
members who attended any of the four meetings. Tribal
Council has asked for a comprehensive report so that they
can better understand the needs of tribal members locally
and outside of the Grand Ronde
area. A report will also be pub
lished in a later edition of Smoke
Signals.
Tribal Administration would
like to thank all of those who par
ticipated in the tribal investment
discussion. If you are a tribal mem
ber and would like additional in
formation on the tribal investment
discussion, or would like to com
ment on any of the six priority ar
eas, you can call the Administra
tion staff offices at 1-800-422-0232,
or write to: Administration,
Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347.
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EDITOR: Tracy Dugan
ASSISTANT COORDINATOR: Kim Mueller
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SMOKE SIGNALS, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 I
ATTN: Kim Mueller fl
Smoke Signals is a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde Community of Oregon. We have established an Editorial Policy to
encourage 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 re
flect the opinions of Smoke Signals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
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