JUNE SHERER
My name is June Sherer. I am a
native of Grand Ronde and the
daughter of Joseph Sell and Emma
(LaBonte) Sell. I spent my child
hood, teenage, and early adulthood
in the Willamette Valley. After
TOMJONES
A
We need to find ways to open
tribal government up so that all of
us can feel a part of the growth and
EARL F. LABONTE
My name is Earl Floyd "Butch"
LaBonte. I am 52 years old and still
maturing. My roll number is 347.
My first issue is per capita pay
ments. My opinion is not to be a
dictator of tribal members' shares of
the profits. Each tribal member
should have a choice with their
shares.
I have been denied services in the
past because of the priority lists and
not enough funds in the depart
ments. I have also received services
because I live in Grand Ronde near
the modulars.
I work for our Natural Resources
Department as a Forestry Aide.
That is the bottom of the totem pole.
My expectation is to be a voice for
I 4
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e . ' V i f
' J (
I J
A x V
graduating from high school in
1 966, I joined the Women's Army
Corp serving sixteen months in the
U.S. Army Hospital in Fort Gordon,
Georgia and twenty months at the
5 13th MI Group in Frankfurt, Ger
many. I was honored as a WAC of
the Month, European theater in
1 969. I am married and have two
children, Naomi, 24, and Nicholas,
22.
My roots are multi-cultural. I
have traced my mother's lineage to
Chief Halo of the Yoncallas and
Chief Comcommoly (Comowool)
of the Clatsop Tribe of the Chinook.
I am also Umpqua, Kalapuya, and
Wasco (mother's lineage) and
Cherokee (father's lineage). I have
always been proud of my heritage,
and was taught never to be ashamed
of my roots. I remember once tell-
development. It's not just up to one
or two people, rather the responsi
bility of the elected officials to find
ways to effectively involve all the
tribal membership. The Tribe has
people with expertise that all of us
can learn from. Rather than look
for ways to shut people out of tribal
government, let's work together to
include people. Let's work together
for good employment and high pay
ing jobs for all our people. Our
goal should be to become an open
and honest tribe that shows respect.
Too much time, money, and energy
is wasted trying to figure out ways
to keep the people from participat
ing in tribal government. We must
help make this tribe more respon
sive to the needs of the members.
all the tribal members who have
been at the bottom, where I have
been for 52 years. I plan on mov
ing up the totem pole in the next few
years. I will be working for the
Tribe even if I don't get elected.
I'm divorced and free to devote all
of my time to tribal business. I
know the problems administrative
people have had in the past with
their families. In closing, I want to
thank you for your time to hear me
and your support.
JOYCE DEHART
z
v I
My name is Joyce DeHart. I was
raised in the Hood River Valley and
chose a career in nursing. I have
worked for a medical center for 25
years. My husband and I have
, ing a new friend in high school of
my tribal lineage. She said, "You
must have been the result of a tribal
gathering," and in all sincerity I told
her, "No, I was the result of many
tribal gatherings."
The past twenty years I have been
employed as a security guard and
shift supervisor at WPPSS 2 and
Exxon, a chemtech for Exxon, and
a fuel's operator for Westinghouse.
I currently attend Columbia Basin
College at Pasco, Washington and
have recently graduated earning an
A.A.S. Degree in Administration
and Medical Office Assistant. This
summer my husband and 1 will be
moving to the Grand Ronde com
munity. Due to the recent shift in govern
ment powers and an increasing con
cern for the welfare of our people, I
That is why I'm running for Tribal
Council.
We must be prepared for the fu
ture. We want to be able to provide
for ourselves and our families today
and forever. We want to share in
the Tribe's success. In order for this
to happen, we must have people in
tribal government who are willing
to stand up and protect the rights of
tribal members. No one person or
group should do this. That is not
our way and that will not happen if
you vote for me to represent you on
the Tribal Council. You will be a
real and major part of all decisions.
We will open the government to the
people. We don't like secret meet
ings or hidden agendas. Tribal gov
ernment can be an open, enriching,
owned a chain of grocery outlets in
the Columbia Gorge since 1970.
Recently, we purchased property in
Grand Ronde where we hope to re
tire. I am running for Tribal Council
because I have knowledge in busi
ness and in the medical field, which
I believe might be useful to our
Tribe. I am supportive of a medi
caldental program for all our
people, regardless of where they
live. I cannot accept the term "It
cannot be done," because I know we
always have options. As financial
resources become available, I will
work toward a comprehensive
medical program for all tribal mem
bers. I am supportive of education and
small business enterprise. We need
a diverse economic base if we are
to be secure and successful as a
Tribe. The level of education and
technical knowledge within our
tribe needs to increase if we are go
ing to meet the demands of sophis
ticated business ventures. There
fore, I would encourage small busi
ness development and increase our
education budget.
Finally, the idea of per capita has
been hotly debated, and as a voter,
you have the right to know how I
stand on this issue. How I person
have become aware of the need to
take an active role in the future of
the Indian Nation. I believe our
people's primary concern is ad
equate health coverage and educa
tion. Because many of our tribal
members' basic needs are not being
met through current programs, 1
support per capita to help individu
als provide for those necessities.
There is an increasing awareness
that we must, as a people, become
self-sufficient. The days of govern
ment appropriations are numbered.
As responsible tribal members, we
must begin to take an active role in
the decision-making process of the
Indian community. I believe I can
demonstrate an open-mindedness
and unbiased opinion. Our future
as a people depends upon the right
decisions made by a fair Council.
and even fun place for the people
to share, learn, and work with. Your
vote for me will make sure that you
have a voice in government matters
and share in the Tribe's success.
Many tribal members, including
me, are concerned about where the
money will go from the gaming
business and other tribal enterprises.
Who will be in charge of the money
and distribution? What about per
capita payments, housing, land ac
quisition, expansion of service de
livery area, health care, and educa
tion benefits for all tribal members
and their families? Let me urge you,
if you will vote for me, you will
have someone on your side, we can
all share in a prosperous and happy
future. Thank you.
ally feel is not as important as the
fact that I believe Tribal Council has
a responsibility to act according to
the desire of the majority of the
people. I believe that it is your re
sponsibility as tribal members to
seek out information on this subject
in order to make an informed deci
sion, but it is my responsibility as a
Council member to help provide
you with this information. When we
are economically ready to make a
decision about per capita, and if
elected to Council, I will act in ac
cordance with the will of the ma
jority. An Indian agent at Grand Ronde
once told our people, "You have
come a long way. You are not chil
dren. The money I hold for you is
your money. Tell me what you need
and I will get it for you." On that
day, many were afraid because they
had been fooled before. But a few
talked frankly with the Indian agent.
Today, we have a Tribal Council to
act in place of an agent.
Tribal Council carries our future
in their hands. Step up, tell them
what you want. And above all, vote
the way your heart tells you. If you
would like to discuss any issue fur
ther, please call me at (503) 478
3319, or write: P.O. Box 596,
Mosier, Oregon 97040.