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February 15, 1996 - SMOKE SIGNALS
Letter to the Editor: Casino shouldn't serve alcohol
To all Tribal Members,
In our tribal constitution, page 5 paragraph K, it states:
The Tribal Council shall not deny to any person within its
jurisdiction freedom of speech, press, religion, or the right
to assemble peacefully.
Even though the Smoke Signals states: Published letters
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke Signals,
tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
Apparently they feel they have the right to omit letters
from us off the reservation and the six handout service area.
A lot of us are dissatisfied about our Tribal Council, about
where our monies and future is headed. We have the right
to express our concerns. If it's libelous about any one per
son or the whole council, they do have the right to defend
themselves.
You allowed one woman to respond to my last letter.
She used my name quite often. Even though she didn't
understand what my letter was about and seemed quite
happy with the way our tribe was headed. That's her right.
But if you can print letters from happy members, we that
are concerned have our rights too. We voted in the council
members, they're supposed to be working for us. .
. My major concern right now is the serving of alcohol on
our reservation. We're spending countless dollars for our
drug and alcohol rehab centers. So are we not aiding them
in their abuse? We've hired numerous people to help mem
bers get off the drugs and alcohol, now we're making it
easier to slide backwards. I for one find this wrong.
I'd like more letters from our members voicing their con
cerns, I've received quite a lot already, but I'd like to hear
from all of you.
Write to: Vonnie Edmondson
357 Swanson Mill Rd.
Oroville, WA 98844.
Editor's note
This is just a reminder that all tribal members over
1 8 years of age have the right to submit letters for pub
lication regardless of the city, state, or county in which
they reside.
Burial FundFuneral Reception Benefit
Dear Tribal Members,
The Tribal Council has established a burial fund to cover
expenses at the time of the loss of a loved one. The burial
fund is available to cover burial expenses of tribal mem
bers and their non-member children, parents and spouses.
Any tribal member, parent, or spouse of a tribal member
may apply for the burial fund. The EnrollmentVital Sta
tistics office must be contacted for fund applications. Ap
plication for the burial fund must be made within 30 days
of death. The burial fund will pay up to $3,000 directly to
the Funeral Establishment. The fund will not pay for flow
ers or grave markers.
The EnrollmentVital Statistics office will request an in
voice of services, a copy of a death certificate and proof of
marriage in the event of the death of a spouse.
There is also a funeral reception benefit fund to apply to
the cost of food or food preparation for a funeral reception.
The benefit is for $150, and must be applied for through
the EnrollmentVital Statistics office. Any tribal member,
spouse or parent of a tribal member may apply for the fu
neral reception benefit fund.
Please contact me for further information,
Margo Mercier, Enrollment Director
(503) 879-5211 or 1-800-422-0232
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If you have recently moved or plan on moving, let us know so you won't fl
miss a single issue of your favorite newspaper. Smoke Signals is available B
to anyone at no cost. Just fill out this form below with your name and B
address, then mail it back to the Smoke Signals. j
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OLD ADDRESS:
NEW ADDRESS:
J CMQKE SIGNAL
PLEASE NOTE: If you live In Grand Ronde, Wil
lamina, Sheridan, McMinnville or surrounding area
please use the local numbers when calling the
tribal offices or casino.
MAIN TRIBAL OFFICES: 879-521 1
MEDICAL: 879-2002
DENTAL: 879-2020
JOB LINE: 879-2257
CURRENT EVENT INFO LINE: 879-2266
CASINO MAIN LINE: 879-2350
CASINO HUMAN RESOURCES: 879-3730
If you live outside of the local area - please use
these toll-free numbers.
MAIN TRIBAL OFFICES: 1-800-422-0232
MEDICAL OR DENTAL: 1-800-775-0095
CASINO MAIN LINE and
HUMAN RESOURCES: 1-800-760-7977
Liquor Ordinance Correction
The last issue of Smoke Signals featured the proposed
Liquor Ordinance that Tribal Council has yet to adopt. It
was printed to ensure tribal members had a chance to com
ment on the ordinance before it is officially adopted by the
Tribal Council. We mistakenly printed that the Liquor
Ordinance had already been adopted. If you have any
comments or questions about the Liquor Ordinance, please
send them to Jackie Whisler, Tribal Council Administra
tive Assistant, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Or
egon 97347.
Resource Directory error
The Tribe has mailed out the Resource Directory. How
ever, a problem occurred at the printer please note that
some directories are missing pages 3, 4, 49, and 50. Please
check your copy. If you have received a copy missing
these pages, or did not receive a directory, please call Kim
Mueller at 879-2264 or Tracy Dugan at 879-2254, or 1-800-422-0232.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Smoke Signals is a publication of the Confed
erated 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 reflect the opinions of Smoke
Signals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 ATTN: Kim Mueller