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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1996)
OR. COLL. E 7Q M liWll..ULHIIII Ull .1 I .llI.IMJIIBJll.lll..llll.lllllllll)lll.UIIIIIl.llll..li Illl. U. II II I. 1.1. .11 I .11. II llll .1, . .1 ,111 ...I ll I. till ... IUI. Illlll I.I I. I l.mi.LU I I I I I I II. I II .1 IIIIII.MUI IIII.H b66 - - -- .i.iii mum ..: -- - - - July 1996 -r-w f 11 Ml III 111 ITU h l V Candidates discuss issues at Forum despite meager turnout rv By Tracy Dugan The Tribal Council Candidate's Forum was held on June 15 at the Grand Ronde Grade School. The candi dates who participated were Mark Mercier, June Sherer, Bob Leno, Joyce DeHart Leon "Chip" Tom, Val Grout, Andy Jenness, Earl Floyd "Butch" La Bonte, Dee Edwards, Albert Jeffers, Reyn Leno, Donna Casey, Patsy Pullin, and Pam Warren. Although only a few tribal members attended the forum, the question and answer session lasted the full three hours. The forum began with each candidate answering the ques tion: Why do you feel you are qualified to serve on Tribal Council? Each candidate gave a statement. Pam Warren said that because she was serving on the Cultural Heritage Board as chairperson,, and was planning to go to school full-time in the fall, she respectfully withdrew her candi dacy. (See article on page 3.) A question and answer ses sion from the audience followed. Some of the topics in cluded: Would you support putting a "Confederated Tribes of . Grand Ronde" logo and sign in Spirit Mountain Casino to promote pride of ownership among tribal members and to let all visitors know that Spirit Mountain Casino is owned by the Grand Ronde Tribe? What would you do to ensure that any tribal member wishing to work at the Casino was given that opportunity? Do you support training lesser-qualified tribal members? How would you improve communication to the gen eral membership? How high of a priority do you place on communication? If you live far away or have a full-time job, how would you adjust your time and commitments to put in the hours 1 ?5M:1 SfL J tr 81 " - asm hi nil Candidates Mark Mercier and Bob Leno expressed their personal interests for the Tribe's future. you need to serve on Tribal Council and fully understand all of the issues? Would you support printing Council members' voting records in the Smoke Signals? Would you support putting Tribal Council meeting minutes in the Smoke Signals? Here are some highlights of the candidate's statements about why they feel they are qualified: DONNA CASEY: She has a strong desire to serve our people. In addition to her interests in improving programs for the Elders and youth, Donna said she "would like to see the Tribe have its own longhouse in the community." REYN LENO: Reyn was recently hired by the Tribe. He knows what's happening in Tribal Council and with all the committees because he attends every Council meeting, and serves as a member of the Timber Committee. "I have no more children at home and live close by. It would be very easy for me to devote my time to Council." VAL GROUT: Val said she has served on the Elder's Committee and has been in charge of many local events, like cooking breakfast and dinner at the Grand Ronde Pow wow every year. She said that she understands the frustra tions people outside of the area have." I want to help those people living outside of the Six Counties to receive ben efits they deserve." LEON "CHIP" TOM: "I was elected three years ago, and would like to continue to serve," he said. Chip said Council hears a lot about the Six County Service Area. People don't realize that was not something Tribal Council set up. The Federal government set it up. "I want to help expand our programs for these people, and finish some of our projects." BOB LENO: Bob said that he was part of the group of tribal members that worked towards restoration, and he re members the struggles involved in that process. "Through Smoke Signals and surveys, we need to improve the flow of communication to the members," he said. ANDY JENNESS: Andy said that his blend of educa tion, experience, and personality would be a useful, combi nation for Tribal Council. He served on Council for three continued on page 3 University oi Oregon Library Received uii: 07 03- 3 Smoke signals Head Start to relocate By Dean Azule The Education Division has received voiced concerns and inquiries from families asking if Head Start services are being discontinued. This is not the case. The Tribal Education Division is expanding Pre-School and Before & After Child Care Services for the commu nity and have opted to not renew the Facilities Use Agreement which allowed the Yamhill Community Action Program (YCAP), former Head Start grantee, use of tribal property to pro vide Head Start services over the last three years. Because of these changes, Head Start services will continue to be offered but relocated to Willamina. Services will still continue to be provided for Grand Ronde community children. Services may take form of a "home-based" pro gram or "center-based," for the 1996-1997 school year. This is not a case of limiting services for chil dren, but an effort of collaboration between the Tribe and the Head Start Program of Yamhill County. The Head Start Program of Yamhill County is applying for it's own grantee status and has agreed to work with the Tribe. din Both the Tribe and Head Start will col laborate on the following: Head Start and the Tribal Pre-School will jointly identify, recruit, refer and place eligible children in our respective programs; Both programs will collaborate in providing in services for program staff and parent train ing as necessary; As funds become available, both programs agree to jointly pursue "collaboration grants" at the State or Federal levels to further estab lish a partnership between the Tribe and Yam hill County Head Start; Should funding become available through the American Indian Programs Bureau for Head Start, Yamhill County has agreed to work with the Tribe in pursuit of additional resources. Special efforts are being taken to expand Pre School services to prepare pre-school aged chil dren for kindergarten readiness and the program will work closely with Willamina School Dis trict and the Grand Ronde Elementary School to enhance children's learning experiences. For more information regarding the Tribal Pre-School Program contact Lisa Leno at 879 2278, or Wendi Spencer at 879-2280, regard ing program services. Also, Head Start Pro gram and service information can be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Eichman at (503) 742-2000.
