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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1996)
2 December 2, 1996 SMOKE SIGNALS Letter to the Editor To the Editor: I attended the General Council meeting on Sunday, November 3, and the 1 997 Bud get Proposal was the topic of discussion. A tribal member brought up the subject of an emergency fund with emergency food as sistance being the major topic of discussion. This brought a wide range of response from the tribal members. Several expressed the general opinion of "Get a job and take care of your family." Evidently those who spoke or shared this sentiment have never had to ask anyone for help. I find it hard to be lieve that we can be so eoldhcarted that wc can sentence young children and family members down on their resources to this judgment. The emergency assistance fund was created to help our tribal members in an emergency situation. To suggest that these people are beggars or asking for hand outs is not only mean-spirited but a slap in the face to those already down on their luck and financial resources. A society that docs not help to take care of its members in a crisis has indeed hardened its hearts to those in less fortunate positions. Wc should not be so quick to condemn our less fortunate tribal members as we w ork our cushy jobs and eat our free meals daily at the Casino. The tribal members quick enough to stand and condemn those asking for emergency food assistance arc also quick enough to cat the free meals pro vided at Spirit Mountain Casino, Council meetings, and tribal gatherings. We arc also there to pick up our free turkeys. Aren't we also eating "hand-outs?" 1 think we should look into our hearts and seek not to judge and condemn or give ourselves over to hy pocrisy. It would indeed be a perfect world if we all could work and there were enough jobs for everybody at the wage they need to be come totally self sufficient. I cannot help believing that since this is not the way life is, we are meant to learn and grow and to open our hearts and minds towards helping those less blessed than ourselves. June Shcrcr Roll 735 J I Sill I ,i CAV ' U hiiUirpiciri 1 h "L M .1111 (r I j j Iff li wvth u, -WM ijf !1 jh, Tr i' -t. - "-""Tvjr ''lies''"' EDITORIAL POLICY $mak& Signals is a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Or egon. We have established an Edi torial 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. Smote Signals reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, end to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain libelous state ments or personal attacks. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opin ions of Smoke Signals, tribal em ployees, or Tribal Council. ODS Health Plan to take effect in January The ODS Health Plan is available to all enrolled tribal members regardless of where they reside. All applications need to be to the Risk Management office no later than December 13 in order for it to become effective on January 1, 1997. Please remember, if your application is not received by this date, you will not be able to be signed up until July 1, 1997. If you have any questions or have not received your application packet, please call Valorie, Marsha, or Tina at 1 -800-422-0346. Artists: You could sell items on the Internet I If you have recently moved or plan on moving, let us know so you won't miss a single issue of your favorite newspaper. Smoke Signals is available to anyone at no cost. Just fill out this form with your name and address, then mail it back to Smoke Signals, Attn: Kim Mueller, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde. OR 97347. Chinook, a World Wide Web Catalog of Native American Arts, Crafts, and Food Products went online September 4, paving the Indian highway on the Internet. The effort is creating opportunity for economic expansion in Indian Country by linking high-technology with tradition and culture. It is a project of the Oregon Native Ameri can Business and Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN). Its business purpose is to en able artists to increase sales and profits with out the travel expense. Chinook is creating market opportunities for artists by providing exposure to Internet users around the world and will accept their payment for products and services by credit card. Categories include basketry, dolls, jewelry, masks and carvings, paintings, mixed media, Native foods, prints and post ers, sculpture, weaving, and traditional arts (cradlcboards, drums, flutes, tipis, etc.). Chinook requires that all products be handmade and produced by or offered by a Native American or tribal organization. Products must be unique and have an origi nal design and be suitable for the products' usual and customary life, purpose, or use, with a minimum value of $75. Artists who subscribe will have their photo placed in the Web, a brief biography, and a list of the work offered. The products are listed with a photo, brief description, shipping cost and estimated time it will take for delivery. Chinook invites all artists wanting to ex pand their present business minus the addi tional overhead cost, to join the high-technology world of Chinook's World Wide Web Catalog of Native American Arts, Crafts, and Food Products. Artists pay a onetime fee of $25 per category listing. If you would like a packet of informa tion, please contact Laura Nihoa at Chi nookONABEN, (503) 243-5015 or 1-800-854-8289. OLD ADDRESS: NEW ADDRESS: A program is offered by Oregon Legal Services in cooperation with the Tribe to assist tribal members with legal issues, such as divorce, disputes, wills, small business or contract advice. OLS does not work on criminal cases. ........ ........ J
