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Dear tribal members:
Bill Kellogg gives special thanks to Gene
LaBonte Smoke Signals April 1 5) for what
he has done for the Tribe. He asks who is
responsible for the accomplishments of the
last few years.
I want to thank Gene also, and remind
everyone that Ed Pearsall has done an ex
cellent job and deserves to be remembered
in upcoming elections.
Donald E. Haller
Roll 219
To the Editor:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to
the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
for hosting the memorial celebration for my
wife, Sande Schmidt, on March 29 at the
Community Center. I especially want to
thank Kathryn Harrison, Michael Mason,
and the Tribal Council for organizing and
hosting the event (together with the Native
American Program of Oregon Legal Ser
vices). The chocolate sculpture and food
catered by Legends was most impressive.
As many of your readers know, the Grand
Ronde Tribe held a special place in Sande's
heart, and she told me many times of the
wonderful members she got to know. I am
happy to see the fantastic progress the Tribe
has made since I first attended a pow-wow
at the elementary school about ten years
ago, and I'm proud that Sande somehow
made that all possible. She would be
pleased at the notion of the memorial pine
tree that was planted across from the Com
munity Center.
Thank you again, and best wishes for
continued success, happiness, respect and
well-being.
Kelly L. Smith
Editorial Policy
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS:
Smoke Signals is a publication of the
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon. We have estab
lished an Editorial Policy to encourage
input from readers about stories printed
in Smoke Signals, as well as other tribal
issues. However, all letters must be re
ceived at the newspaper office with author's
signature, address, and phone number in
order to be considered for publication.
Letters must be printed or typed. Smoke
Signals reserves the right to edit any let
ter 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.
MAIL LETTERS TO: Smoke Signals,
9615 Grand Ronde Rd, Grand Ronde,
OR 97347. Attn: Tracy Dugan.
SMOKE SIGNALS DEADLINES
are the 5th and 20th of each month.
Dear tribal members:
We would like to thank all of you for help
ing us out financially after our major crisis.
On March 19th, 1997 we were unable to
stay in our home because of flooding. The
river came into our home and did a lot of
damage. We live in Grays Harbor County
in Washington. Even though we aren't from
Oregon, the Grand Ronde Indians of which
I am a proud member have offered to help
us. We are going to purchase carpeting for
the living room. We just want to thank all
of you from the bottom of our hearts for
helping us.
Larry and Judy Thomas
To all COUNCIL MEMBERS of the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank you for what you have done and are
continuing to do for me and many others.
You have enabled my mother to live a
more worry free life through the Elder Pen
sion Program. THANK YOU.
You have made my dream of owning my
own home a reality through the Down Pay
ment Grant Program. THANK YOU.
You made it easier to tread water last fall
by sending money from timber revenues.
THANK YOU.
You have made possible a Medical In
surance Policy, which if left to my own
means I would not have been able to af
ford. THANK YOU.
I have become more interested in re
searching my heritage and ethnography.
THANK YOU.
Now you are increasing my income to
$300 a month. It's very difficult to believe
something this wonderful can actually be
happening to me. THANK YOU.
I'm thanking you for myself and all those
on disability. With this additional income
our lives will be enriched.
THANK YOU two words that mean
so much but seem so inadequate to describe
how I feel. I'm overwhelmed by your com
passion and caring.
It is self evident through the many grant
programs, scholarships and charitable do
nations that you are conducting business
with much pride and dignity.
You have my complete confidence and
support knowing that you will continue to
make decisions that will benefit the Tribe
as an entity, no matter how difficult this may
be at times.
I realize that all of you are under a great
deal of stress and pressure from being thrust
into the management of a multi-million
dollar business nearly overnight.
You carry the burden of having to answer
to each and every tribal member, to your
selves, and above all to God.
I realize that at times you feel your job is
a thankless one NOT SO. Many mem
bers don't think they can put into words
their feelings. I'm thanking you for doing
a tremendously difficult job very well.
Joyce Abbott
Roll 66
Dear tribal members and community:
The staff and management at Nathan's
Business Services would like to thank the
members of the Grand Ronde Reservation
very much for allowing us to assist the com
munity and employees with their tax prepa
ration. An especially big thank you goes
out to Barbara Lake and Elaine Moore for
taking time out of their busy schedule to
assist Randall 0. Nathan.
Our first year of venturing out was a suc
cess, and we are looking forward to con
tinuing our business in your community.
Again thank you for everything.
Thank you,
Nathan's Business Services
Randall O. Nathan
Editor's Note
Smoke Signals published a "Letter to the
Editor" in the last issue which thanked the
Tribe and staff for arranging medical help
for Gloria Engleson. The letter was signed
as follows:
Sincerely,
Kelly Haggerty and family
Rod Ristecn and family
Shelly Whitley and family
Missy Ault
Larry Ristcen
Grace Brown and family
May Amerson and family
Bob Taplin and family
Herman Hudson and family
To the Editor:
I am writing to you as a member of the Tribe concerning the ODS Health Plan. Being
a tribal member I am sure that I am not the only one that feels living outside the "reser
vation" land that we are not able to receive the same benefits from the Tribe that we
would if we were living "home." One issue that will continue to be brought up in my
opinion is the ODS Health Plan. Doctor bills get higher and higher, all because we are
not fortunate enough to pay the $200 deductible right off the bat. For a family that
means each person, and it adds up. Living on minimum wage without other assistance
makes it hard to pay that much of a deductible. Although we may be seen by a doctor,
we still get billed the full amount until that deductible is met, making it harder on a
family, and going more and more into debt.
Is it right for 6 of Casino revenues to be going to other counties, when that 6 could
be used for helping out those members who can't meet the requirements of the deduct
ible? We fill out all kinds of paperwork just to prove we meet "guidelines" qualifying us
for certain plans or programs, but when asked for some assistance or help concerning
this deductible, it is suggested we apply for state assistance. Why is that? Is the Tribal
Council suggesting we rely on the Welfare System, even though we would have the
money if the Tribe were to use the revenues from the Casino?
In my opinion, members who live away from "home" should not have to meet the
deductible, and the 6 should be used to help out those who need it. Members who do
live "home" have the advantage to use the Health Clinic, that should not require that
they have to meet a deductible. The clinic is there to provide medical attention regard
less of whether we have a health plan or not. Should some of the tribal members of
Grand Ronde go without seeing a doctor of any kind, because we can't afford the de
ductible? We end up paying 20 of the bill.
As a tribal member, I think the Tribal Council should consider making changes to the
6 of Casino revenue going to the eleven counties in Oregon. I don't think that it is too
much to ask for a deductible on any medical needs to be paid for by using the 6
revenue from our own casino. Don't members' needs concern the Tribal Council? This
is a suggestion that should be brought up.
Sincerely,
Anna Logan Huston
Response from Risk Management
In 1995, Tribal Council made a commitment to provide health insurance benefits to
all tribal members no matter where they live. To offer a health program of this magni
tude, we realized that tribal members would have out-of-pocket expenses. Using cur
rent benefit levels, our initial estimate to provide health insurance to over 3,500 mem
bers in 28 states and 4 foreign countries was over 6.3 million dollars. There just is not
enough money to provide 100 coverage to everyone and assure this program contin
ues in the future.
There is no doubt that paying insurance deductibles can place a financial strain on a
family living at minimum income levels. Yet the need for health care was evident when
a survey showed that only 49 of tribal members had access to private health insurance.
Even if ODS plan participants had to share some of the expenses of this program, we
thought it was more important for every tribal member to have access to health
care than none at all.
The Risk Management Department welcomes questions and comments from all tribal
members about the ODS program. Because this is the first year of the program, we are
continually reviewing the quality of service, benefits, and costs. Your comments will
assist us in evaluating the performance of the ODS program. Please contact Val or
Marsha at 1-800-442-0346.