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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1997)
As I stated before, I am a native "Grand Ronder." Though It Is not a prerequisite for being on Tribal Council, It's certainly an asset. It gives you a better understanding of tribal members and their needs. Anyone who has spoken to me or heard me speak at General Council knows how Important It Is to me to fulfill the needs of tribal members and protect their rights. I hope you will support me In the coming election. LINDA OLSON I am Linda Bean Olson. My father was Fremond Bean. At the present time I am employed as the Resource Spe cialist for the Tribe In the Community Resource Division. I have worked in other capacities for the Tribe such as Family Services Coordinator, Foster Care Coordinator, and Chemical De pendency Counselor. I have attended Chemeketa Community College In the Human Services Program. I have been a program manager for Indian Health Services at the United Indian Lodge In Crescent City, California. I have taught parendng classes for the Oregon Research Institute. I have attended the Greenhouse business classes conducted by ONABEN. My husband and I own and operate Eagle Feather Con struction. I have four children and four (soon to be six) grandchildren. The reasons I wasn't to serve as a Council member: I feel I can be an advocate for tribal members to receive services that will make them self-sufficient. I am approachable and can take up an Issue for others. I feel I am a team player and can work with other Council members, Federal and State representatives, program managers, and the general membership. I would like an opportunity to represent tribal members and be able to address the basic needs of tribal members who live outside the service area. My own personal Interests are social services, chemical dependency, and housing. However, as the Resource Specialist 1 am familiar with all tribal programs as well as outside resources. ED PEARSALL My name Is Ed Pearsall, during the1' last three years that I have been a tribal 1 Councilman, I have seen a lot of posi tive changes and growth within our Tribe. I am proud to say I took part in the promotion and implementation of those changes. 1 . 1 currently hold the office of Tribal Council secretary. 2. 1 am the Tribal Council liaison to the Education Committee. 3. 1 currently serve as a Board member for Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. 4. 1 am chairman of the Tribal Government Management and Budget Committee. 5. 1 am currently a Board member for Spirit Mountain Development Corporation (economic arm of the Tribe). 6. Recently, I was appointed as chairman of the Spirit Mountain Eco nomic Fund. (Under a new compact negotiated with the State of Oregon, the Tribe will annually contribute six percent of its net prof Its to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. This money will be distrib uted In the form of grants to eleven counties In Western Oregon.) Three years ago, during my campaign, I ran on the platform of "Fairness and Equality," for all tribal members. Now, all tribal mem bers are eligible to receive Medical Insurance, Retirement Benefits (SS years and older), and the $1,000 yearly DMdend Payment. Serving as a Tribal Council person, you must be able to withstand pressure and personal agendas that come to the Council meetings. I feel that I was elected to make positive changes for you, the tribal member. As a Councilman, I will continue to make decisions that will always be In the best interest of the entire tribal membership. It Is necessary for Tribal Council to be willing and able on behalf of our tribe to travel throughout the country. Governments are con stantly trying to pass legislation in the federal, state, and local level that adversely affects tribes. It is especially Important that we oppose any negative legislation against tribal governments. It is important for Council to work as a team. I strongly believe that no one Council person or family should control tribal policy and procedure. I am a very strong advocate for the tribal Elders. All tribal members should receive equal treatment regardless of where they live. I continue to believe in a strong entitlement program and a strong tribal education program. I feel It Is Important to be considerate, honest, straightforward, and fair. I hope to be re-elected as your Tribal Councilman so that I may continue serving for the benefit of all tribal members. It is time for our tribe to grow and prosper, for our children to learn and benefit from the education of this world and the wisdom of i : .!. f V their tribal heritage. With your support I will continue to do my ob to the best of my ability, keeping your best Interests at heart. DARLENE AARON Hello, my name is Darlene Aaron. I live in Wlllamlna. I am the daughter of Orvllle and Ramona Leno. I have an extensive family Including three broth ers and one sister. I married my high school sweetheart and have a marriage going on Its thirty-third year. I have a son, Trevor Aaron, who works at Spirit Mountain Casino In the Information Services area. He explains this to me by saying that he works on the computers!!! My son and I have a very close relationship and are able to share our dreams, wants, and good times. My daughter Tersa Stewart Is married and has two children. She Is like my best friend. Tersa and her husband Doug are working and going to school while raising a family. Now for the best, my Grandchildren Mykal N Brook. It makes me very proud of my daughter Tersa for having such beau tiful and wonderful children. They are great and I give all of the credit to Tersa, Doug and a very supportive family around her that loves and nurtures it's children as the precious Items they are. I have worked mostly In the Health field In various positions. Ten years ago I started working for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde as a Health Receptionist. I later moved on to Community Health Representative while still working for the Tribe. A few years later I moved to the Tribal Health Clinic as a Nurses Assistant. I have made many friends during my years in the Health department at the Tribal offices. About one year ago I left my position of Nurses Assis tant to go with my husband to Bangkok, Thailand for a job he had there which required a 1 5 month stay. After a short time over there, suffering greatly from home-sickness, I came home for good. There were many days when I would wish my husband Roger could come home also. We are all home now and are very appreciative of what we have. I have rejoined the work force at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde In the Wellness department as a Health Promotion Specialist. I love working with people and making new friends. I have renewed some old acquaintances too. In working with people of all ages I truly enjoy teaching the "Prevention" of illness rather than the "Treatment" of illness. My main goal is to truly promote good health among all tribal members so that they can truly benefit themselves and the tribe. Reasons to serve on Tribal Council? I have put much thought into determining why I would like to run for Tribal Council as I know it will require dedication and hard work. My beliefs are strong that we are fortunate to have so many tribal benefits available to us. As a tribal member I feel It Is my responsibility to gain Information of what Is going on with the tribe In all aspects. Being an elected official of the tribal people I will to listen to tribal member issues and concerns. I am a firm believer of respect having to be earned and not given. I feel as a Council member you need to always be a good role model. I would like to serve as a Council member as I have a deep concern about the Tribe and want to be an active tribal member in shaping our future. The knowledge gained from working at the tribal offices K the people that I have met during that time will greatly assist me In helping In every way possible. My special interests are family events. We are a very close family and we get together often. My other special interest Is the Education Committee that I am currently Chairman of. I have held this position for eight years now and have been able to watch several tribal mem bers meet their dreams by achieving an education. Well that is me, Darlene Aaron. I hope by expressing my Inten tions and background you will understand where I am coming from I exactly where I intend to go. Call anytime if you have any questions regarding anything that I have said above or just need to talk. Tele phone 503-876-5795. Keep my name In mind on Election Day. Darlene Aaron Roll 434 EUGENE LaBONTE My name Is Gene Labonte. I was born and raised in the Grand Ronde area. My parents are the late Alexander Gus LaBonte and Edna LaBonte. I was elected to Tribal Council In 1 994. It has been a very successful three years for the Tribe. How we have grown! Since I have become a Councilman the Casino has opened and prospered. Revenues to the Tribe have given us the opportunity to start programs for our tribal members. The yearly dividend to each and every tribal member, the retirement i i il program for Elders 55 and older, and medical Insurance. I am so proud to have been part of this. Three years ago, I wrote about what I felt was Important to work toward If I was elected Councilman. These thoughts are still true for me. If elected I will work for equal opportunities for all tribal mem bers, both young and old, no matter where they live. I continue to believe It is important that the General Council be aware of each Council members' vote on different Issues. The Coun cil represents the entire Tribe, not just their Individual family. They have the responsibility to make their vote known. I feel it is Important to provide tribal members with affordable housing. Health care Is essential, and we now have insurance which is especially important for those members out of Grand Ronde. But we must do more in the way of helping our members with things that insurance doesn't cover like hearing aids and glasses. I am currently Tribal Council liaison with the Timber Committee. I have served on the committee for the past three years. I am Involved In timber sales and seeing that we stay within the guidelines estab lished by the Tribe concerning the allowable cut. If elected I will continue to be available to any tribal member with concerns. Please feel free to contact me. I hope you will re-elect me so I can continue to serve you as Councilman of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Sincerely, Eugene R. LaBonte J i T f V JUNE SHERER My name Is June Sherer and I am the daughter of Joseph Sell and Emma LaBonte Sell. Currently, I am working for Spirit Mountain gaming In the Mar keting Division. I moved back to Grand Ronde when I first ran for Council al most two years ago. Even though to date I have not been elected, there are ideas I have stood for that are now In effect. The most notable is that of a liaison posi tion In Human Resources. The purpose In establishing this position was to mediate problems and free Council from serving as mediators. I believe the most Important quality a person can have when run ning for Council is trustworthiness. When one Is running for a posi tion, we elect them based on their stand on the Issues. The tribal members put their faith In the belief that their elected officials will support the stand they have publicly taken on those issues presented. What are the Issues of Importance? They are to me now the same as when I first ran for Council. These Include housing, education, health care, retirement, and per capita. This listing is not to give one more importance than the other. All are Important to tribal mem bers. It Is Important that the young have the education needed to face the future. It is also important to have education and training available for those who need it. I am happy to see more benefits being extended to those outside our six-county service area. Also, I am pleased that our Elders are receiving benefits that make their lives a little easier. I believe that after a lifetime of poverty and prejudice, they deserve our respect and consideration. The health and wellness center Is a reaffirmation of our commitment to tribal members' health. I do have serious concerns about the lack of In-house facilities for treating our people with alco hol and substance abuse addictions. Housing is also a concern of mine. There are many who have returned home to their roots and are In need of adequate housing for themselves and their families. Last year, I suggested a program similar to "Habitat for Humanity." This type of program would give families needing adequate housing a way to afford It. Also, It would show that we as a "People" care about our own. Being a veteran, I am aware of the federal and state benefits available to us. I also know that many are not in a position to take advantage of these benefits. Though I own my own home, I realize that many tribal veterans are not so fortunate. One way the Tribe could help our veterans would be with land for housing, a small compensation for their sacrifice. I would also like to see a longhouse built for meetings, ceremonies, and as a cultural center for our people. We must not forget our culture and heritage. The re-establishment of our Tribe was only one step on a path to regaining identity as a "People." I also believe we must also pay more attention to our natural resources and health of our forests. They are our connection with our past and hope for the future. I would like to see and will work for the acquisition of addi tional land for our tribe. Serving on the Tribal Council is a serious responsibility and a full time job. It involves commitment to the People as the.r elected rep resentative. Telling people what they want to hear has always been a politician's tool, and the truth often suffers for it. What may be said of me and what the truth is can only be answered by me. I will gladly answer any questions any member has of me. My phone number Is (503) 879-8363. richard Mcknight Richard's statement will appear in the next Smoke Signals.
