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15, 1997
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Election Results: another record turnout
General meeting features Education, Casino development, and Elders' nominations.
Ed Pearsall, Val Grout, and Robert Mercier will be rep
resenting you for the next three years. These candidates have
won the Tribal Council election held on September 6.
More tribal members than ever are voting for Tribal Coun
cil members, as this latest election shows. This year, more
than 700 people voted, which was an all-time high. The
results will be posted in the next edition of Smoke Signals.
The first General Council meeting of the year was held on
the Sunday following the election September 7. The first
order of business was a report from Dean Azule, Education
Director, about the upcoming school year and the status of
tribal enrollees. Gayla Tulensru and Wendi Spencer also
spoke about their programs Adult Education and JOM
Child Care. Gayla said that three classes were offered in
Portland, Salem, and Eugene this past year. They were Drum
Making, Moccasin Making, and Rope Basket Making classes.
There were 105 total participants. Also many clients par
ticipated in education and job counseling, self-enhancement
classes, and GED classes.
Wendi encouraged all tribal members in the area who have
small children to find out more about the Tribe's child
care and after school programs.
Bruce Thomas, President of Spirit Mountain Gaming,
Inc., gave an update on new Casino developments. He
covered three areas: tribal member employment, the con
struction, and current political issues.
Bruce said that 135 tribal members are employed at Spirit
Mountain Casino at this time. Any tribal member inter
ested in job opportunities should contact Camille Mercier
or Sarah Harvey at the Casino's Human Resources de
partment. Secondly, Bruce said that the expansion of 57,000 square
feet to the Casino gaming area may cause a little inconve
nience for the next few months. "While this construction
is happening we are also updating the kitchen so the buf
fet will be served outside in a covered tent area for a little
while," said Bruce. Although construction may affect
business to the buffet, Bruce said that last August was the
most profitable month the Casino has ever seen, and that
the new table games are "exceeding all expectations."
The hotel project will go out for bid this month, with an
anticipated completion date of next Autumn.
Finally, the state of Oregon has seen some anti-gaming
legislation try to pass through the State Capitol this year,
and next year the Tribe can expect more of the same. Bruce
said that the Tribe will work cooperatively with other groups
and organizations to prevent anti-gaming legislation.
The last order of business was the nominations for the
Elders' Committee: Annabelle Poole nominated Arlene Beck,
who accepted; Ruby Bigoni nominated Dorothy Lawe, who
accepted; Donna Casey nominated Peachie Ham, who ac
cepted; Val Grout nominated Clarice Ellison, who accepted;
Arlene Beck nominated Ivanetta Cook, who accepted;
Bernice Jensen nominated Ruby Bigoni, who accepted;
Dorothy Lawe nominated Kathryn Harrison, who accepted;
and Arlene Beck nominated Cherie Butler, who accepted.
Door Prize drawings were won by Marsha Bolton, $50;
Chris Dizick, $50; Clarice Ellison, $50; and Charlotte Grey,
$ 1 00. Because of hunting season, the next General Coun
cil meeting will be held on October 12.
Mayor of Salem apologizes for past discrimination
By Tracy Dugan
On September 3 Mike Swaim, the Mayor of the City of Salem issued a Human Rights Proclamation apologizing for the
discrimination and racial injustice that has historically occurred in Salem. Representatives from minority and ethnic
groups and churches were present at the City Council meeting to hear the Mayor's statement and make comments.
"People of color are still targets of racial oppression in our community," said Mayor Swaim. "We understand the pain
children feel when they first realize the oppression
they are experiencing."
The Mayor apologized on behalf of the city for
the "Sundown Law" that existed in the 1950's which
prohibited any person of color from being seen on
the streets after dark. Salem also used to have a motto
which boasted: "Ninety-nine percent white and
proud."
The Mayor also apologized to the Indian students
of Chemawa Boarding School who were historically
stripped of their own culture and language and made
to abandon their tribal culture and spirituality, los
ing those important values for future generations to
preserve and appreciate.
The Human Rights Proclamation also mentioned
the INS "sweeps" and "raids" in the city that have
created a sense of fear and frustration within Salem's
Hispanic community. The Mayor asked Salem resi
dents to preserve the integrity and reputation of the
city, as it is known as "The City of Peace," by refus
ing to ignore racist actions and attempts at discrimi
nation. "We apologize for these injuries of discrimina
tion, and I call upon all citizens of Salem to work to
eradicate prejudice and racial injustice in their neigh
borhoods," said Mayor Swaim.
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Salem Mayor Mike Swaim issued a Human Rights t-ruo.u
mation apologizing for racial discrimination.
EXCERPT OF THE MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Oregon's first constitution, passed in 1857,
denied African Americans the right to live in Oregon; and
WHEREAS, the Chemawa Indian School in our commu
nity, founded in 1879, sought to eradicate Native Ameri
can tribal history and culture by removing Indian chil
dren from their homes and families, and training them to
become "neo-Europeans," to the exclusion of their Native
American traditions; and
WHEREAS, during the 1920's, Oregon's Klu Klux Klan
was the largest Klan group west of the Rocky Mountains;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Salem, also known as the City of
Peace, is also the seat of political power in our state, calling
for our local government to lead by example; and,
WHEREAS, any time the basic human rights of any in
dividual are denied, it demeans the humanity of all mem
bers of our Salem community who seek "Life, Liberty, and
the Pursuit of Happiness," inalienable rights as acknowl
edged in the Declaration of Independence:
NOW, THEREFORE, I Mike Swaim, Mayor of the City of
Salem, acknowledge the injustice of such violations, past
and present, of fundamental human rights, and do hereby
apologize to ALL CITIZENS OF SALEM who have ever had
to endure the injury of discrimination, the injustice of
prejudicial haired, or the abuse of power in the form of
racism, sexism, religious intolerance, and other form of
institutional and individual oppression.
Signed the second day of September, 1 997.
Mayor Mike Swaim