January 20, 1998
SMOKE SIGNALS
2
() H)nrDn(i)ri)q) & n a) ut a a s
Letters to the Editor.
General Council,
I decided to write this letter because there seems to be
a growing frustration in the Tribe. The increase in rev
enue in the last two years has given us opportunities that
were never possible before. With this growth and in
creased revenue it has also created the need to make
decisions that we have never had to make before. It
appears that most decisions are supported by tribal mem
bers, but there are also those who will disagree. The
more decisions we make, the more likely some tribal
members will disagree with our decisions. Disagree
ment will happen even if decisions are accepted by the
majority of tribal members.
There is nothing wrong with disagreement it is a
natural result of a democratic process. However, the
important thing is to find a way to resolve disagreements
in a way that does not damage the Tribe. It is important
that we attack the problem not the people. While we
may occasionally disagree on particular issues, we need
to work together to achieve our common goal, which is
to help the Tribe and its members for the future.
Over the next few months we need to have construc
tive discussions about the following issues and concerns:
The appropriate level of expansion of our Tribal
Administration in order to assure that the cost
of programs do not exceed their benefits.
Develop programs that benefit all tribal mem
bers fairly both in the Grand Ronde area and
outside the area.
How much should we defer spending to assure
that there will be funding for programs in the
future?
How do we find a balance in our programs be
tween building long term self sufficiency and sat
isfying tribal members immediate needs?
Should our programs meet the needs of only the
neediest tribal members before others receive
benefits?
Casino revenue is here now! It may not be here
in the future. How do we prepare to ensure that
we have a future?
This is only a partial list of the general questions that
Tribal Council has to deal with. As you can imagine,
there are different opinions on each of these issues, with
no real right answer, but requires surmountable infor
mation to make an informed decision.
I encourage each of you to seek out as much infor
mation as you need to make decisions on all issues fac
ing the Tribe. The Tribe will be better off if more tribal
members take the time to be informed, to get involved,
and help us answer these questions. We will not make
decisions for the majority of the membership if only we
hear from a vocal minority, or if members form opin
ions without adequate information. There are several ways
to seek information which I strongly suggest to all:
Call the Tribe (1-800-422-0232) and ask to speak
to any Tribal Council member.
Read your Smoke Signals call your editor,
Tracy Dugan at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2254. Give
her your ideas and suggestions to improve fu
ture Smoke Signals publications.
The Tribal Council will be conducting more com
munity meetings this spring in Oregon's major
cities. Watch for scheduled times and destina
tions in your Smoke Signals, so that you can at
tend the meeting closest to you.
Volunteer to serve on more committees the Tribe
has established to oversee various programs.
Even if you can't serve, you can attend the meet
ings or participate in other ways.
In conclusion, the Tribe has been fortunate and we
are now able to achieve even greater things for our mem
bers. The way to do this is to communicate and work
together in a positive way.
Respectfully yours,
Ed Pearsall, Tribal Council Secretary
Dear tribal members,
Pearl Langley Lyon, daughter of Hugh Langley (James),
and Cindy Gulledge are searching for a picture of grand
mother Mary LaChance Langley Barker.
Do any of you happen to have a picture of her? If you
do, please call collect.
Thank you,
Pearl Lyon at (503) 864-2441
Cindy Gulledge at (503) 864-4303
To the Editor,
I would like to respond to the lady's letter on greedy
and ugly people who seem to want to share in some or
any part of the revenues from Spirit Mountain Casino.
The truth is only a small group reap substantial benefits
from Casino revenue, the group that run it, and some
three hundred Elders, that leaves some thirty-five hun
dred that receive nothing from Spirit Mountain revenue.
In the last survey, 70 of the tribal members were
living at or below poverty level. With these many mil
lions of dollars it seems this small group could share a
small percent to help all tribal members raise their stan
dard of living.
I am an Elder so I am benefiting, but I don't want my
children and grandchildren to have to wait twenty or
thirty years to benefit from Spirit Mountain Casino.
This small group want no change, and say no sharing
as long as Spirit Mountain owe's money.
Now they are going into investment and development,
which I believe they know nothing of. You can call me
greedy, but I still know what is right and what is wrong.
Edward R.Haller, Roll 221
EDITOR'S NOTE: According to the Housing Survey
the Tribe mailed to all tribal households in 1993, ap
proximately 25 of tribal members live below the pov
erty line, not 70.
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS: Smoke Signals is a
publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde Community of Oregon. We have established
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 received at
the newspaper office with author's signature, address,
and phone number in order to be considered for pub
lication. Smoke Signals reserves the right to edit any
letter 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 reflect the opinions of Smoke
Signals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
Recent Council actions
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1997
The meeting was called to order by Kathryn Harrison.
Margaret Provost and Bob Mercier were excused. All
other Council members were present.
The Health and Human Services Subcommittee rec
ommended the re-appointments of Jon George as Sec
retary and Patti Tom-Martin as Vice-Chair of the Health
and Human Services Committee. Val Grout moved, Ed
Larsen seconded a motion to approve the recommenda
tion for re-appointments. The motion carried by a unani
mous vote.
The Government, Management, and Budget Subcom
mittee recommended Tribal Council authorize member
ship in the National Tribal Gaming CommissionersRegu
lators Association, designating the Grand Ronde Gam
ing Commission's Chairman, Bob Watson, as the Tribe's
representative. Mark Mercier moved, Ed Pearsall sec
onded a motion to adopt Resolution number 100-97 au
thorizing membership, Bob Watson as the representa
tive, and a membership fee of $500. The motion carried
by a vote of 6 yes, 0 no, and 0 abstentions.
The subcommittee also recommends Council approve
enrollment for two applicants whose files were inadvert
ently overlooked. Both files were reviewed by the En
rollment Committee and recommended for tribal mem
bership. In addition to membership, it was further rec
ommended that the two applicants receive the 1997 Ben
efit Trust Fund since they had met the initial enrollment
deadline. Val Grout moved, Ed Larsen seconded to ap
prove the recommendation by adopting Resolution num
ber 101-97. The motion carried by a vote of 6 yes, 0 no,
and 0 abstentions.
Rob Greene was recommended by the subcommittee
to fill the Attorney position with the Tribe and was asked
if he would be interested in accepting the position. Fol
lowing Rob's acceptance, Ed Pearsall moved, and Chip
Tom seconded a motion to adopt Resolution number 1 02
97, offering the position to Rob Greene. The motion
carried by a vote of 5 yes, 0 no, and 1 abstention. The
abstention was made by Mark Mercier.
Finally, the subcommittee recommended the adoption
of a policy establishing and governing the Tribal Rev
enue Fund, which would segregate and administer those
revenues which have their original source from lands in
Trust status. Following a brief explanation by Pat Mer
cier, Ed Pearsall moved, and Chip Tom seconded a mo
tion to adopt Resolution number 102-97, adopting this
policy. The motion carried by a vote of 6 yes, 0 no, and
0 abstentions.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1997
The Council meeting was called to order by Kathryn
Harrison. All members were present.
Pat Mercier and Rob Greene reviewed the Bond Of
fering process for Council. Rob noted revisions, tribal
court restrictions, and the Tribe's limited sovereign im
munity waiver. Pat stated that all but one of the bonds
have been taken and that the rate secured is better than
the rate for building the clinic. Ed Pearsall moved, Mark
Mercier seconded a motion to adopt Resolution number
106-97, approving the Bond Offering for a new Admin
istration Building as presented. The motion carried by a
vote of 8 yes, 0 noj and 0 abstentions.
Ed Larsen asked if Council would consider supporting
Paula Wallace for a Project Manager position in a grant
for Oregon Regional Strategies. Council consensus was
to support her for the position.