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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1998)
4 Opinion Smoke Signals Letter to the Editor: Recently, some Tribal Council members have in dicated that there is interest in the enrolled mem bership to provide a "Christmas bonus" this year, some say by gaming-generated revenue. If the tribe is to use gaming money, however, there are some very important facts that need to be recognized. To begin with, if the Tribal "Council is to provide any casino generated funds to its membership, it will need to prepare a Tribal Allocation Plan, as required through Public Law 100-472 known as the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, for submission to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for their final approval. (See excerpt in box below from the BIA federal register.) CONGRESS TAKES NOTICE. Spirit Moun tain Casino and other Indian casinos in the U.S. are earning an enormous amount of money. And make no mistake, members of Congress are tak ing careful notice of this phenomenon. In 1997, the U.S. House of Representatives attempted to pass legislation that would impose a 34 tax on Indian gaming. Also, the U.S. Senate sought to require gaming tribes to waive their sovereign immunity in order to receive federal funding for operation of tribal programs. - The Senate Bill also required the BIA to establish a "means testing" process, a sure way to cut funds now going to tribes with gaming op erations. Fortunately, both these measures were narrowly defeated, but their sponsors have already vowed to pursue them again when Congress reconvenes in late January this year. ECONOMIC EXPANSION. Some further ques tions come to mind with respect to using funds from gaming. ; For. instance, ! why shouldn't the Tribe use gaming funds to expand to other forms of eco nomic development? Some preliminary work is required the Tribal Council would prepare a com prehensive plan to determine what kinds of eco nomic development would be feasible and practi cal, and whether the development should be re lated to tourism, industry, recreation or any other segment of the economy. Additionally, the plan needs to address the infra structure availability of water, sewer, roads, and land suitable for development. This type of eco nomic planning is strongly encouraged by the IGRA, and can't help but assist the tribe in its eco nomic expansion. Since the casino has opened in Grand Ronde, several people from outside the lo cal area have established other businesses such as a recreational vehicle park, and a second hand shop. Many tribal members have stated they would like to see employment opportunities in addition to the casino. TRIBAL ELDERS IN NEED. I have been ap proached by various tribal Elders who live in older houses, some of which are in disrepair, poorly in sulated, needing a new roof, or other kinds of over due maintenance. According to these individuals, they have applied for assistance to get their homes repaired to a livable condition, but due to income restraints, were denied assistance. Yet, they can not afford to make the necessary repairs on their own. I am aware of many tribal members who rent dwellings. Anyone living in or near Grand Ronde may have noticed that real estate prices have dra matically increased since the Casino began opera tions. Furthermore, it's a given that future prop erty values will only increase. Shouldn't the tribe establish some kind of a housing fund for our mem bers so they can afford to purchase a place they can call their own, or renovate their house regard less of where it sits? DON'T FORGET THE KIDS. Anyone wish ing to advance their education surely must realize the astronomical cost of college and university tu ition. Shouldn't the Tribal Council put funds into an interest bearing account self sustaining for use by any tribal member no matter where he or she lives, who wishes to go on to higher educa tion? As a father, I often wonder how I can help my kids to further their education. Now and into the future, the job market will only become increasingly competitive, making high tech skills an absolute must. I doubt very much that each and every tribal member parent has the financial capabilities to send their kids on to col lege. Other gaming tribes have established an edu cation fund. Why can't this tribe do the same? HEALTH CARE IMPORTANT TOO. Any one who watches the television news will know that Congress and the President are now wrangling about whether or not to lower the Medicare eligi bility age from 65 to 62. Republicans in Congress however, have criticized this proposal, claiming that everyone in Washington, D.C. are attempting to balance the federal budget, and spending must be curtailed. As time goes on, it becomes more and more apparent that the federal government's help in coverage of ever rising health care costs seems helplessly remote. But, this tribe is in a po sition to establish and maintain its own health fund. Doesn't this make perfect sense, given the politi cal climate in Washington, D.C? The following statement is an excerpt from the Federal Register, June 7, 1996, regard ing per capita payments to tribal members of gaming tribes. The Bureau of Indian Af fairs successfully implemented the section of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) establishing procedures tribes must follow in order to do this. Tribal Revenue Allocation Plans Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Action: Proposed rule 25CFR Part 290 The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act pro vides that net gaming revenues from Class II and Class III gaming may be distributed in the form of per capita payments to members of the Indian tribe provided the Indian tribe has prepared a Tribal Revenue Allocation Plan which is approved by the Secretary. On December 19, 1992 the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs issued guidelines to govern the review and approval of Tribal Revenue Allocation Plans. As outlined in the IGRA, the guidelines require that the Indian tribe must dedicate a significant source of net gam ing revenue for economic and governmental purposes, that the interests of minors and other legally incompetent persons entitled to re ceive per capita payments must be protected and preserved, and that per capita payments are subject to federal income taxes. The As sistant Secretary does not mandate the distri bution of net gaming revenues to individual tribal members. However, it is essential that Indian tribes choosing to make per capita pay ments comply with the requirements of the IGRA. As you may recall in an earlier issue of Smoke Signals, there was an article about the Tribe fund ing a helipad for Life Flight, to be built at the new Health Clinic. Life Flight offers an annual insur ance membership at a cost of $50 per household that covers the initial cost of a medical emergency flight. Of course, anyone in a life threatening situ ation will be served by Life Flight, insured or not. But, without insurance you may receive a bill at a minimum of $5,000 or more. Why shouldn't the tribe provide funding for such a program, no mat ter where the tribal member lives? I know would dread having to pay such a bill! TRIBE STILL IN DEBT. There is yet one more fact that needs to be considered. In order to build Spirit Mountain Casino, the Tribe borrowed a to tal of $20 million. At this date, the Tribe still owes $13 million. Furthermore, construction is now in progress to expand the Casino another 57,000 square feet. How much more debt will the Tribe accrue now? Regardless of the amount, it surely seems that our number one priority would be to retire this debt. I am writing this letter to hopefully get a response from any tribal member who may be interested in these issues which I raised. It is my feeling that we need to look at ways to ensure a secure long term future for the Tribe.... andsoon. I hope to hear from you. Mark Mercier Tribal Council member SMOKE SIGNALS 9615 Grand Ronde Road ,, (fStVft Grand Ronde,' Or 97J47 ) jSy Internet e-mail addresses: . (ff?mj tracynewsmacnet.com if 7 V1' If kimnewsmacnet.com Editor: TRACY DUGAN (503) 879-2254 Graphics K News Coordinator: KIM MUELLER (503) 879-2264 1-800-422-0232 FAX: (503) 879-2263 Members of the Native American Journalist Association and the Associated Press. SUBMISSIONS FROM OUR READERS: SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confeder ated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Or egon, Is publised twice a month. 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 signa ture, address, and phone number in order to be con sidered for publication. 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 re flect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, tribal em ployees, or Tribal Council. FEBRUARY DEADLINES: Thursday, February 5, 1998 Monday, February 16, 1998 Printed on recycled paper.
