Opinion Smoke Signals
Letters.
Dear Editor:
My heart is really hurting because of some of
the disgruntled letters I read in the Smoke Signals.
Many of our people write glowing words of thanks,
and this blesses me, because I too receive benefits
I am truly grateful for.
I know full well the only reason I receive any
thing is because I was born into this heritage. I did
not choose where I would be born, God chose
where I would be born. I hear many words like
"Wow, you are so lucky," or "Boy, I wish I had
Indian heritage." I wonder at these words, though.
I wonder if these people would have voiced these
words years ago when our people had nothing.
I remember as a child being told often about our
extended family in Grand Ronde, amazed at how
many people we were related to. I was always
given the impression by my mother, Marjorie
LaChance Scheese, that she was proud, so there
fore, I too, became proud. As a child my broth
ers, cousins, and I spent many summers with our
grandparents, Edwin and Alvina LaChance. I be
lieve we all grew to have a special place in our
hearts for Grand Ronde. This was all before there
were monetary benefits to being a Grand Ronde
tribal descendent.
I know I am not aware of the conditions some of
you may be in, but I pray you realize our Council
is truly looking out for our best interests, as a
people, as a whole; to prepare for the future.
Things may not always stand as they are today.
We must work together in love. I pray for a bond
of love and understanding for us all. I pray that
money not become our goal, for without loveand
God, we do not stand a chance.
Anna Hopson, Roll 722
Are you a tribal member? READ THIS!
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Dear Editor: ,
In recent tribal members' letters, much has been
written about increasing give-a-ways to tribal mem
bers, (i.e., a Christmas bonus). I am not in favor
of any further give-a-ways because the Tribe al
ready supports the Elders with a $400 a month
pension, it provides scholarships for the education
of our children, it gives each member $1,000 a
year to the Benefit Trust Fund, plus the health care
the Tribe provides to each member. These are all
benefits we didn't have a few years ago.
I am not in favor of any further investment or
development plans the Tribe may want to invest in
until they retire some of the debt they have recently
taken on. The Casino made $40 million last year,
but it is not paid for. We owe several million on it
yet. The timber sales made revenue last year, but
it won't go far when you when you consider the
debt the Tribe is undertaking. There is a retail cen
ter, an administrative building, the new health and
wellness center, and road, water, and sewer im
provements we must pay for.
I strongly urge the Tribe to slow down and take
a breath and try hard not to act like our children
do when they first become eligible for a credit card.
Too much debt can kill a business. If you don't
survive as a business first, last, and foremost, there
will be no help for any members.
I am very proud of how successful the Tribe has
been in its endeavors in the past, and how you have
thought of the welfare of the Tribe first. Now, I
am asking that you think of the solvency of Grand
Ronde as a business, so there will be help for, me
as I become older and one day an Elder, and for
my children who are struggling as part of the X
Generation.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Jameson, Roll 883
By Tracy Dugan
Over the past year, the Tribe has implemented some
new benefit packages and upgraded many of its existing
programs for the benefit of tribal members, no matter
where they live. In recent months I have received calls
and letters from members living outside of Grand Ronde
and the Six County Service Area asking about these
programs and benefits, although Smoke Signals makes ev
ery effort to print the information about these services
whenever changes are made or they become available.
A WEALTH OF SERVICES
Many members living outside of this area are con
cerned about how the Tribe is utilizing its revenue, and
believe that only local members are benefitting from
the Tribe's recent financial success. The fact is, most
of the existing and new programs are designed for ALL
tribal members to participate in. All you have to do is
apply, and if you qualify, you can take advantage of
them. For example, every tribal member can apply for
down payment assistance to help with the purchase of a
first home.
I know several tribal members outside of Oregon and
the Six County Service Area who have good jobs and
are able to make a monthly mortgage payment, but had
a difficult time saving several thousand dollars for a
down payment on a house. That's where the Tribe can
help. These members applied for Down Payment As
sistance and qualified for the program because they have
stable, steady jobs. Now they own their own homes.
So far, the Housing Authority has awarded Down Pay
ment grants to tribal members living in the following
cities outside of Oregon: Folsom, California; Salina,
Kansas; Everett, Washington; Marysville, Washington;
Redding, California; and California City, California.
Within Oregon, but outside of the Six County Service
Area: Prineville, The Dalles, Vernonia, Eugene,
Medford, LaGrande, and Ontario. If you are interested
in learning more about Down Payment Assistance,
please contact Bryan Langley at the Tribal Housing Au
thority, (503) 879-2467.
If you are a tribal member who wants to pursue a
college degree or attend a vocational school, the Tribe's
Education Division is set up to assist tribal members, no
matter where they live. All you have to do is apply,
and fill out a Financial Aid Form as well as apply for
enrollment at the school of your choice. In recent years,
the Tribe has helped members attend colleges all across
the country. This year, there are more than 60 tribal
members attending colleges and universities in the fol
lowing states: Oregon, Washington, California, Texas,
Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Georgia. Some tribal mem
bers have even been able to take advantage of exchange
programs in other countries. More and more tribal
members are pursuing advanced degrees such as a
Master's or Ph.d., as well.
The Tribe's Small Business Development division can
assist all tribal members interested in owning their own
business with planning, counseling, and preparing a Busi
ness Plan to present to lenders. The SBD staff can also
help you apply for Small Business loans to help get your
business off the ground. All members are eligible for
these services.
As you may know, new member benefit programs
include the Elders' Retirement Fund. This fund awards
Elders 55 years and older a $400 monthly stipend to
help supplement their income. All tribal Elders receive
this, no matter how much other income they have, or
where they live. If you are an Elder who is not receiv
ing this benefit, please contact Renea Garin at the tribal
offices to enroll in the program and start receiving this
benefit.
Last year the Tribe helped set up a health package
through ODS which is designed to provide comprehen
sive health care coverage for all members, no matter
where they live. Since the Tribe was restored in 1984,
health care has been an ongoing concern of Tribal Coun
cil and the membership. At last, the Tribe is able to
provide this kind of benefit to members who may not
have health care coverage through their employers, or
simply can't afford the monthly premiums on their own.
Again, all you have to do is apply. Currently, more
than 62 of the Tribe's members are receiving health
care under the this new plan, most outside of the area.
To take advantage of the health plan, contact Val Sheker
at the tribal offices. (Also, see page 8.)
Tribal Council implemented a Membership Invest
ment Fund two years ago in which every Grand Ronde
tribal member was given $1 ,000 per year. Adult tribal
members could choose to keep this money invested for
the future, or cash out the $1,000 each year. Even if
you chose to keep it invested, you can still cash out at
any time. All minors are also awarded this money, and
is held in trust (and collecting interest) by the Tribe
until the minor's 21st birthday, at which time he or she
can choose to cash it out, or keep it in the Investment
Fund. So far, the Tribe made two distributions to the
membership of $1 ,000 each in October of 1996, and
again in October of 1997. Call Rebecca Crocker at the
tribal offices to sign up for this program.
There are many other wonderful advantages to being
a member of the Grand Ronde Tribe. All members can
visit the reservation, apply for hunting and fishing tags
to pursue these hobbies on and off the reservation, and
receive a yearly allotment of salmon through the Fish
and Wildlife department.
The Burial Fund is set up to provide monetary assis
tance for funeral expenses to tribal members and their
spouses during the difficult time of a loved one's death.
Tribal members can also seek free legal advice from
Grand Ronde Legal Services, and of course, all mem
bers receive a FREE subscription to Smoke Signals to
keep you up to date on tribal news and events! "
If you would like to know more about these services,
call 1-800-422-0232 and ask the operator to transfer
you to any one of these departments or program offices.
WE MUST APPLY OURSELVES
As a tribal member, I am concerned that some mem
bers feel that because I work for the Tribe, or because
some members live near the reservation, we are benefit
ting more than others who live further away.
I've heard comments that accuse people who live and
work in Grand Ronde of reaping all the benefits of the
Casino and other profits. Of being able to take advan
tage of programs, while others receive nothing. This
isn't true. I receive the same benefits and qualify for
the same programs as those living outside of the area,
but I apply for program assistance and benefits. The
fact that I work for the Tribe is irrelevant, and I take
exception to members telling me I get more than every
one else.
I recommend members do everything they can to take
advantage of tribal programs. I took advantage of the
Higher Education program, and now I have a college
degree. My husband, who is a non-member, went to
the same school I did. For seven years we have been
paying off his student loans, but I don't have any! I
wonder sometimes if our membership realizes how for
tunate we are to have these kinds of opportunities.
Because of our tribal government, we have been given
a special chance to use our tribal status and membership
benefits to make better lives for ourselves. I don't be
lieve it's up to the Tribe to make sure I have a good
home, a job, and money in the bank. It's up to me to
utilize the Tribe's programs and resources to help me
do this for myself. The Tribe isn't responsible for me.
I'm responsible for me. And as a tribal member, you're
entitled to utilize the above listed programs as well, no
matter where you live.