OR. COLL.
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78
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April 15,
1998
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PRESORTED
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 178
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Address Service Requested
tribal council
nominations
Sunday, ttay 3
11:20 ani r
Community Center
tirrrmiTiTmT?.
Urgent Care at Clinic:
when should you use it?
Due to an increase in the use of Urgent Care services at the Grand Ronde
Health and Wellness Center, the waiting time has become lengthy at times.
We hope the following list will be informative in helping you decide if your
condition warrants an Urgent Care visit. If your not sure, please call 879
2002 or 1-800-775-0095 to speak with a nurse.
Urgent Care Services: "It's not emergency but I can't wait for an appoint
ment to be seen." What should I do? Times will arise when care is needed
when your physician is not available. You can then access our Urgent Care.
Urgent Care was designed to serve as a choice for medical conditions that
need to be treated the same day. It should not be used as a substitute for
regularly scheduled appointments with physicians. The following list will
help you decide if you should use Urgent Care:
DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS:
Medication assessment
Prescription refills
Chronic illnesses
Reoccurring illnesses
Physicals
Pregnancy testing
Skin problems
Review lab or x-ray results
wee
Immunizations
URGENT CARE SERVICES:
111 children under 2 years of age
Ear pain
Stitches needed for minor cuts
Sprains and strains
Dog bites
Tetanus shots for puncture wounds
Flu-like symptoms
Suture removal
Acute pain
Emergency room follow-ups (if told
to follow-up within 48 hours)
Public announcement to all veterans
If you are a veteran, have a family
member who is a veteran, or know
someone who is, this news may be
of some interest to you or them.
President Clinton has recently
signed into law a bill that affects all
veterans. This law states in effect that
if a veteran HAS NOT registered at a
VA hospital since October 1, 1996,
then on October 1, 1998 he or she
will lose all VA medical benefits for
life. To make it worse, the VA can
not notify veterans about it. That in
formation must be disseminated via
word of mouth. Tom Todd from
U.S. West Veterans' Association
called the local VA office and found
out this information is true.
They recommended that everyone
eligible for benefits come by their
office, and sign up prior to the Octo
ber 1st deadline, regardless of
whether they have received treat
ment at a VA hospital since October
10, 1996. This way no one will slip
through the cracks.
You will need to bring your DD
214 to your local VA office and it will
only take about 5 minutes to complete
the form. This will maintain your
veteran's benefits. If you cannot lo
cate your DD-214, go to the VA of
fice and they can help you obtain a
copy.
To register or for more informa
tion, please call the McMinnville of
fice at (503) 434-7503; the Portland
VA Medical Center at 1-800-949-1004,
ext. 55300; or the Portland VA
office at 1-800-827-1000.
Serials Dept. - Knight Library !
1299 University Of Oregon !
Eugene OR 97403-1205, . n '
'"University of Oregon Library
Received on: 04-23-98
Smoke signals
Sovereign Immunity Bill contested
Continued from front page
Jamestown S'Kllalam Tribe in Washington urged the committee to consider
the idea of building better tribal court systems of tribal government and tribal
courts as an alternative to waiving sovereign immunity. Others speaking out
against the bill included Dan Evan, former governor and senator from Wash
ington State, who called Senate Bill 1691 a "solution seeking a problem," and
like Ron Allen, said that building better tribal court systems is the answer, not
ending sovereign immunity. Others testifying against the bill said that a sweep
ing waiver of sovereign immunity would hurt tribal programs and the ser
vices tribes provide to their members.
Advocates of the bill included people who have felt they have been wronged
by a tribe(s) and feel that due process of the law is guaranteed in the United
States Constitution, yet Indian Tribes are not held accountable for their ac
tions. Sovereign immunity is not simply an issue of taxation. There was
testimony given by people who wanted to sue a tribe or tribes on the basis of
discrimination, wrongful death, violation or loss of property, and refusal to
pay for goods and services.
At the end of the comment period, Campbell thanked everyone for their
testimonies and heartfelt comments concerning the controversial bill, and said
he understands the differences of opinion on the sovereign immunity issue.
Other members of the committee gave closing remarks and said they appreci
ate the time and effort of everyone who cares about this issue. Sen. Gorton
had kind words to say of his colleagues, who don't always agree with him on
every issue that comes before the Senate. Of Sen. Inouye, a colleague Gorton
very rarely agrees with, he said, "There is no member of the Senate with
whom I disagree more, and like better."
Before adjourning the hearing, Campbell reminded attendees that people
have to work together to reach common ground on an issue, and no piece of
legislation invented can bring people together in a community.
"No one can mandate that you love your neighbor," he said. "A bill is
simply a piece of paper. Even the smartest people in the world haven't been
able to figure out how to make this happen. I really believe that as American
people, if we can fly to the stars, we can also learn to walk across the street to
our neighbor and ask for help."