August 15, 1998
News
3
Candidate's Forum, continued from front page
point, I would like to see decisions turned back over to the people. I don't think the
Tribal Council has neglected that, I just don't think they have found a way to reach
people. I have found an excellent way, I just flat go out and talk to them.
Ed Larsen: I have no agenda except just to serve the people. This communication
process Ken is talking about, we just finished up that process. We held a series of
community meetings, and there seems to be a consensus that members want to have
meetings every year, or every six months. I think this is a big step in getting informa
tion to people.
Rick McKnight: My agenda is mostly just work for the Tribe as one. I want to get
things going for the people who live far away, or even close. Just get everybody
involved in the Tribe.
Bob Haller: Yes, my agenda is to make sure all tribal members are equal. No matter
where they live, or where they come from, just that everyone is treated the same.
Margaret Provost: My agenda, I have many things that need to be taken care of. I
was here when Restoration first started. I have seen people homeless, I have seen
children without health care, and those are the things I think are still ongoing. I have
seen a lot of alcoholism and people dying of alcoholism and drug abuse, and these are
the things I would like to see changed. Help get our members some self-esteem' so
they can make their lives better. They need good homes to live in first, and their health
care and housing is most important. I think the Council can do this with the input of
the members.
How do you feel about developing a better (tribally-owned) water
and sewage system for the community?
Gene: It's a good idea, and I would support it. That's one holdup for the Casino and
housing is water. We should get our own water system going.
Barbara: I would support that too. This community is going to grow, and when we
built the Casino, we made that commitment. A lot of our employees would like to live
closer to where they work. It's up to us to build that infrastructure, so we can develop
this community. If we don't someone else will, and why wouldn't we want to do that?
Ken: I feel strongly that we should work on that project. There is a certain percent
age of economic development that should take place here. This is our homeland. This
is what we had originally, and this is what we are trying to get back. If we don't
develop it, we won't be able to draw our people back. Water is an excellent place to
start. The water is here, all we have to do is develop it. We need new businesses here,
and at this point, we only have 160 or 170 tribal members who work at the Casino.
Some members who want to work at the Casino can't because of the restrictive nature
of the business. I am uncomfortable with that. We should have opportunities for
members other than the Casino. If we had the water, I know of businesses that would
move here and hire people.
Ed: I am on the local water board. The Tribe has tried to work with them, and has not
been too successful. We are in a lawsuit about Grand Meadows, and they are trying to
slow us down with the Elders' housing project.
Ken: Ed, for a point of information, do we have the opportunity to create our own
water district here?
Ed: We do, but it is difficult. There are no water rights left in the Yamhill River. Many
wells are failing. It would be a long process.
Rick: I am for our own water rights, but I want to know if the Tribe would absorb
this cost, or could we be reimbursed by the community?
Bob: I think it should be top priority. I think I asked this question two years ago, I
think we need to develop our own water supply, and right away.
Margaret: I agree with Bob. A couple of years ago there was a plan submitted to
Council about a hydroelectric dam on the Stimson property. I have mentioned it, but it
hasn't gone anywhere. I think it needs looking into. We are paying an atrocious price
for water.
Many believe the Gaming Commission's restrictions are too harsh
when it comes to approving gaming licences to employees in posi
tions that do not require money handling. Would you support a
proposal to have these restrictions eased a bit?
Ken: I want to review that group. It's not that I feel they are necessarily doing
anything bad, but I want to know how our people are being treated and how others are
being treated. They need to be accountable like everyone else. If there is a real reason
why a tribal member applicant should not be working at the Casino, that's something
else. But there are areas where employees don't handle money. Why are these indi
viduals required to submit to the same background checks and restrictions as other
positions? I find that frivolous because it is not being done at other locations.
Barbara: I think it would be worth looking into all of their policies and procedures.
Of course all of that was developed before the Casino opened. Someone asked me
what I thought about the Gaming Commission being involved with the staff at our new
hotel. I would think not. They are affiliated with the Casino, but why would they need
to fall under these regulations? Applicants have been denied licenses who have old
arrests, and I don't think that's right. Some people should have a second chance.
Ed: I agree with Ken and Barb. Bob Watson said (the Commission) would welcome
the opportunity to be evaluated. I think we need to do that.
Rick: I think Council should sit down with the Gaming Commission and see if we
can't revise some of these rules.
Bob: I would support an independent investigation of the Commission to see if they
are over-regulating or under-regulating. I would support that.
Margaret: I believe they are over-regulating. The hotel should be separate so that we
can employ some people who can't be employed at the Casino.
Gene: The hotel should be separate. I think the Tribe should be able to do the hiring
because it is going to be low-security.
How do you feel about Casino revenue being distributed as per
capita (separate from Member Benefit)?
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Barbara: I wouldn't be so supportive of that because that revenue would be taxable
to tribal members. I personally would like to see that money go to boost programs
Even working families would be able to get more of a benefit, like having their home
upgraded. The cash money wouldn't go that far, and families who are on welfare
would have it decreased if they got a benefit in the form of cash from the Tribe.
Gene: The Member Benefit Fund and Minor Trust Fund are actually similar to per
capita.
Ken: My feeling after talking to a great number of members is that we'rejrind of
missing the point here. First and foremost we are Native Americans. We are proud,
traditional tribal members who don't ask for nothin' for nothin.' But we are also
Americans. None of us in this room have ever shirked our duty of paying taxes to
support our nation, our state, and local community. After talking with some members
in Slade Gorton's office, I believe he wants all the ammunition he can get not only
from the national side, but from states locally. That is a dangerous scenario. When
you talk about the services that are provided, how much is eaten up in administrative
costs? I have taken a number of tribal members to some of service groups that we
have within our tribe, only to be turned away. I don't understand that. If you are
going to put the program in place, provide the service on the other end.
Ed: Because of Means Testing, and other concerns, I agree with Barbara that we
should put our money into programs.
Rick: I think we should keep money in the programs, but also look at ways that we
could provide something to ourmembers.v ,
Bob: I support per capita. There are many low-income families in this tribe, and we
need to put a small percentage of our Casino revenue aside for the people who really
could use it the most.
Margaret: The Tribe has enough money now that we can run our programs, keep
the money in there, but also set aside a percentage for our people.
Should enrollment policy and procedures be changed?
Barbara: I could see where some new restrictions are in order. Prior to the Casino,
the rolls were dead for a long time. The rolls have been open for years and years, but
steps have been taken to hold the enrollment somewhat. I think its up to the members
to decide what steps should be taken to do that.
Gene: When I was on Council, we took some steps to control enrollment. Like
adults had to wait a year without any benefits from any tribe, if they wanted to relin
quish and transfer over to our tribe. But I think we should close the rolls right now to
anyone but the newborns. We're over 4,000 members right now, and its getting to
where everyone wants in to our tribe.
Ken: It is not an obligation on our part to educate people as to what our heritage is.
Don't claim you are Native American just when you want a payment. Let's live that
heritage every day. Some people you can't convince. But if I am only able to reach a
handful of people, and bring them back to their heritage, it's been well worth it.
Ed: Someone asked me the other week where he could sign up at the Tribe. I told
him to see the Enrollment Office. He turned to me and asked me, if he gets joined up
today, could he get a check next week. I am not sure we need those kinds of people.
They have had plenty of time to enroll, and I think it's time to close the rolls to all but
newborns. At a community meeting, they were talking about lowering the blood
quantum to one-thirty-second. This is a very hot issue right now.
Rick: I believe the rolls as far as adults are concerned, should be closed off. They
have had plenty of time to decide., But for newborns, every child who belongs in this
tribe, should be here.
Bob: I support the enrollment as it is right now. We have looked at it, tried to find
ways to slow it down, people just want to come back. I support it as it is.
Margaret: We have our legal department looking at our Enrollment Ordinance, and
any changes we could make. I think all newborns will continue to be enrolled. But
adults who want to transfer from another tribe have to go through the proper chan
nels. When we first did our census, the enrollment was about 900. Now it's over
4,000.
All seven candidates said they would support a credit union operated by the Tribe, or
inclusion into a credit union; a tribal member intern program for the Casino and Grand
Ronde Administration; and they all would support negotiating with John Hampton to
try to purchase Spirit Mountain and the land surrounding it.