FEBRUARY 15, 1999
5
SMOKE SIGNALS
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Or 97347
1-800-422-0232
FAX: (503) 879-2173
EDITOR:
TRACY DUGAN 879-2254
tracydgrandronde.org
REPORTER:
OSCAR JOHNSON 879-2321
oscarjgrandronde.org
GRAPHICS:
KIM MUELLER 879-2264
kimmgrandronde.org
Members of the Native American Journalist Association,
the Associated Press, and Society of News Design.
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confeder
ated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Or
egon, is published twice a month. We have estab
lished an Editorial Policy to encourage input from
readers about stories printed in SMOKE SIGNALS,
and 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 per
sonal attacks. Not all letters are guaranteed publica
tion upon submission. Published letters do not nec
essarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS,
tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
NEXT DEADLINE: Friday, Feb. 1 9
jMgfefi
Dear Editor:
I am a single father tribal member, raising my
two teenage daughters, who are also tribal mem
bers. I work full-time, and earn $13 per hour.
However, thanks to the State of Oregon, I am re
quired to pay $338 per month in child support for
my daughters, even though they both live with
me and I am their only source of support. I am
also making payments on a car, back taxes, a
house payment, and the normal monthly bills
everybody has.
Quite frankly, though we have a good source of
income, we struggle to get by from payday to pay
day. Right now, I am going to the pawn shop to hock
my deer rifle so that I can buy my oldest daugh
ter school supplies that she needs by Monday.
This makes me think that there must be tribal
families who don't have as much as we have, and
who really have to struggle to make ends meet. I
imagine there are tribal families and children who
have to go without the basic necessities. This
should make all tribal members stop and think.
It seems such a shame that the Tribe has mil
lion and millions of dollars in the bank, while some
of the Tribe's smallest and weakest members, in
fants and children, may be going without basic
necessities. Sure these children have tribal money
in a savings account for them, but that won't help
them now.
I would like to see the Tribe take an interest in
making sure that all tribal members at least have
the basic necessities, especially children. Perhaps
a survey could be taken of all tribal families, in
quiring about the specific needs of each family.
No one in our rich family, especially Elders and
children, should have to go without the basics
food, clothing, and shelter. I hope the Tribe would
not allow this.
Scott J. Lane
Roll 2989
Dear Editor:
I have some items I would like to share with the
readers of Smoke Signals.
My name is Fred McGee, Roll 1172. I have
been working at Spirit Mountain Casino for 2 and
a half years now. I really enjoy the department I
work in because of all the others who work there
are very pleasant people to work for and are easy
to get along with. Also the manager is a very
dedicated person who always has the workers on
his Team in mind when he makes decisions re
garding the things that happen in the depart
ment. I really wanted to let all of you know this be
cause I am very thankful for the prosperity of the
Tribe and the opportunities that it is allowing me
to have now. I also want to thank very much t he
tribal Elders who never gave up on the Tribe and
also a big thanks to the Tribal Council members
who try to keep the majority of tribal members in
mind when decisions need to be made regarding
all of our futures.
There are some tribal members who would use
up the money earned by the Casino and other
revenue ventures before it even got to the bank if
they were allowed to do so. I applaud the Council
members who keep this very thing from happen
ing. We need to take care of our elders and chil
dren first. Making sure everyone has an oppor
tunity to get an education if they want one, and
after all the tribal programs have the funding they
need, then and only then should the remainder
of the funds be dispersed to members.
In order for our Tribe to be healthy and happy
for many years to come, we need to not be greedy.
Thank you for allowing my opinion to be heard,
I just hope it reaches enough people.
Sincerely,
Frederick A. McGee
Roll 1172
Jysfc A ReminderTribal Member Benefits
The following is a brief list of the services and
benefits available to tribal members. Family and
employment services are also available. Call the
tribal offices toll-free number, 1-800-422-0232,
and ask to be transferred to the department or
program you are interested in learning more
about.
BURIAL FUND
The Burial Fund was established to ease finan
cial burden of funeral costs during the difficult
time of a family member's death. The Burial Fund
provides up to $4,000 for the cost of funeral ex
penses plus a $150 stipend to help cover the cost
of a reception or meal following a funeral service.
Eligible individuals include enrolled tribal mem
bers, their spouses, their parents, and their chil
dren. Contact the EnrollmentVital Statistics of
fice for more information.
COMMUNITY CENTER & ELDERS' MEALS
The Community Center in Grand Ronde is avail
able for Elders' meals, education classes, group
activities as well as Council meetings and other
community activities.
Elders' meals are served every Tuesday, Wednes
day, and Thursday (unless it is a recognized holi
day), and are free for tribal members 55 and older
as well as their spouses. The Elders' Committee
meets the last Thursday of every month, and rec
ognizes all Elders who have a birthday that
month.
MEMBER BENEFIT FUND
In 1996, Tribal Council established a Member
Benefit Fund made possible by the revenue from
timber sales. Tribal members can keep their money
invested, or make withdrawals on it. However,
only tribal members over the age of 21 are al
lowed to make withdrawals on their designated
allocation. Minor children receive the same ben
efit, but monies are held in trust by the Tribe until
the minor's 21st birthday. Last year a benefit of
$2,000 was allocated. The amount to be allocated
in 1999 will be based partly on Spirit Mountain
Casino profits, and the exact amount has not been
determined by Tribal Council.
SENIOR PENSION
Like the Member Benefit Fund, the Senior Pen
sion or "Retirement Fund" was established by
Tribal Council to assist our Elders and improve
their overall quality of life in their golden years.
This year, Tribal Council approved a $500
monthly pension payment to each and every
Grand Ronde tribal Elder. If you are an enrolled
tribal member who is 55 years or older and are
not receiving this benefit, call the tribal offices.
HEALTH SECURITY PACKAGE
This program works to provide health insurance
to all tribal members, no matter where they live.
It also provides Medicare supplemental benefits
to Elders 65 or older. If you would like an appli
cation packet, call Valorie Sheker in Risk Man
agement. HOUSING
Tribal members who wish to apply for down
payment assistance on their first home should con
tact the Housing office for an application packet,
and to determine if they are qualified. In some
areas, home repairimprovement assistance is also
available to qualified applicants.
EDUCATION
The Tribe continues to provide educational op
portunities and financial assistance to qualified
tribal members wishing to pursue a degree, li
cense, or certificate in their field of interest. The
Education Division also provides assistance in
GED completion and other adult education op
portunities. OTHER BENEFITS
D Each year, the Fish and Wildlife department
of the Natural Resource Division holds its salmon
distribution, where each tribal member is allocated
and given salmon filets. Members must pick up
their salmon in person, or give written permis
sion for another tribal member to pick up their
salmon.
B Every Monday, Grand Ronde tribal Elders
and a guest can receive a free meal at any of the
restaurants at Spirit Mountain Casino by simply
showing their tribal enrollment card.