MARCH 1, 1999
3
Young mother passes on
Dear Editor:
I am writing to respond to a letter
in the last issue of Smoke Signals.
The writer wanted to applaud the
Council members who keep the tribal
members from sharing in the rev
enue from Spirit Mountain Casino
before they can get it in the bank.
I wish he would find out what
bank receives this money and how
much is on deposit.
I was f under the impression that
when this casino began that it would
improve the living standards for our
members, yet these same Council
members don't want to hear about
our homeless and one-parent fami
lies. In fact, if anyone speaks out
for them, they are the enemy.
The truth is, this casino is making
millions, and with the millions the
federal government gives each year,
if administered right, could improve
the living standards of all tribal
members.
Now, on this percent of casino
profit that is being promised at the
end of the year, it is just that a
percent.
It is only part of the profit, there
will still be millions left over to play
with.
We should not force this on any
member. If they feel like they don't
need or want it, maybe Council
could pass a resolution where they
wouldn't have to take it.
Also, you don't have to worry about
Spirit Mountain Casino. They have
more than enough lawyers to make
sure they come first.
Ed Haller
Roll 221
Smoke Signals
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March 22 APRIL 1
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SIGNALS office by thf dates listed.
Dear Editor:
On February 17, 1999, the Tribal
Council was approached by several
staff who work at the Tribes' Health
and Wellness Center (Clinic for
short) voicing confusion about ap
parent "rumors" circulating about.
One rumor they told the Council
about is the Tribe is considering serv
ing only Grand Ronde tribal mem
bers at the clinic. As early as 1990,
the Tribal Council began research
about the possibility of building a
clinic. Under Indian Health Service
(IHS) guidelines, there wasn't
enough Indian population living in
the Grand Ronde Community to
have a clinic built using IHS funds.
After researching several differ
ent methods of funding, the Tribe
financed the clinic construction with
monies generated from a bond issu
ance. Furthermore, with a great
number of non-Indians residing in
the Grand Ronde community the
Tribal Council determined the only
way the clinic could feasibly oper
ate, was to serve non-Indians as
well. The Tribal Council determined
that the clinic should operate as a
self-sustaining facility, which would
not be a financial burden to the
Tribe.
I have lived in the Grand Ronde
community all my life. I grew up
with, and still maintain social con
tact with many non-Indian friends
who live here. There are a great
number of tribal members who have
non-Indian spouses andor parents.
I personally know many non-Indians
who have been to the clinic to
receive health care. My conscience
prohibits me from promoting the
concept of serving tribal members
only. I will thoroughly review the
policy governing service to patients,
and if there is indeed a provision
encouraging serving tribal members
only, I will do all I can to change it.
I do not support in any way putting
a wall up between the "Indians and
non-Indians" living in Grand
Ronde.
Mark Mercier
Tribal Council member
Becky Haller
Becky Nicholson Haller, 30, passed
away on Feb. 3. She is survived by
her husband, David Haller; her chil
dren Nicole, 15; Christopher, 12;
Hailey, 8, and Cody, 6. David Haller
would like to thank the Grand Ronde
Tribe and Tribal Council for the
Burial Fund, which was able to
cover the cost of Becky's funeral ar
rangements. He is also grateful for
everything the Tribe has been able
to do for his family. Becky touched
many hearts and will be missed by
many.
T4XMh i ,
fTs t I
Corrections
In the last issue the article on Member Benefits contained some mis
prints. Smoke Signals regrets the errors.
Elders' meals are served every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
(unless it is a recognized holiday). The Elders' Committee meets the
last mealsite day of the month.
Every Monday, Grand Ronde tribal Elders and a guest can receive a
free meal ONLY at the Spirit Mountain Casino's BUFFET by simply
showing their tribal enrollment card. This benefit does not apply to all
casino restaurants.
ATNI: concern for education.
Continued from front page
declared Pigsley. "As hard as people
and staff at Chemawa try, they can
not save them without your help.
They are Indian children and they
need your support."
The following day, ATNI Education
Committee members hashed out
ways to address problems in an edu
cation system tha many believe is
failing Native American students.
"It's not just the cracks our children
are slipping through, there must be
a couple of boards missing" said com
mittee member, Lyle Rhoan, Sr.
Rhoan was concerned about the
recent push for block grants which
go directly to schools and stay even
if a student drops out. He believes
that the funds should follow students
to ensure educational opportunities
elsewhere.
There was also concern that the fed
eral and state grants might pass up
schools in Indian Country altogether.
BIA education officials are in the
process of beefing up Indian educa
tion in several different ways.
It is hoped that a recent reautho
rization of BIA Indian schools will
shift more control of Indian schools
to the school and tribal level and new
Indian education standards (to be
used along with state and federal
standards) have also been recently
developed.
A manual entitled "Leadership Be
yond the Seventh Generation" has
been developed as part of a frame
work for future education in Indian
Country.
It is also widely believed that In
dian education will improve with the
advent of education that incorporates
Native culture and language as well
as the funds to back such programs.
GomsiniQjnDty Resoy ores: program) seirvices
The Tribe's Community Resource
Division is responsible for providing
services that promote family unity
with the overall goal of attaining in
dividual and family self-sufficiency.
Individual and family counseling,
crisis intervention, financial assis
tance, and alternate resource devel
opment are services offered within
the division. Components of the Di
vision include: Indian Child Wel
fare; Foster Care; General Assis
tance; Emergency Assistance; and
Benevolence Fund.
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE
The ICW Investigator is respon
sible for investigating child abuse,
neglect, abandonment and domes
tic violence involving tribal member
families. The Family and Children
Service Caseworkers then work with
the parents, children, foster parents,
Tribal Court, and other community
service agencies with the goal of fam
ily reunification.
FOSTER CARE
The Foster Care Program Coordi
nator recruits and orientates foster
home parents, helps prepare physi
cal and psychological reports for the
children, provides Parent Skills
Training, and provides child place
ment counseling services to aid in
family reunification.
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
The General Assistance Counselor
determines initial and ongoing eli
gibility for a minimal living stipend
for single adults wile assisting them
with a Service Plan geared toward
training and employment to become
self-sufficient. Maximum length of
assistance is 12 months.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
The Resource Specialist conducts
intakes to examine eligibility for
emergency financial assistance for
families after all other local commu
nity resources have been exhausted.
Financial assistance may be granted
for the following services: rent and
deposit (once in two years); utilities
(once a year); employment related
one-time assistance for work cloth
ing, work tools, car repairs and in
surance, license and fees.
BENEVOLENCE FUND
This is a new resource similar to
Emergency Assistance which is
available to tribal members residing
outside the Six County Service Area
for urgent situations (except for
clothing and travel related expendi
tures). This resource is provided no
more than once in a 12 month pe
riod and is not paid directly to individuals.