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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1999)
APRIL 15, 1999 Dear Editor: My name is Milton Roy Sherwood Jr., Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde tribal member for years. I am truly distraught with the amount of new enrolled members. I am writing this letter not only to commend Kathryn Harrison, but also to keep it in the minds of long standing tribal members where our Tribe is headed if such a rate keeps up. I had heard there was quite a few, but never imagined such a magni tude of this. I believe, and believe many others will feel the same way, that we are heading in a direction of self destruct if it continues at any where near the rate it is now, thank you Kathryn for bringing this issue out in the open. Hopefully we can resolve this situ ation in the near future. Milton Roy Sherwood, Jr. Roll 990 SMOKE SIGNALS Public Information Office 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Or 97347 1-800-422-0232 (503)879-2254 FAX: (503) 879-2 173 SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Or egon, is published twice a month. We have established an Editorial Policy to encourage input from read ers about stories printed in SMOKE SIGNALS, and other tribal issues. However, all letters must be re ceived at the newspaper office with author's signature, 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 con tain libelous statements or personal attacks. Not all letters are guaran teed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, tribal employees, or Tribal Council. DEADLINE April 20 May 5 May 20 June 4 June 21 ISSUE DATE MAY 1 MAY 15 JUNEl JUNE 15 JULY 1 Submissions must reach the SMOKE SIGNALS office by the dates listed. lb tribal members: Attention, Grand Ronde tribal members: have you registered to vote? It is important that you have registered to vote for Tribal Council. We need you to vote, and it is impor tant to you to know what is going on with your money and business. Your vote puts the right person in Coun cil. Make sure your Council is work ing for you. Thank you very much. - Marcia Bolton Roll 1187 Dear Editor: It is that time again! I recognize the familiar schmoozing and the ral lying for positions. I have observed the obvious, "I won't take a stand or voice my opinion, it might cost me a vote." That's right, it's election time! I hear a lot of promise-making and of course, "let's make a deal." "My fam ily will support yours," and vice versa. This really doesn't, have any--thing to do with who can do the best job or represent the whole General Council by putting principles before personalities. I have to ADMIRE the large families that have orga nized and voted collectively, they generally get their candidate elected. I am not opposed to this strategy and sometimes I wish my parents would have had more kids, but the reality is I have nine voting members in my family. I know there are other small families out there who feel the same as me...OUT NUMBERED. It would be nice if some of the smaller families or other tribal people who don't necessarily agree with their family's politics could sup port candidates who uphold our Tribal Constitution, ordinances, poli cies and procedures. Candidates who recognize conflicts of interest, micro-management as bad business, and adhere to a professional code of ethics. Candidates who can look past family issues and think objec tively and envision the bigger pic ture. I believe small families and tribal members are hungry for rep resentation. We need to develop strategies to overcome the Goliaths, acknowledging that diverse perspec tives are important and essential for decision making. Success comes in "I can." Failure comes in "can'ts." Your voice can count. Kathleen Tom Roll 817 Correction Smoke Signals staff would like to apologize for placing the wrong Ca sino ad in the last issue. The prizes listed in the ad on page 12 of this issue are correct. Respect our Elders; free meals belong to them Every Monday, Grand Ronde tribal Elders and a guest can receive a free meal at Coyote's Buffet at Spirit Mountain Casino. The buffet staff have a list of tribal Elders who sign next to their name when they arrive at the buffet to eat. Lately, however, some folks have been abusing this benefit to get free meals for themselves and others by signing-in next to a name that isn't theirs. In some cases, an Elder has come to the buffet only to find a false signature next to his or her name! It has been decided that Casino staff will start asking Grand Ronde El ders to show their tribal enrollment cards before entering the buffet. Grand Ronde Elders are upset by this "stealing" of buffet meals. Free Monday meals at the buffet are for Grand Ronde Elders and a guest only. Show proper respect to our Elders. Don't try to get a free meal at the buffet if you are not en titled to one. Elder passes away Tribal member Vincent Melvin Mercier, 82, formally of Grand Ronde, passed away Feb ruary 24 in Beaverton. Vincent was born No vember 25, 1916 in Grand Ronde and married Catherine Mary Kirby in 1943 in Wellington, New Zealand. She preceded him in death in 1995. After serving in the Marines in WWII, he graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville. He worked as a teaching principal in Grand Ronde and moved to Beaverton in 1958. He taught special education in Portland schools and retired after 39 years. Survivors include sons, Lon and Michael, both of Portland; daughter, Carmel Mercier of Beaverton; brother, Vernon Mercier of Salem; sister, Opal Davidson of Sheridan; and two grandchildren. f i K MtilHHHIIflHflHlllEfifi I WI4 tf' '51 aa5Mfc 'l'H!!!' AWT?i fJJMfifcV' Tribal members are needed to serve on the Election Board . APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL APRIL 29, 1999. For more detailed information: please call Val Sheker at 379- 2221 or 1-800-442-0346. Tribal Election Board Application Form Name: Address: Phone Number: Enrollment Number: Is transportation a problem? . Cmyou travel overnight? When are you available for meetings? Why are you interested in serving on the Election Board? Do you have any background in this board area? (optional) Comments: I Return form to: Vilorie Sheker 9615 Grind Ronde Road, Grind Ronde, OR 97347 DBDBRDDDDDBDBDBBDEinDBDBDBE I I a
