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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1999)
10 Smoke Signals benefits were important to our tribal members. Among those at the top of the list were education, health and housing. We need housing for those who are not able to afford the cost of a new home or those who are just starting out and not ready to buy a house. We should also renew our efforts to those tribal members who desire to improve themselves. More grants and schol arships should be available to help our children in college. Also job training should be offered for those who would like to take a direct route into the job market. Whether the Tribe administers the classes or sponsors the members existing programs, it is essential that they become productive members not only of the Tribe but the society in which we live. This is why it is important that we have a program to retrain those tribal members that can no longer work at their previ ous occupations. A good paying job gives a person a sense of self worth and leads to more stable family life. I also believe we should look into the feasibility of a co-pay health plan for non-tribal spouses and children of tribal members. There are other things that I have supported in the past and in which I still believe. Elder benefits are an expression of thanks to those who helped to re store our reservation and our tribe. I also support annual membership distribution and believe that these funds help fill the gap where tribal programs do not reach. I believe we should be making greater efforts to acquire lands, possibly from BLM, to expand our reservation and gain employment for our people. There are opportunities presented that we should take whenever possible. One such would be the acquisition of the state fish hatchery at Rose Lodge. This would give us the ability to produce fish for re-stocking of our tribal streams, employment for tribal members, and a supply of salmon for tribal distribution. I also believe that it is the Tribal Council's contin ued responsibility to oversee the spending of tribal revenue. According to the data presented at the April General Council meeting, nearly 100 million dollars was generated last year from the casino. The Tribe has entrusted a tremendous burden and responsibil ity in our Council to properly oversee and manage this revenue. Our elected officials should be the financial safeguard of this wealth. I support the programs that teach our people the Native arts and crafts because I believe strongly in maintaining our heritage and cultural ties. Last year I enrolled in Chinook Jargon and have taken a mocca sin making class. I presently serve on the Veterans Ad Hoc Fundraising Committee to build a Veterans Me morial for our tribe. These are some of the things for which I stand. If you have any questions, please call me at (503) 879 8363 or you can e-mail me at aravenviclink.com. Jan Denton Reibach Dear tribal members: My name is Jan Denton Reibach and I was born here in Grand Ronde in 1944. I was nominated by Tribal Council mem ber, Robert Haller. I served in U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1963 (re serve until 1968). Dur ing the last five years, I have been actively po litically involved with the Tribe. I initiated and presented the petition for the approval of per capita payments for tribal members. Also, I spoke out for support regarding the recent increase in Elder's pension payments. I think with programs like these we are going in the right direction as a people. How- Si 'If?; tm 'i . mm nt mm f n 5 ! 1 ever, there is still much work to be done. I can recall when things were not as good, our people had to fight their way out of poverty. For many, the battle to survive still exists today. I realize that our Tribe is diverse both in people and opinions. But, it is my prayer that through our differences we can find com mon ground in caring for one another as a family. Let us not forget the blood of our ancestors that binds us all together. I am not going to present you with a lot of small talk, so here is how I stand on the issues: Per Capita: As I mentioned, I strongly support tribal members receiving payments from our business ven tures (including casino profits). I also feel that we need to maintain a balance between investments, pro grams and per capita. Health Care: I think that ALL tribal members should receive health insurance. Even if a tribal member lives out of the area, heshe should be covered. Also, we should examine the possibility of providing health for spouses. Economic Development: I believe that we should support tribal members who would like to own a business. Also, the Tribe should create new busi nesses, locally and elsewhere, to provide additional employment opportunities. Investments: It is very important for us to diversify our financial holdings. Meaning not to put all of our eggs in one basket. The Stock Market has been good to us in the past. However, we need to remember that it is very unpredictable. Housing: The Tribe needs to be more aggressive in this area. All tribal members, regardless of where they live, should be eligible for down payment assis tance. We have built our offices for the government, but Elder's Housing has just broken ground. Do you think that we should check our priorities? I do. Gaming: I support Indian gaming, as long as the profits are used wisely. Culture: 1 We need to remember our ancestors and collect, compile and protect tribal artifacts. I endorse a Longhouse, Sweat Lodge and museum. If elected, I will propose the following: Ethic Review Board: I recommend that the Tribe create an independent board to investigate allega tions of unethical behavior by Tribal Council mem bers. Presently the Council answer to themselves regarding ethics issues. Recording of Meetings: There should be documen tation every time the Council meets regarding tribal issues (including Sub-Committees). This will provide a record of how individual Council members act on the needs of the people. Long Term Plan: The Tribe needs to plan for future growth and stability, looking 10 to 20 years ahead. Currently, we do not have a plan developed. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my Tribe. Win or lose, my only hope is for true representation of our people. God bless you and your families. Thank you, Jan Denton Reibach Alan Ham My name is Alan Ham, and I would like to begin by sharing a little about myself, and my background. I have always considered Grand Ronde my home. I spent part of my time growing up here while staying with my grandparents Joe and Ida Dowd, who lived in Grand Ronde during my life time. I recall living with them at the age of four years while my dad was in the Air Force. I attended most of the first grade in Grand Ronde, but ----- - 4 At after that our family moved to Portland where I com pleted high school and attended college to receive a four year Bachelor's degree. While growing up I always spent a great deal of my time, including week ends, part of my summer vacation, and school breaks here in Grand Ronde. I became involved with the Tribe's restoration while still in college during the latter part of the 1970's. I was elected to the Tribal Council as Vice-Chairperson in 1980. I resigned as, the Vice-Chairperson to com plete a Master's degree in Public Health, specialized in planning and administration. After completing graduate school, I began working for various tribes and the Indian Health Service. After a period of years in the field of planning and administration I observed in many parts of the federal government that Indian people were referred to as numbers in statistical data. The bottom line was that I wanted to work among Indian people as a social worker. I went back to graduate school and received a Master's of Social Work. Again I worked with various tribes and the Indian Health Services. In 1990, my wife was diagnosed with a disease. We had a small child at the time, but she got worse and when she started to approach death I resigned from Indian Health Services and returned home to my grandmother's in Grand Ronde with my very ill wife and a small son. She entered the hospi tal for the last time, I was soon widowed. I began to work for the Tribe over three years ago as an intake and assessment specialist. I consider this position as an opportunity to work with our mem bers as a social worker. I work with our people using the core values of social work: The primary goal is to help people in need and address social problems. Respect the inherent dignity and worth of the per son. Recognize the central importance of human rela tionships. 1 Since working for the Tribe, I am strongly aware of the needs of our members from a grass roots perspec tive. Along with a planning and administration back ground, and an opportunity to meet with tribal mem bers in their homes across the service area, along with being able to talk to members from all across the country, I am able to assess their daily living needs. As a Council candidate, I have a sincere desire to help make a contribution to the Council's policy making process. An example of this is that I would like to help contribute to our tribe's planning pro cess. My interest is how bur people's needs and critical life issues are determined and planned for, especially for our future. An example of this is how programs are designed to help overcome problems that members are faced with everyday. I am running for Tribal Council for the first time since the Tribe's Recognition in 1983. I also feel that I may be an unknown to many tribal members. I will not be so bold as to ask for your vote, but only your consideration. ft jib5EMI?'
