6
Smoke Signals
O
Lottie Child
KLA-HOW'-YA
My name is Lottie Child.
First of all, I would like to thank the tribal mem
bers that came to me
and asked me to run
for Tribal Council and
to Leslie McKnight for
nominating me. That
is a great honor in it
self. Thank you.
I am descended from
the JeffersQuenel fami
lies. Who have been
members of the Con
federated Tribes for
many generations. So
I guess this makes me
related to just about
all of you. I am the youngest of eleven children. I
grew up in the Benton County area, I lived in Eastern
Oregon for about fourteen years. I worked five years
for the Bureau of Land Management as a map special
ist. About three years ago my husband and I gave up
our jobs and moved back to Western Oregon to care
for my mother, who for medical reasons, could not
live in Eastern Oregon. In January of this year she
passed on to the Spirit World. She was ninety years
old and a tribal Elder. Thanks to the Great Spirit, we
kept our word that she would never go to a nursing
home, that was very important to her.
I went to work for the people on Aug. 5, 1996 in
Patient Registration in the medical clinic. Since then
I have helped many of our people in a variety of ways.
I am one of many of our tribal people who is taking
classes through O.S.U. on Native American studies
with emphasis on our people. My husband is Lakotah
Cherokee. We are both very deeply involved in our
culture and tradition. Our children and grandchil
dren are also learning their culture and heritage. We
do many Native crafts, beading, carving, etc. and Na
tive life ways.
If I am elected I will strive to address my people's
issues so our voices will be heard, I am very proud of
how far our people have come. Tribal Council has
done many great things for us all, but there are many
issues that need to be addressed. Some of our people
are still homeless, hungry, sick and jobless. Who
need all of our help. We need to stand together and
let our voices be heard. We must continue to build
on our future, but at the same time we "as Indian
People" must not forget our rich cultural heritage
and always remember that our past is a very large and
important part of that future. If I am elected to serve
on the Council, I will do my best to encourage this
thinking and with the cooperation of each and every
member of the Council strive to be of and for my
fellow tribal members.
Thanks to the Smoke Signals for allowing my word
to be heard. I greatly appreciate your vote. Thank
you.
Joann Mercier
:
,
It is important to me that all tribal members, re
gardless of where they live or who they are, be treated
fairly and with equal benefits and opportunities.
I have worked for
the Tribe for over 13
years, and soon after I
began my employment
I knew I would one day
seek election for Tribal
Council, that day has
finally come.
My experience in
tribal issues:
a. Social Service field
for 10 years dealing
with Domestic Vio
lence, Child Abuse, and
Indian Child Welfare.
b. Casino security for 3-12 years (2-12 as a supervi
sor); graduated from Security Academy in 1995.
c. Legal Private Investigator, graduated from Investi
gation Academy in 1998.
d. Pow-wow Secretary for 10 years.
e. Tribal Archeology Committee for 2 years.
f. Four years of teaching Tribal History.
I have skills that can help me serve as an effective
Council member: . ..
a. Ability to communicate under stressful situations.
b. Willingness to listen and seek to understand.
c. Clear understanding of committee work.
d. Experience and training in successful teamwork.
e. Genuine concern for the future, and sound lead
ership of the Tribe.
f. Responsible and accountable. "
g. Professional.
As a result of my experience and skills, I feel I can
represent the Tribe in a reputable, respectable, and
ethical manner. My personal motto has always been:
Be ready at any moment to give up all that you are,
for all that you can be. I am ready to make that
commitment to you., to be all I can be as a represen
tative of Tribal Council.
Shawn Hostler
lus uk-san, (good day)
My name is Shawn
Hostler. My family is
Bean-Menard.
Over nine years as a
employee, committee
or board member, as a
volunteer and as a very
active community
member, I have always
tried to not just com
plain but attempt to
be part of the solution.
When I think of con
cerns I have as a tribal
member what comes up the most is how Tribal Council
does business. So my platform is Tribal Council
accountability.
As I understand the constitution. We have the
legal powers, which is our Tribal Court. Then we
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have the Tribal Council, which is the Executive and
Legislative powers. We could look at it as the Su
preme Court then the CongressHouse wrapped up
in the Presidency. This could work if the some of
the balances, like General Council meetings, the
Wednesday night business meetings, and if we par
ticipate in using our General Council powers could
work like I understood them to be intended to work.
General Council meetings are for us to have a pub
lic forum where we can hear and ask about concerns
regarding tribal business. Now, if you are there to
ask questions you're a complainer, the ball game is
on, and other reasons to move to close the meeting.
A few years ago the Tribal Council began what
they call Tribal Council work teams. This seemed
innocent enough in the beginning. This is where
much of the discussion on voting takes place but it
is called informal, so minutes are not kept of what is
discussed.
I have written up this petition, because this pro
cess needed to start somewhere. This will have to be
done by the people, for the people. I am praying
that all tribal members will take this chance to make
a positive change in OUR government, as well as
utilize our constitutional rights to make this much
needed change, Let's sit the standard for responsive
government.
Here are the main points of the proposed Tribal
Council Accountability Ordinance:
Reports will be presented at the monthly General
Council meetings and during the summer at the
Wednesday evening business meetings.
The reports will cover individual activities and fi
nancial expenditures for the previous month.
An Oversight Commission will be formed.
Their duties will be to investigate tribal member
complaints about Tribal Council.
The Oversight Commission will be authorized to
access any information and or resources necessary to
make a determination on the validity of each com
plaint. Will make a recommendation back to General Coun
cil as to what action will best resolve the complaint.
The Oversight Commission will consist of five
ELECTED positions.
Only General Council members shall be eligible for
these positions.
Preference should be given to but not limited to:
past Tribal Council members, those with a back
ground in tribal government or experience in related
fields, or those able to demonstrate an extensive knowl
edge of tribal government operations and possessing
the skills needed to fulfill this position.
Those seeking Commission positions shall not be
running for or actively seeking to be on Tribal Council
nor be on Council.
Ordinances, Resolutions and polices currently in
place that govern appropriate conduct shall be bind
ing on the Commissioners.
The positions shall be staggered. Thereafter, all
positions shall have full 3-year terms.
No person serving on the Oversight Commission
shall serve two consecutive terms, and there shall be
at least one full term between every two terms served
on the Oversight Commission.
If you would like to know more about this petition
or would like a petition to get signatures, you can
contact me at, P.O. Box 158, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.