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Smoke Signals
Dear membership,
I am writing this letter to say "Thank You" to the Tribal Council again for
their support and commitment in providing education and training opportu
nity for all Tribal members. I, myself, am a college graduate due to receiv
ing a call 15 years ago from Dean Azule, who ask me if I had or would
consider going to college. (This was back when there were a total of only 10
to 15 Education Program students.)
At that time I was a single parent, had been working two jobs for quite
awhile and was just barely making ends meet. Within two months our fam
ily moved, my children started school and I was enrolled full-time in college.
Things weren't easier then because I was still a single parent, still working
two part-time jobs and had a full schedule of classes to fit in. My four years
of college went by quickly. During that time, I received financial support
and encouragement from the Tribal Education Program staff, I received lots
of support and encouragement from my family and I received many words of
encouragement from fellow Tribal members and friends.
I especially remember Mrs. Eula Petite telling me time and again about the
many choices I would have and opportunities I would have open up to me
when I finished college. Mrs. Petite was of strong opinion and there was
never a question with her of 'if I finished college it was always 'when' I
finished college. I felt a sense of achievement when I did finish college.
Looking back, I realize that I may never have taken that step had Dean
Azule not called me so I really would like to say "thank you, Dean Azule."
The other day I received a letter of congratulations in the mail and it was
that letter that prompted me to write this letter. After over 10 years, I finally
paid my last payment on my student loans. This seemed to me as big of an
accomplishment as graduating did. It gave me a sense of ownership of my
own education. That letter helped remind me that I need to say thank you
again. I realize that it was through the support, encouragement and perse
verance of a whole group of people, including myself, that played an impor
tant role in my accomplishment. And, that each one of us had an important
role. I started working for the Tribe soon after graduating, I am thankful
that the Tribe had people like Tom Jones working here. It was Tom who
allowed me to do my work experience and an internship here and then hired
me when a position came open. Thanks Tom!
I was fortunate enough to be an Education Committee member for some
time. We have a committed Tribal Education Committee, both past and present
members like Darlene Aaron, Marie Schmidt, Candy Robertson and others,
these are people who commit their time and expertise in insuring policies and
services in the area of education are addressed and the needs of students are
identified and met thank you all for all the hard work you have done and
continue to do.
Thanks to the Tribal Council Education Subcommittee members past and
present like Chips Tom, Ed Pearsall and Reyn Leno. These are key messen
gers for us to the rest of the Council. Especially thanks to Ed Pearsall, who
for the past several years has been the Tribal liaison on the Education Com
mittee. Ed has been and is a staunch supporter of education he has sup
ported the expansion of services and program offerings, he has supported
increased funding so costs of education and training can be met and now he
is involved in learning more about the Early Childhood Education programs
as the Tribe expands areas of preschool and Head Start. So, thanks Ed.
All the people I have mentioned have helped me as I went through college,
as I entered a new employment field, and now they still help me as I enter a
new, very challenging, employment position as the Education Division Man
ager. My message to all Tribal members is this: all these people, and more, are
here to provide support and encouragement to you too, in all of your educa
tion endeavors just like they did with me. The Education Division has so
many beneficial opportunities available to all Tribal members. So, please
come by and check them out, or call or write.
Sincerely,
Marion Mercier
Education Manager
Dear Council members:
I am writing to thank you for the
support you have given me through
Tribal scholarships I have received
over the past four years. On June
10, 2000, I graduated from Santa
Clara University in California with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broad
cast Communication. I completed my
degree in four years, two years in
community colleges in Oregon, and
the last two years at Santa Clara. I
also played four years of baseball
during my college years and am pres
ently playing baseball professionally
for the Tri-City Posse in Pasco,
Washington in the Western Baseball
League.
My dream since I was a small child
has been to play professional base
ball and I am living that dream now.
But, I also wanted a college educa
tion and a college degree, because I
know I can't play baseball forever. I
can fall back on my college degree to
help me with my second dream,
which is to become a television broad
caster. Although I will still have student
loans to pay off over the next sev-.
eral years, without the financial help
I received from the Tribe, I would not
have been able to attend Santa Clara
University.
I also want to let you know that
the Education Department for the
Tribe is a tremendously helpful group
of people, especially Marion Mercier.
Without their guidance and assis
tance, things would have been much
more difficult for me to complete my
education. My sincere thanks to
them as well.
I hope you will continue to make
funds available to Tribal members
that wish to continue their education
in college. I believe it is an invest
ment in the future that will benefit
all Tribal members.
I hope to be able to come to a Tribal
Council meeting this summer to
thank you in person. However, my
baseball schedule doesn't permit for
the time being, so, I must express my
gratitude in this letter. I hope to
come see you later this year, when
my season is over.
Sincerely,
Camden Kelley
Roll 3454
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank all of the
people who have helped me to get my
grandmother's blood quantum cor
rected. I spent many years research
ing documents held by Oregon State
Archives, Hudson Bay Archives, BIA,
and many other sources. In June
1999, 1 presented my case to the en
rollment committee, they were very
patient with me while I presented my
case. In the end they corrected my
grandmother's blood quantum.
It is with great strife that I must
report, my research and persistence
has not helped my family, because of
the new Enrollment requirements,
many of my family are now not being
accepted as members of the Tribe. We
descend from many well known and
respected people of the Grand Ronde
area. Copeland, LaBonte, LaChance,
Pichette, Menard, Montour, are some
of my grandparent's surnames. My
own brother, waited patiently for me
to present our family records and to
have the paperwork corrected, but
because he was born during the ter
mination years, and our mother was
not on the rolls (because of the incor
rect blood quantum). He is not being
accepted as a member. This has
caused grief within my heart. It is
with momentous hope, that the Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde will
amend the new enrollment require
ments to include Grand Ronde descen
dants born during termination years
and make allowances for those whose
blood quantums were inadvertently
incorrect. '
May the Great Spirit be with you,
Josephine Dreyer
Roll 4796
Dear Tribal members,
I would like to thank all Tribal
members who took the time to listen
to my comments on the up coming
election and to my candidate con
cerns. I talked to many of you on
Sunday, July 30 and you were all
very kind to listen.
I would like to add that there were
some concerns about the new Elder
Housing, and after research I found
that this is an affordable housing
park with an income-based guide
line. Once again, thank you for lis
tening. Sincerely,
Valorie Sheker
Roll 2236
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
879-2190
justin.phillipsgrandronde.org
BRENT MERRILL
879-2321
brent.merrillgrandronde.org
KIM MUELLER
879-2264
kim.muellergrandronde.org
lrrrnT. lm Elite
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
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Wed., Sept. 20 OCTOBER 1
Thurs., Oct. 5 OCTOBER 15
Frl.,0ct.r20 NOVEMBER 1
Frl., Nov. 3 NOVEMBER 15
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Wed., Dec. 20 ........ .......... JANUARY 1
Members of:
Native American Journalist Association
Society of News Design
Associated Press
if7 SND
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SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon, is published twice a month. We have an Editorial Policy to
encourage input from readers about stories printed in SMOKE SIGNALS and other
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SMOKE SIGNALS ELECTION EDITOR1AI PfHirv
In order to ensure a balanced election campaign and fairness to all candidates, the
SMOKE SIGNALS 2000 Tribal Council Election Editorial Policy for letters to the editor
will be as follows: Subject to existing editorial policies regardinq libel, personal attacks,
and unsubstantiated facts,
1. Letters in support of candidates will be published in regular editions of
SMOKE SIGNALS.
2. Statements from candidates will be published in a special election edition of
SMOKE SIGNALS (published July 1, 2000).
3. Letters to the editor from candidates will not be published during the time
period from nominations to the conclusion of the Tribal Council Election.
4. Feature articles and spotlights involving candidates will be suspended during
the time period from nominations to the conclusion of the Tribal Council Election.
This policy is intended to ensure an equal forum for all candidates.