6
Smoke Signals
Dear Bryan Langley and all the people behind the First
Time Buyer's Grant,
I want to write to extend my personal thanks to
you, Bryan Langley, and all those on your staff who
made it so easy for my husband and I to acquire the
key to our first home. It was such a gift to get that
letter of approval for the First Time Homebuyer's
Grant. Bryan, you made the process go smoothly and
we appreciate all your help! We have finally gotten
all moved in and are reveling in the 3 bedroom, 2 bath
home that is now OURS.
My husband and I have some work to do yet on our
new home, but we are enjoying having a home to work
on! This past week we have just finished putting up a
6 foot wooden fence in our back yard so that our puppy
will have a place to run. Thank you Mom and Dad for
helping us get this project, literally, up and going! It
is beautiful!
We would have never been able to witness this dream
so early in our lives had it not been for the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde and their investment in
the people's future. Thank you for caring and for help
ing our people to realize their dreams.
Sarah Ross Roll 1366
Longview, Washington ,
Dear Tribal members,
On October 23, 2000 at the Capitol building in Sa
lem there will be a State Town Hall meeting. The
topic is drug and alcohol prevention for youth, spon
sored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (M.A.D.D.).
The reason I mention this is that I know in the past
the Tribe had a Prevention program that would go
talk to our youth and have activities that all Tribal
youth could attend. My problem with prevention to
day is that it does not focus on all our youth. This
Tribe serves six counties.
The people in the Prevention program currently do
child care for the Before and After School Care pro
gram. They set up booths at some events and some
times in the clinic. It just isn't enough! These people
are trained to go out and educate our children on the
risks of using drugs, alcohol or tobacco. It seems like
they would be able to schedule short workshops in
schools throughout the Six County Area, and visit them
once or twice a year.
An outreach program of prevention is essential for
Native youth. It gives kids a sense of belonging, a
sense that the Tribe cares, and that they are worth
the extra effort for our Prevention program to go to
where they live and go to school. If the Prevention
program went to schools, we could show the commu
nity how much we care about Tribal youth and the
youth of the community.
My question to the program manager is, "Why isn't
our Prevention program out in the communities that
the Tribe serves?" Everyday they are at Grand Ronde
Elementary doing child care. Those positions could be
filled with child care workers and our Prevention pro
gram workers can go into our communities and make
a difference.
By now everyone should have received a survey in
the mail from Policy and Planning. I encourage ev
eryone to fill it out and let the decision makers know
what you believe is important for our community and
all Tribal members. We should expect our answers to
be heard and considered. I would like some in depth
explanations on why some decisions are made with
some real numbers and facts supporting the answers
we get. Just telling the membership that "that is what
the members want" is not sufficient.
It is time to take the price tag off our people. We can
start with our youth in providing a Prevention pro
gram that reaches out to all the service areas to do
prevention work. Leave the child care up to the child
care workers.
Sincerely,
Christine Contreras Roll 3431
Editor's Note: Currently, the Tribe's prevention care
program is focused on serving Tribal member youth
in Grand Ronde due to a limited grant that funds the
program. Ideally, prevention staff would like to be
able to serve more children in the outlying areas of
the Six-County Service Area but face limitations in
budget and staff. There are hopes of expanding the
grant in the future and including more areas into the
Prevention program.
Questions about prevention programs for youth in
the 12 to 17 year-old age group should be directed to
Robert Schmid at 503-879-2104.
Dear Editor,
This letter is a long time coming, but for some time
we have wanted to express what is in our hearts. We
three sisters, Marjorie Scheese, Georgiana Nichols and
Ann Hyde (daughters of Edwin and Alvina LaChance)
along with our dear departed sister Edwena Hanks,
our brother Harry Harvy and Tommy LaChance also
departed, were raised in Grand Ronde. Our hearts
have always been for Grand Ronde and our people.
Our heritage has always been important to us.
When we were small the cemetery didn't look the
way it does now, and we want to commend Russell
Leno for all the hard work he has done to keep it up.
Much of our heritage lies there as a good many of us
descend from Grandma Susan. Wouldn't it be nice to
have her picture in the Casino?
We also give our heart felt thanks to the Tribal
Council and to all who have worked so hard to make
our Tribe what it is today. We are very grateful to
receive the benefits we receive.
Though we have resided many years outside of Grand
Ronde, our hearts remain there. Our dear sister
Edwina longed to return to Grand Ronde, and she now
rests in Peace in our beautiful cemetery.
Again, we say thank you, Russell.
Marjorie Scheese Roll 725
Georgianna Nichols Roll 579
Ann Hyde Roll 286
, y
BRENT MERRILL
PUBLIC INFORMATION
COORDINATOR
Editor, Smoke Signals
WriterPhotographer
(503)879-2321
brent.merrillgrandronde.org
KIM MUELLER
GRAPHICS SPECIALIST
Production Coordinator
Design
Photographer
(503) 879-2264
kim.muellergrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PROGRAM SUPPORT
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(503)879-2190
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57
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
Tribal issues. However, all letters must be received at the
newspaper office with author's signature, address, and phone
number in order to be considered 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 contain libelous statements or personal
attacks. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission.
Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE
SIGNALS, Tribal employees, or Tribal Council.
ULflULIINb UATE ISSUE DATE
Fri., Nov. 3 NOVEMBER 15
Frl., Nov. 17 DECEMBER 1
Tues., Dec. 5 DECEMBER 15
Wed., Dec. 20 JANUARY 1
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232 Fax: (503)879-2173
www.grandronde.org
Youth Seek Adult Volunteers
Dear members of the community,
After many hours of hard work by my husband
Stanley Buck, Gary Brooks, Marty Autberry and other
volunteers, The Tina Miller Teen Center in Willamina
is now open three days a week (Thursday, Friday and
Saturday). The first day open we had 23 children, the
next 39 and the next 47, so you can see the children
want it open.
If we are to continue to have it open we need volun
teers to monitor the children. I challenge the people of
Willamina to step up to the plate and keep the center
open for the children. If we get enough volunteers, no
one would have to volunteer more than three hours a
month. Surely this isn't too much to ask in order to
keep the center open.
If you will volunteer please call 503-876-2898. All
volunteers must pass a background check.
Thank you,
Mary Buck
Willamina
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mm
Three days a week, all Tribal Council members meet
in subcommittees to discuss issues that affect the Tribe
and its members in greater detail. Subcommittees then
make recommendations to the entire council.
TUESDAYS meeting time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT
& BUDGET COMMITTEE
Chair EdPearsall
Alternate .... vacant
Members .... Ed Pearsall Kathryn Harrison
Robert Haller Cheryle Kennedy
Reynold Leno
WEDNESDAYS meeting time: 9 a.m. to noon
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Chair Kathryn Harrison
Alternate .... Ed Larsen
Members .... Kathryn Harrison Ed Larsen
Cheryle Kennedy Butch LaBonte
WEDNESDAYS - meeting time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE
Chair vacant
Alternate .... Reynold Leno
Members .... Reynold Leno Ed Larsen
Bob Haller Cheryle Kennedy
Butch LaBonte Ed Pearsall
THURSDAYS meeting time: 9 a.m. to noon
(Thursday morning meetings could be either the Re
source or Education Subcommittee.)
RESOURCE COMMITTEE
Chair Reynold Leno
Alternate ....vacant
Members Reynold Leno Bob Haller
Butch LaBonte Jan D. Reibach
June Sell-Sherer
THURSDAYS meeting time: 9 a.m. to noon
(Thursday morning meetings could be either the Re
source or Education Subcommittee.)
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Chair vacant
Alternate .... Ed Pearsall
Members .... Ed Pearsall Reynold Leno
Jan D. Reibach June Sell-Sherer
THURSDAYS - meeting time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
HEALTHCOMMUNITY SERVICES
COMMITTEE
Chair vacant
Alternate .... vacant
Members .... Ed Larsen Cheryle Kennedy
EdPearsall Jan D. Reibach
June Sell-Sherer