Smoke Signals
2 MAY 1, 2001
Dear Editor,
I'm writing this letter to Smoke Sig
nals in hopes our newspaper can be
used as a community forum for those
unable to attend the community
meetings.
Recently, there was an article in
The Oregonian about all the energy
the casinos in Las Vegas use. It
started me thinking about all that
beautiful flat un-shaded space sur
rounding the casino and hotel at
Spirit Mountain and the fact that the
energy crisis is not going to get bet
ter anytime soon.
Right now there are both federal
and state tax credits available for resi
dential and business users that in
stall either solar or wind systems.
Photovoltaic (just like a little solar
calculator except on a larger scale)
' converts sunlight into electricity. The
electricity generated is DC but with
a few simple efficient components this
DC electricity is converted to AC,
which is standard usage in the US.
There are roofing tiles made of pho
tovoltaic that could be put on the roof
of both the casino and hotel. These
could provide electricity for security
in case of a blackout or perimeter
lighting. The surrounding area of
the casino and the hotel could have
arrays of PV panels. I don't know
what the wind speed is there, but new
wind machines are capable of high
efficiency so Spirit Mountain Ca
sino could have what is called a "hy
brid system," which is a combination
of two or more energy sources.
This is so beautiful and so much in
keeping with Native traditions of in
dependence and is also very salmon
friendly. Grand Ronde would be gen
erating its own power. The summers
expected rolling blackouts would not
impact the casino if it has its own
power supply. It would be great pub
lic relations for Oregon's number one
tourist attraction.
There are many companies going
strong in solar now Oregon has
its own Solar Energy Association
competitive prices can be easily re
searched. I know Oregon is not ex
actly the sunshine state, but photo-'
voltaic generated power, even in low
light, could enhance in every way the
electrical situation at the casino and
hotel. Those casino dollars won't be
rolling in if there are blackouts, plus
once the system is paid for, there is
no more monthly bills. In fact, if you
produce more energy than you use
you can run it back into the system
and be paid for it (net metering).
So somebody, please think about it
and thanks for listening.
Judith Pettibone
Roll 717
P. O. Box 843
Portland,' OR 97207
To the Editor,
The amendment to the Enrollment
Ordinance is a major concern to me.
I have this saying: what I think I
must speak. I'm a Tribal member of
Grand Ronde and I'm very proud of
my heritage. I'm grateful to all the
things the Grand Ronde Tribe has
done for myself and children. Being
a single parent can be hard some
times.
My theory on this enrollment is
that my mother and sisters are all
members. And we all became mem
bers because of our "blood quantum,"
which is the only way to determine
enrollment and who you really are.
I would not like to hear my children
say they were a member because
their mother had a number when
they were born, but rather the truth,
that mother was from the Indian
race, the Tribe she came from and to
know her way of living and customs,
and be proud of it, and to learn from
me.
In the March 15, 2001 Smoke Sig
nals, I read the concerns from other
members on the enrollment issue
and I totally agree with them. I'm
in their situation also, I have a
daughter that became a member this
year, and a son that was denied en
rollment. I grant you that his blood
is the same as his sisters so why
doesn't he have the same right to be
a member as she does. I would
greatly appreciate an answer please.
All Tribal members that are going
through this situation also should
write the Tribe and express your
feelings on this issue with the inten
tion that we can achieve having the
amendment changed. We are blood
not a number. Anyone interested in
communicating on the enrollment
issue with me please e-mail me at
drislandBendnet.com. I would like
to get your input and suggestions
and to the Tribal Council and all
those involved, please consider a
change to the amendment. It would
be the right thing to do.
Thank You!
Dolly E. Risland
Roll 1575
Thank You Joe
We needed our roses planted at the
Elder Housing. We borrowed a
shovel, then Joe Brisbois volunteered
the manpower. Thank you, Joe.
Donna Casey
Dorothy Lawe
Diane Lawe
SMOKE SIGNALS is available to anyone at no cost. Fill out this form with
your name and address, mail to: Smoke Signals, Attn: Justin Phillips,
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
OLD ADDRESS: (Please Print) NEW ADDRESS:
GRAND RONDE ROLL :
Dear Editor,
This letter is to applaud the mem
bers who have already written about
the enrollment amendment. My fam
ily is divided. I have twin sons,
Jedidiah and Samuel, who are mem
bers while their older brother and
older sisters are not. You can imag
ine how difficult this is for the older
siblings when they are asked their
ethnicity. They want to be able to
say that they are members of the
Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde. They have the same amount
of Tillamook and Chinook that their
brothers do and yet they cannot say
that they are members.
We were seeking membership for
all of them as soon as the entire blood
line was proved and the Enrollment
Committee correctly figured their
blood quantum.
I would like to believe that the
amendment was made to prevent Na
tives from other Tribes joining our Tribe
and receiving the benefits of Tribal
membership and not meant to exclude
the children of current Tribal members
and harm the unity of the Confeder
ated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
It is important that we resolve this
situation in peace as quickly as pos
sible without outside interference
from the federal government, who
would be more than happy to impose
new regulations and restrictions on
all of us.
Sincerely,
Willard (Bill) D.Adams
Roll 2322
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon, is published twice
a month. No portion of this publication
may be reprinted without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to en
courage input from Tribal members and
readers about stories printed in the Tribal
newspaper. However, all letters received
must be signed by the author, an address
must be given and a phone number or
email address must be included for verifi
cation purposes. Full addresses and
phone numbers will not be published un
less requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to
edit letters and to refuse letters that are
determined to contain libelous statements
or personal attacks on individuals, staff,
Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Not
all letters are guaranteed publication upon
submission. Letters to the editor are the
opinions and views of the writer. Pub
lished letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff,
Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
-JlPJi 'SID '
HERE WE GROW AGAIN
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.CONSTRUCTION
Photos by Brent Merrill
CaSIIIO Expansion - Members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's
Ji??0' and members of sP'n't Mountain Development Corporation were
joined by key staff members in a groundbreaking ceremony in front of Spirit Mountain
Casino on Monday, April 9. The ceremony marked the addition of 5,200 square feet
of additional non-smoking space to the casino. The new space will make room for an
additional gaming. So far, the expansion project k nn ctHpHmU,