Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current, July 01, 2001, Special Section, Page 2, Image 18

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    2 Smoke Signals
SPECIAL SECTION - JULY 1, 2001
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Tom Leno
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My name is Tom Leno and I would like to
represent you on council. I go to General
Council meetings and I am quite outspoken
when I feel something isn't right. I do speak
up for all the membership. I feel everybody
should be treated equally. Everyone in the
Tribe should have equal benefits and rights
to every benefit within our Tribe. That
means: in town, out of town, in state, out
of state and whatever country you're in now.
Council should find a way to handle our
members' concerns.
I feel the chairperson could assign a con
cern to each councilman - instead of saying they will take our con
cerns under advisement. Then, we never hear anything back about
our concerns. If each councilman took one concern per general meet
ing then brought back a good honest answer the next Sunday, it would
help out a lot. I think we deserve answers to our concerns.
I think we need to start planning on what we're going to do with the
money when our endowments are full in the next couple years.
I believe 20 should keep going in the endowments when the goals
have been met. I also believe the other 80 of the money should go
to the people in their per capita payments. We could take 5 of the
20 and start a youth endowment fund; it would be there to do some
thing special for our kids that graduate. To honor them!
I also feel something needed to be done about enrollment issues.
There are families that split because one is enrolled and the other
cannot be enrolled. I've been told about brothers and sisters where
one is enrolled and the other cannot be enrolled. How can that be
when they have the same blood in there veins? . ,
We honor Elders at all times and honored they should be at all times.
There's one place I feel that they are not honored properly and that's
on the Elders' van. I believe the word "Seniors" on the sides of the
van should read "Elders."
Our youth need things too. Our youngsters could use a skateboard
pit, a place to ride bikes, a swimming pool - something they can have
fun doing. As a Tribe with all of our money, we should be able to build
something for our kids.
All of the above are some of my thoughts and concerns.
Some information about me:
I've been involved before the Tribe was restored. I chaired the fish
and wildlife at the very beginning. We had a campout every year for
the kids. Then I went to the Timber Committee and I'm still with the
Timber Committee. I was in the Army for three and a half years and
served in Vietnam and two years in Alaska. I received campaign rib
bons, purple heart, air medal and accommodation medals.
My grandparents were Dave and Emma Leno, and Tom and Elvira
McKnight. My father was Arnold Leno and my mother is Maxine Leno.
My brothers are Dave Leno and Bob Leno. My sisters are Denise and
Dorothy. My uncles are Russ, Bud, Merle and Orville Leno, and Wayne,
Corky and Rick McKnight. My aunts are Tootie Peters, Ramona Leno,
Dorothy Law, Barbara Feehan and Judy Olsen.
This is some of my thoughts, concerns and my family. It would be an
honor to represent all of you and my family on council.
Tom Leno
P.S. I thank our creator for my kids: Tara, Lacy and Lisa Leno.
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D Margaret JL Provost
Greetings Tribal Members,
My name is Margaret Provost and I ac
cepted nomination for Tribal Council so that
I could share my knowledge and experience
to benefit our Tribe. Many of you know that
I have been deeply involved with our Tribal
government since 1972 when I and others
worked to get our Tribe federally restored
and stand as other Indian Tribes through
out the United States.
My background in our Tribal government
began as the first chairman in leading our
Tribe to Restoration. I also served on our
Tribal Council several more years after Restoration.
During this time I made the motion to begin our gaming venture be
cause I knew gaming was a growing industry and the revenues would
help meet our members needs. However, we need to proceed con
servatively in what we spend as a government but JQJ when it comes
to helping Tribal members. Good programs like the Elder's pension,
education, medical coverage, housing assistance and per capita all
increase the quality of life for our members.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE that every Tribal member, no matter where they
live, should have equal benefits and opportunities. This belief moti
vated me, when previously serving on Tribal Council, to lead the way to
make per capita payments to each of you.
I believe that a Tribal Council member should be a servant to the
people. As a Tribal member, you have the right to know what is going
on. You should not have to ask questions to get information, it should
be provided. I am motivated to see that our membership has access
to information that is important to keep you informed of the business
of the Tribe.- I will work to see that timely publications and reports will
be routinely communicated, including the minutes of each General
Council meeting.
Our Tribe operates several businesses and I will diligently focus on
our businesses to assure that they are profitable. I join this effort with
our heritage because I believe that our ancestors had wisdom that led
us through the generations to today and those cultural, traditional and
spiritual ways will continue to lead us. I pledge to incorporate our
beliefs and practices into our decision making process.
I ask that you look into your heart and see that what we have today
is because of my contribution to our Tribe. In doing so, you will see
that I have the experience, commitment and vision to lead our Tribe. I
have demonstrated my leadership throughout three decades and re
main committed to anticipate problems, meet each challenge and make
the best decision so that a prosperous life and future continues for
our people. I respectfully ask for your vote in our upcoming Tribal
election.
With respect,
Margaret Provost
Roll 645
LZI VOTE - It's your right and your opportunity to do something other than talk about the way you
think things should be.
0 VOTE not only because It's the right thing to do, VOTE because It Is your opportunity as a Tribal
member to validate the Tribe's pursuit of Integrity and self-sufficiency.
We edited your Tribal Council candidates' statements for spelling and grammar. Other than those types
of changes, these statements are the true representations of the actual statements provided to us.