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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2002)
10 JULY 1, 2002 Smoke Signals I DATE STATEMENT! 2002 CAMP Jack Giffen Jr continued from page 9 enhanced for years to come. I will make no decisions on any issue with out first reviewing and seeking out all information pertaining to the issue. I believe in high standards of Honesty, Integrity and moral con duct. Will work toward a review of the enrollment ordnance, there should be no split in families, some young kids on the roll and younger brothers and sisters not qualifying. We need to review and expedite the full funding of the Tribes endowments to ensure services will sustain their growing programs indefinitely. Education is our first and biggest step in reaching our goal of being self-sufficient, everyone should have the opportunity to edu cate themselves no matter what field or to what degree they want to achieve. Implementation of a good strong mentorship program along with our education programs to get our Tribal members in the key posi tions is important to the future of all Tribal members. The Tribe needs to look at an aggressive and well planed ap proach to our economic development for the long term future. We have came far with communications, but there are more ideas to be explored such as a Net-Cam at general council and bi monthly meetings to be posted on Tribal web site for tribal members far away to receive accurate and fast information on Tribal issues. I feel that we need more cultural gatherings where the Elders can pass on the knowledge of our Tribes history. Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me on any issue that you may have or any questions concerning the elections and how I stand on the issues. PH 541-954-1535 E-mail jdgiffenjraol.com Thank You for your support. Jack Giffen Jr. Wesley (Buddy) West Dear Tribal members, As a proud member of our Tribe, I en thusiastically envision myself represent ing you as a member of the Tribal Coun cil. Our Tribe has come a long way in a short amount of time and continues to progress. We enjoy a rapidly increas ing flow of generated revenue, a fan tastic health program and an excellent educational program. This is to only name a few of the many oppor tunities and benefits that were once unavailable to us. On the other hand, there is always room for improvement. Two of these areas encompass our children and our Elders. For them, we must be re sponsible. Our Elders have worked long and undergone hardships for us. Now, it is our duty to return the favor. Our children, the future representatives of our Tribe, must be well educated, guided and given opportunities that our Elders did not have. Let's support them. I agree that working for more benefits for the Tribe as a whole is a must; however, a Tribe is made up of individuals. We must not forget individual benefits. Let's continue to work for increasing our per capita and for more conservative measures on expenditures and investments. I also believe there must be a revision of our enroll ment policies. Nonetheless, if revision is to be fair and equitable, it must be done only after careful and extensive study. As a candidate for Tribal Council, I have fervent views on the responsibilities of council members. Since all Tribal Council members are your elected representatives, they must work together for the betterment of you, the Tribal members and the Tribe as a whole. When council mem bers cannot work together because of differing views on various is sues or as a consequence of personal conflicts, it is detrimental to the entire Tribe. It is not only harmful to Tribal unity, but can damage family unity as well. While I am not so foolish as to suggest that there will be disagreements among council members on some issues, I do believe that through study, discussion and cooperation, all is sues can be resolved successfully. I look forward to communicating my views and other issues in my campaign letter. Thank you, Wesley (Buddy) West Mark Mercier Dear Tribal members: My name is Mark Mercier and as one of the nine original Tribal Council members sworn in after the Tribe regained federal recogni tion in 1984 1 am asking for your support so I can bring my knowl edge and experience to the council once again. When the Tribe first started out the only piece of property we owned was our ancestral cemetery, and the council and its staff operated out of a small building that served as our office. It was impossible to imagine back then what the Tribe would have accom plished by now. The Tribe has economic development ventures throughout Or egon, but none of these accomplishments happened overnight. It took hard work and perseverance by the Council to get the U.S. Congress to pass the necessary legislation to accomplish all of these objectives. It is vital that the Tribal Council insists on working co operatively with local, state and federal entities to ensure that the Tribe continues to make positive advancements in all aspects of Tribal operations for the future. I would like to see the Tribe explore the possibility of providing some sound technical assistance to members who wish to establish or enhance their private enterprises and small businesses. The Tribe should also analyze its endowment funds to ensure that the support will be adequate for the future education of our young members and that we will be able to meet housing and health needs. When these resources were originally established, our membership was approximately 2,500. Now, it has since doubled to 5,000 or more and a large number of Tribal youth will need a good educa tion to enable them to become self-sufficient when they join the workforce. We, as a Tribe, have come a very long way, but I would like to see us become more aggressive in pursuing further economic develop ment for our long-term future. Establishing these developments takes time, analysis and plenty of careful planning to assure that any venture the Tribe pursues will become an asset instead of a liability. We cannot afford another strategic wealth management debacle. I believe that this mess could have been avoided; in fact in 1996 I recommended that we investigate SWM and possibly locate another firm to manage our investments. Another concern of mine is Congress, who is constantly looking for ways to tighten federal funding for Tribes who have successful gaming. Believe it or not the federal government isn't the only administration who is constantly reviewing their annual budgets, states and local governments are also attempting to balance them out. Over dependence on federal funding could leave the Tribe "hold ing the bag" if Congress does reduce funding to gaming Tribes. The Tribe will need to so some serious planning for housing since water in the Grand Ronde Community is getting increasingly diffi cult to secure. And we will also need infrastructure development such as roads and sanitary services to be addressed. Furthermore the Tribe should look for ways to assist members who wish secure adequate funding for the purchase or remodeling of homes, regard less of where they live. This is possible, now that the Tribe has its own financial resources. We should work to secure an adequate long-term future. The Tribe has an advantage over other government entities. We have the financial capability to secure a sound future for ourselves and our futures. It's true; we have come a long way since 1984. Let's not stop now. June Sell-Sherer Tribal members; I have in the past laid out to you my work history, my educational back ground, who I am and where I come from. My mother, Emma (LaBonte) Sell was raised by her grandmother, Clementine (LaChance) LaBonte Jeffries. This shows that even back then, it was the Elders who held our families together. Our Elders not only gathered the children together to hold and protect them; but also, to teach them honor and respect for their heritage and traditions. I have served on Tribal Council for three years and for the past year as Tribal Council Secretary. I was appointed as Tribal delegate to ATNI and NCAI. It has been a privilege for me to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and the Portland Art Museum (where a gallery wing has been dedicated to June Sell-Sherer continued on page 11 - i)
