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
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