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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2003)
6 JULY 1,2003 Smoke Signals iwmumm.mmw' muiihii. iiiiiiiiiiiiJMiroijj m n.wiiimiii.wji mini i um nntm ,n . i ,. , i m.i ,.n..ian .win .. mm .u,.-.i.w Cheryle Kennedy HuapHWH MMM Dear Tribal members, I'm Cheryle Kennedy and I'm seeking another term on our Tribal Council. In my 2000 campaign I said I would work to bring the following issues to the forefront as pri orities: revive our culture and traditions, preserve our environment, provide full health care services, develop Tribal hous ing, develop individual members and main tainexpand our economic base. (However, recognizing it takes a majority of 9 council members to make a decision). I am pleased to report the outcomes of my effort were productive, they are: Culture and Traditions Establishment of a Culture Committee and I attend a majority of the meetings. Budgeted funds for the conceptual design of our traditional Gath ering House and support the work to secure cedar logs for its con struction. B Continue to seek ways to re-establish our right to gather, hunt and fish. Proclaimed, by resolution, our intent to monitor, oversee and be involved with our Ceded land. Negotiated with the British Museum officials for the return of our Tribe's artifacts starting with our artifacts being exhibited at the Portland Arts Museum in March 04. Supported the Chinook Jargon immersion program. Preserve our Environment Work with staff on the Willamette River superfund clean-up project with our Tribe leading to hold those responsible for the contamina tions. Support the SOLV program that provides the "Clean Up Oregon" service. Continue to proclaim the Tribe's concern about the environment and find partners to attack pollution and erosion problems. Support large game, fish and habitat enhancement on our reser vation. Full Health Care Services Serve on the team to determine the future health security plan because it's the biggest expense of the Tribe. I'm assisting because of my 14 years experience as the Tribe's Health Director, as the former Executive Director of the NW Portland Indian Health Board and my business degree. Testified on a bill allowing Native Americans to continue to be served by the Oregon Health Plus Plan. That bill was signed into law on May 22, 2003. Tribal Housing In 2000 our first Housing Project, 38 units of Elders Housing, was complete. A 5 year Housing Plan was approved. The Family complex will open in July 2003. B The will of the council is to extend the Down Payment Grant Program and we are now in the experimental expansion stage. Individual Member Development B The plan to construct a Tribal educational center was approved, built and occupied. B Funding continues to supply Educational grants. This year there were more applicants than funds, however; I urged the support of increasing the budget to assist more applicants. B Worked on and support our Mentorship program now the first 2 mentees are placed in the Tribe. MaintainExpand our Economic Base fl Applied my business knowledge to lead the council to implement effective business and financial management practices. B Sought out business opportunities like the baseball stadium con cept for the opportunity to develop a casino or other viable busi nesses in Portland. B Served as Economic Development Committee Chair. B 2003 - Spirit Mountain Casino was again rated 1 tourist attrac tion in Oregon. B Supported the Tribal store and gasoline station venture that will open this year. B Maintained discussions with the Siletz Tribal Council about our joint land holding. As the Chairwoman of the Tribe I initiated a re-organization of the Tribe that placed accountability at all levels, promoted commu nication and better fulfilled the fiduciary responsibility of the Tribe Accountability B Implemented a new accounting system with critical controls so that funds are spent appropriately, accounted for and secure. B Tracking mechanisms for achieving goals and objectives were in stalled so that progress could be followed, measured, and changed as necessary. B Applied a cost-benefit analysis before spending funds on a new or expanded project. B All Tribal Ordinances are on a review schedule to assure updates. Communications To assume that members are informed the following actions were implemented: B Report to the membership through the Council News. B Mail special notices concerning matters of great importance. B Empowered the CommitteesBoards to assist the council. fl Developed a new position, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, as a communication source. Other leadership functions that I perform are serving on the Com mission for Indian Services which is part of the State of Oregon Legislature, serving at Chair on the Board of Directors for Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. and in this capacity oversee our gaming busi ness and delegate to the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board where I advocate for our health benefits provided through the Indian Health Services. My commitment remains strong and casting your ballot for me will ensure that the course is maintained. I appreciate the opportunity to present my views to you. Respectively, Cheryle A. Kennedy Perm McDaniel Vi- r Greetings to all my fellow Tribal mem bers, I am Perri McDaniel, roll 2524, daugh ter of the late Shirley Ann Parazoo, Grand daughter of the late Floyd Bud Parazoo, I am of Chinook and Klamath descent on my mothers side and Scotts Irish and Nor wegian on my Fathers side. My, mother's father's family are descendents of the Chi nook Chiefs Kasino and Comcomly, and mother's mother was Native Klamath. I consider myself a spiritual person and as such I was taught that spiritual people should also be humble people, therefore it is diffi cult for me to explain to you why I think I am a good candidate, and still be humble. I would make a good Tribal Council person because I am culturally active, I have a formal education, and I am a spiri tual person with integrity. In my opinion our culture is the most important element in protecting our sovereignty because it is our culture that that makes us unique. We are a culturally distinct group of people because of our heritage, therefore we need to do all we can to protect, restore and revive our traditional practices. My educa tion includes a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting, finance, and marketing, and a minor in Environmental Science and Regional Planning. I am also enrolled in the Masters Program in Public Tribal Administration at Portland State University. I have worked for the Tribe for the past 6 years. The first 4 years I worked for the Small Business Development Department where I negotiated a Cigarette Tax Refund Agreement with the Oregon State Department of Revenue, for which the Tribe gets approximately $225,000 dollars every year in tax refunds. I worked with the Small Business Administration to learn what programs they have for the small business owner to finance andor expand their own business. Also, I researched the benefits to the Tribe in becoming an Enter prise Zone and writing our own Corporations Ordinance. I wrote business plans to explore the feasibility of potential Tribally owned and operated business ventures. As a Cultural Protection Specialist I currently negotiate with local, state and federal agencies for the protection of our culturally significant sites and resources. I know Cultural Resource Protection Laws and how they apply to local, state and federal agencies, as well as private lands. I am familiar with Housing and Urban Development guidelines and regulations. As a result of my diverse background I bring an environmental sensitive and culturally appropriate approach to the management and devel opment of Tribal resources and programs. I believe that our Native peoples' are the caretakers of our mother earth and everything we do should reflect that. We need to live up to our mission statement of supporting and promoting our Tribal members to become self-sufficient and assert our sovereignty by pro moting Tribal self-sufficiency. I have the knowledge, skills and ambition to serve my people. That's why I should be your candidate of choice. Respectfully, Perri McDaniel, CTGR Tillicum 2524
