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AUGUST 1, 2003 SMOKE SIGNALS
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Dear Tribal members:
Following publication of the Candidates' Statements in the July 1, 2003,
edition of Smoke Signals, the Tribal Council received a number of inquir
ies about whether it had passed a resolution approving a $475,000 pay
ment to Jan Michael Reibach. The answer is no. The Council has not
passed such a resolution, nor has it made any payment to Mr. Reibach.
Please call the Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, Charles Haller II,
with any questions at 503-879-1309.
Sincerely,
Tribal Council
Confederated Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Dear members of the community of Grand Ronde:
My name is John Mercier. I am the director of Public Works for the
Grand Ronde Tribe. It saddens me to have to write this letter, but I must
alert the community regarding abuse that is wreaked upon the commu
nity recycling center in Grand Ronde. The Grand Ronde Tribal Council
has graciously allowed us to place a community recycling center on a small
portion of Tribal property. The availability of this recycling center is a
joint effort between the Tribe and our local sanitary service provider. The
recycling center is a free service extended to the public so they may drop
off disposable household items that would otherwise be thrown in the trash.
The Tribe provides the site and the sanitary service picks up the recycled
materials.
I am a member the Grand Ronde Tribe and I feel a personal sense of
pride when our Tribe allocates our precious resources to benefit the pub
lic. Providing a free recycling service only serves to support proud feel
ings for my Tribe and community. Unfortunately, the recycling center is
being used as a garbage dump. It makes me sad to visit our recycling
center, a place attempting to encourage people to be friendly to our envi
ronment, only to see the place cluttered with household waste.
This type of abuse often makes me feel discouraged to provide services
to the public. As Public Works Director, it is the responsibility of my de
partment to keep our Tribal Lands safe and clean. Due to the abuse of a
free public service, I must now arrange to clean up other peoples' gar
bage. That type of activity does not create a sense of pride and enthusi
asm to me, or the employees within my department.
I may express sadness and discouragement with this letter, but I am not
without hope. I plead to the members of the Grand Ronde community to
be respectful to our Tribal lands and services. Grand Ronde is a beautiful
community and we want to help keep it that way. Our recycling center is
an expression of our desire to keep our community clean and healthy.
Please feel free to use the recycling center as intended. Please do not use
the center to dispose of household garbage.
John Mercier
.. Public Works Director, Grand Ronde Tribe
Dear Smoke Signals,
Hello, my name is Janell Grout-Haller, roll 1523. I am writing to voice
my concerns about recent campaign material that I received in the mail. I
am currently the Self-Determination Coordinator, I work with the bud
geting process for DOIBIA Self-Governance and Indian Health Service.
With this I am actively involved with the total Tribal budget annually.
Currently, the annual per capita distribution to the membership is 25 per
cent of gaming revenue. "
That amount is approximately 3 million more that what we receive in
the federal monies that are currently compacted with the BIA and IHS.
The services these compacted monies provide are the majority of programs
offered at the wellness facility, social services, Tribal court, JOM, Smoke
Signals, enrollment, fish & wildlife, forestry and education. This list is by
no means a complete list. I am just offering a picture of what the same
amount of money provides in needed services instead of a one time pay
ment. I am not saying to stop the current 25 percent that is already in
effect, as I have been here long enough to know what problems can occur
when something is taken that has been given and expected. What I am
going to say is to those who are promising 45 percent per capita what
services do you see that can be cut? The reason I ask this is the gaming
revenue currently funds the health insurance programs, education pro
grams, housing and cultural programs, to name a few. In order to give
an additional 20 percent in per capita something has to be cut from the
programs currently funded with the gaming revenue. I personally feel
that the gaming revenue is currently funding the mission and long-term
strategic goals of the Tribe and it would be a very sad day to take for
additional monies for a one-time payment to each member. I would much
rather see our Elders have health insurance and the beautiful homes that
they currently live in. If my grandchildren choose to further their educa
tion then that is what I see as the benefits of our Tribal members having
the opportunity to become self-sufficient.
Janell Grout-Haller
Roll 1523
Correction: Twins Jada and Julie Endicott are not Tribal mem
bers as reported in the last issue.
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PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232 FAX: 503-879-2173
www.grandronde.org
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SMOKE SIGNALS
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Tues., Aug. 5 AUG 15
Wed., Aug. 20 SEPT. 1
Fri., Sept. 5 SEPT. 15
Fri., Sept. 19 OCT.1
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Mon., Oct. 20 NOV. 1
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Fri., Dec. 5 DEC. 15
Fri., Dec. 16 JAN. 1,2004
L ! ' T.
BRENT MERRILL
PUBLIC INFORMATION
COORDINATOREDITOR
503-879-2321
brent.merrillgrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
503-879-2190
justin.phillipsgrandronde.org
WILLIAM MERCIER
PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN
503-879-2254
willie.merciergrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
503-879-4663
ron.kartengrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-521 1
shelly.kentgrandronde.org
PETATINDA
FREELANCE JOURNALIST
503-879-1416
peta.tindagrandronde.org
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu
nity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage 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
verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be published unless re
quested. .
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are deter
mined to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administra
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editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
In order to ensure a balanced election campaign and fairness to all candidates, the SMOKE
SIGNALS 2003 Tribal Council Election Editorial Policy for letters to the editor will be as follows:
Subject to existing editorial policies regarding libel, personal attacks and unsubstantiated
facts.
1. Letters in support of candidates will NOT be published in regular editions of SMOKE
SIGNALS.
2. Letters to the editor from candidates will NOT be published during the time period from
nominations to the conclusion of the Tribal Council Election.
3. Feature articles and spotlights involving candidates will be suspended during the time
period from nominations to the conclusion of the Tribal Council Election.
This policy is intended to ensure an equal forum for all candidates.
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