Smoke Signals 3
AUGUST 1, 2003
Candidate Forum Airs A Lot Of Ideas And Draws Many Candidates
Forum continuied from front page
time of year to have it, but I think we can build
on this and make it better."
Politics is a tough sell almost anywhere in the
country these days. In the 2000 presidential
elections, for example, the Washington Post re
ported that only 51 percent of eligible voters in
the U.S. actually cast ballots, which means that
winners in close elections had the support of not
much more than 25 percent of eligible voters.
For the last Tribal election, the percentage of
actual voters was even smaller: with about 3125
eligible Tribal voters, about 1225 voted.
Those in attendance heard about alcohol and
drug abuse, moral
and ethical stan
dards, foster care, El
der care, a Tribal
bank, a Tribal fish
hatchery and a web
cam at all meetings.
Candidates expressed
an interest in moving
forward in a compas
sionate, peaceful, lov
ing way or at a tre
mendous rate. Candi
dates hoped to see or
already saw a Tribe
that is family-oriented, healthy, joy ful and pros
perous, liv(ing) in harmony and shar(ing) ideas
openly. Candidates said that we've made an
awful lot of progress yet recognized that growth
can make any entity top heavy. They wanted to
fairly and equally represent all of the member
ship, walk the talk, get a sense of your opinions
so that we can work together, (be) a little more
careful about how they spend your money and
help the Elders. Candidates encouraged the
crowd to realize that every one of us has a con
tribution to be made to the Tribe. Speaking
strictly for themselves, candidates noted, I don't
go along with that, I can do a better job, I can't
promise that, it would just be a waste of time,
and of course, Can you hear me ok?
"I gained a little information," said Tribal El
der Butch LaBonte. "I was impressed."
"I was glad to hear all the statements but I've
read their election statements and my mind is
made up," said Tribal Elder Donna Casey.
BIU.J1IIIHLIIIIUUIIIIIIIIIUI ".Ill" til piHfJ., " ' I IIIIIIHIIIIUJIllM!lllll.li--.lill. ,,' . .'.' . .1,1
k . -' 'ill 111 r
! lull I
Villi! . 4 j
; f '(
In Attendance Tribal member Nancy Coleman
(left), who is on the Tribal Election Board, visits with
Tribal Attorney Lisa Estensen while seated next to
Tribal Elder Donna Casey. Nearly 50 percent of
eligible Tribal voters participated in last year's Tribal
Council election. The Election Board hopes for a
greater turnout this year.
COUNCIL
GENERAL ELECTION
Grand Ronde
September 6, 2003
'OVOTlcoplM.,. m
Pttnlhw to !h canriiA... . -
CANDIDATES tru I
I fern-si c:j,K-" shandy 1
II IP2 MA
(';V'LSi CHRIS A.lFMM CO;)
I "ERCIER MERCIER
I er JOYCE m f
1 iinjksi , ,n REIBACH i
HJI BoJ r,n.J
rd C&3 PEARSALL 7 Vt'.i . MARI -
! Hi
I
mm
coowcn.
GENERAL HfCTKDN
Sepltmtw 6, 2003
Elders' Honor Day Brings Together Friends From Many Tribes
Honor Day continued from front page
2003.
The day held in store a traditional array of
introductions, a prayer before lunch, an hour of
bingo, a break for the hot part of the day, then a
Western Bar with a barbeque and the dance
music of Gene and Patsy Pullin. The Pullins
have entertained at Elder Honor Day for three
years in a row. The next morning, breakfast
was served at the Community Center for those
who stayed.
Planning for one year begins just about as soon
as the last one is over, said Tribal Elder Louise
Madieros, coordinator of the event.
"We prepared for 250-350," said volunteer
Charlene LaChance, "but you never know." Her
husband, fellow-volunteer and Tribal Elder Tom
LaChance ticked off the events the couple al
ready were signed up for this summer. Between
class reunions and Elders events, it looked like a
pretty full season.
Out in the lobby, Tribal Elder Charlotte Gray
Well Traveled Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Tribal Elders traveled
all the way from Coos Bay to attend the Grand Ronde Tribe's Elders' Honor
Day. Here, Elders Arleen Perkins (left) and Richard Perkins (right) share a
laugh before Honor day festivities begin.
of Philomath sold her
"all hand-stitched and
stamped" greeting cards.
She had a new card
punched with tiny holes
that she was preparing
to stitch and she just
couldn't resist showing
the half-finished piece.
"I just wish I had had
time to finish this one,"
she said, nevertheless
calling her sales
progress, "Perfect!"
Elder Anna Campbell
(Coos-Lower Umpqua
Siuslaw) was among the crowd buying the beau
tiful cards in twos and threes.
"I do baskets so I'm impressed with this work,"
she said.
Like many, Campbell takes in all the opportu
nities these days. "Since I retired, I go to all the
Elder things now. Because I
never was on a reservation
or Tribe much, now I'm meet
ing Indians from all the dif
ferent Tribes."
In her retirement, she has
focused on genealogy. She
learned that her grandfa
ther was born at Fort
Umpqua and lived there un
til he was six when "they took
him away to the reservation.
He ended up with the Siletz.
It's like a history lesson," she
said.
Among Tribes represented
were Umatilla, Kalispel,
Coos-Lower Umpqua
Siuslaw, Coquille, Siletz,
Yakama, Suquamish,
Swinomish in Washington
and of course, Grand Ronde.
s i i i
- f r A'ftB.."..,.-,,,.,. ,... f . "
iMmt i . 111 . , ' 1 " i Jt irfi MaJi Jt
"I'm Here" Grand Ronde Tribal Elders raise their
hands as attendance is taken at the Honor day. The
Elders got a chance to mingle and visit with fellow
Tribal Elders from all across Washington and Oregon.
2003 Elders' Honor Day
Photos by Peta Tinda
Gifted Grand
Ronde Tribal
Elder Charlotte
Gray shows off
one of her hand
made greeting
cards she crafts
and sells at
events like the
Elder Honor Day.
r