AUGUST 1, 2004
Smoke Signals 7
that cost two Tribal members their jobs. Now, you can be fined for talk
ing politics on Tribal land and insulting a Council member.
Indian 1: No, I don't believe that. Ridiculous!
Me: Uh-oh! Sounds like somebody hasn't read the newly amended
Public Safety Ordinance.
Indian 2 (looks at Indian 1): don't like the way he said that.
Me: Look, you guys. I don't have all the answers. Sure I sound nega
tive at times, but look at all of what has happened, it's understandable.
The Tribe has simply lost its way, because Tribal members, "the people",
have lost their voice. There are no longer debates at Council meetings.
There are no laws that hold Council accountable for their actions. We
have no reliable source of information. Heck, there is no longer an "open
door" policy. You now need permission to enter Council chambers.
Indian 1: Your words ring true. Things used to be better. I once felt
like my opinion, my voice mattered. What happened?
Me: Our leadership quit caring. Our Council makes too much money
and has too much power. All it takes now is a Council majority to do
something. Even if the other 4995 Tribal members disagree with a deci
sion, business or legal, the deciding factor is still the opinions of five
Council members. You put $80 million worth of economic and legal power
into the hands of so few people; well... you get corruption, greed, and
neglect.
Indian 2: Kind of like that "Lord of the Rings" movie, where every
body who uses the ring becomes evil and greedy.
Me: Um. I guess that's a good comparison. Absolute power corrupts
absolutely.
Indian 1: How can we fix things?
Me: You can start by voting, preferably for me. And you can start
asking questions and begin to educate yourself on what is really hap
pening in Grand Ronde. While you're here, I'm gonna tell what every
Tribal member should know. YouH never look at the Tribe the same
way again. It'll blow your mind.
Indians: All right! Now it's getting good.
Me: Did you know...
Unfortunately, I can't go too far beyond 600 words. If you are inter
ested in what I told those two Indians that night, please visit my website:
ChrisMercier. com
Thank you,
Christopher G. Mercier
5615 Skyline Rd. S
Salem, OR 97306
(503) 364-2548
cgmercieryahoo.com
Vesley West
j
.. .t-
My name is Wesley "Buddy" West.
I'm again a candidate for Tribal Coun
cil. Before you mark your ballot this
year, please consider the possibility
that there are those on Council who
have been there too long. Consider the
possibility that there needs to be new
voices on Council, if for nothing else
than to give balance to our system of
government, which has become very
onesided.
Majority control has been the Coun
cil norm for some time. To secure their
positions, they first passed the rule
that no matter how the votes fell on a
decision, once it became known to the
membership, they would declare the decision unanimous. Why? Because,
when membership objects to a decision, each of them could point a fin
ger at the other Council and deny responsibility for the decision. Coun
cil also took control of the only communication media the membership
had; the Tribal newspaper. Then, to eliminate the threat of one Council
member ratting on another, they abolished the Tribal Ethics Ordinance
thereby eliminating any accountability on their part. Finally, they
amended our Tribal Safety Ordinance to give themselves a larger ad
vantage in the election process and virtually eliminate the Civil Rights
of the Membership.
This brings to mind the treatment of our ancestors, who were consid
ered heathens, and because they were heathens, didn't have the same
rights as their oppressors. Only the "real people" had rights. Our ances
tors communicated with each other using whispers and secrecy, because
they were punished for speaking their language and feared the repris
als of those in power. Doesn't this seem familiar somehow?
Today, our Tribal Nation is directed by five Council members, popu
larly referred to as the "Big Five" who are accountable to no one. As a
result, trust in the decisions of our Tribal government has been replaced
with fear of personal reprisals and fear for the long-term stability of the
Tribe. In the past, this fear has kept many silent, but things are chang
ing. What is different this year, is an Internet Networking system is help
ing Tribal members to understand they are not alone, that there are
many who feel as they do, and they share concerns.
The realization that there is strength in numbers gives hope to many
that we, the people, can break up the Big Five. Tribal members are
becoming involved and more aware of the day to day decisions of Tribal
Council. They are beginning to realize the only thing we have left is
our right to vote. How we vote this year will shout a loud message to
Tribal Council.
I believe I can make a positive difference for you on Tribal Council
because I'm not a career politician. Career politicians care more about
keeping their position than about doing the job they were elected to do.
They've served in office for a long time, and over time, have learned to
care more about themselves than about you. I won't make empty prom
ises or give special favors to certain families. If you are to believe any
thing you hear from me, I would like it to be this: I'm frustrated on
behalf of all of us. I want change on behalf of all of us. And I will spend
the next three years with all of us in mind, guiding me in my daily
actions.
Please know that I'm available to speak with you on any subject you'd
like to discuss. Write to me at 404 NE Faulconer St., Sheridan, OR
97378. My e-mail is deeweshotmail.com. I look forward to hearing
from you, and I thank you for taking time to read this letter.
Wesley (Buddy) West
Roll 842
503-843-2382
Linda Olson
Linda Bean Olson
I am respectfully asking for your
support in my effort to represent the
membership on Tribal council. I grew
up at the base of Spirit mountain on
my family's allotments, up until ter
mination then my family moved
throughout the coast and the valley.
I married young and now have four
grown children and many grandchil
dren. As a sometimes single parent
and a dislocated native person I have
learned, through experience, that fam
ily and a strong sense of self is vital
for us as a native people to make it in
the mainstream society. I have worked
in many fields ranging from medical care, social services, Alcohol and
drug counseling, education, retail and construction business.
With many years of experience working for and with the Tribe, I have
a few ideas I would like to work towards, but I feel the most important
skill I bring is open mindedness and the ability to be non-judgmental.
I believe strongly that to represent the membership is an honor. Some
of the ideas I would like to work for are: developing a strong culture
through a museum, language, ceremonies, and long house for a begin
ning; encouraging a sense of community with activities on the week
ends and evenings with families and youth; encouraging strong leader
ship by providing classes for members interested in becoming council
representatives, having group meetings where the membership can
openly give input and opinions; having a monthly meeting in other
communities such as Portland, Salem or Eugene where there is a con
centration of members as to make council more accessible; developing a
separate entity to decide council salary raises.
These are some of the things I will be working on if I am elected to
council. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Linda Bean Olson
Roll 17
25325 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
phone: 503-879-5346
email: lolsenearthlink.net