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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2005)
JULY 15, 2005 Smoke Signals 5 2005 Candidate Statements 0 June Sell-Sherer Dear Tribal members, It has been three years since I have asked for your support in my candidacy for Tribal Council. I am again asking for that support. For those who don't know me, my par ents were Joseph Sell and Emma LaBonte Sell. From my mother, I inherited my Grand Ronde Tribal lineage which is Umpqua, Kalapuya, Clatsop, Clackamas, Yoncalla, Chinook, Wasco, and from my fa ther; Cherokee ancestry. Education, Housing, Culture, Natural Resources, Elders and Veterans. These are things that have always been important to me. They are part of an agenda to help all Tribal members. We, and I mean all of council, attempt to address these things in order that life for all of us can be better. It would be simple of me to say "cock-a doodle-do" look what I've done. That is something I will leave for those who are only trying to help a few and that bravado has nothing to do with the fact that we must work together to help everyone. We now have housing that is affordable and helps keep fami lies together. We have housing for Elders, so that the burden of age is easier. Soon, we will have a facility for those who need in-house care that is both affordable and close to their loved ones. There are also a number of programs that are available to those Tribal members who live outside of Grand Ronde and in fact across the country. The educational opportunities for our youth have increased. The numbers of scholarships that are available to our youth have gone up. Payments for schooling to all members are now available. I know that there has been abuse of the system, but we can't and shouldn't punish everyone for the greed of a few. We can provide help for those who really want to improve themselves and hope that they are moral enough not to abuse our trust. But, we must continue to make that opportunity available to as many as possible. The proper management of those resources that we have direct control over is very important. Our lands and environment are all we have and should not be looked at as only another pay check. Our involvement with outside agencies in helping them to manage their resources is also important. It shows that we do have a tie to the lands that were once ours. I still believe those resources need to be properly taken care of and I will help to see that it is done. Our Elders are and should be of concern to us. In the last few years we have seen how important they are to keeping the cul ture and our history alive. Our language program is evidence of that. Save the language and we save our heritage. Elder meals, housing, transportation, and medical help are something that they deserve. Not just because we love them, but because they deserve some ease after all those years of doing with next to nothing. Also, taking care of our Elders is part of our heritage. There are two items that I take special pride in being part of; one is the ongoing attempt to restore those pieces of our culture that help identify who we were before there was a reservation. Those little bits of our history that are scattered and we are attempting to bring home. The history of who we were, to me, is embodied in those personal things that our ancestors once called their own. Also the longhouse that is currently under construction is part of our cul ture. A longhouse was where a family lived; not just mom, dad, and the kids, but, the extended family as well. I believe it is a big step in re-establishing our ties with our heritage. The other thing that I take pride in is my involvement with the Veterans and satisfaction all of our people have in carrying on the warrior tradition. We serve in good times and bad, standing up for the freedom that we have often had to do without. I have not done anywhere as much as many of my fellow Veterans; my pride in them is just that much more for the sacrifices that they have made. Can I alone take credit for those things that I just talked about? No! All of Tribal Council was involved. So to make a list and say, "ooh look at how hard I work" is a false face and has nothing to do with the real accomplishments that have taken place. I will con tinue to work with all council members to accomplish those things that will benefit all Tribal members Your representative, June Sell-Sherer 0 Ed Larsen Greetings Tribal members, I am Ed Larsen, and most of you know that I have served four terms on your Tribal Council. I am writing to ask your support in my cam paign for election to a fifth term of service to you. It has been an honor to serve our Tribe on the Council, and I am proud of my ac complishments. The Tribe is facing many challenges and at the same time is blessed with unlimited potential and opportunity to solve our problems and increase our resources. Our greatest resource, of course, is ourselves. With strong leadership and vision on our Tribal Council, our members can overcome any challenge. I know this because I have seen our courage and creativity bring us through hard times. I have seen our hard work and commitment result in a stronger community for us all. During my service to the Tribe, I have built strong relationships with our county, state and federal officials, a number of whom have written me endorsement letters. These relationships are critical because the Tribe is a government, and we must be able to work effectively government-to-government. My strongest as set is the capability of working effectively with everyone. You know from my previous service on the Council that I stand for progress. I stand for unity. I stand for fairness. I stand for peace. You know that I am committed to listening and to inclu siveness. You know that I am not afraid of change and that I un derstand that the Tribe must adapt to meet future needs and challenges. During my years of service to the Tribal Council, I stood for: Elder and Disability Pension Plan The Tribal Health Clinic Education Complex & Gymnasium Endowments for Various Programs Home Down-Payment Grants Three Housing Projects Per Capita Plan for Casino Revenue Burial Assistance Plan The Casino & Casino Self-Regulation Health Insurance for all Tribal Members As we look to our future, as a Council Member, I will promote these important issues: Assisted Living Facility for Elders Improvement of Road Safety-PolkYamhill Counties & ODOT The Challenge of Off-Site Casinos Health Insurance for all Members & Spouses Widening of the Grand Ronde Road part of the Safety Program Unity and Peace for All A Safety and Disaster Program Ensuring Services to All Tribal Members Regardless of Loca tion I want us to remember who we are and to be proud. I want us to protect who we are and to protect what we have. I am asking for your support. I want to hear your questions and suggestions. I want to hear your ideas and your concerns. I want to get to know you. I come from the Riggs and Norwest families. We are almost all related by blood. We are all family. Please call me at: 503 879-5741 Yours truly, Ed Larsen P.O. Box 153 Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
