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