2 DECEMBER 15, 2007
Smoke Signals
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Photo by Dean Rhodes
Grand Ronde Food Bank Director Alisa Larson holds a $1 0,000 check from
the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde on Nov. 29. The Tribal Council
made the donation to help the local Food Bank buy food for area needy
families and combat a shortage in food banks statewide. From left, Food
Bank Board Director Nancy Holmes and Tribal Council members Steve
Bobb Sr., Reyn Leno, Jack Giffen Jr., Cheryle Kennedy, Wink Soderberg
and June Sell-Sherer attended the check donation ceremony.
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 26 5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Please call Da
kota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at 503-879-1309 to confirm.
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Dear Tribal Members:
Enrollment has been and will continue to be a hot topic in not only our
Tribe, but all Indian Country.
I personally believe that regardless of how the upcoming Constitutional
election fares, whether members vote for the changes or for our member
ship requirements to remain the same, the issue will probably not die
out, ever.
In our lives I would say it is very likely that we will see other proposed
amendments to our Constitution regarding enrollment requirements. What
those will be exactly I can't really say, but I promise you they will come.
Frankly, I am fine with that. Much like immigration issues in our coun
try, developing laws and policies to control population growth is naturally
ibe expected. You can't govern a nation when its population is expanding
at a rate that is impossible to manage.
I think that is what our Tribal Council had in mind back in 1999 when
they put forth the Constitutional amendment for the general membership
to vote on.
I don't think they intended many of the side effects that have since
plagued some of our Tribal families, particularly those with split siblings
one who can enroll and one who cannot. Or people who have plenty of
Indian blood but cannot enroll because their parents aren't on the Resto
ration roll. Or those 35 children whose parents were sent letters in 2005
informing them of "errors" in their enrollment files, meaning the status
they enjoyed as Tribal members would be revoked.
The proposed amendments to our Constitution will fix mai -.y of these
problems. It may not fix every enrollment problem; realistically some prob
ably can't be fixed. But it will help heal the damage that has been done to
some of our Tribal families.
I know this because one of those families is my own. I am asking you as
a fellow Tribal member to please register and vote "yes" on the proposed
Constitutional amendments in February. You will be doing something very
good, very humane and very generous. It is the right thing to do.
Dee Edwards
Roll 2979
All Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec.
25, for Christmas. Tribal offices also will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 1, for
New Year's Day.
Elders7 committee voting
Flderscan vote at the Jan. 6 General Council meeting from 10:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Community Center. They must present an
II) to be able to vote. Four positions are open. Nominees are Linda
Hrandon, Heryle Contreras, Margaret Provost, Dakota Whitecloud,
IiOuiso Medciros, Laura Gleason, Cheri Butler, Val Grout, Marcella
Selwyn, Betty lily and Monty Paraoo.
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PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
96 1 5 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
www.grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Monday, Dec. 17 JAN. 1
Friday, Jan. 4 JAN. 1 5
Friday, Jan. 18 FEB. I
Tuesday, Feb. 5 FEB. 15
DEAN RHODES KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR SECRETARY
503-879-1463 503-879-1453
dun.iKdntrJn(trand.0fi krtstm.rMVJndroode.orl
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ton
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
sk)btun.uytorgrandrorKte.orf
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
503-879-2190
usdn.phlillps$sr indronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-5211
shelry.kentgrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.kartenfrarKfrofKte.org
CARLA ROBERTS
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
cjrla.robemgrAndronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT
503 879-1416
torfe.vaklerandronde.ort
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity 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 e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
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.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2007-08 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
B Cheryle Kennedy Chris Merrier
Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305
ext. 2352 chris.merciergrandronde.org
cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org Q Winfc Soderberg
D Reyn Leno ext. 1 444
Tribal Vice Chair wink.soderberggrandronde.org
ext. 2399 D Kathleen Tom
reyn.lenograndronde.org exj jjj
Jack Giffen Jr. kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
Tribal Secretary June Sell-Sherer
- ext. 2306 ext. 2300
iack.giffengrandronde.org june.sherergrandronde.org
D Steve Bobb Sr. n VaIorie Sheker
- ext. 2353 ext 2355
steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org