Smoke Signals
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2 JANUARY 15, 2008
Dear Smoke Signals:
We would like to take the opportunity to thank the employees who par
ticipated in and supported this year's very successful Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde Employee Food Drive. A big thank you, also, to the Elders
and community members of Grand Ronde for their support.
There are a number of people and local companies we would like to acknowl
edge for their support. They include Jolanda Cataby, Melody Baker, Steve
O'Harra, Jeff Larson, Andrew Freeman, Jill Hafiiger, Marietta Leith, Jennifer
Leggit, Julie Singer, Smoke Signals, 2007 Christmas Party Committee, Hannah
Ashley and Angie Lindsey at A Balanced Touch Massage, Fat Cat Espresso,
The Sun Shack and Michelle Hislop at Healing Moments Massage.
Overall, we brought in more than 17,000 items of food for the Grand
Ronde Food Bank and GrandSherMina Food Bank. We understand that
the holiday season can be a financially difficult time for all. This year we
went above and beyond all expectations. This truly shows the generosity
of our fellow employees and community members.
Thank you again for all the support in 2007. We're looking forward to
2008.
Genifer Grout, Shanna Eide, Shannon Simi i
2007 CTGR Employee Food Drive Co-Chairs
Dear Tribal Members:
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Lee Ann Huffman. A num
ber of you who are familiar with our Tribal history know that I and most
of my family are descended from Chief Tumulth, one of the Tribe's famed
treaty signers from 1855.
The purpose of this letter is to ask you to vote "yes" on the upcoming
Constitutional election. If these amendments fail, especially Amendment
C, my son, Ricky, will be denied enrollment in my Tribe.
My reasons for asking you for your "yes" votes are not very complicated.
Four years ago, I enrolled my newborn son, Ricky, in our Tribe. He has 18
cousins with the exact same blood who are enrolled Tribal members and
I was thrilled to be enrolling my firstborn son into our Tribe to join them.
This was an important rite of passage for my family.
However, my son was denied enrollment into our Tribe. This was a
result of the 1999 Constitutional amendment. The effects of that denial
were devastating to my family, both immediate and extended. Can you
imagine how it feels to tell my now 4-year-old son that his cousins (my
siblings' children) can all be Tribal members but that he can not? That
they can participate fully in our Tribe and their heritage, but that he, with
the exact same blood running through his veins, can not?
I've heard Tribal members make a lot of comments about how many of us
would like this amendment to pass simply because we would like to share in
the financial benefits of being a Grand Ronde Indian. The reality is, I think,
the opposite. People secretly oppose these amendments because admitting
298 new Tribal members would mean slightly less benefits to themselves.
When I look at little Ricky, the last thing that crosses my mind is money.
Our mother went to great lengths to make my brother, sister and me fully
aware of our Indian ancestry, even though we, like the vast majority of
Tribal members, grew up away from Grand Ronde. I intend to raise Ricky
the exact same way regardless of how the amendments go, because his
ancestry is important whether he is an enrolled member or not.
Why can't Ricky enroll? Simple. When the 1999 Constitutional amend
ment passed, it designated Grand Ronde blood as blood derived from an
ancestor on the Restoration roll. In other words, because Ricky is not
descended from one of the first 1,100 Tribal members, his blood is not
considered "proper" Grand Ronde blood. His blood quantum is not the
issue, but from whom he gets the blood is. It is kind of a harsh fate for
a young child just beginning to learn his heritage, which includes one of
Grand Ronde's chief treaty signers.
If you don't think this is a fair situation, then that is all the more reason
to help pass these amendments. The floodgates aren't going to be opened
by these amendments. Benefits and per capita aren't going to dwindle to
nothing. Ricky and the dozens of other children affected by this amend
ment aren't being greedy. When Ricky comes to pow-wow, he just sees a
Tribe and knows that this is his, that all the other Tribal members are
somehow family. Greed, and money, are not thoughts rolling around his
head. He doesn't even know what "greed" is.
Please vote "yes" on the upcoming Constitutional amendments. Although
only Amendment C affects my family, I plan to vote yes on Amendment
B also, as I want justice for all our Tribal children.
Lee Ann Huffman
Roll 2933
See page 10 for more letters.
TTTT
All Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Attention Tribal members
2008 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
Sunday, Feb. 1011 a.m.
Monarch Hotel & Conference Center
12566 S.E. 93rd Ave.
Clackamas, OR 97015
Exit 14 Sunnyside RdSunnybrook Blvd. off of 1-205
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1 -800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2 1 73
www.grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE
Friday, Jan. 18 FEB. 1
Tuesday, Feb. 5 FEB. 15
Wednesday, Feb. 20 MAR. 1
Wednesday, Mar. 5 MAR. 1 5
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
slobhan.uylorgrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
ustln.phflllpsgrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-5211
shelly.kentgrandronde.org
DEAN RHODES
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
dean.rhodesgrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.kartengrandronde.org
CARLA ROBERTS
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
carU.robertsgrandronde.org
KRISTEN RAV1A
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-879-1453
krtsten.ravlagrandronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
george.valdezgrandronde.org
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
2008 Tribal Council
1 -800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
O Cheryle Kennedy
Tribal Chairwoman
-ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org
O Reyn Leno
Tribal Vice Chair
ext. 2399
reyn.lenograndronde.org
Jack Giffen Jr.
Tribal Secretary
ext. 2306
lack.girfengrandronde.org
D Steve Bobb Sr.
ext. 2353
steve.bobbgrandronde.org
O Chris Mercier
ext. 2305
chrls.merciergrandronde.org
D Wink Soderberg
ext. 1 444
wlnk.soderberggrandronde.org
D Kathleen Tom
-ext. 1777
kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
June Sell-Sherer
ext. 2300
une.sherer grandronde.org
Valorie Sheker
ext. 2355
val.shekergrandronde.org