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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
2 FEBRUARY 1,2008 Smoke Signals Departments nrcovDmcj to casino expansion Spirit Mountain Casino's Human Resources Department and the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission are scheduled to move to the second floor of the new south expansion Events Center building behind Spirit Mountain Lodge in February. Because of the move, both departments will be closed to the public on Friday, Feb. 22, and Monday, Feb. 25. The departments will re-open on Tuesday, Feb. 26. For more information, call Daphney Colton, Recruitment and Employee Relations manager, at 503-879-3025. NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, Feb. 13 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 5 p.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Call Dakota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at 503-879-1309 to confirm. Dear Smoke Signals: I would like to thank everyone involved in my "Indian Taco Fundraiser." Thank you kitchen staff for all your hard work and thank you to everyone for all your help! Sincerely, Butch Lillard & Family Dear Tribal Members: I am writing this letter to give you some of my thoughts on the upcom ing constitutional amendments and to make you think before you cast your vote. First, I wanted to address this talk of "split families." What is a split family? Is it a family where not all members of the family have an enroll ment number? I do not think so. Tribal families have survived for many generations regardless of whether they had roll numbers or not. Many of our Tribal members have married non-Tribal members, adopted children who are not eligible for enrollment and have siblings who are not enrolled in the Tribe. Are they then considered split families? Are we going to be asked to remedy that problem in the future? Just because certain members of a family are not enrolled in the Tribe does not mean that the family is "split." They are still a family unit regard less of who has a roll number. The Tribe does not prohibit non-members from attending and partici pating in Tribal functions, such as pow-wow and celebrations, so I have a hard time understanding how non-member Tribal descendants are denied their heritage. Secondly, I want to ask a question that has not seemed to have been addressed, which is what will happen to our endowment funds? With the increase in enrollment, will our endowments need additional time to be come fully funded and will we need to open up those that are fully funded and add additional funds? Does this somehow jeopardize our financial stability? Thirdly, I want to encourage people to give some attention and focus to the current Tribal members, many of whom are children who are already enrolled. A lot of focus and attention has been given to children who are not eligible for enrollment, but we also need to be the voice for those children who are enrolled and protect them as well. Lastly, I wanted to address the idea that this amendment will only have short-term consequences. That is simply not true. If something as impor tant as "Grand Ronde blood" is redefined as proposed, the impact will reach far into the future and affect everyone for many generations to come. I urge you to carefully consider all possible aspects of each of the three amendments proposed and vote with seven generations in mind. Larry Brandon Roll 1214 See page 10 for more letters. Correction In the Jan. 1 issue of Smoke Signals, it was incorrectly reported that Tribal Elder Charlotte Gray is living with her brother in Tribal housing. In fact, she was only visiting. Smoke Signals regrets the error. All Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 18, in observance of Presidents' DayTribal Chiefs' Day. Attention Tribal members 2008 GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE B Sunday, Feb. 10 11 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: 503-879-2173 www.grandronde.org DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Tuesday, Feb. 5 FEB. 15 Wednesday, Feb. 20 MAR. 1 Wednesday, Mar. 5 MAR. 1 5 Thursday, Mar. 20 APR. 1 SIOBHAN TAYLOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR 503-879-1920 skbhan.taytorgrandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS PAGE DESIGNER 503-879-2190 Kisdn.philllpsKrandronde.org SHELLY KENT CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-5211 shelly.kentgrandronde.org KRISTEN RAVIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECRETARY 503-879-1418 kristen.ravtagrandronde.org RON KARTEN STAFF WRITER 503-879-4663 ron.karcengrandronde.org CAR LA ROBERTS CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 caria.robertsgrandronde.org DEAN RHODES PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR 503-879-1463 dean.rhodesgrandronde.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 a Cheryle Kennedy Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2352 cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org Reyn Leno Tribal Vice Chair ext. 2399 reyn.lenograndronde.org Jack Giffen Jr. Tribal Secretary ext. 2306 lack.glffengrandronde.org D Sceve Bobb Sr. ext. 2353 steve.bobbgrandronde.org Chris Mercier ext. 2305 chris.merciergrandronde.org Wink Soderberg ext. 1444 wlnk.soderberggrandronde.org D Kathleen Tom ext. 1 777 kathleen.tomgrandronde.org D June Sell-Sherer ext. 2300 une.sherergrandronde.org D Valorie Sheker ext. 2355 val.shekergrandronde.org
