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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2008)
2 MAY 1 5, 2008 Smoke Signals NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, May 21 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. Tribal Council nominations set Tribal Council nominations will be accepted at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 29, at the Tribal Community Center. For more information or any questions, call the Elections Office at 503-879-2271 or 800-422-0232, ext. 2271. Contest Powwow vendor information If you are interested in being a vendor for the Grand Ronde Annual Contest Powwow, Aug. 15-17, 2008, contact Shannon Simi or Dana Ainam at 1-800-242-8196 to request an application. Dear Smoke Signals: I wanted to thank everyone who attended my baby shower that was held at the Tribal Community Center on April 13. 1 appreciate all of your support and I love all of the wonderful gifts that everyone gave to me and my baby. I will be using them very soon! Ashley Langley Roll 2995 Dear Smoke Signals: A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful people who joined in and helped in searching for my grandson, Christopher, on the afternoon of May 3. The future Houdini was found safe and exploring in the woods. In the words of a great lady, "It takes a village to raise a child." Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Deanna Ellingson & Jina Ellingson Roll 1507 Dear Smoke Signals: After seven years of failed policies and decades of divisive politics in Washington, many Americans have abandoned hope that our concerns will be taken seriously. It only makes sense that in these difficult times we turn to a candidate who has done more than any national political figure in recent memory to espouse hope in this country. Sen. Barack Obama has inspired thousands of Americans to join his movement for change. As Native Americans, we are endorsing Barack Obama in the Oregon presidential primary because he understands the core issues that matter to Indian Country here in the state. He understands poverty. He under stands the concept of minority communities. He has seen and lived in areas of abject poverty, of poor health conditions. He has experienced the merging of different cultures. He has lived in places where the indigenous people, whose very lands were taken, are disenfranchised and have little voice in the big decisions that affect them. Sen. Obama has seen minority populations relegated to the background. Above all, Barack Obama represents the kind of real change that Indian Country will need to address the issues facing our community. Despite a cultural and linguistic revival, and even a vice presidential candidate some time ago, little attention seems to have been given to Native issues in the national discourse. Demographically, we continue to be one of the poorest populations, with the highest unemployment rate, and the great est risk for health-related issues in this country. Sen. Obama has outlined a number of steps to give the issues facing the Indian community the attention they deserve. He has pledged to appoint an American Indian Policy adviser to his senior White House staff. 1 le has already proposed an annual Tribal G8H meeting of national Tribal leaders to develop an Indian policy agenda. And Sen. Obama has continuously upheld Tribal sovereignty through support of policies for self-determination and self-governance, and has indicated support for legal protection of sacred places and cultural traditions. Sen. Obama has proven that he will indeed be a serious champion for Indian Country, focusing on the issues that affect Tribes everywhere, in cluding right here in Oregon. He has indicated that he would reform our broken trust system. He was one of the original co-sponsors of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007, and has advocated for providing an extra $1 billion for Indian Health Services. And Sen. Obama has sup ported the Combat Meth Act of 2005 to help fight a growing plague on our reservations. I laving recently paid off his own student loans, Sen. Obama understands the importance of education and the struggles many of us face in pursuing educational opportunities. As president, he is committed to fully funding No Child Ix'ft Behind and meaningfully reforming the act to better incor porate the Title Vll-Indiiin Kducation provision. Furthermore, Sen. Obama supports integrating Native languages, cul ture and customs into Tribal school programs, in addition to increasing funding for American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs, which are critical to helping our children succeed. We face an important choice in the Democratic Primary here in Oregon. The reality is that many of our nation's problems and those of our com munity aren't going to be solved until we abandon the politics of fear See letter continued on page 21 All Tribal offices will be closing on Friday, May 23, at noon and will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173 www.grandronde.org SIOBHAN TAYLOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR 503-879-1920 dobron . uykxcrandrondc .org SCARLETT HOLTZ PUBLICATIONS SECRETARY 503-879-1453 iurtm.hohzgnndroiKle.ori GEORGE VALDEZ GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST 503-879-1416 (Nrtc.vJklezfrjrKlrOfUle.org CARLA ROBERTS CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 carU.robensgrjiidroitde.org KRISTEN RAVIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECRETARY 503-879-1418 kristen.rivljgrandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS PAGE DESIGNER 503-879-2190 kBdn.phlUlptgrandronde.org MICHELLE ALAIMO PHOTOJOURNALIST 503-879-1961 itikiiete.aljtrrKigrandronde.org DEAN RHODES PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR 503-879-1463 dejn.rhodesgrjndronde.org RON KARTEN STAFF WRITER 503-879-4663 ron.kartengrjndronde.org SHELLY KENT CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-5211 shelly.kentgrandronde.org DEADLINE PATE ISSUE DATE Friday, May 20 JUNE 1 Thursday, June 5 JUNE 15 Friday, June 20 JULY I IMTtfflifefJ (MPs? 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 n Cheryle A. Kennedy II Chris Mercler Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305 - ext. 2352 chrls.merclergrandronde.org cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org p WInk $oderberg D Reyn Leno ext. 1444 Tribal Vice Chair wlnk.soderberggrandronde.org - ext. 2399 n Kathieen Tom reyn.lenograndronde.org ext 1777 D ack Giffen Jr. kathleen.tomgrandronde.org Tribal Secretary D iune Sell-Sherer - ext. 2306 ext. 2300 ack.glffengrandronde.org june.sherergrandronde.org a Steve Bobb Sr. n VaIore $heker -ext. 2353 -ext. 2355 steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org
