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