2
Smoke Signals
OCTOBER 15, 2009
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, Oct. 28 5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Call Dakota
Whi tec loud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at 503-879-1309 to confirm.
General Council meeting
Sunday, Nov. 1 11 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
Dear Grand Ronde Tribal members:
I would like to thank all of you who voted in this year's Tribal Council Election.
As I've stated in the past, our right to vote is the biggest voice we have and I
encourage all eligible members to take the initiative to let your voice be heard.
I would like to extend a special thank you to those who supported my cam
paign and voted for me in the election. My position on Tribal Council would
not have been possible without each and every one of you. Your support means
a lot to me and I am honored to represent the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde and its members.
I am committed to listening to the membership and to doing the best job I
can. I did not make a lot of promises during my campaign, but I will follow
through with the ones that I did make.
Again, I thank you all very much.
Toby McClary
Roll 1471
Dear Tribal Council and Tribal community:
With each new Tribal Council the membership and I hope for change. I
am not concluding that everything needs to be changed; the Tribe and the
leadership have done a lot in the last 10 years to improve the community. For
instance, providing housing for our poor, Elders and student assistance have
greatly helped and had impacts that may not be reflected in the community.
We know that these actions have resulted in less homelessness and greater
confidence for students to pursue higher education.
We still have much work to do! As Native Americans, we fall behind most
other ethnicities in terms of decent education, employment opportunities and
income. This mostly results from generational poverty, dispossession of our
lands, oppression and marginalization. Poverty, a lack of internal and external
resources needs to be addressed with capacity building: increasing our Tribal
members' skills, living conditions and opportunities.
As a proud member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, I urge the
Tribal community to continue to create policies that will allow for the improve
ment of our community. Census data indicate that in 2000 only 3.9 percent of
people 25 years old and older living in Grand Ronde had a bachelor's degree.
Although many community members reside outside of Grand Ronde, this is
still an accurate reflection of the educational level and thus opportunities and
degree of poverty of our Tribe. We need to focus on increasing educational op
portunities to continue to invest in our Tribe and decision-making process.
As a second year Master in Public Health student, I have learned the drastic
effect political decisions have on a community. The decisions our leadership
make affect our Tribal members generations after they leave office. I know
that had the Tribal Council hot chosen to make education a priority 10 years
ago, I may not have had the opportunity to receive a higher education.
I know some Tribal Council members see per capita as a handout that makes
it easier for our members to not work. If we can provide more educational re
sources our members will be able to improve our chances of increased physical,
mental and spiritual health through better income and quality of living. Per
capita can be a very necessary tool for our community members. It is used to
help pay bills, education costs, housing and proper nutrition. Research shows
that safe, nurturing and high-quality environments in childhood increases
children's ability to achieve in school and later on in life. This also leads to
better health, lower cost of medical bills, higher productivity and increased
capacity for our community to work together.
The cost savings will allow for more money to be used for other necessary social
assistance programs. It also improves the lives of our Elders and increases our
life expectancy (which really low compared to almost every other ethnicity).
.r.. vopua can lead to more resources in terms of books for children, better
nutrition, better housing environments (which leads to lower rates of asthma),
high socioeconomic status. I suggest we continue to have per capita.
The following policy ideas could help with our community's problems. I
suggest the Tribal Council invests money in programs to: assist single par
ents with daycare assistance, improve literacy for children, enhance support
and skill trainings provided for members, create rehabilitation programs for
Tribal members released from prison custody, enhance housing opportuni
ties, increase social programs that provide temporary assistance and increase
the amount of financial assistance. Per capita improves the social economic
status of members, which improves housing, education, skills and also the
resources of Tribal children
I know that as a community we are no better than our weakest member.
It is all of our jobs to improve ourselves and our community. No one should
stand alone.
I have much respect for our Tribal Council leaders of current and past
councils; you have made important decisions that help improved our com
munity. Thank you for your hard work each day and for taking the time to
read my letter.
Rebecca Knight
Roll M 1783
CORRECTION In the Oct. 1 issue of Smoke Signals, the submitted
Walking On for Tribal Elder John Henry Simmons did not include Simmons'
nephew, James Gilbert, among the list of pallbearers at the funeral.
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DEADLINE PATE ISSUE PATE
Tuesday, Oct 20 NOV. 1
Thursday, Nov. 5 NOV. 1 5
Friday, Nov. 20 DEC. I
Friday, Dec. 4 DEC! 15
Friday, Dec. 18 ...JAN. 1,2010
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
2009-10 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Chairwoman
ext. 2352
chcryle.kcnnedygrandronde.org
Reyn Leno
Tribal Vice Chair
ext. 2399
reyn.lenogTandronde.org
O Kathleen Tom
Tribal Secretary
ext. 1 777
kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr.
ext. 2353
$teve.bobb grandronde.org
D Chris Mercler
- ext. 2305
chris.merclergrandronde.org
D Wink Soderberg
ext. 1 444
wlnk.soderberggrandronde.org
D Toby McClary
-ext. 1771
toby.mcclarygrandronde.org
n June Sell-Sherer
ext. 2300
une.sherer grandronde.org
DValorle Sheker
- ext. 2355
vai.shekergrandronde.org