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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Mattings DATE TIME Wednesday, Feb. 2 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 4 p.m. Please note that theme time and date art subject to change if needed. Call Dakota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at S03-879-1309 to confirm. General Council mooting Sunday, Feb. 6 11 a.m. Tribal Community Center 2 FEBRUARY 1,2011 CommittccSEB Summit set for Fob. 9 The annual CommitteeSpecial Event Board member summit will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at Spirit Mountain Casino in the Molalla A & B conference rooms. Lunch will be provided as Tribal members who volunteer for com mittees and special event boards are briefed about their roles and responsibilities. For more information, contact Tribal Council Senior Administrative As sistant Lauri Smith at 503-879-2304 or lauri.smithgrandronde.org. D UGGB33B Dear Smoke Signals: lam writing in full support of Tribal member Rebecca Knight's letter in the Jan. 1, 2011, issue. When I first began receiving per capita payments, I was a kid living on my own, supporting myself and trying to finish high school. Those payments helped me persevere and get that diploma. Many moons ago, I, too, remember those per capita payments being higher. Recession or no recession, Spirit Mountain Casino was able to renovate its already stunning hotel. I can't imagine what the bill was for all those brand new furnishings. Furthermore, I can't imagine our own people starving for it. Wake up Grand Ronde, these are the issues! Elaborate trips are being made, all on the Tribe's dime. Sending couticil and committee members here, there and everywhere. Sure, a representative from the Tribe is needed at many of these functions, that's how work gets done in many cases. However, many of the trips I saw in the budget reports are questionable, needless spending. It seems as though our Tribe is getting more government as we go along. I would encourage more to look over those budget reports we're let in on. Half the problem is that everyone blindly allows them to make decisions and spend money. Many wonderful programs are in place, that I'm certain of. But I think it's becoming less about our people and more about hitting a donation race and reaping that glory. $50 million in giving? What about us? My two children are Grand Ronde Tribal members. Or, at least they should be. I've been told numerous times that I look like I've just stepped out of a tepee, but my children are denied recognition and benefits they deserve. It's not funny. It's about preserving our people, and it'll be over soon if we continue to squander away members with Native blood, no matter how much of it. I broke my back two years ago. I'm still fighting the U.S. government for disability. I thought I could turn to my Tribe for aid, but turns out the govern ment has to declare me disabled before my own Tribe will help. What a joke! I thought we were our own, sovereign nation? My wife works full-time and my family depends on per capita payments when they come and the amounts have been heartbreaking. Please give us what we need and deserve so desperately. Enrollment policies need amend ments before we disappear. Tribal members, please stand up with Rebecca Knight and I to fight for what is ours. Our Elders did it before and we can do it again. Write your letter of support, air your concerns and copy each of the council members on it. Adam Jeffers Roll 3779 Dear Smoke Signals: On behalf of myself and my brothers and sister and our families, we want to thank everyone for the love and support you have given us during the passing of our father, Russell (Russ) Leno. The flowers, cards, food, hugs and kind words mean so much to us and have helped as we learn how to cope with our loss. Special thanks to Deitz Peters for his flute song and spiritual guidance, the Grand Ronde Color Guard for the military honors, Ken Haller for officiating the services, Eagle Beak for the prayer songs, all of the speakers and attendees and those who prepared and served the meal. We are deeply touched by all that has been done in his honor. I think someone said earlier, and I cannot agree more, Dad never really knew how much of an impact he had on people and how much he was loved. My first trip home since his passing was difficult and my sorrow was eased by the people in the com munity who make the community special. Thank you for being there for us. Our prayers and love for you, Jackie Leno Grant, Roll 895 Ron Leno, Roll 1054 Rusty Leno, Roll 1055 Rhonda Leno, Roll 1097 Randy Leno, Roll 1053 Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21, in observance of Tribal Chiefs Day. PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173 Web site: www.grandronde.orgnews E-mail: newsgrandronde.org Twitter: CTGRgov Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde SIOBHAN TAYLOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR 503-879-1920 rioMun.oytor9vndrande.org SCARLETT HOLTZ PUBLICATIONS SECRETARY 503-879-1453 Kjrtro.huturftpjndiondt.org GEORGE VALDEZ GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST 503-879-1416 george.vjlderggijiiOiuiide.org ALICIA SELWYN CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-5211 aKclajetwyngrandronde.org KRJSTEN RAVIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECRETARY 503-879-1418 bfcteiumu9grandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS PAGE DESIGNER 503-879-2190 lusdn.prtfkuJjr jndronde.org MICHELLE ALAIMO PHOTOJOURNALIST 503-879-1961 rntcrwlta .JlJrmoJggrjnaYoride.org DEAN RHODES PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR 503-879-1463 ojn.rhodeiQgrjndronde.org RON KARTEN STAFF WRITER 503-879-4663 ron.lurien9grjndronde.org CARLA MAY CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 CJfU.robere9gnndronde.org DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Friday, Feb. 4 Feb. 15 Friday, Feb. 18 March I Friday, March 4 March 1 5 Friday, March 18 April 1 Tuesday, April 5 April 1 5 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 201 1 Tribal Council 1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org D Cheryle A. Kennedy Chris Mercier Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305 . eXk 2352 chris.merclergrandronde.org cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org D ink Soderberg D Reyn Leno ext. 1 444 Tribal Vice Chair wink.soderberggrandronde.org -ext. 2399 DTobyMcCIary reyn.Ienograndronde.org ex 4555 Q Kathleen Tom toby.mccIarygrandronde.org Tribal Secretary Jack Giffen Jr. - ext. 1 777 ext. 2300 kathleen.tomgrandronde.org Jack.giffengrandronde.org Steve Bobb Sr. q Valorie Sheker -ext. 2353 - ext. 2355 steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org
