18 NOVEMBER 1,2011
Smoke Signals
Dear Tribal members:
Please read this letter with an open mind. For those of you who go on to
Facebook and read the different message boards, I am sure you've come
to the conclusion that this is a highly divisive issue. Given some of the
dynamics, I think that would be the case regardless of whether the amend
ment was bundled together or split up into what some people think could
be as many as six or seven parts. Anybody could conclude that the actual
language itself is not as big of a problem as the real issues, which I think
are feuds between warring political alliances and even families, which
sadly certain members of our Council appear to be sucked into.
While I understand that some people want to be able to choose the
amendments they like, we must consider lessons from history. The 1999
amendment was passed overwhelmingly, and while some of those changes
have led to the present predicament, it was the most successful constitu
tional amendment to date. Being a numbers person, I would like to offer
a different view. Now consider the 2008 amendments, of which only one
passed.
Amendment A (five-year relinquishment) passed (880 yes, 277 no) or
76 of the vote.
Amendment B (parent enrolled at time of birth) failed (700 yes, 450 no)
or 60.9 of the vote.
Amendment C (definition of Grand Ronde blood) failed (636 yes, 513 no)
or 55.3 of the vote.
The average of the three amendments would have been 738 yes votes,
with 759 being needed to pass. They would have failed, but two of them
would have gained substantially more votes.
Based on what I've read online, especially Facebook, most people who
are voting "no" are doing so because of the fear of the enrollment floodgates
opening up and bankrupting our Tribe. This gets me thinking that had
there been language for the enrollment "cap," that is a limit on the num
ber of people who could enroll every year, perhaps the 2008 amendments
would have passed. The driving force behind "no" votes, thinner slices of
pie, would have been neutralized quite a bit.
Keep in mind that in 2008 the numbers given us were 249 new members
would be eligible to enroll just with the "parent on the roll" language alone,
and 49 for the proposed definition of Grand Ronde blood. The numbers
on both have increased since then, according to the informational meet
ings. I believe the latest approach makes a lot more sense now. There was
conflict on Council because several of them wanted to proceed with only
the "parent on the roll" language, even though the immediate impact from
that approach would be probably several times greater than the present
amendment bundle with the included annual enrollment limit. That ap
proach makes little sense to me, but that is often the case when backroom
politics are involved.
People can fret over the greatly exaggerated floodgates all they want.
However, if we are going to in any way reverse the unintended conse
quences and problems of the 1999 amendment, it will require us allowing
more people to enroll, whether the approach was a bundle or separate votes.
With the bundle at least, I know we'll be able to control that, especially
the "parent on the roll" part that while the popular one to support also
has the biggest financial impact.
I see now why Council is proceeding this way. For more information or
to discuss this with other members I encourage you to visit the Facebook
group "The Grand Ronde Tribe." You can find it by searching for it in
Facebook. Also, I welcome any and all friend requests from other Tribal
members.
This amendment is a good compromise and I plan on voting "yes." I pray
that you will too; it's the right thing to do!
Andy Jenness
Role 1936
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