2 MAY 1,2012
Smoke Signals
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, May 2 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 16 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 30 5 p.m.
Please note that these timet and dates are subject to change if needed.
General Council meeting
Sunday, May 6 10 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
Tribal Community Input meeting at Tribal gym 1 p.m.
Dear Tribal Council:
I would like to thank all of you for the big bouquet of flowers you sent
me.
Words cannot fully express how grateful I was to receive such a thoughtful
and wonderful gift.
They have been brightening my room and also will be a picture on my
wallpaper on my laptop computer.
I am praying that my recent illnesses will soon be a thing of the past.
Once again, thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. May God
bless you all.
Veronica "Munk Ili-III Mawich" Gaston
Roll 2332
Dear Smoke Signals:
I am writing to ask that you print a letter in the paper for me. I am in
prison at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem. There are many Tribal
members in here, as well as members from many other Tribes.
Each Saturday we are allowed to sweat and have traditional ceremonies,
but only if there are approved volunteers. We need one volunteer or they
call off the sweat. Sometimes the men have to go several weeks between
sweats.
Well, our Tribe is pretty much the closest to Salem, so I thought if we
could make a request for volunteers in Smoke Signals, maybe we could get
some regular, consistent volunteers so these guys are able to participate in
their traditional ways.
Will you please print our request in the letters section of our Smoke Signals
newspaper. Thank you very much for all you do for our people.
Daniel Freeman
Roll 2287
(Editor's note: Contact Oregon State Penitentiary Chaplain Phil
Holbrook at 503-373-1350 or phillip.e.holbrookdoc. state. or.us to
volunteer. The best time to contact him is between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday.)
Dear Smoke Signals:
In reply to the letter sent by Adam Jeffers, I have to agree with him that
the Tribal government has gone overboard with all the giving away of our
money. They are supposed to be looking for ways to better the lives of Tribal
members and their dependents. Instead, they give away millions at a shot,
take trips all over the country and it's all on our money. How do Tribal
members benefit from all of this? I have yet to see any sort of benefit coming
out of anything this government has done.
It's not greed, like Adam says. It's the council's and all elected people being
held accountable for their actions. Plain and simple. Put our Tribal govern
ment up next to Obama's government and the parallels will amaze you.
We need honest people who care about the health and welfare of the Tribal
members in the government, not those who take trips all over the place and
give away our money. But like the saying goes, total power totally corrupts,
and now this government needs to be held totally accountable for all their
actions and non-actions.
I have had all the disrespect I can handle from elected people everywhere,
including here. Since when does being an elected person give them the right
to play games and disrespect Tribal members? It seems to me that they think
they can do anything they please with immunity, and they do. Everyone is
held accountable for their actions sooner or later. How many lives need to
be ruined before things get rectified to protect Tribal members?
The time for accountability has come. We, as Tribal members on the short
end of the stick, have a chance to take back control of things. Or we can
just sit back and do nothing and let things snowball until we are unable to
even think. Not keeping your word, games and disrespect are all personal
things and cannot be tolerated coming from anyone. And it doesn't take an
elected official, just an ordinary person, to do those things and get things on
a personal level. There is no room for people like that in any government,
especially ours. It's bad enough we have one in the White House, we don't
need them in our government.
But like Adam Jeffers said, it's up to us to end all the garbage being put
on us by elected people and their disrespect.
Rod Smith
Roll 770
See page 10 for more letters.
Tribal offices will be closing at noon Friday, May 25, and be closed
on Monday, May 28, in observance of Memorial 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
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SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
ik)bhan.uykrgr andronde.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-879-1453
Kirlwi. rwruijrindronde.org
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GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
grorgt.vjldeifrindrondc.orf
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CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
valerte.coxgrartdronde.org
KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECRETARY
503-879-1418
krbun.NvUgrandronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
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503-879-1961
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PUBLICATIONS
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503-879-1463
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DEADLINE PATE ISSUE PATE
Friday, May 4 May 15
Friday, May 21 June 1
Tuesday, June 5 June 1 5
133B57
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.
5
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2012 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy Chris Mercier
Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2305
eXk 2352 chris.merciergrandronde.org
cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org Q june j,erer
Reyn Leno ext. 1 444
Tribal Vice Chair une.sherergrandronde.org
- ext. 2399 D Toby McClary
reyn.lenograndronde.org ex- 4555
Jack Giffen Jr. toby.mccIarygrandronde.org
Tribal Secretary Kathleen Tom
- ext. 2300 ext. 1 777
Jack.giffengrandronde.org kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
D Steve Bobb Sr. Valorie Sheker
- ext. 2353 - ext. 2355
steve.bobbgrandronde.org val.shekergrandronde.org