Smoke Signals
10
AUGUST 15,2012
Dear Tribal members:
There has been a petition signed by many Tribal members asking Tribal
Council to ensure that we receive a minimum of 25 percent of our revenue
in per capita payments. Tribal Council has received copies of this petition,
and I would like to urge them to consider the positive effects that this would
have on every Tribal member, everywhere, without exception.
There are many programs, benefits and services provided by the Tribe, but
every single one of them serves a small portion of the Tribe, or a small percent
age of Tribal members who qualify for those benefits or services or program
assistance every single one of them except per capita payments!
Per capita is the only one that is evenly distributed to all Tribal members
everywhere, regardless of where you live or your circumstances or age or
health or income; this is truly an equal benefit meant to help everyone the
same, and many Tribal members really rely on this Tribal supplement for
paying bills, paying for child care, paying out-of-pocket medical expenses
and general living expenses.
The issue of 25 percent per capita, or the issue of per capita payments
in general, tends to focus on members' desire for increased "welfare assis
tance" or "free money," associated with greed and lack of appreciation for
what they're getting. This cannot be further from the truth. This benefit,
as well as all benefits we receive from our Tribe, is not given to us out of
pity or generosity; all Tribal monies and all benefits are inherently ours,
just as every single aspect of the Tribal government is ours.
We put our faith in Tribal Council as leaders of our Tribe to allocate
those benefits judiciously and to manage our funds responsibly but they
are our benefits; they are our funds; it is our Tribe! I believe that every
one is grateful for what they receive, but they, like many throughout this
country, are struggling. They're wondering where their per capita money
is going, and they're frustrated because answers from Tribal Council are
not forthcoming or not comprehensible or clear.
I, like many Tribal members, look at the dwindling of our per capita
payments (and subsequent demand for a higher per capita percentage) as
a reflection of Tribal government overspending, program administration
failure and an inability to manage the Tribal budget effectively. In other
words, demanding more money in per capita payments is at the same time
a demand for government accountability and financial responsibility.
We are not asking for something that is impossible to give, or something
that is not already ours; we are asking for more responsible management of
our funds and an appropriate distribution of benefits to all Tribal members
through the per capita payments.
Our Gaming Revenue Allocation Plan, written as a requirement of the
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to allow us to appropriate the revenue
from our gaming activities, is based on Tribal Council determinations
and approval by the Secretary of the Interior. This is a living document
(meaning it is dynamic and changeable), and can (and should) be edited as
needed to meet the changing needs of the Tribe. Currently, it states that
"The Tribal Council has found that the general welfare of Tribal members
is best served if a portion of the Tribe's share of the net revenue of the
gaming enterprise Spirit Mountain Casino is distributed per capita to
Tribal members at the discretion of the Tribal Council, but not to exceed
45 percent of net revenues."
This means that Tribal Council can currently use its discretion to allocate
up to 45 percent of our casino revenue for our per capita payments for the
general welfare of Tribal members! Of course, in order to do this and have
it be meaningful, they must first look at the revenue brought in at the
casino (and associated obstacles to increased revenue), the (over)spending
at the government and administrative offices, and their lack of budgeting
acumen and abilities.
The fact that our per capita payments are steadily declining says that Tribal
Council either doesn't want to set a standard percentage or regulate that
amount through the budget process or that they don't know how to do so.
My questions: Why don't they want to? Why don't they know how?
Charles G. Haller II
Roll 1032
D Bid 5a mi ChiHd WeDffaire
changing ifts oiartne
The Tribe's Indian Child Welfare program is chang
ing its name to Children & Family Services.
"A couple of years ago when the Indian Child Wel
fare Ordinance was revised, the name was changed Qkjl,;Jren & Family
to Children & Family Services Ordinance," said Dana SERVICES
Leno, Children & Family Services supervisor.
'The program values the focus of our work to support and help strengthen
the lives of children and families. Child welfare has such a negative con
nection and we hope to broaden the community's thoughts of the types
of services the new Children & Family Services Program may be able to
provide to assist families."
For more information about the name change, contact Foster Care
Recruitment Specialist Amanda Mercier at 503-879-2039 or amanda.
merciergrandronde.org. O
Grand Ronde Health and
Wellness Center institutes
Broken Appointment Policy
In an effort to make medical services more efficient, the Grand Ronde
Health and Wellness Center (H&WC) has approved and instituted a
broken appointment policy for medically-related appointments at the
H&WC. To qualify as a broken appointment a patient must either not
show up for their appointment, show up more than 10 minutes late
or give less than 24 hours notice of cancellation. When any of these
events occur, the patient is notified in writing. After the third broken
appointment in a six-month time frame, the patient will not be allowed
to schedule routine appointments. However, they will be offered a "sit
and wait appointment" the chance to sit and wait for an opening
with a provider. This probationary period will last for six (6) months.
The H&WC has a process for reminding patients of appointments and
strives to notify patients of appointments the day before.
The broken appointment policy is very important as broken or
missed appointments create unused time in a provider's schedule,
which is inefficient financially and leads to barriers to accessing care.
Ultimately, a broken appointment policy exists to improve access to
care for all patients and is critical to providing responsive, cost-effective
health services. B
NatfuiraD Resoioirces
has forest passes
The Tribe's Natural Resources Department has free annual North
west Forest Passes available for enrolled Tribal members. The pass
is valid for one year from date of issue.
The Forest Pass is valid at day-use sites in Oregon and Washington
where "Recreation Pass Required" signs are posted.
Some examples are Hebo Lake Picnic Site, Derek Road Trailhead,
Quinault Rain Forest Trailhead, Tumalo Falls Trailhead, Lava River
Cave Interpretive Site, Crane Prairie, Bagby Hot Springs Trailhead,
Wickiup Plains Trailhead, Lake Serene Trailhead, Clear Lake Public
boating site and West Fork Humtulips Middle Trailhead. The Forest
Pass does not cover fees for snow parks, some concessionaire-operated
sites, developed campgrounds and cabin rentals, wilderness climbing
and river permits.
For more information, contact the Natural Resources Department
at 503-879-2424 or visit the Tribal Web site at www.grandronde.
orgdepartmentsnatural-resources.
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