Smoke Signals 3
OCTOBER 15, 2012
Restoration Celebration set for Nov. 18
The Tribe will celebrate its 29th anniversary of Restoration on
Sunday, Nov. 18, in the Tribal plankhouse and gym.
Members interested in volunteering to help plan the event should
call Public Affairs at 503-879-1418.
The day will begin with a gathering in the plankhouse, followed by
a meal served in the Tribal gym and then a powwow.
The Tribe was officially restored on Nov. 22, 1983, by President
Ronald Reagan after 29 years of Termination. The celebration is being
held on Nov. 18 because Thanksgiving falls on the 22nd this year. B
Attention Tribal members with
Skookum health benefits
In 2008, the Health and Wellness Center was given the opportunity to
manage and administer the Tribal Member Health Program (Skookum).
Program expenditures in 2007 were in excess of $22 million and projec
tions for future years were going to put a tremendous burden on Tribal
resources with 2012's estimate exceeding $30 million. However, with help
from the membership, we have been able to actually reduce our program
costs. By aggressively pursuing discounts, coordinating with Contract
Health Services and providing the membership with the tools to be bet
ter health consumers, we have reduced the annual program costs to an
estimated $18 million for 2012.
It's now time to take the next step in making your Skookum Health
Program even more efficient. To do so, Tribal Council has authorized the
program to begin verifying Medicaid eligibility for all Tribal members
without primary insurance coverage, such as employer-sponsored plan,
Medicare, private plan, etc. This verification of Medicaid eligibility will
take place on an annual basis.
What does this mean to you? If you currently use only the Skookum
Health Program benefits, you will be required to show proof of your
Medicaid application andor eligibility. This will require you to apply for
Medicaid and receive either acceptance or a denial for coverage.
Should your income be over the Medicaid income limits and you choose
not to apply for Medicaid, providing proof of your ineligible income will
be acceptable.
When will this change occur? We will begin implementing this change
effective Jan. 1, 2013. Please expect to receive more information in both
Smoke Signals and by mail.
Should you not complete the annual audit and return the appropriate
information to the Tribe, your Skookum health benefits will be suspended
or revoked. Staff will be available at the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness
Center to assist members with the Medicaid application process. B
Committee seeks Elders' phone numbers
The Tribal Elders Committee is working on a volunteer phone list of
Elders. If you would like to submit your phone number and address to be
available to other Elders, send it to elders.committeegrandronde.org or
leave a message at 503-879-2231. B
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
Ceremonial Hunt Board meets as needed. Chair: Shonn Leno.
Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month
in Modular No. 2. Chair: Perri McDaniel.
Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month
in Modular No. 3. Chair: CeCe Kneeland.
Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the
month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
Elders' Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month
in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs.
Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Building. Acting Chair: Robert Schmid.
Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the
month in the Tribal Wellness Center. Acting Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
Powwow Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of
the month at the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dana Ainam.
Rodeo Special Event Board meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the
month at the Tribal Rodeo Office. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of
the month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chair: Jenny San
chez. Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Bob Mercier.
Veterans Special Event Board meets at 4 p.m. the first and third Tues
day of the month in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gene LaBonte.
05
Photo by Dean Rhodes
Tribal lobbyist Justin Martin briefs General Council attendees on
Measures 82 and 83 during the Oct. 7 meeting held at the Monarch
Hotel and Convention Center in Clackamas. Watching are Tribal Council
members, from left, Kathleen Tom, Chris Mercier, Cheryle A. Kennedy,
Secretary Toby McClary, Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr., Steve Bobb Sr., June
Sherer and Jon A. George. The briefing lasted approximately two hours
in executive session.
General Council discusses
private casino measures
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
CLACKAMAS About 60
Tribal members and employees
were briefed about the two private
casino initiatives on the Nov. 6
ballot in Oregon for two hours in
executive session during the Oct.
7 General Council meeting held at
the Monarch Hotel and Conven
tion Center.
Because the briefing was held
in executive session, Smoke Sig
nals cannot report on the specifics
of what occurred.
Tribal member Justin Martin,
who also works as the Tribe's
principal lobbyist in Salem,
briefed Tribal members on Mea
sures 82 and 83 and the Tribe's ef
forts to help defeat the measures.
He then fielded approximately 20
questions and comments from
Tribal members.
The complementary measures
would amend the Oregon Con
stitution to allow private casinos
and also specifically permit one
to be built at the shuttered grey
hound racetrack in Wood Village,
which is an eastern suburb of
Portland.
Oregon's nine federally rec
ognized Tribes, as well as other
organizations like StillBadForO
regon.org, oppose the measures,
one of which was defeated by
Oregon voters in 2010 by a 68-32
percent margin.
In addition, Gov. John Kit
zhaber recently came out in op
position to the measures, which
he said would break Oregon's
promise to Tribes and negatively
affect revenues from the Oregon
Lottery.
Outside the General Council
meeting, Tribal members picked
up anti-measure lawn signs,
bumper stickers, information
sheets and window stickers.
Before the executive session
started, Tribal Lands Man
ager Jan Michael Looking Wolf
Reibach played a blessing song
on Native flute and the Portland
area drum group performed as
part of the monthly cultural
presentation.
After the executive session,
Elder Laura Gleason, Nina
Portwood and Trey George won
the $50 door prizes and Kayla
Leno won the $100 door prize.
Elder Bernadine Shriver also
won a cedar necklace made by
Tribal Council member Jon A.
George.
The next General Council
meeting will be held at 11 a.m.
Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Tribal
Community Center to discuss
the preliminary 2013 Tribal
budget. D
Elders7 Halloween Costume
Party slated for Oct. 27
The Elders' Halloween Costume Party will be held from 1 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Elders' Activity Center.
Elders and their guests should call the center at 503-879-2233 to sign
up for the event. For more information, contact Elder Cherie Butler at
503-879-6371 or 503-560-8877.
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions.
Education Committee 1 Vacancy
Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.