S moke S ignals
april 1, 2014
BURIAL FUND ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney’s Of-
fi ce, is considering amendments to the Burial Fund Ordinance.
Proposed amendments were given a First Reading at the Jan. 30,
2013, Tribal Council meeting. Following public notice and review
of Tribal member comments, Tribal Council proposed additional
amendments to the Burial Fund Ordinance, which are summarized
below in italics. Proposed amendments were given a Second Read-
ing at the March 5, 2014, Tribal Council meeting.
The primary purposes of the proposed amendments are as fol-
lows:
(1) Clarify that the Burial Benefi t does not include reimbursement
for prepaid funeral expenses prior to death;
(2) Defi ne “Child” as a child who is age 25 or younger and natural,
adoptive or step-child of Tribal member;
(3) Set forth types of required family relationship evidence to
include birth or marriage certifi cates, orders of adoption, proof of
paternity or other documented evidence required by the Enroll-
ment Offi ce;
(4) Allow application for Burial Benefi t by written or verbal ap-
plication and specify that death certifi cate and invoice from funeral
provider are required;
(5) Increase stated Burial Benefi t from $3,500 to $5,500;
(6) Increase stated Reception Benefi t from $150 to $300;
(7) Make technical updates, such as changing references from
“Vital Statistics” to “Enrollment Department” and capitalizing
words;
(8) Define “Spouse” as legally married spouse under the ap-
plicable Tribal, state or foreign law in which the marriage was
entered; and
(9) Provide that a portion of the Burial Benefi t may be applied
to the purchase of a Tribal blanket from the Tribe for the funeral
service.
Tribal Council invites comment on the proposed amendments
to the Burial Fund Ordinance. For a copy of the proposed amend-
ments please contact the Tribal Attorney’s Offi ce at 503-879-4664.
Please send your comments to the Tribal Attorney’s Offi ce, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 or by e-mail to legal@
grandronde.org.
Comments must be received by April 15, 2014.
Elders’ phone numbers wanted
The Tribal Elders Committee is compiling 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.committee@grandronde.org or
leave a message at 503-879-2231. n
munk skukum ntsayka tilixam
Parenting Program for Parents and Youth Ages 10 - 14
Strengthening Families Program
A group for you & your youth to spend quality time together. Each evening
is interactive and fun as you learn tools to make a successful transition into
the teen years. Youth learn how to effectively negotiate and communicate
with parents and friends. While parents learn what is developmentally
appropriate for teens so they can set limits and grant privileges.
Led by: Cristina Lara, Carmen Mercier,
Amber Mercier & Amber Amouak
For parents AND youth 10 to 14 years old
There is no tuition - the class is offered for FREE!
Seven Wednesdays, April 23 - June 4
CTGR Adult Education
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
5-7:30 P.M. (Dinner served starting at 5 p.m.)
FREE DINNER AND CHILD CARE!!!
Space is limited and you,
MUST register to attend.
Interested? Register at
www.midvalleyparenting.org
or call Cristina Lara 503-879-2040
1
EARLY EYE EXAMINATIONS
ARE IMPORTANT
There are several vision problems that are commonly found
among preschool and school-age children. According to the National
Eye Institute’s Vision in Preschoolers study, amblyopia, or lazy eye,
affects 2 percent to 5 percent of preschoolers. Strabismus, in which
eyes cross in or turn out, affects 3 percent to 4 percent of preschool
children. In addition, the study found that 15 percent to 20 percent of
preschoolers had signifi cant refractive errors (needed glasses).
Recent studies estimate that 64 percent of children age 5 and
younger have never had their vision screened by a health care
professional. Even more alarming, an estimated 40 percent to 67
percent of children identifi ed with vision problems during school
screenings do not receive the recommended follow-up care by an
eye care professional.
Poor vision can interfere with a child’s ability to learn. It has been
estimated that 80 percent of what children learn comes through their
visual processing of information. And according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, impaired vision can affect a child’s
cognitive, emotional, neurologic and physical development by po-
tentially limiting the range of experiences and kinds of information
to which the child is exposed.
Early detection of vision problems is important not only for de-
velopmental reasons, but research has shown that optimum treat-
ment for eye conditions such as lazy eye, crossed eyes or eyes
that turn outward requires early detection, preferably before age 5,
otherwise irreversible visual defi cits, including blindness, may occur.
Amblyopia, the leading cause of vision loss in young Americans,
and strabismus affect more than 350,000 children entering school
each year.
Having 20/20 eyesight does not mean that a child has perfect vi-
sion; it means that they see clearly at a distance of 20 feet. There
are many components of good vision including near vision tasks,
such as reading, doing written assignments or computer work. In
addition, the ability to read requires the eyes to work as a team
and to both move appropriately to gather accurate information. A
comprehensive eye exam evaluates these skills and a number of
additional skills that are critical to a child’s ability to learn.
Due to the importance of early diagnosis, the Grand Ronde Op-
tometry Clinic has partnered with our Head Start program to provide
yearly comprehensive eye exams to diagnose and treat eye/vision
problems for all children, newborns to age 5.
The Optometry Clinic is here to meet your eye care needs. Please
call 503-879-2097 if you need to schedule an appointment. n
COMMERCIAL FIREWOOD SALE
SEALED BID OPENING ON THE
GRAND RONDE RESERVATION
The Natural Resources Department of the Grand Ronde Tribe
would like to invite Tribal members to consider bidding on the
2014 Eads Bowl Firewood Cleanup Permit sale. This permit would
allow the commercial removal of residual fi rewood from along the
510E-2, 510E-3, 510-E3A and 510E3-B Roads on the Reservation.
The permit area is generally located in the west ½ of Section 17,
T5S, R8W, Willamette Meridian Yamhill County, Oregon, on the
Grand Ronde Indian Reservation.
There is an estimated 10 cords to be sold for a lump sum price
to the highest bidder. All interested bidders should pick up a map
of the area from the Natural Resources Department and make
their own evaluation of the fi rewood cutting area that is available
to bid on. The minimum bid for this sale is $200 and that buys
the purchaser all fi rewood within 30 feet of roads and landings
in the approved cutting areas. The stated volumes for the above
timber sale are estimates and are not guaranteed. The fi rewood
permit will be good for a period of three months from the date of
the contract approval and no extensions will be granted.
Opening of sealed bids will take place at the Grand Ronde
Natural Resources Offi ce located at 47010 S.W. Hebo Road, Grand
Ronde, Oregon, at 2:30 p.m. local time on April 3, 2014. In the
event of a tie, the bidder whom delivered their bid fi rst shall be
the winner. For full information concerning the fi rewood, sample
permit and conditions of the permit, and bidding instructions, con-
tact the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Natural Resources
Department, 47010 S.W. Hebo Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347, or
by telephone 503-879-2424. n