2
S moke S ignals
july 15, 2014
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, July 23.............................................................................5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear fellow Tribal members:
I have two unrelated points to make with this letter, but I will make it
as brief as possible.
The July 2 “emergency” amendment to the Enrollment ordi-
nance:
When I heard of this meeting, my fi rst assumption was that it was a
rumor gone wild. The very idea of council deciding to relinquish their duty
to vote on whether to disenroll a family seemed too ridiculous to believe.
Votes on enrolling and disenrolling members have been a part of Tribal
Council’s responsibility since Restoration; pawning that responsibility off
is just like forcing someone else to pull the trigger. I could not believe that
they would make a proposal like this. As a former Tribal Council member,
I would not have done it as an “emergency,” which means we, as members,
don’t get to voice our opinions before the amendment goes into effect. For
those of you that do not know what I am referring to, Tribal members that
the committee recommends for disenrollment will be considered provisional
members and most of their rights will be stripped from them until the
Tribal Court makes the fi nal determination, including the right to vote,
interestingly. Suspending 60 plus voters who are defi nitely against the
whole concept of disenrollment will have an undeniable effect on the elec-
tion. I don’t expect anybody to admit this, but it sure looks like a motive to
me. Furthermore, to do it in the middle of a highly visible disenrollment
case is a classic example of changing the rules midway because it is obvi-
ous you are about to lose.
Council’s use of Tribal publications during elections:
This issue was raised years ago at a General Council meeting, January of
2008 to be specifi c, when the current Chair proposed that council articles
in the Tilixam Wawa be voted on as they could be used to campaign. Now,
years later, he appears to be doing the very thing which he opposed and
even suggested a policy to govern. My issue with his report in the July 1
edition of Smoke Signals is that it came after nominations and he is up
for re-election. In the past, council members have been restricted from
contributing to Tribal publications while they are up for re-election. This
is an unfair advantage. Will he be running more of these reports, using
campaign catchphrases like “transparency,” “communication” and “ac-
countability”? If so, then aren’t they basically additional candidate state-
ments? Apparently there was never a policy enacted but the advantage
here is grossly unfair.
Angie Blackwell
Roll #1089
(Editor’s note: The Message From the Chair in the July 1 Smoke
Signals was submitted before Tribal nominations occurred on June
29 and is part of the Tribal Chair’s regular job duties of writing
columns to keep the Tribal membership informed.)
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Candidate Forum
6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
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DEADLINE DATE
In October 2013, the Oregon Health Plan sent out a one-page applica-
tion to sign up for health benefi ts called “Fast Track.”
Any recipient on SNAP (food stamps) received a Fast Track letter. All
Oregon Health Plan members who qualifi ed for coverage through Fast
Track must re-apply within the fi rst year of coverage or risk losing their
coverage. If it has not been a full year, you still need to re-apply to con-
tinue receiving health benefi ts.
In July, the Oregon Health Authority will begin sending letters to Orego-
nians who received the Oregon Health Plan through Fast Track explain-
ing the re-application process. The Grand Ronde Health and Wellness
Center Community Partners want to help Tribal and community members
make sure they retain their health coverage. If you do not re-apply, you
will lose your health benefi ts through the Oregon Health Plan.
Please give us a call for information and assistance.
Loretta Meneley,
Cover Oregon Certifi ed Application Assister at 503-879-1359
Sydney West,
Cover Oregon Certifi ed Application Assister at 503-879-2197
Or call 800-775-0095 and ask to speak with Loretta or Sydney.
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
ISSUE DATE
Monday, July 21 .......................... Aug. 1
Tuesday, August 5 ...................... Aug. 15
Editorial Policy
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 verifi cation 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 refl ect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
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2014 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
n Reyn Leno
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n Denise Harvey
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reyn.leno@grandronde.org
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denise.harvey@grandronde.org
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n Cheryle A. Kennedy
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