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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2016)
2 S moke S ignals MAY 15, 2016 NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, May 18.............................................................................5 p.m. Tribal Council nominations Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. 11 a.m. Sunday, June 26 Letters Tribal Community Center Dear Smoke Signals: In my time on Tribal Council, one of my biggest priorities has been to re- sponsibly manage the Tribal budget and to protect our endowments and our investments while providing fair and equal services to our Tribal members. Last year, my priority was the same, but I wanted to make sure that Tribal members looking to increase the value of their homes or the homes they would be purchasing had access to new sources of funding. In the 2016 budgeting process, I proposed and Tribal Council approved setting an amount of funding aside that could be used for a new program for homeowners or those purchasing a home through our Tribal Housing Depart- ment. The program would be available to those who may not qualify for some of the programs we already provide like the home repair grant. Staff is currently working with the Housing Department manager and the Executive Ofice to develop the program and draft policies. And while the policies are still being developed, the program should be one that matches dollar for dollar what a Tribal member will spend to upgrade or improve a feature of their home that will be semi-permanent and bring value to the home up to a certain dollar amount. Some examples would include fencing, decking, concrete paving, remodeling projects and new looring. The goal would be that it would be a permanent project that would bring value to your home. The program will be funded by earnings off our Tribal Housing Endowment and will have no impact on gaming revenues. For 2016, the Tribe has set aside $120,000 for the new program and staff is working hard to have it in place by June 2016 if not sooner. The draft program and policies will be presented to Tribal Council in the coming months. Once Tribal Council has approved the proposals, the Housing Department will launch the program and will work with staff to notify Tribal members through Smoke Signals and the Tilixam Wawa. We look forward to rolling out this new program and look forward to work- ing with our members to develop new programs and enhance the services we already provide. Ed Pearsall Tribal Council Roll #589 Smoke Signals PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173 Website: www.grandronde.org/news E-mail: news@grandronde.org Twitter: CTGRgov Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde DEAN RHODES CHELSEA CLARK MICHELLE ALAIMO PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS/ PUBLICATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PHOTOJOURNALIST 503-879-1463 dean.rhodes@grandronde.org michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org 503-879-1418 chelsea.clark@grandronde.org GEORGE VALDEZ JUSTIN PHILLIPS BRENT MERRILL GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST PAGE DESIGNER STAFF WRITER 503-879-2190 503-879-4663 503-879-1416 justin.phillips@grandronde.org brent.merrill@grandronde.org george.valdez@grandronde.org SCARLETT HOLTZ VALERIE COX CENTRAL PHONES CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 503-879-1446 valerie.cox@grandronde.org scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org DEADLINE DATE Dear Smoke Signals: I grew up being proud of my Tribe and heritage, feeling very fortunate to be part of such a strong, supportive community that takes care of its people. I was proud to be a representative of our Tribe as Royalty in 2000-01. Now, however, I am ashamed of Grand Ronde’s unethical denial of our own people, and the greed that is undoubtedly behind it. As a Tribal member, I am writing to show my support for the reinstatement of the treaty involving Chief Tumulth, and all of his descendants. I want to urge Tribal Council to stop the disenrollment of our already dwindling Tribe. Honor the lives of the dedicated Tribal members that we have abandoned, like Chuck Williams, by recognizing the treaty and reinstating them as Tribal members as they always should be. Valerie Haskins Roll #4140 (Editor’s note: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has never disavowed the 1855 Treaty of the Willamette Valley, one of seven rat- iied treaties the Tribe signed ceding most of western Oregon to the federal government.) 503-879-1961 ISSUE DATE Friday, May 20 .............................June 1 Monday, June 6 ..........................June 15 Monday, June 20 ...........................July 1 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 veriication 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 relect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. See page 20 for more letters. Members of: Native American Journalists Association Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Graduation Ceremony set for June 17 The Education Department’s Graduation Ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, June 17, in the Tribal gym. Dinner will be provided. The ceremony will recognize Grand Ronde students who have reached an educational milestone in K-3 Chinuk language class, eighth grade, high school, GED completion, certiicates and college diplomas. If you graduated or will be graduating in the 2015-16 academic year, contact Education via e-mail at education@grandronde.org or call 503- 879-2275 or 800-422-0232, ext. 2275. Bike helmets available The Tribe’s Social Services Department has bicycle helmets available for distribution. Those needing a helmet need to visit the department and sign a helmet application, as well as get itted. For more information, contact Social Services at 503-879-2034. 2016 Tribal Council 1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org Reyn Leno Tribal Chairman — ext. 2399 Denise Harvey — ext. 2353 reyn.leno@grandronde.org Chris Mercier — ext. 1444 Jack Giffen Jr. Tribal Vice Chair — ext. 2300 jack.giffen@grandronde.org Cheryle A. Kennedy Tribal Secretary — ext. 2352 cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org Tribal Oice Closures Tribal ofices will be closing on noon Friday, May 27, and closed on Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day. denise.harvey@grandronde.org chris.mercier@grandronde.org Brenda Tuomi — ext. 4555 brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org Tonya Gleason-Shepek — ext. 1777 tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org Ed Pearsall — ext. 2305 Jon A. George — ext. 2355 ed.pearsall@grandronde.org jon.george@grandronde.org