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