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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2016)
2 S moke S ignals JUNE 1, 2016 NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, June 1..............................................................................5 p.m. Wednesday, June 15............................................................................1 p.m. Wednesday, June 29............................................................................5 p.m. Tribal Council nominations Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Tribal Community Center 11 a.m. Sunday, June 26 Letters Dear Smoke Signals: It is time to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment. The mem- bership’s voice is heard through their votes. By bundling the deinition of Grand Ronde blood with the parent on the roll issues, Tribal Council is controlling the membership’s vote. This is not fair and this is not going to result in an accurate vote of the membership. If you agree with one issue and not the other, you have to pass some- thing you don’t agree with or fail something you do agree with. This is forcing Tribal members to compromise. This is a disservice to the voting membership. Tribal Council members have publicly stated that they feel bundling these issues will give it a better chance to pass. How is this fair? This is a major decision and the membership should be able to vote on each issue separately. In addition to saying “no” to bundled amendments, please consider the following. The proposed amendment: • Will allow Indian blood not currently deined as Grand Ronde blood to become Grand Ronde blood for enrollment; • Will create new split families; • Will not create equality. There will be those born before 1999 who can count all Indian blood and those born after 1999 who cannot count all Indian blood; • Will not ix all split families. I will be voting “no” on the proposed constitutional enrollment amend- ment. 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 503-879-1961 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 CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org Dear Smoke Signals: I would like to take a moment to express my opinion on the constitutional vote taking place. As a Tribal member who has lived here my entire life and been through a few constitutional votes, there are a few questions I believe each of you should ask yourselves before voting. Is it really the right time to do this? No. Do you know the impact to yourself and your family if it were to pass? No. Do you know the impact to our endowments, which are the future for all Tribal members? No. Do you know the impact it could have on the programs and beneits you currently receive? No. Do you think blood from other Tribes should be used for calculating Grand Ronde blood? No. Was the Enrollment Department or the Enrollment Committee involved in the development of the language put before you to vote on? No. Do you believe bundling things together is really the best way to ind out what the membership really wants? No. Did Tribal Council, in its planning for possible lower revenues from some competition from other casinos, plan on a change in our enrollment? No. Do you think it is right to move forward with an election when only part of our membership will be able to vote due to the short time frame? No. I truly believe a vote of this magnitude should have had a whole lot of these questions answered before we ever put it out for the membership to vote on. Tribal Council’s top priority should always be what is best for the entire enrolled membership and not focused on folks wanting to become members. We are still a growing Tribe, so do we really need an enrollment change? In my opinion as a Tribal member, no. So join me in voting “no” on both of the choices put before you on the constitutional amendments. Reyn Leno Tribal Council Chair Roll #453 See page 20 for more letters. DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Monday, June 6 ..........................June 15 Monday, June 20 ...........................July 1 Tuesday, July 5 ............................July 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 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. Members of: Native American Journalists Association Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association 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 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
