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