2
S moke S ignals
JUNE 15, 2016
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, June 15............................................................................1 p.m.
Wednesday, June 29............................................................................5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
It was hard not to notice all the letters during the last issue of Smoke
Signals. As usual, our Tribe is sharply divided on the issue of enrollment.
I wanted to share my thoughts because years ago I was a part of the
Enrollment Requirements Ad Hoc Committee.
Many of you might not be familiar with us. We were appointed by
Tribal Council in 2005. There were nine of us, split between those who
supported making changes, those who didn’t and those who were neutral.
We met regularly for more than a year. In October 2006, we made our
recommendations to Tribal Council. We recommended Tribal Council
move forward with a constitutional amendment that:
• Increased the relinquishment period from one year to ive;
• Removed the requirement that you have a parent on the roll at time
of birth; and
• Changed the deinition of Grand Ronde blood to include the present
Tribal roll.
Even back then we dealt with fear-mongering as people were harping
on the “loodgates” and worried about losing per capita. We had a good
idea of the numbers of new people who could enroll. We also recom-
mended Tribal Council combine the amendments, which is what people
are referring to with “bundle” and “bundling.” Our goal was to help all
the families impacted by the 1999 amendment and make sure nobody
impacted was left behind. Considering all the personalities involved, I
think our recommendation was a fair one that considered all the points
of view, including those who didn’t support any change.
What you are voting on right now is very close to our recommendation. I
see now that Tribal Council has come up with language that limits any fears
of the “loodgates.” And I can see that people still resort to misinforming
others about the impacts. What people don’t seem to understand is that
families moved away from Grand Ronde after Termination, and many start-
ed lives and careers elsewhere. They did what was best for their families,
but it seems some fellow Tribal members want to punish them for that.
As somebody who spent a very long year trying to come up with a
solution, I am happy to see a resolution that takes into account all the
work we did, and the impacts and the families who have been waiting
for so long to join a Tribe they clearly should be a part of. As a former
Enrollment Requirements Ad Hoc Committee member appointed by
Tribal Council and who took that job seriously, I am voting “yes.” It is
about time.
Diana Norton
Roll #2599
Dear Smoke Signals:
Do not allow your vote to be held hostage to a forced bundle!
It is time to vote on the proposed constitutional amendment. The
membership’s voice is heard through their votes. By bundling the dei-
nition 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 something 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
Roll #589
See page 16 for more letters.
Tribal Council nominations
11 a.m. Sunday, June 26
Tribal Community Center
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
Tribal ofices will be closing on noon Friday, July 1, and closed on
Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
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
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Monday, June 20 ...........................July 1
Tuesday, July 5 ............................July 15
Wednesday, July 20 ...................... Aug. 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.
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
Tribal Oice Closures
503-879-1961
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