12
S moke S ignals
JULY 1, 2016
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
We have Indian fighting Indian again. Why? To keep some of our own
Indians out. Shame on us.
All I am hearing on the “no” side is “What is going to happen to the money
I am receiving?” Instead of “How can we help our own get recognized and
heal our split families?”
I thought the former way as well 17 years ago. We have learned a lot
from our one-time oppressors, including dirty politics, selfishness and
greed. Some have learned much better than others.
I want to thank Ann Lewis for her letter in the June 1 Smoke Signals
pointing out the facts amongst a fog of misinformation and fear. You see,
back in 1999 I made the huge mistake in listening to the fear mongers. I
voted for the 1999 amendment, not knowing at the time that I was voting
against my own children.
My grandmother was Edna Bobb, a longtime Indian rights activist and
buried at the Grand Ronde Cemetery. My children have plenty of Indian
blood running through their veins. The spilled blood of their ancestors
was just as red and Indian as anyone else’s. However, due to my naiveté,
ignorance, perhaps greed and my 1999 vote, my daughter was disenrolled
and my two sons have never been recognized.
When have we ever refused our own? When? Why? I would argue, quite
vehemently, refusing our own is the antithesis of being Indian. So I urge
all to please put yourselves in the shoes of our split families and help me
to right a wrong and vote “yes.” Please learn from my mistake and don’t
ban our own children for the possibility of a few more bucks.
Besides, when did being Indian become about money? I ask for honor-
able Elders to exercise wisdom, compassion and fairness to help teach our
membership that being Indian is priceless and far more meaningful and far
more valuable than money. Please vote “yes” for all of our Indian rights.
The ones at the top, holding power never want things to change. Why
would they? Who are the ones that caused the split families? Do they ac-
tually have the nerve to try and persuade the membership to keep them
split? Why? Shame. Shame. Please do not being fooled, confused or con-
flicted, this is not about money or programs. This is about what’s right.
We are fair and reasonable people so please don’t let any scare tactics
persuade you into focusing on what very little you might lose, rather rejoice
in what we have to gain. This amendment is a step forward in uniting
and making our Tribe whole. Let us not forget it’s united we stand and
remember there are no per capitas, endowment programs without the
membership.
There was a time when we needed members. I propose that time will
never end and with each new member comes new hope for our people.
Please vote “yes” and thank you.
Joseph Raya
Roll #2188
Dear Smoke Signals:
This is my last opportunity to reach many of you on this historic choice.
Not since my college days have I had to dwell on a subject for so long. After
contemplating for another month, I felt the urge to again ask you to vote
“yes” on the upcoming constitutional election. Both of them.
We still are criticized, I see, for not moving forward with the parent on
the roll at time of birth and parent on the roll at time of application bundle
last year. I, myself, was at one time a staunch opponent of bundling. But
whether we moved forward with last year’s version or this year’s, all of
Tribal Council supported, and members would be getting a bundle. In the
end, we had to choose between a bundle that deliberately ignored certain
families impacted by the 1999 amendment or one that helped nearly all
of them.
There were no genuine attempts to compromise until it was too late.
Compromise in general is a rare thing in Grand Ronde, I am learning
after nine months on Tribal Council. Has it always been this divided? I
don't know. What I do know is we have a lot of people in this Tribe who
don’t like each other, and they base their votes on that. This constitutional
election has made that obvious.
But now for my reasons you should vote “yes”:
Enrollment: The 1999 amendment needs to be history.
A “yes” vote is the right thing to do. The 1999 bundled amendment had
multiple facets, and this proposal does the best possible to resolve the
chaos without disregarding the intent of the leadership at that time. I’ve
learned that some people have applied to be put on the Restoration Roll,
but were denied. They are descended from Grand Ronde people. Their
connection and blood is undeniable. But legal technicalities stand in their
way. This constitutional amendment is the only remedy for them. They
belong. Being a Grand Ronde Tribal member is a gift of good fortune. We
should share that, not hoard it.
Initiative, Referendum & Calling of Special General Council meetings:
Power to the People.
After much more thought, I still cannot think of any reason to vote “no”
on the Initiative, Referendum and Calling of Special General Council
meetings. None. Zero. Zip. Why would we not want our Tribal members to
have more power? Do we trust our members so little we don't want them
to be able to reverse a Tribal Council decision?
The petitioning numbers are not easy to achieve, but they would no longer
be impossible, which is what they presently are. The power of advisory
votes is good, but not enough to represent the will of the people, especially
when having to rely upon Tribal Council to even bring them forward.
The language in our Constitution for Initiative and Referendum was put
there so the General Council could be organized and make their voices
heard. These powers have not been exercised nearly enough, and to me if
members are driven enough to gather the 550 or so signatures to advance
an issue to a vote, then they deserve to have their voices heard. Yes, this
could mean one of my own decisions in the future gets overturned. But if
two-thirds voting disagree, no Tribal Council decision should stand. The
greatest check and balance to Tribal Council is the General Council.
Please, vote “yes.”
Brenda Tuomi
Roll #1438
Dear Smoke Signals:
The hour is late as I write this letter. Many of you might have already
made up your minds on the constitutional election. If you are on the fence,
let me help.
Enrollment has been a divisive issue since 1999, when we created two
classes of Tribal members. One class consists of those who can pass on all
their Indian blood as Grand Ronde blood, meaning people on or descended
from the Restoration Roll. Then we have those who cannot, which is really
anybody enrolled since 1984, but without an ancestor on the Restoration
Roll. Such people would have had Grand Ronde ancestry at some point,
just not that one roll.
With a Tribal history going back to the 1800s, one that includes numer-
ous rolls and records and families who can trace their lineage to before
the invention of the telephone, it is strange to think that one roll should
be elevated above them all. But in 1999, worried about “roll jumpers” and
with the start of cash distributions known as per capita, Tribal members
voted to make it this way, to have a privileged class. In doing so, many
Tribal families were forced into the “split family” situation where one child
is enrolled and the other is not, despite having the same parents.
As expected, privilege is not readily shared. If you read through the
letters urging you to vote “no,” look at the roll numbers of the authors.
Many are three-digit roll numbers, meaning they are on the Restoration
Roll, including several of my fellow Tribal Council members. They belong
to that privileged class, and do not intend to share that privilege. From
a Darwinian standpoint, it makes sense. Their families are set. But they
use the red herring approach of distracting you with false notions like how
this will create “new” split families or how bundling is evil, despite having
tried to put forth a “bundled” amendment last year.
Last summer's bundled and blind “Parent on the Roll” amendment, the
one where no data of impacts was needed or even wanted, would have ex-
panded that privileged class and deliberately ignored the plights of other
families. Which is why I found it unconscionable to proceed without help-
ing these other families who we have known for nearly two decades now
have legitimate ancestral ties, but who, again, failed to get their names
or names of ancestors on that one roll.
For these reasons, please vote “yes,” and put the 1999 amendment be-
hind us.
Regarding the other amendment Initiative & Referendum, I can think
of no reason not to vote “yes.” Seriously. Some statements made about the
amendment are woefully inaccurate, such as that it will make amending
the Constitution easier or that Tribal Council members can have their way
with unlimited power. The whole point of referendum is to allow Tribal
members to undo a council decision. If I was “power hungry” as a Tribal
Council member, why on earth would I make it easier for the general mem-
bership to undo one of my decisions? I think partisan politics is guiding
many “no” votes. Our political arena has become like Republicans and
Democrats. Some don't like the council who made the proposal, so vote “no.”
Please vote “yes” if you, as a Tribal member and General Council member,
want more authority in Grand Ronde’s governance. If you are comfortable
letting Tribal Council run everything, then vote “no.” It's that simple.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Chris Mercier
Roll #1821
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