Letters to the Editor -- May 1, 2014

Dear Smoke Signals:

Urgent! Tribal members with the Constitutional Election upon us, the Tribe has conducted a few meetings to provide information on the two items we will be voting upon. I attended the April 12 meeting in Eugene directed by Tribal attorneys Rob Greene and Deneen Aubertin and walked away from these meetings with several concerns.

1) Removal of the Bureau of Indian Affairs from our voting process: Question: "What exactly are we voting for? If we remove the BIA, what is going to be put in its place?" Answer: "Nothing has been written yet, we have a process and an ordinance that will be written, 30-day comment period and then Tribal Council will approve the new voting ordinance." Basically, we are being asked to vote on a constitutional change that gives Tribal Council full control over our voting process and at this time we have absolutely no idea what these changes are going to be. Example: They can take out any third-party election company from overseeing the counting of the votes and make it a total in-house process (yikes). Second, money seems to be one of the reasons given for removing the BIA. Rob Greene stated that the BIA was supposed to be paying for the election costs, but have neglected to do so. This may be true, but what is the alternative? We remove the BIA and who pays for the election costs? We do! The difference being we now have lost the insurance of having the BIA to ensure that our elections are being held properly and in the event of a problem we have no third party to act as a mediator or conduct investigations. Third, "Sovereignty." Let me just say I plan on exercising my sovereign right by voting "No."

2) Term Limits: The only thing I have to say regarding this issue is vote! I personally am not happy with the fact that the General Council took a survey a few years back regarding term limits. We were given the option of two or three terms. The vote was overwhelming for two-term limits, not the three-term limits we are currently voting upon. The fact that the General Council is again not being taken seriously is for me the bigger issue here.

This is a very important election, so send in your registration form. Your vote will not count without it. Voting is your opportunity to make a difference; the Tribe needs you. Do not forget the 1999 amendment. If you are not happy with the results of this election, the possibility of reversing it is virtually impossible. Let's not make that same mistake!

Important dates: Be sure to allow for mailing time!

• May 9: Registration forms in to BIA - Mail by May 4.
• June 6: Election Day - Mail by June 1.

Sincerely,

Ann K. Lewis

Roll #3983

Dear Smoke Signals:

Hello, fellow members. I am writing this letter out of concern for eligible Tribal members who are not registered to vote or don't exercise their right to vote. The number of CTGR members who do not vote is shocking, especially when you consider what they have to lose by not voting in Tribal elections. This "not interested in voting" mentality harms not just non-voters, but other members as well.

There is great power as a Tribal member in being able to vote on Tribal issues and council candidates. As Tribal members, we are very fortunate to be able to cast our vote by absentee ballot. This ballot is sent to registered voters and can be returned postage free in the United States. How easy is that to vote? This is very important to know if you're a person that hasn't voted in the past. Also, have a solid address on file so that the ballot will get to you in plenty of time to vote and returned in time to be counted.

I realize that there are many people who think voting doesn't matter. Never think for one moment that your vote doesn't count! Why did I just say that? I worked at the Oregon State Legislature before CTGR was restored to federal Tribal status in 1983 and voting played a major role in making it happen. Our Restoration could not have occurred without the support of others. The experience taught me that Tribal members also have a certain responsibility to participate in their government by voting. Changes in Tribal Council and every benefit you are entitled to will be determined by voting members. Being a dedicated voter will keep your rights, benefits and basic freedoms intact. Large voting turnouts by Tribal members make it harder for the group I call "the tail that wags the dog" voters to control important decisions which have far-reaching results in our community.

It is my belief that being a Tribal member comes with many responsibilities. These responsibilities are yours to bear when you become a member. I want to mention a few that I think every Tribal member will agree are important to uphold and pass on to future generations:

• First, looking out for Tribal Elders and educating the young in useful life skills.
• Second, making it a priority in your life by demonstrating a positive behavior and standing up as a servant leader in the community.
• Next, finding your inner voice and expressing your concerns or thanks in a way that contributes a meaningful dialogue for all Tribal members.
• Last, and perhaps the hardest part for some, will be stopping to think about what's in this for you.

I would like to conclude this letter by saying that voting today is more important than ever due to self-seeking individuals within CTGR. Every Tribal member who has been following today's issues knows what one-sided voting outcomes lead to. So, take time to consider your membership responsibilities and then cast your vote. Please, do not let yourself fall into a mindset that other members will vote the way you would, or that their concerns are the same as yours. Don't get caught up in a robot voter mentality; you're an individual, so vote that way.

Again, I want to ask you to register to vote if you're not already registered, and if you are registered, vote! Remember, not voting hurts you and harms other members who want our government run by all the people. If you have any questions regarding voting, call CTGR at 503-879-5211 or 800-422-0232.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and please pass the message on to friends and family to vote because every vote counts.

Sequoia "Tall Timber" Raya

Roll #2313