Letters to the Editor - March 15, 2016

Dear Smoke Signals:

I want to thank everyone for coming and helping me celebrate my 104^th birthday. I want to thank people for all the wonderful cards and gifts.

The chocolate-coverage strawberries were wonderful, as was all the other candy and flowers. Also, the beautiful necklace made by Jon A. George.

Hope to see you all again next year.

Pearl Lyon

Roll #3662

Dear honorable General Council:

This is a very important time for our Tribe. I know there are many who live outside the Grand Ronde area and are unable to attend meetings regularly or meet with local Tribal members to hear what is taking place in and around our Tribe.

As someone who once lived outside Grand Ronde, I have found a wide spectrum of social media and Internet outlets many of our Tribal members use and find to be a very good resource. I would like to offer a list of avenues available that provide an up-to-date look into current issues.

There are some extremely important things happening right now and taking the time to stay abreast of these issues will be advantageous for you and your Tribe.

1)  The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde website. This is one of the best resources available to our membership. Log on to the website. In the upper part of the page there is a list of options going left to right. Click on “News” and a drop-down will appear and choose “Video.” You can then scroll down and watch videos of past General Council meetings, Tribal Council meetings and Legislative Action Committee meetings. You can watch these meetings at your leisure or contact the Tribal offices and get the list of times and dates and watch them live. During the “Other Business” portion of the meeting, Tribal members have the opportunity to address Tribal Council and it is here where the real information is brought forward, especially during General Council meetings.

2)  There are a wide variety of Facebook sites. These sites can be very informative. They are a great way to interact with your fellow Tribal members. I have made some amazing friends on these site. However, I will warn you our Tribal members are a passionate group and can get a bit feisty at times, but there is a wealth of information available. A list of Facebook sites includes the Grand Ronde Tribe, Grand Ronde Forum and Grand Ronde General Council (For Tribal members, spouses of Tribal members and parents of Tribal members only). This is a private site I started to give the membership an opportunity to speak freely on sensitive issues pertaining to our Tribe. Just go to the site and request to become a member. I will verify your connection to the Tribe. This is to protect the integrity of the site.

Please note these sites are administered by Tribal members and not the Grand Ronde Tribal government. However, the Tribe does have a Facebook site of its own. There are more Facebook sites available, but these are my personal favorites.

Please take the time to get involved. Let your voice be heard. Our Tribe has a challenging road ahead and we need our General Council members to be involved in some crucial decisions that are going to shape our future.

Ann (Bobb) Lewis

Roll #3983

Dear fellow Tribal members:

For many families, we have felt the loss of loved ones passing and celebrating newborns.

My wife, Illauna LuLu Long, passed after 22 years together. She was 48. She was a very proud Grand Ronde Native woman. I thank all who came to show their respects. It was a beautiful ceremony. The songs and prayers and the stories and all who gathered to honor her on her new journey with the Creator, grandfather and our ancestors. Her Native name was “Little Red Hummingbird.” She was very proud of her name.

I thank everyone who helped me through my grieving, staying with me, the warm meals, hugs and someone to talk to, pray and sing with, and the love and support.

LuLu had a big heart for her people. She loved animals. She would always have a proper burial over any animal she would find. She would stop on the side of the road to pray over a deer hit on the side of the road and say prayers and a tobacco offering or some sage, and have me get any animal hit by cars out of the way of any more damage to the animal.

LuLu loved her family the most and was very loving, and being a grandmother. She always had candy and snacks for all children, her extended family nieces and nephews. She showed her big heart for all little things until she wasn’t well or needed rest. LuLu would open her door for anyone who needed help in anyway: food, shelter, clothes, some money, and a ride when she had a vehicle.

Please to all of LuLu’s family and friends and her people, may we all heal and grow and learn as we go and have humble hearts and kind spirits toward each other and the Tribe. Spirit of giving and see the good in each other, and not talk ill of each other. Lulu loves her Grand Ronde Nation.

Ronnie Riggs Johnson

Roll #1814