Letters to the Editor - May 1, 2021

Dear Smoke Signals:

Back in 2019, Smoke Signals asked for input on “How big can Grand Ronde be?” All I know about limits to growth would be resources available. There are, however, two things I would like to see included in Grand Ronde growth. Number one is “bees” and number two is “energy efficiency.”

Honeybees and bumblebees pollinate billions of dollars of food crops annually in the United States. They are in decline and how great it would be to eat Grand Ronde honey instead of white sugar that is filled with chemicals and exacerbates diabetes. There are now growing walls where you can grow crops vertically to save valuable space. Without bees, we run out of food. We would need experienced beekeepers and not use debilitating pesticides.

The second need is energy efficiency to get us through times of climate change. Today, I found out that Native people who live on Reservations cannot get tax breaks for renewable energy or energy efficiency because of the tax-exempt Reservations. Possibly our new Secretary of the Interior could help.

Deb Haaland and the Biden administration are aware of climate change and could change the rule. Grand Ronde could become more self-reliant regarding food and energy efficiency.

Judith Pettibone

Roll No. 717