Grand Ronde Culture

There are always topics and issues that stand out more than others in every election. In this particular election, it seems as though censorship, the infamous "Leno Letter" and communication seem to be getting the most attention thus far.

What I find interesting is that I only see one of my top priorities in the issues listed above and that is communication. Are we so focused on the "Leno Letter" and censorship that the education of our people, the health care of our people and the cultures of our people are falling to the wayside?

Now, please don't feel as though the ethics of our people and making sure that the membership has the right to express themselves are issues not important to me. They definitely are. As many of you have heard me say in the past, we absolutely need a council that is held accountable and does not try to control everything. As far as I'm concerned, council has too much power and too much control. I would like to see a day in our tribe when the membership is more involved with the decision-making processes. That is a whole new blog and I will post something on that particular issue in the near future.

To get back on track, I hope that the candidates, including myself, are not putting all of their efforts into areas I feel aren't as important as securing self sufficiency for our people.

Our culture is the only thing we have as a tribe that has always been there and always will be. You don't need money to practice the ways of our culture. That has been proven before the opening of Spirit Mountain Casino. I firmly believe it can be proven again should anything happen to the amount of revenue we currently bring in. Our culture is one of the most important programs the tribe has to offer. Our culture is what separates us as an ethnicity. It is what keeps the legends, traditions and ways of our people alive. And we, the membership, need to believe in it, practice it and share it.

I feel we need to be more focused on the areas of this tribe that will help us pave the path to self sufficiency. We need to secure a foundation of success for the generations that follow in our footsteps. I would encourage the membership as well as each of this year's candidates to remember and focus on our culture as it will always be what makes Grand Ronde, Grand Ronde.

Thank you. And remember: TOBY09!!