Page 2
Chemawa American
Buildings Demolished;
Temporary Units Erected
A race between demolition and
construction
has
provided
the
feature event at Chemawa this
Summer. The auditorium (Picture
page 1) and Academic I have already
been pulverized and removed and
most of the rest of the old buildings
on campus are scheduled for perman
ent removal in the next few months.
At the same time the last month
has seen a number of temporary
units added just East of Chugach
Street.
Classrooms, dorm, food
services and a recreation area have
been provided as part of the tempor
ary additions to Chemawa.
After more than 10 years of
planning and lobbying the Indian
peoples of the Northwest and the
staff of Chemawa Indian School
appear to have funding for FY 77 of
$10 million to start construction on a
new facility at Chemawa. Final cost
for the new Chemawa campus will
exceed $20 million.
At this point it appears that the
$10 million in funding needs only
final approval by President Ford to
get construction started.
Chemawa,
the
oldest
(1880)
continously operating BIA boarding
school in the United States, seemed
to be on the way to extinction after
most of the buildings on campus were
declared unsafe in early 1976.
But, strong support and endorse
ment for Chemawa from the North
west Indian Tribes, the Chemawa
Advisory School Board, the Parent
Council, alumni, students and staff
attracted the attention of the con
gress and in particular Senator
Mark Hatfield (Republican-Oregon)
to the need for a building program at
Chemawa if the school is to exist
as an alternative education op
portunity for Indian youth.
Once it became apparent that
funds would be allocated to start
construction on the new facility for
Chemawa the BIA provided $500
thousand for temporary facilities at
Chemawa to support about 240
students.
Temporary modular
structures added at Chemawa include
six classrooms, six living units
(dorms) a recreation building and a
food services (dining hall) building.
Workmen were kept busy during August putting together the modular
units that are used in the temporary student living units.
Six temporary classrooms have been erected East of Chugach Street.
Staff Preps For School Year
Tom Wright - Counselor (L to R) and Assistant Principal Ed Bartlett dis
cuss Fall Quarter student applications. Secretary Cheryl Kolb waits for
a decision on a student.