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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2009)
Students Honored at Gathering; Recognized for Hard Work, Perseverance By Diane Rodriquez There were nothing but smiles on everyone’s faces at this year’s annual Student Gathering, held June 25 at the Eugene Area Office. The event was attended by recent graduates, current students, family mem bers, friends and Tribal staff from each area who offered congratulations and encouragement. “I always tell people 1 have the best job because I work with them from 3 years old until college,” said Sonya Moody- Jurado, education specialist in the Salem Area Office. Students at the gathering received messenger bags with a large Tribal logo on the front flap. College graduates in attendance were wrapped in their incen tive award from the Tribe — a Tribal treaty blanket made by Pendleton. Each Tribal education specialist — Katy Kaady in Portland, Alissa Lane in Siletz, Moody-Jurado in Salem and Nick Sixkiller in Eugene - had words of praise tor "their" students in higher education and adult vocational training. “It’s always an honor and a pleasure to work with students,” said Sixkiller, add ing that he hopes the Tribe can better fund the master’s program in the future because more graduates with bachelor’s degrees are moving on to master's programs. Ph.D. programs grabbed a bit of the spotlight at the student gathering with one student receiving her doctoral degree and another one about to get started. Samantha Hatfield recently com pleted her dissertation at Oregon State University on the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Siletz Tribal Members. Lisa Norton recently received her master's of social work degree from Portland State University and will enter the doctoral program in social work and research at PSU this fall. Top photo: Sonya Moody-Jurado wraps Kelley Ellis in a Tribal treaty blanket to celebrate Kelley's graduation from Oregon State University. -, ~ Bottom photo: Montaine Sorenson receives a Tribal logo messenger hag from Katy Kaady (and later a Tribal treaty blanket) to recognize Montaine ’s graduation from Western Washington University. Nuu-wee-ya’ (OUr words) Introduction to the Athabaskan Language Open to Tribal members of all ages Siletz Siletz Tribal Community Center Aug. 4-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 8-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Salem Salem Area Office Aug. 11-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 15-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Portland Portland Area Office Aug. 10-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 21-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eugene Eugene Area Office Aug. 3-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14-6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Come and join other members of your community and Tribe in learning to speak one of our ancient languages. For more information, contact Bud Lane at the Siletz Cultural Department at 541-444-8320 or 800-922-1399, ext. 1320; or e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us. ▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼ TICC Board Has Vacancies to Fill Résumés are being accepted for the Tenas Illahee Childcare Center Board of Directors. Two board positions currently are vacant. If interested, please submit your résumé to Tribal Council, c/o Executive Secretary P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549 by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2009. Tribal Children Need Foster Parents Do you value Siletz Native culture and want to help preserve it? If so, please consider fostering for the Tribe. The Siletz Tribe needs loving, stable, nurturing homes in all areas. If you are interested, please contact Shawna Henarie, foster care certifier, at 541 -444-8275 or 800-922-1399. ext. 1275; or visit www.ctsi.nsn.us/icw.html. Siletz Saves! IDA Program Helps Tribal Members Save for First Home By Yvonne Messmer The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians has launched a new matched savings program, called the Siletz Saves! IDA Program, for low-income Tribal members. The pilot program is based in the Salem Area Office. Participants in the Siletz Saves! Program make regular deposits into a special sav ings account called an Individual Development Account or IDA. The amount saved is then matched $3 for every $1 saved for a 300 percent return. Participants are required to save for at least six months up to three years and to at tend financial fitness classes in Salem. Participants must be first-time homebuyers and their household income must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The object of the IDA is to teach participants how and why they should save and then allow them to use their savings for the purchase of their first home. It you think you would be interested in this program, please call me at 503-390- 9494 or 888-870-9051. Slots still are available for this program. August 2009 • Siletz News • 3
