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.
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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.
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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
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Siletz News
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