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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2011)
Courtesy photo by Jamie Mason Tribal member Andrew Johanson receives his Siletz blanket for graduating from Portland State University with a bachelor's degree in communications. He recently was hired in the Salem Area Office as an assistant in the new Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Courtesy photo from Katy Holland Jeff and Brian Holland Holland brothers work together to build successful furniture business By Katy Holland Siletz Tribal members Jeff and Brian Holland celebrate their years together. They have a lot in common and with only a few years between them, they have been able to work and play together. Jeff and Brian both absolutely love golf, which also brings out their competitive nature. On their days off, you’ll find one or both of them out at one of Oregon’s golf courses, even in the rain. Their brotherliness does not end there, though, because they also have been part ners and owners of their furniture business for more than 15 years. Their business is Hollywood Rooms and it’s located at 18330 SW Tualatin Valley Highway in Aloha, Ore.; 503-642-1693; hollywood-fumiture.com. They enjoy the time they spend together both in business and play. Providing Quality Legal Cwt For North Amerien 's Fomitits Since ¡972 Native American students and elders come together for art By Josey Bartlett, St. Helens Chronicle; first published April 6, 2011; used with permission The Columbia County Art Club is one way to recreate a village feel - a place where students can reconnect with elders and learn traditions of their culture, said Virgene Blair, a Siletz Indian and assistant with the Indian Education Program. Indians have moved away from the “village” concept, Blair said. On the reservation it is easier to ask native elders how to weave a basket tight enough to hold water or create a traditional baby board. But without that close com munity and easy accessibility to ancestral knowledge some skills are forgotten. Sharing these skills is one goal the Indian Education Program is trying to achieve by creating the Columbia County Art Club, which met in St. Helens on April 2. “[The club] is a way to keep children interested in who they are,” said Wren Christopher, part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and lead teacher super visor for the Columbia County Art Club. Once a month about 25 parents and children of Native American heritage convene to work on art projects. Last month Native American photographer Joe Cantrell gave students photo tips and Christopher helped students complete their traditional shoulder bags. Courtesy photo from the St. Helens Chronicle Sophia Smith molded a coyote out of clay at the April 2 Columbia County Art Club, offered through the Indian Education Program. On April 2, students created coyotes out of clay. “[This program] is getting them rooted in their culture at a young age,” said Melissa Perkins, whose children Nakaya Perkins, 4, and Natanee Perkins, 6, worked diligently on their clay coyotes during Saturday’s class. DJ Jackson, a junior at Columbia River Youth Corps, suggested the forma tion of the art club a couple months ago. He is of Potawatomi heritage and said he wanted to organize something meaningful for the local Native American community. The Indian Education Program of the Northwest Regional Education Service District - which provides special educa tion services to the 20 school districts in Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook and Wash ington counties - applied for a grant to get Jackson’s vision up and running. The GAPS Foundation awarded the $1,000 grant, which buys supplies for the art club. Jackson is also working with Beaver ton High School art teacher Otto Abahazy, a Flathead Indian, to design the painting on the traditional powwow drum that will represent Columbia County at powwows. The decade-old Columbia County drum had fallen into disrepair until the duo began restoring it. Abahazy and Jackson hope to have it back into tip top shape by the June 4 Beaverton High School Powwow. There the drum will be sung into the ceremonial circle. Last month Abahazy and Jackson showed the art club their design. Showing Native American students their culture and coming together in a group is important to their success, said Abahazy. He said Native American stu dents have the highest school drop out rate. Forming a support group - such as the art club - can help combat that. “The art club is a way to reinforce cultural identity and learn a little about who they are,” said Abahazy. “We are trying to instill a need to seek out what it is to be native.” May 2011 • Siletz News • 9
