Tribal ‘Change Team’takes shape; promotes Two Spirit/LGBTQ equality
In July 2010, the Siletz Tribe received
a grant from the Western States Center to
help the Tribe promote equality for our
Two Spirit/lesbian, gay, bi, transgendered
and queer (LGBTQ) Tribal members. The
Western States Center in Portland, Ore.,
is an organization with a mission to build
a progressive movement for social, eco
nomic, racial and environmental justice
in the eight western states.
The Tribe has participated in a year
long cohort with other organizations that
serve people of color.
The grant’s goals and objectives
focuse on the following:
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Bringing together a full network of
organizations within Tribal depart
ments and outside agencies to pro
vide services and supports to family
wellbriety
Bringing information, curricula,
roundtable meetings, trainings
and technical assistance regarding
LBGTQ constituents and members
Creating a model for Tribal depart
ments to respond more effectively to
the needs and issues of our LGBTQ
constituents and members
Providing trainings to transform
organizational culture and structure
in regards to going back to our old
ways of being accepting and equal
no matter what our preferences are
Developing resources and protocols
for assisting LGBTQ constituents
and members to navigate systems
with fairness
At the end of the day, we are here to
recognize our LBGTQ/Two Spirit Tribal
members as an important part of our mem
bership and address their unique barriers.
Earlier this year, the Change Team
along with Aimee Santos-Lyons from the
Western States Center hosted a retreat in
Lincoln City to provide training to our staff
and allies. We also were joined by Se-ah-
don Edmo from Lewis & Clark College.
The retreat focused on building
relationships with staff and different
departments within the Tribe. We partici
pated in exercises to build our capacity
and knowledge about the LGBTQ/Two
Spirit movement.
A large part of the training also
focused on recognizing gender oppression
and building our skills to intervene. Dur
ing the retreat, we focused on goals and
outcomes that will create positive change
within the Tribe and the services we offer
to our members and families.
The following programs were repre
sented at this staff retreat: 477-Self Suffi
ciency, Elders, Vocational Rehabilitation,
Behavioral Health, Education, Legal,
Administration and Tribal Council.
A work plan and timeline were created
to track our progress and accomplishments.
To date, we have met the following goals:
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Created a leadership model that will
guide the Change Team
Create/adopt Safe Zone symbols
(many staff posted the logo below
left in their offices). LGBTQ Tribal
members can feel safe discussing or
asking questions of these staff.
Created a brochure to provide basic
education and awareness of LGBTQ/
Two Spirit and to show diversity in
families
Participated in different Tribal events.
The Change Team was present dur
ing the annual Health Fairs that took
place in each office.
Adopted gender-neutral restrooms at
the Salem Area Office
Review of Tribal Personnel Manual and
477-SSP Policy Manual (in progress)
The Change Team has many other
goals and objectives that we will be work
ing on in the next couple of months. The
Change Team will be an ongoing group
that will work to create/change policies
Enter First Freedom
Student Competition
with essay, video
The First Freedom Student Competi
tion is a national essay and video contest
offering high school students an opportu
nity to compete for $2,500 awards as they
examine the First Amendment and the
history and implementation of religious
freedom in American democracy and the
world today.
The year’s topic, guidelines, student
flyer and classroom poster can be found
at firstfreedom.org/.
The online student registration dead
line is Nov. 14. The video upload deadline
and postmark deadline for mailing the
entry and its accompanying materials is
Nov. 26.
Elders Council
Meeting
Oct. 8 • 1-4 p.m.
Chinook Winds
Casino Resort .
For more details, contact
Rachelle Endres at
800-922-1399, ext. 1261;
541-444-8261; or
rachellee@ctsi.nsn.us
Courtesy photo
Change Team from left: Tracey Worman, vice chairman; Jenifer Most, community
representative; Norma Trefren, secretary; Sonya Moody-Jurado, community
representative; Kurtis Barker, chairman; Jamie Mason, community representative;
Anna Renville, community representative; and Andrew Johanson,treasurer.
Not pictured: Sherry Addis, Felicia Carmona and Delina John.
to promote equality and awareness of
LGBTQ/Two Spirit Tribal members. We
will work to ensure that new and existing
policies are created or changed to explicitly
make them inclusive of LGBTQ needs.
The Change Team has adopted the
following mission statement:
“The CTSI Change Team promotes
the renewal and reclamation of our tradi
tional and cultural ways of thinking that
values all members of our Tribe. We are
committed to help create a safe, open and
caring environment to all LGBTQ/Two
Spirit individuals, families and allies. We
work to ensure that policies, practices and
people welcome, value and treat equitably
two-spirited individuals in the work place
and in our Tribal community. Our vision
is of a Native people helping a Native
community reach a goal of equality
amongst all members, inclusive of
gender identity and sexual orientation.
We recognize that as a Tribe and work
place, we would be diminished without
each and every one of us.”
Several studies have shown that
LGBTQ people (especially youth)
face unique barriers in regards to self-
sufficiency. LGBTQ youth face even more
barriers/oppression and face higher health
risks, homelessness, lack of access to
higher education, suicide and involvement
with alcohol and drug programs.
It’s also commonly known that
LGBTQ adults and youth who are people
of color experience much higher levels of
oppression and discrimination.
If you have questions or ideas on
how the Change Team can create an
environment within the Tribe that is more
accepting of our LGBTQ/Two Spirit
Tribal members, please contact Kurtis
Barker at 800-922-1399, ext. 1247, or
541-444-8247.
Siletz veterans
office open
daily for you
A note from
our veterans
coordinator
Tony Molina is available for
all Siletz Tribal veterans. He is in
the Tribal administration build
ing in Siletz on Monday-Friday to
help you get information for your
VA benefits.
By Tony Molina
All of our veterans and families
can call me 24/7 at home at 541-444-
2828 or on my cell at 541-272-2818.
Additionally, he needs your help to
update our veterans’ roster, especially
for those who are currently serving.
This will help since I’m only in the
office part-time. My office number is
541-444-8330 or 800-922-1399,
ext. 1330.
Call Tony at 541-444-8330 or
800-922-1399, ext. 1330.
I thank all of our veterans for their
service to our nation.Thank you!
October 2011
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Siletz News
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