Distribution dates
for USDA in July
Siletz
Monday
July 2
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday
July 3
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Wednesday
July 4
Holiday - closed
Thursday
July 5
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday
July 6
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Monday
July 16
1:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
July 17 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Salem
Wednesday July 18
Thursday
Courtesy photos
Portland Area Office Activities
Shirley Walker (above) holds a wreath
for the Memorial Day Ceremony
while Pauline Montana and Dolores
Fernandez (left) show the wax
flowers they helped create. A group
(above left) gathers for drumming
classes and other activities.
Tooth Talk: Time to check on chew sticks at Culture Camp
By Mary Ellen Vol an sky, EPDH, MS
Chew sticks have been documented to
have been used by many Native people of
the world for more than 7,000 years. The
World Health Organization encourages
the use of chew sticks in many places of
the world as a convenient and economical
home oral health care tool.
Chew sticks have the expected value
of mechanically cleaning teeth. A single
pencil-size stick is chewed to soften the
fibers at the end. Then the fibrous end is
worked around each tooth to mechanically
clean. No misunderstanding there.
New to me is current research on the
properties contained in various woods
used as chew sticks. Researchers have
found antimicrobial substances in these
sticks; other medicinal substances have
been found as well.
One article I came across did a complete
mini-lecture on oral health and diseases
along with the outcomes for modern-day
products compared to the outcomes of
chew stick use. The authors concluded that
chew sticks overall were healthier for oral
care than modern-day products.
My understanding of this conclusion
was that it’s based on the instructions we
use for toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and
other products - some people may not
use these tools correctly to be efficient in
cleaning their teeth.
Oceanspray, holodiscus discolor
(pursh) maxim, has a history of being used
by many Tribes across North America and
among Pacific Northwest Tribal members
as a chew stick.
The only information on the medici
nal qualities of oceanspray was a refer
ence to “prevention of contagious diseases
... a poultice of oceanspray bark and leave
applied to bums or sores.”1 The Lummi
applied leave to sore lips and feet.2
These statements suggest an antimi
crobial benefit; further research will tell
scientists for sure.
Here is a play on the old adage by
Peter Allen, “Everything old is new
again.”’ A patient sent this information
on bling, specifically “grills.” National
Geographic has an article from 2009 with
pictures of a skull with teeth in place.
What is new about that, you ask? It’s
not that these teeth have colorful gems
glued into them? What’s new is that the
teeth are 2,500 years old.
The author, John Roach, suggested
there were dentists back then. Maybe an
anesthetic was used to numb the teeth
while the dentist drilled? And the dentists
had some knowledge of oral anatomy, not
drilling into the nerve or pulp that would
lead to infection and tooth loss.
Bling and grills may have been new
to Native Americans of southern North
America. Another catch - this was done
mostly by men and was not a sign of one’s
social class.
I have one question of those intelli
gent people - What was in the resin that
still holds those gems (jade) in place after
all these years? We have trouble keeping
a filling in place for more than 10 years.
The definition of the word “chick-
letize” can be found in Parade Magazine
(Feb. 12, 2012): To unwittingly have
one’s teeth bleached whiter than snow.
Or maybe whitening one’s teeth as white
as Chicklets.
No one sent a definition, so no one
won the Sonicare. Maybe next time? Do
you want a next time?
Remember - Culture Camp is July
10-12. Have a great time!
1
2
3
plant-materials.nres.usda.gov
wnps.org/landscaping/herbarium/pages/
holodiscus-discolor.html, place two.
pawprints.kashalinka.com/quotes/history .
shtml
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
July 19
9-11 a.m.
It’s very exciting to see the changes
in the food package. We recently received
our first shipment of 3*/2-pound turkey
roasts. It’s a fully cooked ready-to-eat turkey
breast. Clients have given it rave reviews.
With the first shipment, we were
instructed to fair share it. This means
that each household member was able to
receive one turkey breast. I then received
an e-mail stating that the national ware
house was able to get enough turkeys in
stock that individuals and families can get
as many as the guide rate allows.
We also should be able once again to
order the cream soups. We have received
just one small shipment of the cream of
mushroom soup. USDA ordered a small
amount for each Tribal program to see if
it would be well-received. It was a big hit,
so USDA found a vendor that could sup
ply the programs nationwide for extended
periods with cream of mushroom and
cream of chicken soup. They arrived in
the warehouse at different times to test
the take-rate and now they should be
available full time.
I have placed my first order for a
1-pound bag of fruit and nut mix. It will
arrive in July for distribution.
I also would like to welcome our
new USDA Program clerk/warehouse-
man, Lisa Paul. Yes, I did steal her from
the front desk receptionist position at the
administration building.
You can reach us at our Siletz ware
house at 800-922-1399, ext. 1393 or
ext. 1279, or you can call direct at 541-
444-8393 or 541-444-8279.
Joyce Retherford
USDA Food Program Director
Lisa Paul
USDA Clerk/Warehouseman
When you call the Siletz Community Health Clinic at
541-444-1030 or 800-648-0449, you can choose from the following:
Schedule or confirm a dental
appointment, press 1
Pharmacy staff, press 5
Contract Health Services, press 6
Schedule or confirm an optometry
appointment, press 2
Schedule or confirm a medical
appointment, press 3
Pharmacy refill line, press 4
8
*
Siletz News
*
July 2012
Behavioral Health, press 7
Address, phone and fax, press 8
Listen to options again, press 9
All other options, dial 0