Larrabee leaves STBC, stays in Indian Country by moving to ONABeN
By Diane Rodriquez
Stephen Larrabee, director of the
Siletz Tribal Business Corporation in
2011-2012, is the new development
manager for ONABEN (Oregon Native
American Business and Entrepreneurial
Network) in Portland, Ore.
“I decided to take the position with
ONABEN based on my desire to relocate
my family to the Portland area,” said
Larrabee. “Though we love the Oregon
Coast and Lincoln City, I felt that the
Portland area would provide better oppor-
tunities for my two young children and
this remains my main priority.”
He first came to STBC in 2010 as
the development manager. Although
this job, like most jobs, included
several different responsibilities, Larrabee
said his “overriding goal was to create
wealth and job opportunities for Tribal
members.”
A year-end review by the STBC
board of directors in late 2010 resulted in
a reorganization of STBC and Larrabee
was named manager of the organization.
Since then, STBC has steadily reduced
its expenses.
“I think the biggest accomplishment
was getting STBC to the point where it
was creating a positive cash flow outside
of debt service, where it ended up in my
last year,” said Larrabee. “The staff and
myself were committed to maximizing
revenues, curbing costs and putting sys-
tems in place to make the organization as
effective as it could be.”
Working for STBC was Larrabee’s
introduction to working in Indian Coun-
try. It followed several years of working
in economic development in various
Eastern European countries. He met his
wife, Dina, in Uzbekistan. They have two
children, Maxim and Ariel.
“I learned an awful lot that I didn’t
know working for STBC, mainly about
USDA distribution dates for April
Siletz
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Salem
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
April 5
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday
April 15 1:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
April 16 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday April 17 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
In March, USDA FDP staff attended the Western Region Food Distribution Pro-
grams annual conference in Reno, Nev. We attended some workshops and met with
USDA government staff.
It appears we are very close to receiving a new frozen meat to go along with the
frozen chicken, beef burger, turkey breast and beef roast (we taste-tested pork chops).
We also should receive some new products in the fresh produce category. Good things
are happening all the time and upgrades to the food package are so good to see.
I tried this recipe in the bread machine. It is fairly easy and pretty tasty.
Joyce Retherford
USDA FDP Director
541-444-8393
Lisa Paul
Program Clerk/Warehouseman
541-444-8279
Lighting, con’t from page 1
however, went down a similar amount, 3,680 kWh. This reduction saved the Tribe
$320 in just four months as well.
If the savings continue, it will be like taking two more cars off the road each year
or the total amount of electricity used in two more homes over an entire year. Other
benefits include longer life of bulbs, brighter light to work and play by and less main-
tenance, which translates into less cost as well.
We hope you enjoy the lights. Look up the next time you are in the buildings!
For more information, contact us toll free at 800-922-1399, ext. 1271 or 1300; or
e-mail step@ctsi.nsn.us. Search for Siletz Tribal Energy Program on Facebook and
“like” us for even more information.
working in Indian Country, learning about
the Tribe and its history and getting to
know the stakeholders working in Indian
Country,” said Larrabee. “It was a won-
derful experience and this will be very
useful in my new work as the development
manager for ONABEN.”
According to its website (onaben.org),
ONABEN is a nonprofit, public benefit
corporation created by Northwest Indian
Tribes to increase the success of private
businesses owned by American Indians.
It offers training and support to
develop entrepreneurship in Indian com-
munities. Programs are available to any
American Indian (regardless of Tribal affili-
ation), with services provided at local sites.
Larrabee says his job at ONABEN
will involve a variety of tasks, including
“working to create a vision to expand the
services that ONABEN provides, fund-
raising for the organization and provid-
ing technical assistance to entrepreneurs
working in Indian Country.”
“I’m very excited about this position
since I’ll still be working with Tribes
and helping people improve their lives,”
Larrabee added.
Overall, the three years at STBC
provided a good transition for the next
chapter in Larrabee’s professional life.
“I would like to reiterate my appre-
ciation to the Tribe for the opportunity to
Courtesy photo
Stephen Larrabee receives a Pendleton
blanket with the Siletz Tribal design on
it at a farewell lunch.
work at STBC. It was a wonderful experi-
ence,” said Larrabee. “I will really miss
working with the wonderful staff that I
had and also all the Tribal members that
I had the pleasure of working with and
getting to know. I wish the Tribe all the
best as it moves forward.”
VAwA con’t from page 1
prosecute non-Indian defendants involved in intimate relationships with Native women
and who assault these victims on Tribal land. Prior to the enactment of law, federal
laws did not authorize Tribal law enforcement or Tribal courts to pursue any form of
prosecution or justice against these perpetrators.
The legislation was passed in late February by the 113 th Congress. Bipartisan sup-
port of the Senate version of the legislation, S.47, and the Tribal provisions led to both
chambers casting resounding votes of 286-138 in the House and 78-22 in the Senate.
Statement from the Siletz Tribe on the
reauthorization of the
Violence Against women Act
We praise the efforts of both the House and the Senate to reauthorize the
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including the Tribal provisions broadly
supported by Indian Tribes across the country. The bipartisan support of S.47 has
restored local Tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians for certain crimes of domestic
violence and dating violence committed in Indian Country that will promote the
reporting and overall prosecution of these violent personal crimes.
The Siletz Tribe supports VAWA even though through Public Law 280, the
state of Oregon has the authority to prosecute non-Native individuals who com-
mit crimes on Siletz Tribal land and the state recognizes protective orders issued
by Oregon Tribes. Congress passed PL 280, which transferred law enforcement
authority over certain Tribal nations from the federal government to the states,
in 1953.
The passage of VAWA does not end our efforts to combat domestic violence
issues in Indian Country. We remain dedicated as always to addressing this issue
locally and nationally to help all Indian women to be safe from intimate vio-
lence. Our Tribal CARE Program provides services to American Indian victims
of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking throughout
Lincoln County. This program provides advocacy for victims of violence and
continually provides education and training for both our Tribal and non-Tribal
communities as well as local agencies that provide services to victims.
Findings show that 34 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native
women will be raped in their lifetimes and 39 percent of American Indian and
Alaska Native women will be subjected to violence by an intimate partner in
their lifetimes.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 46 percent of people living on reserva-
tions in 2010 were non-Natives (single race) and 59 percent of American Indian
women in 2010 were married to non-Native men (Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N.
(2000). Findings from the National Violence against Women Survey).
April 2013
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