National Indian housing group elects Difuntorum as new chairwoman
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – During its
40 Annual Convention and Trade Show
in June, the National American Indian
Housing Council (NAIHC) selected a
new chair to lead the organization for the
next two years.
More than 400 attendees representing
Tribes from all over the United States
attended the convention. Highlights
included a service project to help refur-
bish the Kansas City Indian Center, a
welcoming address from Kickapoo of
Kansas Tribal Chairman Steve Cadue,
plus congressional messages from mem-
bers of Congress and a presentation from
the Crow Nation addressing supportive
housing for veterans.
Sami Jo Difuntorum was elected
as the new chairwoman of the National
American Indian Housing Council. She is
th
a member of the Kwekaeke Shasta Tribe
and is the executive director of the Siletz
Tribal Housing Department.
Congratulations to Chairwoman Sami
Jo Difuntorum.
NAIHC membership and staff thank
Chairwoman Cheryl Causley, Bay Mills
Indian Community, for her four years of
leadership and many years of dedication
to NAIHC.
About NAIHC
The National American Indian Hous-
ing Council was founded in 1974 as a
501(c)(3) corporation. NAIHC is the
only national organization representing
housing interests of Native people who
reside in Indian communities and Alaska
Native villages, and on Native Hawaiian
homelands.
Courtesy photo by Jeff Harjo, NAIHC
Sami Jo Difuntorum at the National American Indian Housing Council convention
SSP offers summer employment program for young people age 14-21
The 477 Self-Sufficiency Program
(SSP) has openings for its Summer Youth
Employment Program (SYEP).
This program is separate from the
Tribal employment program offered
through the Education Department.
This program’s mission is to give
youth age 14-21 the opportunity to gain
employment or education skills in a field
that interests them. Our current placements
are 160 hours and pay minimum wage.
The program is only available to those
youth who reside within the 11-county
service area.
Basic eligibility criteria include:
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Youth must be between ages 14-21 at
the time of application.
American Indian verification
(includes American Indian, Native
Alaskan and Native Hawaiian) and
those enrolled in a federally recog-
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willamette Falls lamprey eel
harvest permits available
The Tribal Natural Resources Department has Willamette Falls lamprey eel harvest
permits available for issuance to Tribal members.
Lamprey harvest at the falls is restricted to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday through
Monday between June 1, 2014, and July 31, 2014. Harvest is not allowed Tuesdays
through Thursdays.
The open gathering area is at the east side of the falls and the harvest method is
limited to the use of hand or hand-powered tools. Gatherers are asked to avoid the
area around the lamprey ramps that have been installed to allow lamprey to move
upstream of the falls.
The permit includes a lamprey harvest record card that must be filled out prior to
leaving the site. The harvest card must be returned to the Natural Resources office by
the end of the harvest season.
Lamprey harvest permits are available at the Tribal Natural Resources office
weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by calling Natural Resources Manager Mike
Kennedy at 541-444-8232 or Natural Resources Administrative Assistant Rosie
Williams at 541-444-8227; or either one at 800-922-1399.
Time to gather materials for baskets
Spring is here and very soon hazel
sticks will be ready to pick and peel.
Hazel stick gathering is a must for
anyone interested in making traditional
Siletz baskets. Spruce root can be dug all
year round and is used for the weavers or
weft of Siletz baskets.
Bear grass and maidenhair fern are
used for overlay to make our traditional
designs or marks in our baskets and both
are picked in late summer.
Any Tribal members interested in
gathering can call Bud Lane at 800-922-
1399, ext. 1320, or 541-444-8320, or
e-mail budl@ctsi.nsn.us.
Just a reminder – basket materials
must be gathered in a timely fashion.
Here is a general breakdown of gath-
ering times for different materials:
nized Indian Tribe. Participants also
can be eligible with verification of
descendancy from a family member
who is enrolled with a federally rec-
ognized Tribe.
Household size
Latest school grade report. Par-
ticipants will need to have at least a
minimum grade point average (GPA)
of 2.0. Participants below a 2.0 can
participate in a classroom training
program and receive a stipend while
they attend summer school.
Family income must fall below the
income guidelines set by the Depart-
ment of Labor.
1
$15,068
2
$24,694
3
$33,905
4
$41,849
5
$49,390
6
$57,764
Slots are limited and are filled on a
first-come, first-served basis. If you are
interested in applying for SYEP, contact
one of our Tribal services specialists
located in each of the Tribe’s area offices.
For more information about the Siletz Tribe, please visit ctsi.nsn.us.
Are you in it to win it?
Free and Fun!
Register as a single,
but participate in
groups!
THE BIGGEST LOSER
COMPETITION
GRAND PRIZE
WHEN: July 14– September 12
WINNER
Registration is due NO LATER THAN July 9
July
Fir sticks, spruce roots, bear grass,
maidenhair fern
August
Fir sticks, spruce roots, bear grass,
maidenhair fern, hazel sticks (limited),
willow sticks
September
Bear grass, maidenhair fern, wood-
wardia fern, spruce roots
Income Level
RAFFLE PRIZE
Track your activity and food with a free
FREE FITNESS EVENTS
journal
FREE T-SHIRT*
FREE WATER BOTTLE*
FREE BMI measurement in the beginning
Diabetes Program Assistant
RUNNER-UP PRIZES
Weekly weigh-ins to track progress
* WITH PARTICIPATION
and at the end of the competition to see
200 Gwee-Shut Road
PO Box 320
Siletz, OR 97380
how far you have gotten!
Phone: 541-444-9661
Fax: 541-444-9678
Email: kaylae@ctsi.nsn.us
Please contact the Diabetes Program
Assistant to receive a registration packet.
July 2014
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SiletzNews
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