Smoke Signals
September 1991
Page 6
ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
(Continued from page 5)
This recommendation, along with 20 other policy
options, provide Congress with enough information to
develop a comprehensive and statutorily-based mental
health program in the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Public Law 101-630 requires the IHS to develop a
National Indian mental health plan and to undertake
cooperative efforts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs
and the tribes to develop community-based mental
health plans and training programs.
One of the more significant provisions of this law
requires the IHS to develop a plan to increase its Mental
Health program by at least 500 staff positions over the
next five years. At least 200 of these positions must be
devoted to child, adolescent and family services. Under
the subsequently enacted Budget Act, however, the
availability of Federal appropriations for these provi
sions is seriously threatened.
In my view, we have taken an important first step for
reversing and reducing the problems that have histori
cally devastated the well-being of Indian people. My
challenge to Tribal Governments, once these programs
are implemented, is to make them effective. My
challenge to State and Local governments is to work
with Indian people to address more effectively the
human needs of this Nation's first Americans.
As I have come to know more about Indian Country
and its youth, I am struck by the latent power that is
there. There is great power in the Indian nations
power that needs only to be realized to make itself felt
in every community. It is my hope that the new mental
health initiative will help young Indian people in their
struggles to overcome conditions not of their making.
Courtesy of SIPI News
Patawa new chair
of fish commission
By Carol Craig
PORTLAND, Ore. Elwood H. "Woody" Patawa,
chairman of the Umatilla Board of Trustees, has been
elected chairman of the Columbia River Intertribal Fish
Commission (CRITFC).
CRITFC is the technical support and coordinating
agency on Columbia River Fishery issues for the
Umatilla and Warm Springs of Oregon, Nez Perce of
Idaho and Yakima of Washington State.
As the new chairman of CRITFC, Patawa said he
would like to continue to strengthen the overall manage
ment capabilities for the commission and to maintain a
pro-active mode.
"Since my involvement with CRITFC I've seen positive
changes," he said.
He said he was glad to see the direct participation of
commission members and watch them take a more
active role within the commission. There has been
more interaction between the four tribes in a positive
sense since the formation of CRITFC," he said.
Patawa's first involvement with the commission began
in 1984 when he was asked as chairman of the Umatilla
Board of Trustees to attend commission meetings to
understand how the commission works.
Patawa has also been a member of the Oregon Com
mission on Indian Services for the last three years, and
has been chairman of the Umatilla Board of Trustees
since 1981.
He has been employed with the Confederated Umatilla
Tribes since 1972 and was first elected to the board of
Trustees in 1973. "My tenure has been in one capacity
or another since I started working for the tribe," he said.
Courtesy of Yakima Nation Review
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Jr. Miss Grand Ronde, Courtney Galligher, left, and Sr. Miss Grand Ronde Deana Gardner, right, dance in Grand
Entry. (Photo by Chuck Williams.)
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Hoop dancer performs at Pow-Wow.