Confederated Tribes Hires
Attorney-Mike Mason
Attorney Michael Mason began working for the tribe
this month, just recently back to Oregon from
Washington D.C Mason was raised primarily in the
Pacific Northwest, and although not a tribal member,
has devoted most of his legal career to Indian Law.
Mr. Mason previously worked for the Department of
the Interior, and as a lawyer for NAPOLS (Native
American Program- Oregon Legal Services) before that.
NAPOLS is a division of Oregon Legal Services, a non
profit organization which provides legal help to those
who cannot afford the expense of an attorney. NAPOLS
provides the same services to those Native Americans
or tribes with the same dilemma.
The first time Mason worked for the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde was in 1982, a case involving a
burial desecration. He was then working for NAPOLS
as a law clerk. He has also done work for the Burns
Paiute Tribe, Klamath Tribe, and was involved in the
Coquille Tribe's restoration. However, the
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have had a
contract with NAPOLS since 1979. Mason, while there,
helped organize Tribal government, Tribal Court, the
Forestry Program, and Nanitch Sahallie Youth
Treatment Center.
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Michael Mason
Said Mason: "Grand Ronde is the only tribe in Oregon
to put a lawyer on staff. All the other tribes hire them
out at an hourly rate. That can get very
expensive...Over $50 per hour. The Tribal Council
definitely made the smart budget move." Mason said
current projects he has begun to work on are issues
such as how much to expand the tribal court, a review
of the tribal code, and getting up to speed on current
cases.
Mason says that being hired to work on staff or
working for a firm like NAPOLS is better than working
for a big law firm because the lawyers get to dive right
into their work. Most law firms don't let their new
employees handle cases right away. He added,
"Working in legal services you feel like you have more
of an impact on people's lives. The lawyers who work
there are very dedicated."
Mason also said he wanted to work for the
Confederated Tribes because of the people who are
truly dedicated to improving the quality of the
reservation, and the quality of the lives of many tribal
members. He admits, though, that he is fascinated by
Indian Law. "Indian Law is the most complex law in the
country. The principles in certain cases don't
necessarily carry over to other cases or other tribes," he
said.
Smoke Signals
August 1992
Page 9
YAMHILL COUNTY'S EARLY
INTERVENTION PROGRAM
If you are a parent who has special questions and
concerns about your child's development, there is a
program in Yamhill County that can help. The Yamhill
Education Service District has set up an Early
Intervention Program for parents and children In need
of developmental or educational services. Some of
the services available are:
Referral and Identification
Evaluation
Case Management
Preschool Classroom
Parent Training
Physical Therapy
Speeech and Language Therapy
Hearing Services
Vision Services
Autism Consultation
Materials Adaptation
Parent Support Group
If you feel your child may have a communication
problem, hearing or vision problem, or just seems to
be behind other children hisher age, you may be in
need of the services Yamhill County provides. Here Is
a parent checklist to help you decide:
By age 6 months does your child:
-reach toward objects
-respond to sounds of toys
-look at a person speaking
-make vowel sounds like "ah" and "oo"
By age 12 months does your child:
-sit without support
-crawl forward
-finger feed self
-imitate sounds
By age 18 months does your child:
-walk well
-build tower with blocks
-use a spoon
-ask for objects by pointing and vocalizing
By age 2 years does your child:
-point to a few body parts
-scribble with crayon
-speak twenty words
-speak in two word sentences
By age 3 years does your child:
-walk up and down stairs
-dress self except for fasteners
-give full name
-name eight pictures
-follow three step directions
By age 4 years does your child:
-balance on one foot
-button large buttons
-give reasonable answers to questions
-talk in short sentences and speak plainly enough for
non-family members to understand
By age 5 years does your child:
-draw a face that looks like a face
-say most speech sounds clearly
-use words that show size and numbers (big, many,
etc.)
If you would like more information about Early
Intervention, please contact Yamhill Education
Service District at 472-1431 . Ask for information
regarding Early Intervention Services.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
These positions will be filled through the Comunity
ActionAgencyofYamhillCounty,Inc.,(YCAP)forthe
Grand Ronde Head Start Program. Applications and
further information are available at 625 N. Highway
99W. McMinnville, Oregon 97128. Send applications
by August 12, 1992 to YCAP. Starting wage will be
based on previous experience and education.
POSITION TITLE:
RESPONSIBLE TO:
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
STATUS:
Grand Ronde Cook
Family Services Advocate
Planning and preparation
of breakfast and lunch for
children and staff.
Regular, part-time, non-exempt
DUTIES:
FOOD PREPARATION
Purchase supplies and food needed for food service
utilizing requisitions and purchase orders
Prepare breakfast and lunch following USDA guidelines
for food amounts and types of foods allowed
Provide for the smooth service of food to the children
Keep food service area, equipment, and utensils sanitary
and clean
Serve food following Oregon restaurant regulations
Include children and parent aids in the preparation and
service of meals
MANAGEMENT
Prepare menu production records and a weekly shopping
list
Keep a record of food served, number of meals served,
food purchased, and other information as required
Share with parent aids information about nutrition and
sanitation practices
Attend center staffings and trainings as requested
QUALIFICATIONS:
Possess a high school diploma or GED
Possess an Oregon Driver's License and car insurance
Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 75 pounds
Ability to read and write English
Ability to relate positively with children and adults
Free from communicable diseases, including TB, and no
criminal record of child abuse
An error was made on the closing date for the
JOBS COORDINATOR position that was
mailed out by special flyer, July 20, 1992. The
original closing date was July 27, 1992. The
dosing date is actually Friday, August 7, 1992.
Personnel apologizes for any distress this may
have caused for those interested in applying for
the position. Thank you.
more job opportunities on page 10