Smoke Signals
September 1992 Page 4
Youth Participate in Summer Camps
healthy lifestyle choices joM Program Sponsors
Summer Youth Camp at Chemawa Summer Fun!
Indian School The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's
Chemawa Indian School was the location for Summer inPNIonN o'MALLEY Proeram soonsored a summer
Youth Camp put on by the Confederated Tribes of Grand c fof chMtca K-8th grades during the week
of July 14th-20th, 1992. JOM Coordinator, Ms. wenai
Spender, Education Secretary, Ms. Shawn Hostler, and
Ronde July 29, 30, 31. The theme, "Healthy Lifestyle
Choices", brought approximately 62 tribal youth to the
Salem school. They stayed in the dorms located on campus,
and went to many workshops and activities during their
three-day stay.
Activities included volleyball, basketball, and
swimming in the school's own pool. Some of the workshops
were many and varied, the campers had to decide which
ones they wanted to attend the most. Just a few were Family
Math and Family Science taught by Dean Azule, Nutritions
and Addictions taught by Steve Vincent, Kids and Gangs,
taught by Don Dexter. Some other workshops covered
health, AIDSSexuality, and spirituality.
Thursday, July 30, a special speaker, Faith Spotted
Eagle, from Spokane, spoke to the campers during a
special assembly about self-esteem and Sacred Energy.
7T .
V.-v '-V .45-
'
; ;7vy3
Valerie Holier and Lydia Mathena
Participation was part of her lecture, where she stressed
pride, decision-making, spirituality, and the importance of
taking risks. Ms. Spotted Eagle's presentation was very
thought-provoking in that she gave statistics for sexual
activity among native American kids, and also stated that
children are having sexual experiences at a younger age, for
various reasons. She had everyone get in a circle, which
provided a comfortable, more relaxed setting as a
combination to some very tough issues to talk about .
That night there was a pow-wow and a barbecue.
: ppr r
" Mil
Education Program staff member Cecile Kneeland, all
worked diligently to plan, organize, and teach classes
during the camp. Activities conducted at the Summer Day
Camp included:
Making Dream Catchers
Designing Shields
Learning Chinook Jargon
Soil and Water Conservation
Learning about Traditional Foods
Playing Games
Beadwork and Leather Work
Value Teaching
The summer Day Camp concluded with a
traditional feast of salmon, venison, roots, fried bread, and
stew. The Children took a field trip to the Newport
Aquarium.
The Education Program would like to thank the
Tribal Council, FishWildlife, Polk County Extension,
Figaro's Pizza, Pacific Security Bank, and many parent and
staff volunteers who donated items and time to make this
camp a success. If you missed out on the activities this year,
look forward to next summer, because we want to make it
even bigger and better.
Legal Services Available
Oregon Legal Services (OLS) is a non-profit
organization that provides representation on civil cases to
low-income clients in the smaller communities and rural
areas of Oregon. OLS serves Yamhill County through a
field office located at 720 East Third Street, McMinnvillc.
The McMinnvillc office is a small office consisting
of one full time attorney and one support staffparalegal.
They also have a retired attorney who volunteers time for
the senior population of Yamhill County. OLS provides
assistance on legal issues involving federal housing, public
entitlements (AFS.ADC, SSI, foodstamps, unemployment),
consumer, domestic relations, and senior issues. Many of
these issues are handled through self-help materials and
referrals to other agencies.
The McMinnville office of Oregon Legal Services
urges people to call our office for an appointment. Seniors
are seen by appointment only on Thursday afternoons.
Our telephone number is 472-9561. Collect calls are
accepted. If you do not live in the state of Oregon, check
your listings for the legal services provided by your state.
Head Start & Child Care
The months of September and October will bring
the start of HEAD START activities for the Grand Ronde
Community. The Yamhill Community Action Program is
cooperatively working with the Confederated Tribes to
expand Head Start service for the Grand Ronde area. The
program targets 3 and 4-year olds whose families meet low
income guidelines. Services can also be provided for 5- year
olds who missed the Kindergarten cut-off date for
enrollment, due to birth dates. If you would like more
information regarding Grand Ronde Head Start Program,
contact Ms. Cecile Kneeland, 879-5211.
Kids at JOM daycamp creating at the
The Tribe has also received a Child Care
Development BloA Grant to establish child care activities
within the Grand Ronde community. The grant, which was
awarded by the Administration for Children and Families,
Region X Office, Seattle provides assistance to Tribes
whose communities and reservations have little or
nonexistent child care services.
The program will work toward establishing a
Community Child Care Center, as well as assist tribal
members in becoming child care providers. Look for more
activities during the months of September and October. If
you are interested in serving on the Tribal Parent Board to
work with the Education Program in planning child care
activities, contact Cecile Kneeland, 879-5211.
Welcome New Principal
The Education Program and Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde would like to welcome Ms. Kathy Sumners,
who is the new principal of Grand Ronde Elementary
School, Willamina School District. Ms. Sumners hails
from Philomath School District and replaces outgoing
principal, Dr. Kathleen Shelley, who retired during the
summer months. Welcome Kathy!
EDUCATION
1992-1993 Fall Term Outlook
For many Higher Education and Adult Vocational
Training students, Fall Term 1992 begins the week of
September 21, 1992. Many community colleges, four-year
colleges and universities will resume registration and class
activities at that time. A word of warningto tribal members
who, during the months of August and September, arc just
now getting around to filing for a possible entry into school
fof Fall Term," you are too latcHf "you Have hot already
registered with Tribal Education Program prior to July 31,
1992, your application will more than likely be placed on a
waiting list for Winter Term consideration.
This year the Higher Education Program will
reach an all lime high of 40 enrolled students. Funds for the
Higher Education Program arc limited and students arc
strongly encouraged to apply for and obtain all the financial
returning Higher Education Students and 20 Adult
Vocational Training students from the 1991-1992 school
year. The AVT program projects enrollment to climb to
approximately 30 participants for the 1992-93 school year.
The Tribe's Education Trust Fund Scholarship
Program currently has awarded a total of four continuing
students at the undergraduate level from the 1991-92
school year and has approved a total of 5 newly
undergraduate students for the 1992-93 school year. This
brings our total scholarships to 9 students. The program
has also awarded 2 graduate student scholarships for the
1992-93 school year.
FINANCIAL AID UNDERGOING CHANGES
Just when you thought is could not get much
worse, it just might! All Higher Education and Adult
Vocational Training students who will be attending school
during the 1993-94 school year, BE AWARE. Expect big
changes in how financial aid is determined. There will be
a change of how "independent" student status is defined. It
appears the $4,000 income and not being claimed by
parents will not be, a factor in determining independent
status. The only students who will be declared independent
are:'"'1 '"' ' ' ' ;
. Those students who are orphaned or declared by courts
to be their own legal guardian '
Those students who are 24 years of age or older
Those students who are veterans ,
Those students who are married
Continued on page 10
Community Center