SMOKE SIGNALS - December 22, 1995 Page 5
V
Entrepreneurs of the Month
Designs of Descending Tradition
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ONABEN Classes
The Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneur
ial Network (ONABEN) in partnership with the Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde will be delivering a series of
entrepreneurship classes in the spring.
The first class, You and Your Business Idea, helps po
tential business owners understand the requirements of busi
ness success. The cost of this two-week evening class is
$10.
The second class, Starting a Successful Business, helps
avoid costly potential mistakes of business start-up. It pro
vides the framework for successful business start-up by as
sisting students in writing a bankable business plan and train
ing them to prepare a successful application for financing.
The cost of this ten-week evening class is $100.
ONABEN has assisted in start-up of 83 new Native
American owned businesses in the past 3 years. The non
profit corporation accomplishes its mission by delivering a
series of practical entrepreneurship classes, providing one-on-one
business consulting, and offering access to capitaliza
tion. ONABEN has recently been approved to act as a Small
Business Development Center for the purpose of qualify
ing ONABEN clients for the State of Oregon Economic
Development Loan Funds (EDLF). The EDLF can pro
vide up to $25,000 in start-up financing to qualified appli
cants. To qualify for this funding, applicants must be ac
tively involved in the ONABEN program, have been in
business for less than 1 5 months, and have made less than
$50,000. ONABEN also administers its own micro-lending
program.
Both classes are being scheduled in the spring at Grand
Ronde. ONABEN is holding winter term classes in Port
land, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Springfield, Warm Springs, and
Umatilla. All classes are open to Grand Ronde tribal mem
bers. For more information or to register for classes, con
tact Penny DeLoe at 879-2476 or Audrey Campbell,
ONABEN Operations Coordinator, at 1-800-854-8289.
Congratulations to BUI McGee, Fred McGee, Will
Grenia and Violet Lafferty. These students have gradu
ated from the 10-week ONABEN business class, Starting
a Successful Business. Anyone who has ever considered
owning and operating their own business should sign up
for the winter class that begins soon.
Tribal member
M a r c e 1 1 a
N o r w e s t
Selwyn and her hus
band, Tony, a Yankton
Sioux, own Designs of
Descending Tradition,
a home-based craft
business.
Their specialty is
tipis. They can make
any size tipi to order
from several inches tall
to ten feet tall. They
make them from can
vas and leather.
The Selwyns spend many months out of the year travel
ling to pow-wows to sell their creations, and they travel all
over the west. "We hit pow-wows all over, as far east as
Nebraska," Tony said.
In addition to their tipi orders, Marcella makes night
lights, jewelry, and stuffed animals in traditional regalia.
Tony makes mirror designs, copper roses, God's Eyes, and
dreamcatchers. All items are for sale and people tend to
fall in love with their unique creations, which you can't
find anywhere else.
Said Marcella, "One day at Warm Springs we sold ev
erything in just a couple of hours." She said that was the
fastest they had ever moved their merchandise. The Selwyns
also sell items along the coast, and some gallery owners
have expressed interest in displaying some of their work.
Their newest design is war pony wall hangings, which
are very striking in homes or offices.
The Selwyns have approached Small Business Develop
ment in order to take the steps to apply for a business loan.
"We. would like our business to be full-time," said Tony.
" Native American art is a very competitive market. It seems
like in the last few years, everyone wants to buy authentic
Indian designs."
In January, a museum in Seaside will display one of the
Selwyn's tipis, and they attended the Warm Springs Last
Chance Christmas Bazaar on December 16.
The number for Designs of Descending Tradition in Port
land is (503) 777-2558.
Request for bids:
Tribal vehicle cleaning and lube service
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Purchasing Department is open to receiving bids for the provision of
cleaning and lube service on the tribally ownedmanaged vehicles which include sedans, vans and pick-up trucks.
The vehicle cleaning service includes:
1) an initial full detailing wash, wax, and complete interior cleaning and shampoo of the carpet on each
vehicle;
2) a twice a month wash and complete interior cleaning.
Every 3,000 miles the vehicles will have lube service that includes:
1) changing of the oil, replacement of oil filter;
2) filling the brake fluid, window cleaning fluid, power steering fluid, rear end oil, transmission fluid;
3) anti-freeze reading, radiator level and air filter checked.
All vehicles during cleaning and servicing will have front and rear brakes tested, muffler and fan belts checked.
Tires will be aired up, as required. The contractor should notify the Purchasing Department of any damage to the
vehicles or of any repair requirements.
The contractor should include within the bid document:
1) pricing for each category of service on each vehicle; a) detailing, b) lube, c) cleaning (sedans, vans, pick-ups
separately);
2) provide a copy of a) business tax number and b) current auto insurance covering the individual(s) who would
be responsible for driving the Tribe's vehicles; and
3) a statement of the Contractors Chemical Disposal procedures for meeting tlie State of Oregon's environmental
regulations for safe disposal of the chemical waste.
The bid documents are to be submitted to: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Attention: Kelly Herber, Pur
chasing Department, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. (503) 879-2201 .
BID DUE DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 no later than 5 p.m.
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I
AL
Tribal member, Jake McKnight is a senior at Wil
lamina High School. His parents are Richard A. and
Vivian McKnight. Jake has played football for the past
4 years. He has been honored with the following
awards: Most Valuable Player, Best Defense Player,
and First Team All League Safety.
Congratulations for your accomplishments, Jake.