SMOKE SIGNALS - May 1, 1996 Page 3
General Meeting Minutes...
continued from page 1
Nanitch Sahallie Program Report: Dr.
Bob Ryan talked about the 7 years of youth
programs at Nanitch Youth Treatment Cen
ter. In 1989, there was a 40 completion
rate of the treatment program. In 1994 it
was down to 25. At that time, they re
structured the program to separate males
and females. They now have 80 comple
tion in the male sessions and 70 comple
tion in the female sessions.
Ryan commented that there is more re
quest for treatment than they can handle.
Today, our young people have more prob
lems. It takes more staff to help one person
with their problems. Drug and alcohol use
are a big part of the great incline of AIDS
with young Native Americans.
Announcement from tribal physician:
Dr. Gerritz reported a little about the Health
and Wellness components. He was pleased
to announce a Diabetic Informational Work
shop for April 18, which was open to all
tribal members, as well as community mem
bers. Kaylene McCollough, Diabetic Edu
cation Coordinator at Valley Community
Hospital shared information and answered
questions. The Wellness component plans
to have many more community workshops.
Dr. Gerritz complemented Frank Whalen
on a great job designing the new clinic, even
down to what kind of trash baskets will be
ordered!
The Medical Clinic is represented by:
Dr. Glenn Gerritz, Physician who special
izes'in the elderly care;
Donna Brenneman, Family Nurse Practi
tioner who specializes in children and preg
nancies; Jim Holmes, Medical Assistant;
Darlene LaGoy, Medical Assistant;
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Dr. Robert Ryan
Jerry Brandon, Medical Records Clerk;
Peggy Biery, Medical Receptionist.
Door Prizes: The picture went to Sylvia
Fuller and Safeway gift certificate went to
Mychal Leno. The Elders raffle was won
by Jackie Whisler.
Nominations: Chairman Mark Mercier
announced that nominations for Tribal
Council will be made at the next General
Council meeting on May 5. Nominees must
be present to accept or decline nomination.
Other business: Questions were raised
about housing. Chairman Mercier ad
dressed the fact that the newly appointed
Housing Authority Board of Commission
ers will make a plan, which will consist of
where to build.
Also, the tribe is working on a plan for a
permanent mobile home park located on the
land across from cemetery.
Tribe and OLS will offer services
The Tribe has recently entered into a one-year contract with Oregon Legal Services (OLS)
which will begin May 1. Under the contract, OLS will provide free legal services to tribal
members living in Oregon, or tribal members who have a legal problem originating in the
state of Oregon.
The legal issues for which OLS can provide representation include: landlordtenant dis
putes, consumer relations and debtor rights, domestic relations, employment issues (such
as discrimination), pensions, wills, veterans' benefits, education issues, Social Security
disability and Supplemental Security Income issues. In most cases, the client will only be
responsible for court costs.
Oregon Legal Services will place highest priority on serving the legal needs of Grand
Ronde tribal elders.
Gayle Patterson, an attorney based in the OLS McMinnville office, is an experienced
litigator and will lead the legal team responsible for representing tribal members. Her
number is (503) 472-9561 or 1-800-781-8500.
Tribal members can get help from any Oregon Legal Services office. Other offices are
located in Hillsboro, Portland, Oregon City, Newport, Albany, Coos Bay, Woodburn,
Roscburg, Grants Pass, Pendleton, Bend, Klamath Falls, and Ontario.
Oregon Legal Services will not handle criminal cases, cases against the Grand Ronde
Tribe, or cases against any Grand Ronde tribal member.
Nanitch Sahallie's new treatment process
By Dr. Robert Ryan
Nanitch Sahallie has developed a new
gender specific treatment process. We
now only take all females or all males
alternately for an 8-week length of resi
dential treatment flow. This concludes
with the completion of the 5th Step (AA)
and Family Week.
Several disruptive problems motivated
us to change: client malefemale relation
ships, sexual activities, competitive
sexual relationships, abuse issues of cli
ents, acting out issues, disputesphysical
altercations related to boygirl relation
ships, inability to speak up in mixed
groups, and runaways due to relationships
or abuse issues. The staff at Nanitch feels
that this has been a positive move for all
people involved.
We have learned many things during
the first gender specific cycles, and there
is much more to be learned. Remember,
the goal of treatment has not changed, and
young people can repeat the program.
We have recently increased the pro
gram from 7 weeks to 8 weeks and the
family program will be Monday-Friday
of the last week. There will be about four
days in between sessions for documenta
tion, training, and a short break. We will
continue to use the present treatment flow,
and adapt it with client and staff input.
The 8-week session is as follows:
Week 1: Assessments, Orientation
Week 2: Powerlessness, Step 1
Week 3: Unmanageability, Step 1
Week 4: Believing, Step 2
Week 5: Deciding & Higher Power, Step 3
Week 6: Relapse Work and Start Inven
tory, Step 4
Week 7: Complete Step 4 & 5
Week 8: Family Week & Graduation
Our graduation rate has much im
proved since we changed to gender spe
cific groups in 1 995, and we feel we have
improved the quality of treatment. To
graduate from a treatment program in
creases young peoples' chances of stay
ing clean and sober.
Nanitch Sahallie Celebration held
Lisa Tiger, a Cherokee
woman from Oklahoma, spoke
at the Alumni Gathering on
April 20. Lisa travels all over
the country speaking to tribal
youth about HIVAIDS aware
ness, and has recently ap
peared on the Maury Povich
show.
Lisa is a very sought-after
lecturer in Indian Country and
has received praise from tribal
leaders and educators for her
candid and honest lecturing
style. Her talk focused on self
respect, sexual responsibility,
and the fact that no one is
immune from sexually trans
mitted diseases.
Council appoints Heritage Society members
On April 17, Tribal Council appointed the six members of Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and
Heritage Society, who will serve on the Society's Board.
The following people will be Class 1 members, whose Term of Office expires March 1,
1997: Annabelle "Pcachie" Hamm, Pam Warren, Marie Schmidt, and Dale Archibald.
Two tribal members will serve as Class 2 members, whose Term of Office expires March
1, 1998: ClaudctteM. Parazoo and June Olson. Kathryn Harrison will be the Tribal Coun
cil liaison.
Kwelth Tahlkie Culture and Heritage Society was established to preserve the heritage
and culture of the Grand Ronde Tribe; provide facilities for safekeeping and display of
articles and artifacts relating to the culture and heritage of the Grand Ronde Tribe; provide
educational opportunities to students and scholars interested in the study of the heritage
and culture of the Tribe; and to ensure that historical contributions by tribal members re
ceive proper recognition.
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