Smoke Signals
4
From Warn Springs to Washomgtoira, D.C,
Second Hatfield Fellow works on Native American issues.
By Brent Merrill
W!
ashington D.C. is worlds
away from where Warm
Springs tribal member
Direlle Calica grew up, but so far,
she seems to be right at home in the
office of Oregon Senator Gordon
Smith.
Thanks to funding from the Con
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde's
Mark 0. Hatfield Fellowship, Calica
is working in Smith's Washington,
D.C. office for nine months. Calica
is the second Native American to be
honored by the Tribe the first was
Grand Ronde tribal member Pete
Wakeland.
Wakeland worked in Oregon Sena
tor Ron Wyden's office during his fel
lowship. The fellowship was created by the
Tribe as a living tribute to former
Senator Hatfield. The fellowship
also honors the memory of Hatfield
staffer Susan Long. Long was an
advocate for Oregon tribes, who past
away in 1992.
Each year an applicant for the
Hatfield Fellowship is selected from
a federally recognized tribe in Or
egon, Washington, Idaho or Mon
tana to serve as a
legislative intern
to one of Oregon's
house or senate
representatives
for nine months.
Calica said she
intended to apply
for the first fel
lowship award,
but started a fam
ily instead. Her
husband sup
ported her when
the chance to ap
ply again came.
Calica was work
ing for the U.S.
Attorney's office
in Portland and read about the fel
lowship in her tribal newspaper.
Calica knew she would be working
on Native American issues, but she
had no idea what that would mean
when it came time to do her job.
"Native American issues are so
broad and they touch on everything
you can think of," said Calica. "I have
to know something about everything."
Arriving in Washington, D.C. in
the middle of budget appropriations
put Calica in the middle of a whirl
wind. She got thrown into the mix
and although she said it was fun, the
learning curve was a challenge.
"That (working on budget appro
priations) took a lot of my time in
September," said Calica. "I was run
ning all over the place. It was crazy
during the first few months trying
to figure out what I was doing."
Calica began her work in Septem
ber during the culmination of the
nation's budget process.
Although her responsibilities are
many, Calica said she is starting to
get settled in.
Calica writes letters on Smith's be
half and monitors Indian issues. She
said she wrote a letter on behalf of
ONABEN (Native American Business
Network) that was endorsed by Smith.
"That letter is one I feel good
"We wanted some way to thank Senator Hatfield not only for
all he did for us, but for other Tribes," said Tribal Council Chair
Kathryn Harrison about how the Hatfield Fellowship began. "We
wanted something that would last"
Harrison said the genesis of the idea was to also find a way to
honor Hatfield's former aide, Susan Long.
"We wanted this to be in her memory," said Harrison.
Hatfield saw an ongoing need for a tribal liaison in Washing
ton, D. C, said Harrison. She said he liked the idea of the fellow
ship, although it bears his name, being in the memory of Long.
"He (Hatfield) had faith in her (Long)," said Harrison. "She
always had the Tribe's best interests at heart. She was aways
honest and up front with us. Long is the role model for this."
Harrison said she is proud of the fellowship and likes the idea
of it being open to regional Indian people.
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Sen. Mark Hatfield (Ret.) visits with Direlle Calica and her husband
during a reception following the announcement of the second
Hatfield Fellow.
about," said Calica.
Calica also spent time writing let
ters on behalf of Oregon tribes seek
ing budget appropriations.
A lot of her time is spent assisting
senior staff members with various is
sues. Calica informs senior staffers
on Native American issues and natu
ral resource issues. Calica said many
Native American and natural re
source issues cross over into tribal
authority and jurisdiction. Calica said
she pays close attention to fisheries,
water and land consolidation issues.
She is also spending time working
with immigration issues.
Even though things are currently
in a slow-down mode on the Hill (in
between budget appropriations),
Calica said she is still busy doing re
search. "I have done so much reading lately
way more than I ever did in my
final year of college," said Calica of
her time at Portland State University.
"Everybody has been very helpful,"
she said. "I didn't know what to ex
pect when I came over here."
The transition from living in Warm
Springs, and now being in the
nation's capital, was not as difficult
as Calica thought it might be.
"I had been here before (D.C.)," said
Calica of D.C. "Being on 'the Hill' is a
totally different work envi
ronment than I have ever
been in. It is a shock if you
are not used to it. The hours
are so crazy and sporadic
but fun. No day is ever the
same. I like that I like
the variance we get up here.
Some days we are here from 9 a.m.
until late in the evening.
Calica said she is thankful for the
opportunity to be a fellow.
"The fellowship has been beneficial
to me," said Calica. "Sen. Smith's of
fice has given me so many projects
to work on and learn from. The most
important thing it has given me is
not the ability to see projects come to
fruition, but the insight into the
whole legislative process and how the
senator's office works. I'm also get
ting the guidance from the senator's
office as well as the support I'm get
ting from the Grand Ronde Tribe.
I'm learning so much. I majored in
political science for four years, but I
think I've learned more here in the
past three or four months than I
could have ever taken away from
school. It's a great, great fellowship.
I can't say enough."
Calica said the fellowship is a tan
gible example of how tribes really do
work together and help each other.
"That (brotherhood between tribes)
is a positive and unique aspect of this
fellowship," said Calica. "I'm not a
member of the tribe that is sponsor
ing it, but I'm part of a good neigh
bor project."
Calica sees her role as part of a big
ger picture.
"I need to not only be aware of
what is happening in Oregon, but all
over the country," said Calica of her
position in the nation's political struc
ture. "I'm a point of reference in our
office for Indian issues."
Calica offers this advice to those who
will come behind her: "Be very open
minded," said Calica. "There are many
things to learn about the dynamics of
the senate office and the details of
tribal relations. There is so much to
know. You are going to be taking on
quite a challenge. I know I will walk
out of here a better person for every
thing that I have learned up here."
Teaching or an academic field could
await Calica when she is through
with her position next year.
"I was set to go to law school next
fall, and now that I'm here I'm not
so sure that is what I want to do any
more," said Calica of her future. "I
would like to get into public policy
and then law. You can experience it
rather than read it out of a textbook.
Calica and Wakeland have laid a
foundation for others to follow. Both
hope others follow their lead.
"I just want to encourage people to
get involved and apply for it," said
Calica of the fellowship. "There is
an opportunity here to add to the
Native American presence on the
Hill. There is definitely a Native
American community that exists here
that has been very supportive since
I have been here."
To obtain an application packet
for the Hatfield Fellowship
call 1-800-760-7977, ext. 3240.