8
Smoke Signals
Government-to-Government meeting is educational
By Marion Mercier, Education Department Manager
The Grand Ronde Tribe's Higher Education program hosted the quarterly
Government-to-Government Education Cluster meeting on March 9 at Spirit
Mountain Casino.
Participants were Brenda Frank, Klamath Tribe; Ellen Hansen, Coos,
Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Tribe; Lou Farrow and Kat Brigham, Umatilla
Tribe; Wendell Jim, Warm Springs Tribe; Bev Youngman and Rosemary
Landis, Siletz Tribes; Judy Rocha, Coquille Tribe; and Marion Mercier, Ed
Pearsall and June Sell-Sherer, Grand Ronde Tribe. Other tribal representa
tives were present as well.
Representatives present from the Department of Education (ODE) were
Gloria Muniz and Yanna Underwriter reported on BilingualLanguage.
Muniz and Underwriter are members of the Northwest Indian Language
Benchmark workgroup. The group's task is to determine Northwest Indian
languages proficiency benchmarks that set standards outlining how students
comprehend and gain information from a variety of material. Joni Gillis, of
ODE, gave an updated report on Charter Schools in Oregon.
Diane Walton, a representative from the Department of Community Col
leges and Workforce Development, presented information received from tribes
on a technology survey. Additional information is still needed in 'order to
complete the data results. Watson also updated the group on the Workforce
Investment Act Unified State Plan (draft) and provided handouts for clarifi
cation of what the Act is about.
Dr. Teresa Rapida, Portland State University was present to introduce Steve
Nelson who gave a report on the Enterprise Networking System that will
provide better technology services for a better price to an expanded service
area within Oregon. This network system allows satellite classes to be of
fered on site to tribes. A pilot program is being offered in Grand Ronde at
this time via satellite from Portland State University that brings the Tribal
Administration Program classes right to the membership in Grand Ronde.
Tina Garcia, of ODE, reported on meeting with Oregon Indian Education
Council on the Statewide American IndianAlaska Native Education Plan.
There will be a statewide mail out of the plan to all Oregon School Districts
sometime in September of this year. Tribes are somewhat frustrated be
cause this plan has not been implemented in the majority of Oregon schools
yet was endorsed by the State Board of Education and the Department of
Education in 1994. Garcia is currently recruiting volunteers to train school
district staff in implementation of the plan. Garcia encouraged tribes to
select representatives to participate on the Superintendents Advisory Com
mittee on Diversity. Garcia can be contacted by calling the Oregon Depart
ment of Education at (503) 378-5585, ext. 664 for additional information.
The next Government-to-Government meeting will be held in Klamath
Falls on Thursday, June 22. The meeting will be hosted by the Klamath
Tribe. You may contact Brenda Frank for more information.
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Government-to-Government Education Cluster meeting held on March 8. Left to right: Brenda Frank, Ellen Hansen, Kat Brigham, Wendell
Jim, Bev Youngman, Judy Rocha, and Marion Mercier.
American Indian Ait
American Indian art is explored through literature, storytelling,
and plays written by American Indians.
The music, dance, and regalia ofthepow-wow
are discussed from a cultural and historic perspective.
Music, Dance & Pow-wows April 18 5:30 to 8 pm
Instructor: Craig Whitehead
Location: Grand Ronde Tribal. Governance Center, Room 204
Literature May 2 5:30 to 8 pm
Instructor: Debbie LaCroix, PhD
Location: Grand Ronde Tribal Governance Center, Room 204
Sherman Alexie May 19 5:30 to 8 pm
Instructor: Sherman Alexie
Location: Portland PSU, Extended Studies Bldg., Basement Room 9
At Mr. Alexie's request, admissions for his May 19 presentation will be two or
more cans of food which will be donated to Native American Rehabilitation
Association of the Northwest, Inc. (NARA).
Tuition is $45 per course.
TO REGISTER CONTACT THE FOLLOWING OFFICES:
GRAND RONDE Tribal members may contact Hollie Larsen at 879-2275;
or Deena LaRue at 879-4591; or 1-800-422-0232.
SALEM - Please contact Bee Jai Repp, PhD at (503) 315-4587;
or email: repbchemek.cc.or.us.
PORTLAND - call (503) 72-LEARN (725-3276).
Free scholarships to law school
INROADS is implementing a new
program for students of color plan
ning to attend law school in 2000 or
2001 called the INROADS Law In
ternship Program.
QUALIFICATIONS:
College junior or seniors with at
least a 3.0 grade point average.
Planning to enter law school in
2000 or 2001.
African American, Asian Ameri
can, Latino or Native American stu
dents. Demonstrated leadership skills.
The INROADS Law Internship
Program is intended to encourage
' greater technical excellence and aca
demic preparation for students of
color in the field of law. Students
will have a paid internship with a
law firm during their last summers
of college and on into law school. In
addition to the paid internship, the
student will attend leadership train
ing and law forums. The ultimate
goal is to place the student with the
firm. The intern would be obligated
to work for a minimum of two years
with the sponsoring firm upon
graduation from law school.
For more information, please con
tact Ellecia Williams at (503) 281
0825; or www.inroadsinc.org.
Tribal Trust Fund Scholarships
Application deadline is April 30, 2000.
Scholarships range in amount from $3,000 to $7,000. Tribal scholarships
are renewable as long as academic and attendance requirements are met.
Scholarships are available in the following categories:
A Graduate, full-time and half-time
A Undergraduate, full-time and half-time
A Vocational, full-time and half-time
A Eula Petite, full-time education at Junior level.