10 JANUARY 15, 2001
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Photo by Justin Phillips
Kennedy Shares Tribal History
By Justin Phillips
Tribal Council member Cheryle Kennedy recently visited Chemeketa Community College's Woodburn
campus to talk with a group of senior citizens about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The
seniors gather at the Woodburn campus' Chemeketa Center for Learning in Retirement to take a class
sponsored by Elderhostel and Chemeketa. Elderhostel is a non-profit organization that provides high
quality, affordable, educational opportunities for adults who are 55 and older.
"It provides classes for Elders so they can keep their minds active and also participate in social activities,"
said Beverly Koutny, Chemeketa's North County Literacy Project Coordinator. "The class this term was
Northwest Indian Culture."
Kennedy talked about the Tribe's history and culture.
The seniors then visited the Grand Ronde area a week later. They enjoyed lunch at Spirit Mountain
Casino and a tour of all the Tribal offices.
"They are really interested in Indian culture," said Koutny.
Grand Ronde Adult Education Survey Results Are In
By Dorna Riding In, Adult Education Coordinator
Education surveys were mailed to the enrolled adult membership in No
vember and administered on-site during several Tribal activities in early
December. The Education department had 46 completed surveys returned
by late December.
Here is an overview of the survey and review of the results:
The survey was divided into four main sections that reflect the scope of the
Adult Education program: Work Related Training, Tribal Community, Per
sonal Needs, Family, Life Skills and Education.
The most responses were in the Tribal Community section with 85, fol
lowed by the Personal Needs and Family Life Skills section with 83. Work
related training received 60 responses and Education received 57.
The majority of the respondents were interested in learning more about
the Tribal community and developing personal, family and life skills. This
trend was reflected in urban as well as local responses. Money management,
a sub-section of the Personal, Family and Life Skills section, garnered the
most individual responses with 31 respondents indicating an interest. In
creasing Tribal knowledge from the Tribal Community section and computer
skills in the Education section each received 28 responses.
One section of the survey asked members to indicate the day and time they
could attend classes and workshops. ,
76 percent of respondents indicated their participation and attendance in
classes was effected by outside barriers, often a single participant facing
multiple obstacles. The most often cited was Lack of Funding followed by a
need for childcare. Multiple respondents cited full-time employment as a
barrier to attending daytime classes, but were interested in evening and
weekend opportunities.
The Final section of the survey solicited any comments or suggestions in
order to deliver the best service to the Grand Ronde adult population and
promote lifelong learning. Most members chose to offer both support and
direction to the Adult Education coordinator.
It is important to notice how committed the respondents are to utilizing
services if offered at a time and place to help overcome the obstacles to par
ticipation. It is also indicated that the age range of respondents is from high
school age to late in life. Those Tribal members that use the Metro office find
the facility inadequate to serve an active Adult Education program, how
ever, are eager to participate if workshops and classes are offered.
TRIBAL COMMUNITY
30A
25
20
15
10
5
I Series 1
Tribal
knowledge
28
Arts and
Crafts
21
Genealogy
20
Oral
history
11
Drum
making
In the Tribal Community section, 60 percent of participants were inter
ested in increasing their Tribal knowledge and Tribal history awareness.
Participants said they wanted to learn the skills to research their family his
tory and also said they wanted to participate in an oral history project with
the Elders.
Many suggestions were made in this section, from learning more about
traditional crafts and lifestyles to studying the laws and ordinances of the
Tribe. One suggestion was made to start a Culture Committee. One metro
respondent would like outings and field trips to help connect learning and
lore.
WORK RELATED TRAINING
30
25
20Y
isY
10
nnn
y . ..- . :
. , . Job Job Casino Managing
Get a fcb .. . .. , u Finance
Readines Retention job Stress
Series 1 26 11 10 8 3 3
In the Work Related Training section, 56 percent of the survey partici
pants were interested in securing or advancing to a better job. Job readi
ness, retention skills and improving opportunities for employment at the ca
sino were also high on the list. Survey respondents suggested stress man
agement skills and finance training as other possible offerings. According to
the survey results, metro and local respondents were not as interested in this
category as compared to the Tribal Community.
PERSONAL FAMILY LIFE SKILLS
40
30
20
10
V
nn
rr
Managing First Credit Parenting Drug and
Money AidCPR Repair Skills alcohol
Series 1 31 20 15 11 4
In the Personal, Family and Life Skill section, money management was a
skill 67 percent of the survey respondents wanted. CPR and first aid train
ing was second with all Metro respondents indicating interest. Those re
spondents who indicated parenting skills as a choice indicated weekends as
the time they would be able to attend. Multiple respondents suggested Drug
and Alcohol awareness be included in the Adult Education program.
EDUCATION
30A
25
20
15
io Y
5'
1 If If 1,
Computer College Complete q,,-, , Higher Business
Skills Prep GED college mgrrt.
Series 1 28 13 5 4 4 3
In the Education section, 60 percent were interested in gaining computer skills.
Many of those surveyed offered suggestions including business management
training and higher-level college courses for credit and technical certification.