10 OCTOBER 15, 2001
Smoke Signals
CALL TO ACTION
CONFERENCE
October 24 2 Sessions
(8:30-11:30 am and 1-4:30 pm)
Spirit Mountain Casino
Rogue River Room
Morning Session:
Explore the strengths and challenges of Polk
County diversity.
Participants are Invited to bring their in
sights, experiences and concerns to share..
Afternoon Session:
Learn skills and strategies to utilize in ad
dressing the challenges and opportunities
we have identified.
Participants will be invited to consider ways
that they can address challenges and op
portunities constructively and cooperatively.
For more details, call 503-623-9664.
ONABEN and the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde Small Business
Development Center presents:
Setting Up
Your Books
Wednesday, October 17
Will cover the basics of developing an
effective and complete record keeping
system that will work for you.
The Artist
In Business,
Legal Issues
Wednesday, October 24
Learn about small business laws for artists,
your record keeping responsibilities and
avoiding costly mistakes.
Market Research
Wednesday, November 7
Learn about how to research and evaluate
markets that have the potential
to improve your business.
TO REGISTER CONTACT:
Sheila Herber at 503-879-2492
CLASSES HELD IN
GRAND RONDE
Tribal members interested in
serving on the Education
Committee, call 503-879-2275
to request an application.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS
NOVEMBER 1,2001.
$5,000 Giveaway
Towards College
Educaid is giving away $5,000 a
month for college. That's $5,000 to
one high school senior a month, ev
ery month throughout this entire
year. Enter to win and look for offi
rial rules at www.educaid.com. Or
contact Educaid, a First Union Com
pany, at 1-800-EDUCAID.
W "
J , I
Promoted Kevin Hayes is now
the new sergeant at the Grand Ronde
Sheriff's Substation. Sergeant Jeff
Van Laanen is on a leave of absence.
GED testing will be held at various Chemeketa sites:
B McMINNVILLE Ted Gross is the GED testing proctor and stu
dents need to make an appointment with him at 503-472-9483 first.
He will schedule students needing to test through December. Mc
Minnville is the closest site from Grand Ronde.
D SALEM Special dates have been set up for students to complete
before the purge date. The testing dates are December 17, 18, 19, 20,
26 and 27. Otherwise, Chemeketa offers GED testing on Mondays
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the 2nd
Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to noon.
D DALLAS Testing is held on Thursday mornings only from 8:30
a.m. to noon. Students will only be able to complete two tests if they
show up at 8:30 a.m. Testing dates are December 6, 13, 20 and 27.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
01f students have been testing at another site, then their official
records and a copy of receipt payment must be faxed to the new
site before testing can begin.
I l When students test, thev must have a picture ID. This can be
their Tribal Enrollment card or a DMV ID card.
I Students generally can get their test results the same day, except
I v I for the Writing Skills Test results require up to two-weeks.
PTlf tests are not completed by the end of December, then students
LU will need to start again with the new GED Test for 2002.
For more information contact Joanne Carr at 503-879-2275
at the Tribal Education Department.
Enhancing the Lives
of Our Future Leaders
Deadline: February 1, 2001
The American Indian Graduate Center Scholars (AIGCS) is to the fu
tures and education of Native American scholars by providing scholar
ships and other assistance. AIGCS is now a partner with the Gates Mil
lennium Scholars initiative.
For information on the Gates Millennium Scholars Scholarship visit
www.gmsp.org. The American Indian Graduate Center Scholars can help
you explore your potential. For more information call 505-884-7007.
Tribal Sovereignty Class Offered
The Tribal Administration Program (TAP) at Portland State University
is pleased to announce its upcoming class, entitled "Tribal Sovereignty."
The course purpose is to provide Tribal leaders, administrators and staff
with a thorough understanding of the legal issues about Tribal sover
eignty. The class will present a comprehensive historical discussion that
includes a CD-ROM for students, containing historical' documents that
provide the legal foundation for Indian Law in the United States. This
graduate-level course reflects the necessity for Tribal leaders to under
stand the complex relationship between Tribes and the U.S. government.
The course is scheduled for Winter Quarter on Thursday evenings from
6:40 p.m. to 9:20 p.m., starting in January. The instructors are Celeste
Whitewolf, J.D. and Glenda Durham, J.D.
TAP is a specialty area within the Division of Public Administration,
Mark O. Hatfield School of Government and recognizes that higher edu
cation is critical for Oregon's nine federal Tribes. TAP uses a high-speed
network to link students on reservations teachers on the Portland cam
pus. Students can engage in videoconferences, interacting with others
via live broadcasts. Using state-of-the-art computer and video technol
ogy, TAP is committed to providing educational opportunities that lead to
a Master of Public Administration with a specialty in Tribal administra
tion. Post-baccalaureate courses center on public administration, but in
struction also includes Tribal law, federal Indian policy and Tribal admin
istration issues. Additionally, courses can be tailored to meet the expecta
tions of students and administrators.
TAP was created in 1999 by Dr. Theresa Julnes Rapida, Chair and As
sociate Professor of public administration. Rapida wanted to expand op
portunities for training to Northwest Tribes to make Tribes more profi
cient with self-governance skills.
"In 1989, two of every three employees working for Tribal governments
across the nation were Native American," said Rapida. "By 1996, that
number dropped to one in three.
"There are more jobs because of the expansion of gambling and con
gressional initiatives, but fewer qualified Native Americans for the jobs,"
said Rapida. "The majority of management positions are held by non
Tribal members, so we're getting more Tribal members who want the skills."
Rapida, who is a member of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe of coastal Wash
ington, has linked Portland State University with the Grand Ronde, Si
letz and Umatilla Reservations. The Oregon Department of Administra
tive Services has lent equipment to the three Tribal sites and is covering
overhead costs in exchange for championing the state's proposed infor
mation network.
More information about TAP is available by calling toll free at 1-800-547-8887,
ext. 5155 or ext. 8080. Online information is available at
www.tribaladmin.pdx.edu.
Loans Marile Easy:
Mortgage and Small Business
WRTib i (SUP (lESWs mSSSfflb .
3
Majestic Mortgage, a Portland area firm specializing in creative lend
ing, has positioned itself as a resource for Indian Housing Authorities.
Liz Hamilton (ChoctawCherokee) works with first time homebuyers,
plus debt consolidation and refinance clients, utilizing the first time
homebuyer assistance program offered to Tribal members under HUD's
Indian Housing Block Grant program.
While many lenders struggle with how to structure the NAHASDA
grant money towards down payments, Majestic Mortgage has adopted
program guidelines to fund quickly and efficiently. Despite credit chal
lenges such as bankruptcy, Majestic can refinance the existing loan
and pull cash out for a number of uses, such as debt consolidation,
home improvements, vacation or working capital for a business. In
vestment properties can either be owner or non-owner occupied.
For self-employed people, Majestic has non-income verifying home
loans and SBA financing available. Most pre-qualifications are done
in 24 hours and there is no charge for the initial call. Majestic Mort
gage is an equal opportunity lender and can originate home loans in
any state where licensing laws allow.
Contact Liz Hamilton at 503-397-9769.