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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2003)
FEBRUARY 15, 2003 Smoke Signals 3 Health & Wellness Report to Tribal Council Discussion covers negative campaigning, openness in government and a prayer for unity. I r r By Ron Karten The February General Council meeting was held on Sunday, February 2, at the Tribal Community Center in Grand Ronde. Here are the highlights: Tribal Vice Chair Reyn Leno called the meeting to order; Tribal Council mem ber Jan Reibach offered the invocation. Steve Bowles, three months now as Interim Execu tive Director of the Health & Wellness Center, called the facility, "one of the best clinics and health and wellness centers that I've seen." Michael Watkins, Health Administrative Officer, provided the report, which included the clinic's mis sion statement, available program services, accom plishments, priorities, a list of ways to better serve the community and some statistical information that U J (: I tive health care. r or example, ne said, eacn day, patients sutler tne Steve Bowles following difficulties, all from preventable cases of dia betes: One person goes blind, D Three receive amputations, One starts on kidney dialysis, 150 are hospitalized, and 10 die. Services available at the clinic include, medical, dental, pharmacy, optom etry, lab and radiology, behavioral health, wellness and prevention, physical services like acupuncture and chiropractic, with physical therapy due soon. Contract services are available for Tribal members in six local counties. In the last five years: The Medical unit has grown from one nurse practitioner to two physicians and two nurse practitioners, added physical medicine options and optometry; The Dental unit has received an excellent review from Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB); The Wellness unit has expanded tobacco and diabetes to prevention pro grams, and continues to look for new ways to expand them further. Priorities for the coming year include improved access for Tribal members, renewed focus on prevention, accreditation through The Accreditation Associa tion for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), physical therapy options within the next 45 days, and improvements in networking and coordination of services. The focus on prevention will encourage Tribal members to "change one thing in their current lifestyle," and include such programs as the 10,000-Step (a day) Program; Men's, Women's and Diabetes' Health Days at the clinic; a Body Transformation challenge; encouraging use of the Tribe's new exercise facili ties. And along those lines, the Clinic will return to sponsoring fun runswalks, sports and exercise activities, and encouragement toward improved diets. "We're here to help you guys live a healthy life-style," said Watkins. Bowles introduced clinic staff to Tribal members present. Questions and comment emerged about both clinic services and negative in put being received both by mail and in public meetings with Tribal member Monte Parazoo said that Tribal Council openness would "make the problems go away. Decisions have to be made publicly," he said. But Tribal Council Vice Chairman Reyn Leno said that decision-making meet ings were open to Tribal members, though Tribal members rarely attend them. Jan Michael Reibach, his son, Shane, and younger brother, Harris, prayed for Tribal unity with a Navajo Prayer song. He asked membership to "put aside their personal differences" and "gather as a Tribe" to successfully face Tribal issues. Among announcements, Tribal member Sharon Herron advised the group that the McMinnville Catholic Church may be considering closing St. Michael, a satellite church that has been a meeting place for the community in Grand Ronde for many years. Door prize winners included $50 winners: Tribal members Talon Jackson Crain, Janet Phillips and Bill Kellogg; and the $100 winner was Linda Brandon. In addition, Tribal member Sheena Johnson, Junior Miss Grand Ronde Roy alty presented prizes for the Royalty's fundraiser raffle: a box of candy and apple cider went to Tribal member Cassandra Scott. And the $30 door prize went to Tribal Vice Chairman Reyn Leno, who donated it to the Veterans' Memorial Fund. And finally, in thanks for filling out surveys, the Health & Wellness Center awarded a Valentine basket to Tribal member Barbara Feehan; and the winner among those who completed blood pressure testing, Tribal member Tammy Shandy, received a Kokopelli pillow, while Tribal member Meg Fuller won a basket of cleaners and utensils. B New Hat State Representative David Wu, who is the first person of Chinese ancestry to serve in the House, visited Grand Ronde on Sunday, February 2 to meet with Tribal members in an informal "Town Hall" and to tour the Tribe's new Education campus. During his visit, Wu received a new cowboy hat from Tribal Council member Ed Larsen, Larsen's wife Shirley and mother Verna Larsen. Wu told those Tribal mem bers gathered at the community Center that he has been touched by the story of the Grand Ronde Tribe and that he shares it with groups and colleagues often. A i 0k h. '. Elder's Crabfeed 2003 A" 0' : I-Vt ) I .. s : . 1 tJ y I ! ) r ' . V- 2 11 . 1 - Tit '".a... . ' ''''II ' '' " ' T" .. - V, , -i tiAL I " - Sticky Situation lOO pounds of fresh Dungeness crab was served up for the annual Elders' Crab Feed at the community center in Grand Ronde on Monday, January 27. Tribal Elder Tom LaChance (above) got the crab and helped organize the feed. Tribal Elder Chips Tom (left) helped himself to some of the crab along with other Elders.
