Smoke Signals 9
JANUARY 15, 2004
New College Counselor And Career Advisor Wants To Help Tribal Students
To A More Fulfilling Life Through Education
By PetaTinda
Rachel Warner is the new College Counselor and
Career Advisor for the Tribal Education Department,
a position she's held since December 17.
She is originally from Oregon, grew up in Eugene
and went to college at Western Oregon University,
where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychol
ogy. Afterwards, she attended Lewis and Clark College,
where she received her Master's Degree in Counsel
ing Psychology.
In her new position she helps potential students
access colleges, fill out applications and helps Tribal
students with the sometimes-confusing world of col
lege attendance.
"I help undecided college students narrow down
their choices and access college programs, fill out
financial aid forms and applications and visit col
lege campuses," said Warner.
"I have always loved education and I would like to
help other people catch the education bug," she said.
"College degrees just help you, they open doors for
you and you end up doing things you wouldn't think
you'd be doing."
In today's modern economy almost every job re
quires some form of college degree, something the
Tribal Education Department recognizes, which is
why they provide counselors like Warner to help
would-be college students with the college enrollment
process.
Having come from a background in counseling at
a low-income facility in Salem, Warner said that
not having a good education affects a student's life
in more ways that are immediately apparent, such
as their mental and physical health and access to
resources that are available.
"It's not just about money, but people feel more
fulfilled with better jobs and have
more successful lives," said Warner.
In her spare time, Warner enjoys
hiking, biking and the outdoors.
She also has a particular love of
animals that goes far beyond her
three cats, Piggy, Buddy and Rocky.
She volunteers to do reptile shows to
grade school kids, through collabora
tion between the Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry (OMSI) and
Brad's World of Reptiles out of Port
land. "I like to carry around a 70-pound
python around my neck," she said.
She once worked with dolphins
during a summer internship in Ha
waii and when she was in California,
she was employed at a movie studio
called "Wild Things," where she
worked with various large predators, including bears,
lions and tigers.
"I'm surprised I'm still alive. I saw one of my
fellow counselors get dragged by lion but I really
enjoyed it," she said in the same breath.
"I'm all about exploring," said Warner.
She also volunteers for the Feral Cat Coalition of
Oregon, or FCCO, which does community spay and
neuter clinics. "To reduce the number of unwanted
kitties," she said.
Warner encourages her students to pursue sum
mer internships.
"There are so many internships available they're
a great chance to gain work experience, make
friends and create networks for future employment.
And the experiences last a lifetime they're price-
I 1
Rachel Warner
less."
She has an extensive to-do list for this spring, in
cluding arranging campus visits to seven different
colleges and universities around Oregon. She is also
organizing the annual college and career fair at the
Tribe's new gymnasium in April, where students
can meet with and talk to any of the dozens of col
lege recruiters who is be present.
She encourages anyone who's interested to come
in and talk to her.
"I'd like students to come in and sit down so we
can figure out a career path that would be the most
fulfilling for them."
I laving an education helps to give people a better
life, with more opportunities to succeed, said Warner.
"It helps people to have a more fulfilling life."
Lynden Jones, K-5 Site Supervisor, Joins Education Department
By Ron Kartcn
With the elimination of the Before part
of the old Before and After Program at
the start of this school year, Lynden
Jones came on as K-5 Site Supervisor
for the Education Department with
something of a new mandate.
The change came because the Grand
Ronde Elementary program merged
with the Willamina Elementary pro
gram in Willamina, a long way and no
ride back to the Before and After
modulars behind what is now the middle school for
Grand Ronde and Willamina students.
Today, the K-5 program runs from 8:30 a.m. -5:30
p.m., and continues to offer tutoring at both
Willamina and Sheridan Elementary schools. All
that is needed to get some tutoring going for a young
student is the request of a
parent or teacher, according
to Jones. "We tutor in
schools, 8:30-2:30," said
Jones, "and then out here."
The program includes two
tutors and Jones, who mixes
tutoring with her other ob
ligations as a site supervi
sor. Openings remain both
for tutoring in school and at
the modulars in Grand Ronde, said Jones.
She previously worked for the Dallas School Dis
trict as an educational assistant based at Rickreall
Elementary she called it "a great little country
school" tutoring in all subjects and teaching the
language arts. Actually, she said, "(I did) every-
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thing you could possibly do in a small school."
A Sheridan area resident, Jones is married with
children. And for fun? "Do you think there's time?"
she asked. "I have two kids." The family goes camp
ing, horseback riding, and to sporting events.
She is working on her Master's Degree in Educa
tion. "My goal?" she said. She recalled from her
time at Rickreall, "We could get great discussions
going with the older groups." And then she said: "I
would really like to teach 4"' grade."
I lere in Grand Ronde, "Parental support has been
great," said Jones. "We have some high school in
terns which is a wonderful opportunity for them and
for us. All the extra hands are great. The more one
on one with the kids, the better it is."
Chinuk Wawa Class Creates Dedicated Students
Tribal member Diane Smith liked the last class so much that she sent photos and testimonials to Smoke Signals.
By Ron Karten
In one email, Tribal member and marathon run
ner Diane Smith (See Smoke Signals, 1103 issue)
described the Native stick game played in class.
"This is what I meant," she wrote, "by my comment,
'More than a Language Class.' We learned parts of
our culture and it was like having a glimpse into
my ancestors' world and for that I am so grateful.
"It's like watching a language being reborn," she
wrote. "This is such a vital part of our culture and
I feel it is a gift from our Elders. Learning Chinuk
Wawa is a gift that we should continue to give to
our children because it is more than just a language.
It is a part of who we are."
"We've had nothing but good responses from those
who took the class," said Tribal member Bobby
Mercier, Language Specialist and assistant teacher
for the class. Tony Johnson, Education Coordinator
for the Culture Department, leads the class.
"The class usually starts off with a history of the
language, the origin of it," said Mercier. "Then we
start out with basic phrases and words. Usually at
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the very end of the class, we have a potluck and do
our last test and our stick game."
Old stories from Grand Ronde history and those
told by Elders also are part of each class, said Mercier.
The winter term class began January 12 and will
run 10 weeks, through March 15. It meets Monday
nights from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Tribal Com
munity Center. And though it is already underway,
Mercier expects that spaces will continue to be avail
able. It may not always be that way. Mercier said that
attendance has tripled over the last year.
"I had a wonderful time," wrote Tribal member
Carol Haskins, Smith's sister, in an email, "and
learned more that I thought I ever could."
Together Maria Haskins holds her cousin Joshua
Smith as he drums during the stick game held at the
end of the class. On Haskin's right is Tribal Langauge
Specialist Bobby Mercier, one of the class's teachers.