8 MARCH 1, 2004
Smoke Signals
Songbird: Tribal Member Becky Youso Lends Her Voice To Tribal Events
By Peta Tinda & Toby McCIary
Tribal member
Becky Youso is
probably best
known in Grand
Ronde as the at
tractive blonde girl
who sings the
Lord's Prayer and
national anthem
so beautifully at
Tribal events such
as pow-wows and
rodeos.
Most recently,
Youso sang for the
Veterans' Memo
rial dedication and
the Tribal Restora
tion Celebration.
Youso, who lives in Salem, is the daughter of Susie
and Ray Gillam and granddaughter of Verna and
the late Edward Larsen, Sr.
She is also the niece of Tribal Council member Ed
Larsen.
Youso said that singing comes naturally to her,
"and I really enjoy the performance aspect of it," she
said.
She said that she was always interested in sing-
Becky Youso
ing and took her first lesson at age 14.
"I was so nervous at my first lesson," she recalled.
"Because if I had no potential, I was afraid I might
not get asked back." Fortunately, she had the knack
for it and her instructor, Brian Swingle, was her
first and best teacher, she said. "He gave me a lot of
confidence."
Youso really enjoys what she does. "I like to en
tertain and touch people emotionally," she said.
She also takes great pleasure in singing for the Tribe
because it has so much personal meaning to her.
Youso works full time as an insurance claims ad
juster in Salem.
She went to Western Oregon University and gradu
ated with bachelor's degree in business, with a mi
nor in vocal music.
Youso sings in a soprano voice. "It goes from low
to high, with baritone the lowest, then tenor, alto
and soprano being the highest," she explained.
In college Youso learned in the classical style, sing
ing arias from operas and other "art songs." She
was taught proper breathing techniques, enuncia
tion and the tonal aspects of singing. "You have to
keep practicing. If you don't practice, you lose your
flexibility and vocal range."
She also sings at wedding and funerals, mostly for
friends and relatives.
Youso said that one of the most difficult phases for
her is getting over the butterflies that come with any
performance.
"I sometimes psyche myself out. I used to get stage
fright really bad. I was always afraid I'd forget the
words." But she manages to over come the jitters
when she performs.
For the time being, Youso said she wants to stay
with her current job, but she said she would like to
do musical theater, or perhaps try out to sing the
national anthem before a Portland Trailblazers game.
"Some day I'd love to sing in a choir," she added.
Youso said that she always considers it an honor
to be asked to sing for the Tribe.
"I like the opportunity to do the singing for the
Tribe, to kind of give back a little the Tribe's done
so much for all of us. And it always makes my
grandma, Verna Larsen, very proud."
Her favorite aspect of singing is when she is right
in the middle of a song, when she is putting all of her
energy and concentration into her performance. She
uses her whole body for singing, making sure to stand
straight and breathe deep, while paying close atten
tion to her posture.
"You have to put everything out of your mind and
concentrate. It's stressful, but once you're singing
you don't think about it," said Youso.
"And when I'm done, it's a great feeling, knowing I
did it and all the practice paid off."
Tribal Member John Gregg Joins The Education Department's "Family"
ByTobyMcClary
One of the Education Department's newest em
ployees is looking forward to becoming a permanent
fixture here. Preschool Teacher's Aide and Tribal
member John Gregg is hoping to become a Lead
Teacher for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
and is working to get his associate's degree in early
childhood development.
"I have a great concern for the direction of the
Tribe," said Gregg. "If education begins at an early
age it will usually continue throughout life. Point
ing children in the right direction early will hope
fully develop a great group of leaders."
Gregg grew up in Spokane, Washington and moved
to Otis when he was thirteen. He worked at Chi
nook Winds Casino in their childcare program for
two years, but found he wanted to be more involved
with the Grand Ronde people.
"I was made to feel like family right from the be
ginning," said Gregg, about his best experience since
joining the Education Department in August of
2003.
Gregg said he enjoys his job and the people in
volved so much that he has convinced his brother,
Tribal member Jeff Gregg, to get a job at the pre
school as a high school intern when school lets out
this summer. John's father, Tribal member Ken
Gregg, works for Spirit Mt. Casino as a Manager on
Duty (MOD) during swing shift. John also enjoys
artwork and likes to play football. He likes to cus
tomize cars as a hobby and occasionally teams with
his father who also shares the same interest.
Gregg just received his Commercial Driver License,
so that he can now drive the school bus in the
Willamina and Sheridan area for the preschool pro
gram. He is also an assistant to the teachers and
helps the children work on projects.
"John is advancing very quickly in his job," said
Early Childhood Education Director, Vikki Bishop.
"The thing that impacted me the most about John
was his motivation and his want to work for the
Tribe. John takes advantage of the programs that
the Tribe has to offer and is very enthusiastic," added
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John Gregg
Bishop.
John explains that the most rewarding part of his
job is when the children tell him that they had a
good time that day and are excited to see him in the
morning. "We have the greatest bunch of kids here,"
said Gregg. "I am happy to finally be on board."
New Indian Child Welfare Caseworker Brings Passion To The Job
By Peta Tinda
Molly Matthews is the new In
dian Child Welfare Caseworker
for the Tribe's Social Services
Department. She grew up and
attended high school in Sheridan,
before enrolling at the University
of Oregon, where she received
her Bachelor of Arts Degree with
a double major in Sociology and
International Studies.
Matthews' parents are Steve
and Karen Rogers of Sheridan
and her grandparents are Bill
and Rena Barnes of Willamina.
"I'm definitely a local kid," said
Matthews. "Being from the area
has helped me a lot in knowing
the community and the chal
lenges that local families face," she said.
In her new position she works closely with in
dividual families to help them achieve a healthy
relationship that fosters growth and a sense of
security.
She has around 8 to 10 families that she works
with, living in places as far away as California
and Portland and as close as Sheridan and Dal
las. "My biggest responsibility is to work with par
ents that may be having issues to become healthy
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Molly Matthews
parents with treatment that fits
their situation, like drug and al
cohol treatment, domestic violence
treatment and parenting classes."
Matthew's job extends beyond
the usual 9 to 5 working hours.
She often does home visits with
families, stopping in to check on
her clients after school.
Kristy Petite, who is Matthew's
supervisor, said that she is work
ing out very well.
"She jumped right in, she came
to the program with skills and the
ability to work with different cul
tures. She's up and running by
all means."
Petite said that Matthews is
very engaged with the families she works with
and that she is a strong advocate for both them
and the program.
The Tribe's Social Services program and the
state foster-care programs work together to try
to bring the best services to families, both Tribal
and non-Tribal, that are in need.
"It's a federal law that says that the state has
to provide an active effort for these families,"
said Petite. "Unfortunately, because of the state
worker's overwhelming caseload, this is some
times questionable. One of our roles is to make
sure Indian families get the service and that is
required by ICW law."
To that end the program hires caseworkers like
Matthews and others to ensure that the fami
lies are given the required level of service.
Though her job sometimes exposes her to the
unseen abuse that occurs in families, Matthews
never loses her faith in the parents' concern for
their children.
"Even in the worst situations I've been in,
there's never been any doubt in my mind that
the parent loves their child," she said.
The best part of her job, Matthews said, is when
she gets to see one of her families re-united.
"That's my goal with every single family I work
with," she said.
On her days off, Matthews likes to be outdoors,
enjoying wakeboarding, snowboarding and
sports in general. She is married to Tyler
Matthews, who is a quarterback for the Linfield
College Wildcats.
Matthews said one of her primary goals in life
is to take care of people; to help in anyway she
can.
Her future goals include getting her masters
degree, so that she can take her casework "to
the next level." B