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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2005)
Smoke Signals 11 AUGUST 1, 2005 Tribal Elder Takes Home K GEB Carol Nelson finally brings the subject of math to its knees. By Ron Karten She dropped out of high school after tenth grade. She married and raised three children before head ing back to class. "She is a very accomplished, very well-read lady," said Joanne Carr, Adult Education Coordinator, who fostered Tribal Elder Carol Nelson through the process. Nelson said that since her expe rience with schooling the second time around, "I encourage (kids) to stay in school, but if they can't stay in school, I encourage them to come out and get their G.E.D. (General Education High School Diploma) because Joanne is so won derful." Nelson has also long been involved in Tribal activities. She was a cook at the casino buffet for many years, starting when the casino opened, and for a few years until 2003, she cooked for Tribal Elders at the Com munity Center. During that time, she said, "The Tribe was starting to require all em ployees to get GEDs, so I started it." 4 The Tribe has long encouraged its em ployees to get GEDs for those jobs requir ing it, but has been generous in allowing employees the time to take and pass the necessary courses. Nelson had started the process when her companion of 32 years, Daniel Smith, fell ill. She nursed him through heart attacks, but he passed on two years ago, and the door to her GED opened again. "When he died, I was at loose ends," she said, "so I thought 111 just go back and start studying." "Math had always been difficult for her," said Carr, "and she just wanted to prove that she could do it. Of course, her other scores were just top notch." Nelson tested out of everything but math at the start. "I thought I'd be on my death ii f 6 bed taking that math test," said Nelson recently, months after her graduation. "I had nightmares about that geometry, and that other one (algebra). Add subtract multiply and divide, I'm fine, but get past that and I'm lost." Nelson studied mostly in the eve nings, she said, "probably a couple hours a night. I sit in front of the TV with the sound down," she said, "but not all the way down. I like the CSI series," she said. "All of them. They're interesting shows." Nelson was born in "Doc Russell's office" in Sheridan, and raised in town. She quit school in 1957. "I was just going into my junior year. I got married and went to Califor nia." "I think I missed out on a lot," she said. "Probably if I'd have finished high school and been a little smarter, I would have taken a dif ferent course in my life." At 65, Nelson has three children, three living grandchildren and a grandson lost in a car accident, as well as a 21-month old great grand son. And now her life is growing in new ways. "Seeing as I'm 65 years old," she said, "I thought I'd tackle the com puter next. My grandson gave me his from college. It's sitting there two years and it hasn't been turned on yet. One day, I'm going to mas ter that sucker." "She's an absolutely wonderful Elder," said Carr. American Indian Services Scholarship 6th Grade Transition Dinner Qualified students are eligible for up to one half of tuition, with a mini mum of $500 and a maximum of $1,500. Applicants must be enrolled full or part-time as an undergraduate at a college, university or technical school; have less than 150 semester or 210 quarter credit hours; a mini mum 2.25 GPA and be at least 14 Native American. Application deadline is August 15 for classes starting in August and Sep tember. Please contact Luhui Whitebear, Tribal Scholarship Coordinator, for an application at 1-800-422-0232 ext. 1345 or luhui.whitebeargrandronde.org. y & L mmmm K-12th grades August 15-19, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Please pick up at the Youth Education Building. Beach Trip Pacific City August 12, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Obtain a permission slip from Janel at 503-879-2101. Culture Camp 6th-l2th grades August 24-26 Please contact Janel at 503-879-2101. August 22, 2005, 5:30-7 p.m. at the Youth Education Building All Tribal students entering the 6th grade, parentguardians and sib lings are invited to attend. Dinner, presentation for 6th graders, games and door prizes! Please R.S.V.P. by contacting Janel at 503-879-2101. Library Hours Monday - Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Thursday & Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed Friday Noon - 1 p.m.) Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Book Club: Will meet on August 13 at Noon - 1 p.m. and on August 22 at 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Saturday Activity at the Library on August 27 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. for children & youth in grades K - 3. New Collection Items: BOOKS: The Chronicles ofNarnia by C .S. Lewis; Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell; Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck; If a Bus Could Talk: the Rosa Parks Story by Faith Ringgold. VIDEOS: The Edge, Dennis the Menace, Air Force One and the Nutty Professor. DVD's: Smoke Signals, Windrunner and Brother Bear. (All videos and DVD's have been donated to the Library collection) Donations: Appreciation goes out to Louise Medeiros, Judy Zettergren, Shelley Hanson and Jesse Robertson for their generous donations to the library collection. The library accepts donations of books and other media materials that are in good condition. Donated items not suitable for the library collec tion will be given away on the free book table or to the goodwill. Hope to see you at the library soon. The library is located in the Adult Education Building. Contact the library by calling 503 879-1488. Library Volunteer Recruitment The library is conducting recruitment for 3 volunteers to perform du ties in the Tribal Library. The Library Volunteer Program is just be ing established. Volunteers will work 2 to 4 hours per month performing duties in three specific areas of interest expertise that will include: 1. Circulation, cataloging, re-shelving the library collection items; 2. Provide guidance & instruction to computer users in soft ware and internet programs; and 3. Preparing literature summaries about collection items; and working on special projects. Please con tact the Tribal Library by calling 503 879-1488 to request a Library Volunteer application and or if you have questions.
