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.