4 FEBRUARY 1,2009
Smoke Signals
Artifacts discussion
1
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Led by Father Albert Krueger, Indian missioner for the Western Oregon
Diocese of the Episcopal Church, a group of four visited Tribal Council on
Wednesday, Jan. 21, to continue the church's effort at reconciliation and
cooperation in gaining the return of the Summers Collection of Grand
Ronde artifacts from the British Museum. The group will serve on a task
force in conjunction with Grand Ronde Cultural staff in preparation for
a national resolution to be offered at the church's summer convention
scheduled for July. The hope is that the resolution will encourage the
Church of England to use its moral and spiritual authority in gaining
release of the Grand Ronde artifacts to the Grand Ronde Tribe.
Participants in the meeting are, front row, from left, the Rev. Albert
Krueger, Tribal Council members Steve Bobb Sr., June Sell-Sherer and
Wink Soderberg, Cultural Collections Coordinator Lindy Trolan and
Tribal Council member Kathleen Tom. In the back row, from left, are
Tribal Council member Valorie Sheker, Donald Amundson, Margaret
Harris, Bonnie Kahn and Tribal Council Secretary Jack Giffen Jr.
Hanson named to board
Tribal member Shelley Hanson, who works for the Tribe as director of
Spirit Mountain Community Fund, was elected to serve as secretary of
the Salem Area Mass Transit District Board of Directors on Jan. 22.
Hanson replaces Eric Jacobsen, who resigned at the end of 2008.
Hanson started serving on the Transit Board in August 2007, repre
senting northeast Salem. D
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' Grand Ronde Tribal members, family and friends attended the
annual Chinook Winter Gathering at the Cathlapootle Plankhouse
on the Ridgefield, Wash., Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 1 7.
Tribal Council members Chris Mercier and Wink Soderberg
represented Tribal Council at the all-day event. This year's event
featured drumming, singing, dancing and storytelling, as well as a
community potluck.
Over-the-Counter Medication
Reimbursement Policy
Effective 11509
Purpose: To provide partial reimbursement for over-the-counter
medications not covered by other health plans and for which a licensed
medical provider feels will benefit the health and wellness of the Tribal
member Elder.
Policy: Grand Ronde Tribal member Elder9 (age 55) will be reim
bursed for eligible over-the-counter medications at a rate of 50 percent
of the amount paid.
Procedure: The following procedures will need to be followed in order
to be eligible for reimbursement under this policy.
1. Tribal member must purchase the over-the-counter medication
themselves and then request reimbursement of 50 percent of the
purchase price.
2. Requests for reimbursement must be presented, or mailed, to the
Health and Wellness Center Administrative Offices and be accompa
nied by a written prescription from the health care provider and the
original detailed register receipt. If mailing, please include the neces
sary information and send to Grand Ronde H&WC, 9605 Grand Ronde
Road, Grand Ronde OR 97347, Attention: OTC Reimbursement.
3. The H&WC Administrative Offices will process a check request
for eligible expenses and submit the request to Finance within 24
hours.
4. Finance will process the check request as an emergency. In most
cases reimbursement will take less than seven days, excluding mail
ing time.
Exclusions: The following categories of over-the-counter medications
are not eligible for reimbursement under the policy;
1. Any medication that is not prescribed by a licensed medical pro
vider. 2. Feminine Hygiene Products. Urinary Incontinence Pads are avail
able from the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Center with a valid
prescription.
3. Cosmetic and daily living products (deodorant, toothpaste, etc).
4. Batteries (hearing aid, diabetic testing machines, etc).
5. Sunscreen, unless accompanied with documentation of skin can
cer.' '
6. Any over-the-counter medications available under the CTGR I lealth
Benefit at the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Center Pharmacy.
Please direct questions regarding eligibility to Mark Johnston at 503-
879-4638 or Allyson Lecatsas at 503-879-1359.
Support group sttairts
The Grand Ronde Tribal I lousing Authority nponnors a Financial Wellness
support group that meets weekly at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Housing
Authority conference room. The support group discusses, shares and learn
ways to stretch dollars and protect the money participant's make. The group
is informal and decides on the topic to be discussed and researched each
week.
The 1 lousing Authority has computers and worksheets to help people develop
and track spending plans.
For more information, call Deborah Kroeker at 503-879-4522 or send her
an e-mail at debornh.kroeker" grandronde.org.