8 MARCH 1,2009
Smoke Signals
Per-capita distribution date:
Friday, March 1 3, 2009
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING Your check
will be mailed from New Mexico to the most current address on file
at the Tribe. Please allow at least five business days to receive. If
you would like to verify your address, contact Hollie Mercier at 800-422-0232,
ext. 2490, or 503-879-2490. ' -
Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority
Calling all kids
It's a poster contest!
It's time for the AMERIND Risk Management Corporation 2009 Na
tional Fire and Home Safety Poster Contest for children currently in
grades K through 8 (only one entry per child).
All posters entered are to illustrate a fire safety theme, and must be
originals created by the child in crayon, markers or paint, drawn hori
zontally on 8.5" x 1 1" paper (no pencils, please).
This year's winner of the poster contest will receive a $2,000 savings
bond in his or her name. Entry forms are available through the Grand
Ronde Tribal Housing Authority office, 28450 Tyee Road, Grand Ronde,
or by calling Shawn Kennedy or Victoria Jones at ext. 2401.
All AMERIND Poster Contest entries must be submitted to the Grand
Ronde Tribal Housing Authority office no later than March 26.
CULTURAL GATHERINGS
MARCH 1 4: 7TH ANNUAL SOCIAL POWWOW. Cone Fieldhouse, Willamette University,
400 University St. S.E. SALEM, OR. 503-370-6265.
MARCH 20-21: 7TH ANNUAL AGENCY CREEK ROUND DANCE. Tribal Gymnasium,
9615 Grand Ronde Road. GRAND RONDE, OR. 1-800-422-0232.
If you or anyone you know has Information on cultural events happening, Smoke Signals would
be glad to list It In our Cultural Gatherings. Please e-mail newsgrandronde.org or write to
Smoke Signals, 961 5 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde. OR 97347.
Coping with stress in
tough economic times
By Tom Bender
Tribal Mental Health counselor
When I was asked to write an article
about dealing with stress during chal
lenging times, my first reaction was
that, for someone who has lost their
job or is struggling to pay rent, stress
is an honest and natural response.
As human beings, we have basic
needs: foodwater, sleep, employ
ment, health, safety and love of
family. Faced with the possibility of
losing any of these can create stress
in our lives. The greater the number
of needs not being met, the more
stress we may experience. So how
to cope?
The following is our Top 10 List
for Stress Reduction during Tough
Economic Times.
1. Knowledge is power: Become
familiar with various social service
agencies in the area. Become a fix
ture at employment offices, financial
assistance programs and food banks.
Learn to use the computer.
2. Maintain calming activities:
Daily meditation, prayer, inspira
tional readings and walking in a
nature can be calming and can put
one's mind and body at rest.
3. Be generous: When times are
challenging, there is a tendency to
contract into a poverty mindset. By
continuing to let our goodwill flow
through kindness, patient listening
and compassion for others, we cre
ate a loving flow in our lives and our
family's.
4. Don't be picky: A career coun
selor recently offered this bit of ad
vice: "If someone offers you a job, take
it." Take care of your basic human
needs first. Get picky with career
choices later.
5. Don't do it alone: Helpful pride
In an effort to inform and
assist the community at large,
Smoke Signals has agreed to
publish a monthly article ad
dressing various mental health
issues written by a member of
the Behavioral Health Depart
ment at Health & Wellness.
We welcome letters, e-mails
and questions from people
with mental health-related
questions.
gives us a feeling of accomplishment;
unhelpful pride tells us that we should
be able to it alone. The latter can
lead to feelings of isolation, anger or
depression. We are here to help each
other. Reach out.
6. Maintain a routine: It can be
very helpful to structure one's day.
People who don't keep a schedule
can start to bog down and get dis
couraged. 7. Network: Ask your friends and
family for helpful suggestionscon
tacts. If you have a skill, offer to trade
it for something you need.
8. Get creative: Learn to think
outside the box. What haven't you
tried yet?
9. Feel your feelings: Ignoring
one's emotions does not help. Identify
what you're feelings, breathe, feel
and move on. Stress can increase
from trying not to feel.
10. Go on vacation: Counteract
stress with pleasurable non-addictive
activities (e.g. exercise, a movie,
friends, etc.). That's an order.
Tom Bender can be reached
at 503-879-2026 or tom.bender
grandronde.org. D
CURIOS'
2Q)11Q
Ifs In Our Hands
Position : Address Lister $15.25 perhr
Census jobs offer:
good pay
v flex hrs up to 40wk
v mileage reimbursement
work near home
Call 866-861-2010 or visit
www.201 0censusjobs.gov
US Census Bureau Is an
Equal Opportunity Employer
USCENSUSB U RE A U
Support group sftairts
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority sponsors a Financial
Wellness support group that meets weekly at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in
the Housing Authority conference room. The support group discusses,
shares and learns 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 Housing Authority has computers and worksheets to help people
develop and track spending plans.
For more information, call Deborah Kroeker at 603-879-4522 or send
her an e-mail at deborah.kroekergrandronde.org.
Cultural Resources seeks
plankhouse giveaway items
In anticipation of an early fall opening of the Grand Ronde plankhouse,
the Tribe's Cultural Resources Department is seeking donations of give
away items for the planned blessing ceremony.
Giveaway items can be about almost anything, including beads and
blankets, but not alcohol or drugs.
The items are intended to recognize people from outside the Grand Ronde
community who will come for the blessing ceremony.
"By having people from outside the community, they are helping to
strengthen our house," said Tribal member and Cultural Resources Pro
tection Coordinator Eirik Thorsgard.
Giveaway items can be dropped off at the Cultural Resources Department
in Grand Hondo or at the Tribal satellite offices in Eugene and Portland.
For more information or to check on the appropriateness of possible give
away item, call Angella McCallister at 503-879-2268, Thorsgard at 603-879-1630
or Language & Culture Specialist Bobby Mercier at 603-879-2076.
An article on proper plankhouse protocol written by Cultural Resources
Department staff will appear in Smoke Signal closer to the blessing cer
emony. D