Smoke Signals 5
APRIL 1,2009
C-SPAN toons cemmoinig to (Sirsurndl Dtoirodle
Visit part of Oregon
Council for Social
Studies conference
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
A big blue bus will be on the Trib
al campus on Saturday, April 4.
One of two C-Span Civic Buses
45-foot mobile production stu
dios and demonstration centers
will be parked on the Tribal
campus near the Tribal gymnasium
as the Oregon Council for Social
Studies holds its spring conference,
"Oregon's First People: A Workshop
for Educators."
The Oregon Council for Social
Studies represents social studies
at all levels and has hundreds of
members.
According to its Web site, www.
oregonsocialstudies.org, the coun
cil "represents a diverse spectrum
of professionals concerned and
involved in social studies educa
tion. OCSS is an organization
that seeks to foster professional
growth and articulate positions
for the social studies profession on
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v
11
relevant issues for educators and
the public."
The Saturday conference will run
from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tribal
gymnasium with breakout sessions
being held in the Tribal Education
Building. It will discuss Native
issues for kindergarten through
12th-grade educators.
Among presenters will be Tribal
members David Lewis and Kathryn
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Photos by Michelle Alalmo
Travis Mercier, Tribal member and the Tribe's Youth Education Culture
Specialist, holds a screen as Tribal member Amanda Grijalva pulls ink
over It to make a print on a T-shirt during the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde's Native Youth Wellness Day held on the Tribal campus
on Friday, March 20. The event was for Native youth In grades 6-12.
Below, Tribal members Anthony Cook, left, and Jordan Thombrough
fill out surveys. The survey was voluntary and its purpose is to help
identify the strengths and needs of youth In the community and
develop strategies for working with Native youth.
Photo courtesy of sarahcostello.files.wordpress.com
Harrison on "Grand Ronde Tribal
Perspectives on Termination" and
Tribal member and Education Di
vision Manager April Campbell on
"Indians in Oregon Today."
Cultural Resources Secretary
Angella McCallister will display
the Tribe's virtual story "Ntsayka
Ikanum" in the Education Building
Computer Lab.
"The spring conference hopes to
inform educators and interested
people from across the state of Or
egon about Oregon's First People
so that information is taught in
our classrooms," says Lisa Iverson,
president-elect of the OCSS and a
teacher at Cascade High School in
Turner.
"I have lived in Oregon for 10
years and have seen very little for
educators about Oregon's First
People. It is not to say there are not
resources available, but I thought
it was time for this to be a confer
ence theme so all educators, not
just educators working with Tribes,
have the information from Tribal
experts they need.
"Textbooks hardly give any in
formation on this topic. In fact, my
U.S. history textbook, which is new,
gives less than a paragraph to the
topic of Termination. It states it
was a disaster, but gives no details.
That is not good enough."
Turner said that the conference
was originally going to be held at
Cascade High School, but that after
meeting with Campbell, who volun
teered use of the Tribe's facilities,
it was moved.
"It is a much more appropriate
place given the topic," Iverson says.
The C-SPAN bus, part of the cable
channel's Bus Program launched
in 1993, seeks to bring public af
fairs into schools and communities
nationwide. It is equipped with TV
production units that can be used as
studios during live programs, such as
C-SPAN's "Washington Journal."
Students, authors, journalists
and national leaders have been
interviewed aboard the buses.
Currently, the two Civic Buses are
on a dual "100 Days, 100 Schools"
Tour in honor of President Barack
Obama's first 100 days in office.
They are visiting 100 middle and
high schools from Jan. 21 through
April 30.
Iverson said the bus will be open
to the public to tour and the confer
ence's two featured authors, Lewis
& Clark College professors Stephen
Beckham and Robert Miller, will be
interviewed.
The bus is scheduled to arrive
around 10:30 a.m.
Iverson said about 100 educators
are expected to attend the confer
ence and that Grand Ronde Tribal
members who want to attend will
receive a special rate: two-for-one
for $30, which includes lunch.
"There is truly something for
everyone at this conference," Iver
son said. "History, uses of Native
plants, published authors, interna
tionally known storyteller just back
from a world tour (Jack Dalton),
basket weaver (Tribal Elder Connie
Graves) and more."
The Oregon Council for Social
Studies spring conference is funded
through a $4,000 grant from the
Tribe's Spirit Mountain Commu
nity Fund. D
Oelhiydiratioirs wanted
The Grand Ronde Community Resource Center is seeking donations of
food dehydrators for its food preservation program.
If you would like to donate, contact Patrice at 503-879-5731. Any and all
donations of food, food preservation supplies and money are welcome. II
Attention Tribal members
Market rate apartments available now!
Taking applications now:
$925 for the three-bedroom premium (1,296 sq. ft.)
(taking applications until unit filled)
$1,000 for the four-bedroom standards (1,879 sq. ft.)
(taking applications until unit filled)
$1,160 for the five-bedroom standard (2,005 sq. ft.)
(taking applications until unit filled)
These units include washer and dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, two
car garage, in-fioor radiant heat, cooling system, private patio and great
views. The four-bedroom units have a "bonus" room upstairs.
Basic criteria for screening:
CTGH Adult Tribal member in household, employed at least six
months, good landlord references, history of paying bills on time, clean
criminal history and monthly gross income three times the rent.
Call Deborah Kroeker at 603-879-4522 for further information, applica
tions or to view an apartment.