Smoke Signals 5
MAY 1,2009
Cancer Coalition meeting heDd in Grand Ronde
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
The Northwest Tribal Cancer Co
alition filled the Community Center
lunch room on Monday, April 20, with
cancer survivors, their supporters
and many service providers in one of
the group's best-attended meetings.
The coalition heard Jacqueline Left
Hand Bull (Sicangu Lakota), admin
istrator of the Northwest Portland
Area Health Board, tell how she
lost four friends to cancer this year
alone.
They heard Kathleen Marquart
(TlingitHaida), a physician's assis
tant on the Health Advisory Commit
tee for the Grand Ronde Head Start
program, describe how two of her
Alaskan uncles, diagnosed with colon
cancer, refused to travel south for
treatment and died of their diseases.
"Cancer is very devastating," said
Stella Washines (Yakama), chair of
the Cancer Coalition, "but it can be
the home of miracles, too."
One of those miracles, according
to Grand Ronde cancer survivors, is
Grand Ronde Tribal Cancer Naviga
tor Jasen Henderson.
Last year, Tribal Elder Lottie
Child was diagnosed with small cell
carcinoma of the thorax and given
two months to live by her doctor.
She lost her job at Spirit Mountain
Casino and her medical insurance,
and then she lost her house. The final
indignity, said her daughter-in-law,
Cory Farmer, was her long, beauti-
fife r " I i m ' -
f Jp'Jf ...J .
Photo by Ron Karten
Grand Ronde Tribal Cancer Navigator Jasen
Henderson presents a Tribal blanket to McMinnville
Internist Scott Gibson during the April 20
Northwest Tribal Cancer Coalition meeting held in
the Tribal Community Center. Gibson cares for most
Tribal referrals for gastrointestinal cancer.
ful hair.
"I had a lot of pride," Child said. "I
didn't want help."
But when she turned to Henderson
for whatever he could do, he became
her "angel."
"When I lost my job, Jasen got me
insurance," Child said. "When I lost
my house, Jasen got me into Elder
housing."
"I'm only as good as my best resourc
es," Henderson said, but he wants
everybody to know that resources
VouGlh) Canute CDnafo
Every Wednesday 4- 5 p.m., Youth Education Building
Contact Lisa Leno at 503-879-1471 or Travis Mercier
at 503-879-2143 for more information.
TRADINCatthi
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p Cn v -:r pR
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are available to help.
He said that increasing
awareness and educa
tion, and providing a
wealth of contacts are
functions every bit as
important as emotional
support.
When Henderson
started as navigator at
the beginning of 2008,
community member
Jurhee Ackerman had
been diagnosed with
cancer two years ear
lier and had been wait
ing a year for help.
"We had 90 percent
of her bills eliminated,"
Henderson said, who
advocated for her be
fore the state of Oregon
to obtain health insur
ance. He was success-
ful, and that "basically
changed her life," Hen
derson said, "because the insurance
made her eligible for treatment."
During the meeting, Henderson
honored McMinnville Internist Scott
Gibson with a Tribal blanket for his
dedication. Eighty percent of Grand
Ronde gastrointestinal referrals go to
Gibson, Henderson said.
Gibson reminded the group that
his office does not turn away "anyone
who needs gastrointestinal services,
regardless of ability to pay."
"When I started practicing," Gibson
said, "there was very little to detect
colon cancer early. Today, it is the third
most common cancer killer."
The mortality rate for cervical
cancer, on the other hand, has plum
meted in recent years. "It is very
rare," he said, "to have end-stage
cervical cancer today."
Golf tournaments and mother
daughter luncheons are among the
ideas they've brought to the Klamath
Tribe, said Christa Runnels, a health
educator in southern Oregon. Each
session has something special for the
men and women attending, but the
message about cancer prevention and
education come along with the fun.
Grand Ronde Tribal member and
2008 Native Flutist of the Year Jan
Michael Looking Wolf Reibach start
ed the meeting with his music. He is
working with Henderson to reprise
the success of his "Seven Rabbits"
CD with its healing stories for young
patients.
2009 Tribal
Marketplace dates
May 1-3, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
May 8-10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
June 5-7, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
July 3-5, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
July 10, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Elder Honor Day
Aug. 7-9, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Aug. 14-16, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Powwow
Sept. 4-6, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Oct. 2-4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 6-8, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dec. 4-6, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dates subject to change due to conflicting Tribal or SMC events.
Located across from Cedar Plank Buffet. For more information,
call Dakota Whitecloud at 503-879-4240.
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Winter General Council
& Community
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