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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2009)
Smoke Signals 15 OCTOBER 1,2009 Attention Western Oregon University students There will be an official groundbreaking and blessing of the new Health and Wellness Center at WOU. You are invited and encouraged to come! Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m. Parking lot F behind the old PE building For more information, contact 503-879-1478. College preparation presentation Presented by Sheridan High School ASPIRE Program Taught by College Preparation and Admissions Expert Joe Bernard. Who: Transportation will be provided for CTGRNative high school students interested in college Where: Sheridan High School location TBA When: Tuesday, Oct. 20 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up to attend, call 503-879-1478. Free computers for Tribal college students The Education Division and the Procurement Department are happy to announce an opportunity for college students to obtain surplus Tribal computers. In order to qualify applicants must meet the following criteria: 1) Be an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. 2) Be pursuing a degree as a full-time student. 3) Must be in good standing with Higher Education Programs. 4) Must have completed 90 college-level quarter credits of 60 semester credits in hisher selected degree program. 5) Must submit an official transcript and have a minimum cumulative GPAof 2.5. A random drawing will take place to determine which students will receive a surplus computer. Students are only eligible to receive one surplus computer and will not be eligible to reapply for future surplus distributions. Applications will be accepted through the end of the day on Wednes day, Oct. 7, 2009, at the Education Division. There is no residency re quirement to this drawing. Computers must be picked up in person or the Tribal member can arrange to have someone pick up the computer for them. Computers may be shipped at the Tribal member's expense via UPS standard flat rate. For more information or an application, contact the Education Divi sion office at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2275. CTGR Higher Education Program applications now online Applications are now available online for all CTGR Higher Educa tion programs. Visit the Tribal Web page at www.grandronde.org dcptseducation to learn more about the various funding programs available to enrolled Tribal members pursuing a higher education. Call Education at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2275, if you need assistance determining which program application to submit. Program deadlines: Bachelor Degree & Adult Vocational Programs July 1: Fall TermSemester Nov. 1: Winter TermSpring Semester Feb. 1: Spring Term Competitive scholarship (all categories) April 30 each year Part-time college Ten days prior to first day of class Non-credit program Ten days prior to the first day of the class, training or conference FAFSA (required for all Bachelor Degree & Adult Vocational Program students) By Feb. 15 to the Tribal office each year. Education Open House Wednesday, Oct. 7 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Head StartPreschool Youth Education-K-12 Program KindergartenChinuk Wawa Language Immersion Program Higher Education Programs Tribal Library Book giveaway! Participate in BLACKOUT BINGO! New this year: Attend breakout sessions on college Preparation for middle school and high school students and parents BBQ Dinner FREE 5:30 p.m. Youth Education covered area. Student Spotlight: Eric Bernando By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal member Eric Bernando earned his Master in Education through the Sapsik'wala program at the University of Oregon on Aug. 18. Tribal member Jennifer Wolpe earned the same degree in the same program in August (see Smoke Sig nals, Sept: 15, 2009, issue). As an undergraduate, Bernando earned a bachelor's degree in History from Portland State University. "When you go out and teach in the Native American community," Bernando said, "the ultimate goal is to integrate the Native way of think ing into American education system. Even if you teach in a school that doesn't have a lot of Native Americans, you still have the opportunity to make sure that they learn about Native Americans in the proper way. "For so long, Native Americans have been forced into a one-size-fits-all education system. We attempt to make Native Americans more Boston (Americans from Europe). There are many other groups in this country that have been disenfranchised by the education system, so it helps you deal with their concerns as well." For the moment, Bernando joins Wolpe and some 70 of 80 University of Oregon master's graduates in still looking for work. Also like Wolpe and others, he has put his name to start substitute teaching. "I've always wanted to be an educator," Bernando said. "I knew that I would end up in education. But when I found out that there was the program to teach Native Americans (UO's Sapsik'wala program), I though that wa9 really cool." One of his biggest surprises was learning just how many Native Americans do not get a good education. Bernando knows firsthand that many Native Americans also have done very well in the education system. In his family, he said, "My great-grandmother, my grandmother went to college; and that was way back when women and Native Americans did not (generally) go. All of their children went to college. My family basically said, "You need to go to college to better yourself.' There are a lot of Native American youth out there who don't really see any way out of their situation. So they join gangs, do drugs or alcohol because they believe they have no other option. I realized that there's more of that that I thought there was. A large portion of the youth in Grand Ronde definitely need more activities, things for teenagers and young adults to do." Among standout lectures during his education, Bernando said, "We got to hear from Oregon educators and Native Americans about where they see Native American education in Oregon going." Bernando did his student teaching at Churchill Alternative High School in Eugene for two terms, and for another at the Jefferson Middle School in Eugene. "Students like it when you cook, so I brought all the ingredients in for a buffalo and elk stew. Most have never tasted it before. Most," he said, "wouldn't know that tomatoes are Native American foods, native to South America, like potatoes." He also brought in a lot of Native American items to share. "I made a drum as part of Sapsik'wala program, and brought in the drum." He photographed prtroglyphs (Native American designs carved on rock) and piclographs (Native American designs painted on rock), and brought them in for students to see. Bernando, who will be 29 on Oct. 10, was born and raised in Portland. His mother is Tribal member Debi Bernando and his sister is Tribal member Erin Bernando.
