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.