Smoke Signals 13
MARCH 15, 2011
Merrill to present at Native
American symposium
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals itaff writer
Tribal member Brent Merrill will be a featured speaker at the upcoming
10th Sequoyah National Research Center Symposium scheduled for April
8-9 in Little Rock, Ark.
The research center is based within the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock.
Merrill's presentation, "Native Imagery in the 21st Century," will
describe how Indians are portrayed in the media, in the movies and on
television, including a discussion of Native mascots, said Merrill.
Sequoyah Executive Director Dan Littlefield, a lifelong member of the
Native American Journalists Association, described Merrill, former Smoke
Signals editor, as "an intense young man who is quite knowledgeable about
current issues in Indian Country."
The center has an all-Native board of directors, though most who attend
its annual symposium are non-Native, Littlefield said. H
Tribal Youth WelDness
Day set ffor Mavcfo 1 8
The ninth annual Tribal Youth Wellness Day will be held 1 to 7 p.m.
Friday, March 18, at Spirit Mountain Casino.
Keynote speakers will be Jason "Smoke" Nichols (NakotaChippewa
Cree) and Melissa "MiMi" Nichols. The Nichols are motivational speakers,
recording artists and successful business owners.
There also will be workshops focusing on teen pregnancy, identity and
self-respect, healthy ways to text and surf the Internet, and teen suicide
prevention.
For more information, contact Youth Prevention Specialist Lisa Leno at
lisa.lenograndronde.org or 503-879-1471 or Youth Prevention Assistant
Shannon Stanton at shannon.stantongrandronde.org or 503-879-1489.
The Wellness Day is presented by the Tribal Youth Prevention Pro
gram. B
, I
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Duan WhceUr , left, hands fellow Tribal Elder Dan Ham
a bag at they add it to a truck packed full of donated items headed to
the victims of the White Swan, Wash., fire that destroyed 20 homes and
left an estimated 1 20 people homeless, most of them Yakama Indian
Nation Tribal members, on Feb. 1 2. Wheeler and his wife, Regina, who
is a Yakama Tribal member, grew up in White Swan and have family
members who were victims of the fire. A variety of items were donated.
Including clothing, blankets, toiletries, five king-sized mattress sets left
over from Spirit Mountain Casino's renovation and money. Donations
came from Tribal Elders, Tribal employees and community members,
and were collected at the Elders' Activity Center. The Wheelers made one
trip to deliver donated items and Ham made the drive to drop off this
load of donated items. If you are interested in donating to the victims.
Tribal Elders are still accepting donations at the center. Tribal Council
and Spirit Mountain Casino have each given $1 0,000 to the White Swan
Fire relief fund.
"Make Parenting a Pleasure"
Parents with children between the ages of 0-8 years are invited to participate in
"Make Parenting a Pleasure" parenting classes.
Please join us! Certificate will be awarded upon completion of all six classes.
You will learn skills:
STRESS STRATEGIES - Parenting is the most important and challenging job there is.
TIPS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN - Parents are their
children's first and most important teachers.
FACTS ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT - Parents and children are all learners.
DISCIPLINE - There are many positive ways to parent.
WAYS TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR - Every parent and child is unique.
And Much More!
CLASSES:
Six Consecutive Classes on Wednesdays April 6, 2011 through May 11,2011
5:30 - 8 P.M. at the
Adult Education Building on Grand Ronde Tribal Campus
FREE Dinner Provided
FREE Childcare Provided
INCENTIVES FOR ATTENDANCE
For more information or to register, call Carmen Mercier (503) 879-1 646.
Ore-mailatcarmen.merciergrandronde.org.
Ad created by George Valdez