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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals 7 AUGUST 1,2011 HUD's Native American Program head visits Grand Ronde By Ron Karten Smoke Signalt itaff writer "You're blessed with having such great sites," said Rodger Boyd (Navajo), Deputy Assistant Sec retary of the federal Housing and Urban Development's Office of Native American Programs, "and the architecture and layouts really complement them. The integration of housing design and cultural awareness is extremely good. It's a great combination." In Portland to talk at a Commu nity Development Financial Insti tutions conference, Boyd, the top official within the Office of Native American Programs, spoke during a July 20 side trip to look at Tribal housing and other HUD projects in Oregon, starting with the Confeder ated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Boyd and Office of Native Ameri can Programs Northwest Regional Director Ken Bowring toured the Housing Authority communities and the Tribal campus, with nar ration provided by Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority Execu tive Director Carina Kistler with the assistance of Rental Housing Coordinator Leon Ramos. "It is a great honor for Mr. Boyd's first stop at an Oregon Tribe to be here in Grand Ronde," Kistler said. "We are excited to show him the results of 12 years of housing and facilities made possible through HUD funding." The tour included the Housing Authority office, Grand Meadows (Homeownership Housing), Chxi Musam Illihi (Family Rental Hous ing), Hip Tilixam (Elder Rental Housing), the three Adult Foster Care lodges and the Elders' Activ ity Center. They also visited the Tribe's Indian Community De- 1 1- l f . f i j J TF HT I . m 1 r Photo by Michelle Alalmo Rodger Boyd, left, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Native American Programs, and Ken Bowring, middle, administrator of HUD's Northwest Region Office of Native American Programs, look over plans for phase two of Elder Housing while Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority Executive Director Carina Kistler gives them a tour of the housing office during their visit to Grand Ronde on Wednesday, July 20. velopment Block Grant projects, including the new Tribal Library expansion and the two additions to the Health and Wellness Center. All are beneficiaries of Housing and Urban Development funding. "I want to say how much I ap preciate what HUD has done, not only for the clinic but for the whole Tribe," said Health Services Execu tive Director Mark Johnston. "You can't go anywhere on this campus without seeing the HUD stamp." "What I love is people are seeing these as 'our' buildings, not 'HUD' buildings," Boyd said, referring to art commissioned for different buildings, such as the murals on Elder Housing units. "It's our funds," said Bowring, "but you (local community) do the heavy lifting." While HUD properties sometimes come with a negative connotation across the country, Boyd said he is seeing "new designs determined by the community itself, reflective of the local culture." "What has impressed me is the consistency of really good use of (HUD) funds," he said. These projects show "the time, commitment and effort" these local communities are putting into their projects. Regarding budget talks in Wash ington, D.C., Boyd said that the Tribes have helped themselves by using 85 percent to 90 percent of available funding from the Ameri can Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. In Grand Ronde, the Housing Authority received one ARRA grant and made use of 90 percent of it. The other HUD ARRA grant on campus was the $600,000 Health Clinic addition, and the Tribe used 100 percent of those funds. "They demonstrated to the ad ministration the need across Indian Country," and that Tribal people have "the capacity to do really good projects." All this contributed to the educa tion of policy makers, Boyd said. "They're beginning to see what the real need is." In addition to quality work, Boyd said that Tribes are benefiting as they become "more sophisticated about leveraging HUD funds" with other funding sources and tax credits. The administration asked for $580 million in funding for 2011, Boyd said, and because of the re cord in Indian Country, the admin istration added $120 million to the request for 2012. Boyd also was interested in de tails beyond the building processes. At the newly expanded Tribal Library, Tribal Elder and Librar ian Marion Mercier described the range of ages that library programs serve. 'They're introduced to the library program at a very young age," he ob served. "That's very important." D Recycle Center moved The Recycle Center has been moved temporarily to 9675 Grand Ronde Road. For more information, contact Tribal Facilities Manager Michael J. Larsen at 503-879-2407. B g Grand Ronde Dental Clinic Eric Webster DMD - Myron Peng DDS Erin Lange DDS Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 8 A.M. -5 P.M. Thursday 9:30 AJVL - 5 PJM. Closed for lunch 12:30 A.M -1:30 P.M. Emergency Hour: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 8 A.M. Tburs 9:30 AM. f Sheridan holding event Sheridan will be holding a Community Yard Sale for its First Wednesday event from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3. Residents are encouraged to clean out their garage or set up a booth to sell their arts and crafts. People can register for a 10-by-10-foot space to sell whatever they'd like - as long as it is legal for $5 per space. For more information or to register, contact Kim Greene at 503-434-0472 or Hawley Vining at 503-913-8338, or send an e-mail to firstwednesdayhotmail.com. There also is a Facebook page at "First Wednesday, Sheridan, Oregon." B A Please call for more information about Emergency times We now offer Cleaning appointments 5 days a week 503-879-2020 Ad created by George Valdez University of Oregon store seeks artwork for sale The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History's museum store, Past and Presents, is seeking a limited number of artists interested in selling their original artwork on consignment in the store. Pacific Northwest Tribal members interested in the opportunity should submit five images of their work for consideration to traceyuoregon. edu. The university's Museum of Natural and Cultural History protects significant collections, enhances knowledge and encourages stewardship of human and natural history through research, preservation and educa tion. Past and Presents offers a comprehensive selection of regional books and gifts that reflect the museum's exhibits, collections and research, as well as the inspiration of the Pacific Northwest landscape. The store features handcrafted goods from local and regional artists, including jewelry, pottery, basketry, woodworking and more. For more information, contact Tracey Bell at 541-346-1574.
