Smoke Signals 9
APRIL 15, 2012
Class Mps make pairemiDinig a pDeasMcre
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Ten Tribal and community mem
bers who attended the first "Make
Parenting a Pleasure" course at the
Youth Education building on Tues
day, April 3, have many dreams for
their children.
Among them are being kind to
others, honest, confident, law-abiding,
a friend of God, happy with
themselves, possess a good work
ethic and have knowledge of the
outdoors.
Other dreams included knowing
their culture and heritage, receiv
ing a good education and having a
sense of responsibility.
"To watch (children's) firsts is a
reminder to see them through a
new set of eyes," said Angela Gon
zales, Parent Resource and Educa
tion Coordinator for Polk County
Health & Human Services, who,
with Tribal member and Tribal
Prevention Caseworker Carmen
Mercier, are leading the class.
Tribal member Nichole Liebelt
looks forward to "making memories
with my kids."
Washie Squetimkin (Colville)
said that he is most taken with his
son's "optimism, how he sees things
so simply."
"Children are just amazing at
how fast they learn," said another
participant.
As a parent of six and a foster par
ent of one, Tribal member Shannon
Stanton said that her children are
"totally different; the oldest is very
unique; every day she surprises me
about something."
Vince Fagundes said his 5-year-old
daughter has "the ability to
keep me on my toes."
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The class mixed lessons with
exercises. In one, Gonzales passed
out magazine pictures of families.
Some were examples of ideals not
normally found in the real world
and others were examples of mod
eling good behavior. Individuals in
the group focused on the meaning
of these photos in their lives.
'There are lots of great ways to be
a good parent," said Gonzales.
"There is no such thing as a
JSCEPICS
tfriicgnrs
- Invitation To Tribal Members, f
Spouses of Tribal Members ,
Parent Of A Tribal Member And Legal Guardians Of
Grand Ronde Tribal Member Children
To Apply For The Temporary Staffing Pool
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Temporary
Staffing Pool is accepting applications.
Tribal members, descendants, spouses of Tribal members,
parents of a Tribal member, and legal guardians of Grand
Ronde Tribal member children interested in assisting with
filling temporary vacancies on an "on-call" or an "extended
duration" basis are encouraged to contact the CTGR
Human Resources office. Employment applications are
available at the Human Resources office located in the
Governance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road.
Applicants must pass the following background checks:
Criminal background ;
Work history
References
Tribal membership
Drug screen
Temporary employees will be subject to the CTGR's
Employee Handbook.
I
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Carmen Mercier, prevention
caseworker for the Tribe's
Indian Child Welfare program
and Tribal member, reviews
basic assumptions about
parenting during the Make
Parenting a Pleasure class at
Youth Education on Tuesday,
April 3.
perfect family," said Mercier, who
organized the class, and the lesson
led to the dreams of class members
for their children. "This is a way
of allowingparents to define what
their values are."
Here are the basic assumptions
on which the lessons rest:
Parenting is the most challenging
and most important job there is.
Parents care deeply about their
children.
There is no one right way to be a
parent or a child.
After being given a photograph
of a family from a magazine,
Tribal members Nichole Liebelt
and her husband, Levi Liebelt,
discuss what type of family the
photograph portrays during the
Make Parenting a Pleasure class at
Youth Education on Tuesday, April 3.
The Liebelts brought their 3-month-old
daughter, Tribal member Kalea
Liebelt, to the class.
Parents are the experts about
their children.
Parents are the foundation of the
family.
Parents who come to parenting
class are special.
This was the first class of a six
week pilot course developed in
conjunction with the Polk County
Commission for Children & Fami
lies. The focus was on "Nurturing:
Taking Care of Ourselves."
The second class stress and
anger management also will be
completed before this article comes'
out, and to maintain a tight group,
the class will be limited to those
already enrolled, said Gonzales.
The remaining classes will cover
communication, both verbal and non
verbal and listening skills; the basics
of child development; and discipline,
including challenging behaviors.
In addition, the Tribe will con
tinue working with Polk County
to present a range of parenting
courses in the months ahead, said
Mercier.
"Unrealistic expectations," said
Mercier, "make it harder for par
ents to appreciate what they do
have."
Parenting resources also are
available at the Parent Resource &
Education site www.preppc.org. D
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This is an excellent opportunity for our membership to sup-
Vplement their income and gain experience while aiding us in
rnntinnino a cmnnth Hplivprv nf sprvirps.
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