S moke S ignals
february 15, 2014
Health care scholarship seeking applications
SALEM – West Valley Hospital Foundation scholarship applications for
students in medically related fields of study became available on Feb. 1
and must be returned by Friday, March 28.
Applicants must have a permanent residence in Polk County or be a West
Valley Hospital employee or a family member of a West Valley Hospital
employee, and must have applied to a college in their field of study before
applying for the scholarship.
Visit www.salemhealth.org/scholarships and click on the West Valley
Foundation Scholarship link for more information and to download an
application. Call 503-831-3456 for more information. n
House post blessing
Freedom Through
Fitness begins Feb. 24
Freedom Through Fitness Forever, a 12-week fitness program,
will begin Monday, Feb. 24, in the Tribal gym.
The program concentrates on cardio, strength and flexibility
and costs $40. It will meet from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and
Wednesday.
At least 40 people have to sign up to start the fitness group
activity.
Nutrition planning may be available for an additional fee. There
is a zero refund policy. n
UofO names first Tribal
elder in residence
EUGENE — The University of Oregon’s Office of the Vice President for
Equity and Inclusion will host Coquille Tribal Elder Don Ivy as its first
Tribal Elder in residence in its inaugural Traditional Scholars Program.
Ivy recently retired as Cultural Resources Program coordinator and
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Coquille Tribe. He will meet
with President Michael Gottfredson’s Executive Leadership Team, lecture
in classes, meet with students, faculty and staff, and give a public address,
“Native Activism, Law and Land Issues” on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Ivy is a longtime expert on Tribal historic preservation and on the ar-
chaeology and history of southern Oregon. He served as vice chair of the
Oregon Heritage Commission and received an Oregon Heritage Excellence
Award in 2013.
The Traditional Scholars Program is meant to share the wisdom of
Elders from Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes, as well as other
communities in the state, with the University of Oregon campus and
broader community. Ivy’s visit is geared toward enhancing the community’s
understanding and knowledge of Native American traditions.
His visit will culminate with a celebratory event, “Convergence: Part-
ing Counsel From Our Elder,” farewell potluck and honoring ceremony
at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Many Nations Longhouse, 1630
Columbia St. n
Ad created by George Valdez
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
From back, Travis Stewart, bobby Mercier, Jan Looking Wolf Reibach
and Jordan Mercier drum and sing a blessing song during a dedication
ceremony for the carved salmon packer-shaped house post erected
in the Governance Center Atrium on Thursday, Jan. 30. Stewart said a
salmon packer was traditionally used to pulverize dried salmon so that
it could be stored and eaten in the winter. Tribal youth Justin Fasana,
right, helped carve the house post as an apprentice through Youth
education’s Summer Youth employment program last summer along
with Stewart and a master carver. Work on the house post was paid for
by an Administration for Native American’s grant to the Tribe and the
log was donated by Willamette National Forest. “We had a lot of hands
on this,” Stewart said. The dedication ceremony can be viewed on the
Tribal Web site www.grandronde.org under the Video section.
Cover Oregon: Open
for business and ready
to serve you
Jan. 1 marks not just the beginning of a new year. For many
Tribal members, it also marks the beginning of insurance coverage
they can get through Cover Oregon, our state’s health insurance
marketplace.
Cover Oregon is the place for Tribal communities and others to
find health insurance and get financial help to pay for it.
Even if you receive services from your Tribal or urban Indian
clinic, Cover Oregon will work for you.
This is because health insurance helps cover the cost of services
received outside your Tribal or urban Indian clinic, like emergency
room visits, hospital stays or specialty care.
Despite challenges in the marketplace’s early months, thousands
of Oregonians are now covered by plans they signed up for through
Cover Oregon.
Many choices are available through Cover Oregon, including pri-
vate plans, Oregon Health Plan and Healthy Kids.
•
•
•
If you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized Tribe and
sign up for insurance through Cover Oregon, you can expect:
• To help your Tribal community. Getting health insurance
helps fund Tribal or urban Indian clinics.
• Consistent care. You can continue to see your doctor at your
Tribal or urban Indian clinic.
• No cost for doctor visits. You won’t pay for any service you re-
ceive from a Tribal or urban Indian clinic. Also, you might qualify
for no-cost or low-cost health coverage at any doctor or provider if
you meet certain income requirements.
• Flexible enrollment. Special enrollment periods allow you to
sign up or change plans every month.
For more information on benefits to you and your Tribal commu-
nity, contact Loretta Meneley at 503-879-1359 or 800-775-0095 at
the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Center.
We are ready to help answer your questions and help you sign
up. Assistance is free.
•
•
•
You can also contact Cover Oregon by calling 1-855-CoverOR (1-
855-268-3767) or visit CoverOregon.com. n
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