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S moke S ignals
NOVEMBER 15, 2018
TERO holds on-campus heavy equipment operator training
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
The Tribal Employment Rights
Office’s newest offering might
remind some of a simulated high
school driving course.
It is an onsite heavy equipment
operator training in a portable
classroom on the Tribal campus.
The Tribe is partnering with Bak-
er Technical Institute to bring the
training, designed for beginners or
experienced operators who want to
train on graders, bulldozers, exca-
vators and wheel loaders.
Participants spend 15 days learn-
ing on high-tech CAT simulators
before testing their skills on real
equipment for five days.
TERO Compliance Offi-
cer Duke Kimsey learned
about the program through
his contacts with the Uma-
tilla Tribe.
“We have 11 road con-
struction projects and
need people who know
how to operate heavy
equipment,” he said. “I
picked eight people who
have been with TERO for
a few years and want to
move up in the ranks, and whom it
would benefit most.”
Kimsey works with hundreds of
contractors and sends out regular
reports, so he sees where construc-
tion crews are lacking personnel.
“Knowing how to operate heavy
equipment is a good tool for them to
have in their belt in order to move
up to a higher position,” he said.
TERO was formed to provide
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Above, Collins Hinch, Inuit, from
Oregon City operates an excavator
simulator during TERO heavy
equipment operator training in a
trailer provided by Baker Technical
Institute on Friday, Nov. 2.
quality services for the Grand
Ronde Reservation and surround-
ing region to employ Indian people.
It achieves this through increasing
and enhancing employment oppor-
tunities, and promoting Tribal and
Indian preference in contracting
and subcontracting.
Baker Technical Institute is
based in the eastern Oregon town
of Baker City and offers students
Social Services has bike helmets
The Tribe’s Social Services Department has bicycle helmets available
for distribution. Those needing a helmet should visit the department and
sign a helmet application, as well as get fitted.
For more information, contact Social Services at 503-879-2034. n
Ad created by George Valdez
Richard Nevarez, Walker River
Paiute, from Portland uses a road
bulldozer simulator during TERO
heavy equipment operator training
in a trailer provided by Baker
Technical Institute on Friday, Nov. 2.
the training needed to learn job
skills such as welding, engineering,
nursing and construction.
“This training gets the students
familiar with all four pieces of
equipment, so when they complete
the class they are more than ready
to go into the field and run it,” Kim-
sey said. “It would be beneficial to
have this training every year. My
goal is to get them on a piece of ma-
chinery, which is much better than
digging ditches and has great pay.”
Richard Nevarez, Walker River
Paiute, decided to participate in the
class to increase his employment
opportunities.
“If I have these skills in my tool-
box, I could hop on a piece of equip-
ment if needed and work my way
into a job,” he said.
The Portland resident commutes
up to four hours per day to attend
the training, but feels it is well
worth the drive.
“I am very thankful and appre-
ciative to TERO for providing this
opportunity to better my skills and
excel in the workforce,” he said.
Collins Hinch, Inuit, said he has
been interested in learning how to
operate heavy equipment for some
time.
“I always knew there was more
to it, but didn’t realize they had
classes like this,” he said.
Hinch, of Oregon City, also has
a long commute to the classes, but
like Nevarez feels it is worth it.
“I am learning there is a lot of de-
tail to this,” he said. “But it is also
a lot of fun. The most fun part so
far is actually using the simulator
after the safety checks. It is great
training.” n
Author holding book launch party
SILETZ – Grace Elting Castle will hold a book launch party at the
Tribal Community Center on Government Hill in Siletz from 3 to 5
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
Castle’s book, “A Time to Wail, An Indian Country Novel,” is her
debut novel. The story is set in 1970s Siletz with some of the early
reservation history included as the Native American female protag-
onist tries to solve the mystery of who is raiding Tribal burial sites,
who killed her aunt years ago and how will she ever cope with the
recent loss of her teenage son.
The free event will include fry bread served by the “Best of the Rez”
women, who are cousins of the author.
Copies of the book will be available at the event for $17.50, as well
as available on Amazon.com. For more information, contact Castle
at grace@graceeltingcastle.com. n
Ad created by George Valdez