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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2022)
sNok signflz MAY 15, 2022 Tribal Council renews MOU with Banks School District By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Tribal Council approved renew- ing a memorandum of understand- ing with the Banks School District regarding its use of the Braves mas- cot for school athletic teams during its Wednesday, May 4, meeting. The Banks School District be- came the first school district in Or- egon with a Native-themed mascot to sign an agreement with one of the state’s nine federally recognized Tribes in August 2016. The agreement, which expired in October 2021, phased out the school district’s previous Native American warrior profile mascot from school buildings and athletic uniforms and prompted the district to start offering a Tribally created history curriculum and sponsor a Native Club for its students. Education Department Manager Angela Fasana reviewed the pre- vious agreement and made minor changes. The memorandum of agreement says the Tribe’s goals are to build respect and understanding of the Tribe’s history and culture, give youth an opportunity to learn the Tribal curriculum and foster a cul- turally respectful representation of Native American symbolism and pride while the district’s goals are to foster respect and informed understanding of Native Americans and to adopt a culturally appropri- ate mascot. In early 2016, the Oregon Depart- ment of Education adopted rules that allowed school districts to re- tain Native American mascots only if they entered into agreements with an Oregon Tribe regarding their use. In addition to Banks, the Grand Ronde Tribe also entered into agreements with the Molalla River and Scappoose school districts. In other action, Tribal Council: • Approved the enrollment of one infant into the Tribe because he or she meets the requirements outlined in the Enrollment Ordi- nance and Tribal Constitution; • Approved extending the appoint- ment of David Shaw as Tribal Court’s interim chief judge until a new chief judge is appointed, but not longer than March 2023. Shaw returned to the chief judge role with the Tribe Court after Cynthia Kaufman Noble resigned in February; • Approved applying for a maxi- mum $150,000 grant from the Or- egon Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education to fund an additional academic coach for Native youth for two years; • And approved a ninth amend- ment to a contract with Industrial Economics, the Tribe’s technical consultant for Portland Harbor and related cleanup and natural resources damages. Also included in the May 4 Tribal Council packet was an approved au- thorization to proceed that directed Finance Officer Chris Leno to begin the supplemental budget process for the $573,129 expansion of the Tribe’s Great Circle Recovery med- ication-assisted opioid treatment clinic in Salem. To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Government icon and then Videos. Clinic offering second COVID-19 booster doses Tribal Health Services Executive Director Kelly Rowe announced that the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center is offering a second COVID-19 booster dose of the Moderna vaccine for people 50 and older who are at least four months beyond their previous booster dose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people with compromised immune systems age 12 and older also receive boosters. However, Rowe added, Tribal health care staff are recommend- ing people consult with their providers to make that decision. Rowe said that immunity tends to wane after three months and that people who had received a booster dose of the vaccine were 21 times less likely to die and seven times less likely to be hospitalized during the recent omicron variant surge of COVID-19. To schedule an appointment for a second booster shot, contact the Tribal clinic at 503-879-2032. Tribal Student Grant application is open SALEM – The Higher Education Coordinating Commission announced that the application for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant for 2022-23 is now open. The grant is a new state financial aid program supported by the Oregon Legislature’s 2022 investment in equitable access and success for Tribal students. The grant will pay for most or all public college-related expenses, includ- ing tuition, housing, books and other costs not covered by other grants for students who are enrolled members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. The grant can be used for undergraduate and graduate study at Oregon public colleges and universities, as well as eligible private nonprofit institutions. Application deadline is Aug. 1. Students must submit the Oregon Tribal Student Grant application and either a 2022-23 Free Application for Fed- eral Student Aid or Oregon Student Aid Application. The grant will apply to the estimated average total cost of attendance and grant amounts will vary based on each student’s college choice and enrollment level. Private institution awards will be capped at the average Oregon public university cost of attendance. For more information, visit https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-trib- al-student.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery on the Internet. Grand Ronde Head Start Preschool Mental Health Awareness Walk You are not alone on this journey, let’s fight the darkness together Apply now! Applications due by June 10, 2022 Head Start nurtures the growth of you and your child. Join our supportive community and give your child a strong head start. Apply today! For Kids: Old powwow grounds 11-2 For Parents: Safe, quality early education Connection to housing resources Qualified teachers Employment assistance Healthy meals Parent training & support Cultural opportunities Transportation may be available Enrollment opportunities for pregnant women Resources for children with disabilities Enrollment opportunities for all incomes End the Stigma WAYS TO APPLY: Come walk for your community https://www.grandronde.org/services/education/early-childhood-education/ Fun, Food, and Prizes Thank you for respecting Grand Ronde Community & Culture by not displaying gang affiliation & by not bringing drugs, alcohol or weapons to this event. 7 ONLINE at : Email dawn.doar@grandronde.org for an application Or Scan QR Code: Enrolling ages birth to 4 To Learn More: dawn.doar @grandronde.org 503-879-1434
