Colville, Nez Perce, & Umatilla Tribal Representatives
attend a Joint Repatriation Meeting at Richland, WA
THREE
TRIBES FROM WA., ID., & OR.—(L to R) Carla Marconi, Frank
Andrews Sr., Milton Davis Jr., and Albert Andrews-Redstar were
among the Colville Tribal Members who attended the Joint
Repatriation Meeting held on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Richland,
WA. The four are members of the Nez Perce Liaison Committee.
The other Colville Tribal Members were Andy Joseph Jr. and
Jacqueline M. Cook. Also attending the meeting were Robert
Taylor and Randy Minthorn Jr., who are members of the Nez
Perce Tribe’s Executive Committee. Armand Minthorn represented
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
RICHLAND, WA., SEPT. 1—Representatives from the Colville
Confederated Tribes, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation held a Joint
Repatriation Meeting here today to discuss the return of three
human remains from the National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
There are Descendants today from the three Tribes who have
ties to these human remains. Of these ancestral remains: one
was killed during the Nez Perce War; one at the battle of Big
Hole, Montana; and one at the Bear Paw battle in Montana.
After discussing the different options, it was decided by the
Representatives from the Colville and Umatilla Tribe that they
would sign the “National Museum of Natural History—Smithsonian
Institution Intertribal Claim”. Rebecca Miles, the Chairperson
of the Nez Perce Tribe’s Executive Committee, was unable to
attend the meeting. The document was to be sent to her for her
approval and signature.
However, another meeting was held later on at Worley, Idaho,
on Wednesday, Sept. 21, and a revised Claim document was
signed. It was decided that a male, 35-45 years old, would be
reburied at the Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine County, MT., on
Friday, Oct. 7. A Memorial service will be held the next day.
Arrangements are being made to properly take care of the other
two human remains.
Will represent Colville Tribe
Jeannie Moon, Keith “Soy” Redthunder and his wife Sharon, and
his brother Sabe have been designated as the official
Spiritual/Traditional Representatives of the Colville
Confederated Tribes for the reburial services at Bear Paw
National Park, Montana, on Friday, Oct. 7. At the reburial
services, Religious Ceremonies will be held as the remains are
retrieved, accompanied, and laid to rest at the Park.
Per Capita Payment to be made
on Wednesday, October 5, 2005
NESPELEM, WA., SEPT. 28—A ten-signature emergency Resolution
was passed today to approve the recommendation of the “Tribal
Government Committee” for a Per Capita Payment of $1,476.86.
Tribal Members were given the option of picking up their
checks on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Nespelem Community Center
from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., instead of having their checks
mailed to them. Those checks that were not picked up will be
mailed that afternoon.
The Colville Business Council sent a letter dated Aug. 30 to
Ross O. Swimmer, Office of the Special Trustee (OST) For
American Indians, Washington, D.C., requesting that OST accept
into trust...Funds that the Tribe received from Douglas County
Public Utility District. The funds were the result of a
Settlement Agreement reached between the Tribe and PUD on Nov.
1, 2004, to settle the Tribes claims for unauthorized use of
Tribal Trust lands by the PUD’s Wells Dam Hydroelectric
Project, which began their operation in the 1960s.
The OST letter stated that they reviewed the Tribes’
request...and the Settlement Agreement between the Tribe and
the PUD. The Agreement provides that the Tribe will receive
two types of cash payments: (1) a lump sum cash payment of
$13,500,000; and (2) PUD Quarterly payments, which will be a
percentage of the value of the output of the Project...4.5%
until Sept. 1, 2018, and 5.5% after that.
The OST letter stated that it was determined that the lump sum
payment ($13,500,000) is compensation to the Tribes for PUD’s
unauthorized use of Tribal Trust lands and Trust resources
within the Colville Indian Reservation, since the Project
first began!
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Indian Health Service Colville Service Unit
Contract Health Care Denials
According to our records, there are still several denials for
payment for medical care in the private sector being issued.
While the IHS Contract Health Care Services are still under
Priority One status, there is a need to inform the community
how to obtain approved services from IHS Contract Health Care
Services.
During the past year, most denials were for (1) no
notification of emergency services within 72 hours, (2) the
care was not within the medical priority, (3) eligibility was
not established, and (4) alternate resources were available
but not used, or refused for use, by the beneficiary. An
explanation of each of the four most common reasons for
denials will be discussed below to help the community
understand what this means.
(1) No notification of emergency services within 72 hours.
a. It is the responsibility of the patient or a family member
to contact CHS within 72 hours of treatment or hospitalization
for an emergency. It is not the responsibility of the hospital
or doctor’s office, although on many occasions the hospital
has been helpful.
b. Notification does not guarantee payment by CHS. The service
requested must match the doctor and hospital diagnosis for
care.
c. Alternate resources, meaning insurance, must be exhausted
before IHS is allowed, by regulation, to pay. IHS must
document this information for auditing purposes on every
patient who is hospitalized or seen for care.
(2) The care was not within the medical priority.
a. IHS Contract Health Care only offers Priority One care
until there is an increase in funding.
b. Priority One care can only be approved for emergencies
(hospitalizations) or by obtaining a properly authorized
purchase order in advance.
(3) Eligibility was not established.
a. All IHS beneficiaries must have current information on
record regarding name, mailing address, physical address,
phone number, and insurance.
b. Currently, only federally recognized American Indians and
Alaska Natives residing within the Contract Health Care
delivery area are covered under Priority One. Descendents who
reside on the reservation are eligible for Direct Care only
(using the clinic).
(4) Alternate Resources are available but not used.
a. IHS Contract Health Services is required by federal
regulations to exhaust all alternate resources, usually
insurances, and document this information for the record,
before considering payment of medical care for beneficiaries.
b. If a patient refuses or neglects to complete the necessary
questionnaires sent to them by their insurance companies, IHS
Contract Health Care is prohibited, by regulation, from making
payment. IHS is the payer of last resort as a federal agency
obligating taxpayer’s money.
Contract Health Services Administrator
9/15/05
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FOSTER
GRANDPARENTS ARE HONORED—(L to R) Billie Leith gives a
certificate to Pete Hall Jr. recognizing Pete as a Foster
Grandparent during a Recognition Dinner held at the Cedars
Inn, Okanogan, WA., on Friday, Aug. 26. Billie is a Foster
Grandparent Field Coordinator, and in front is Kenneth Goujon.
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SALMON
FESTIVAL—This American Indian Encampment Grounds was part of
the 15th Annual Wenatchee River Salmon Festival held in
Leavenworth, WA. William J. Dick Sr. and members of his family
put on the Pow Wow held Sept. 15-18. There was $5,000 in prize
money for the Dancing and Drumming Contest, and a Stickgame
Tournament was also held!
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LARGEST
FIRE IN NCW—A correction in the Wenatchee World newspaper on
Monday, Oct. 3, stated that the: “The 11,333-acre West Omak
Lake Fire in July was the biggest in North Central Washington
this summer”. The first fire in the Omak District was the
“Second HUD Fire” which started on July 4 above the Moccasin
Flat HUD Homes and it was contained on July 11 after it burned
approximately 4,300 acres and the total cost was $1,918,000.
The “West Omak Lake Fire was the 2nd in the Omak District, and
it started on July 12, and was contained on July 16. A Fire
Update Report dated July 15 said: an investigation was being
done on the cause of the fire...it burned approximately 11,333
acres and was 85% contained...assigned resources consisted of
15 crews, 3 helicopters, 34 engines, 8 dozers, and 25
tenders...636 personnel. The above picture was taken on
Thursday, July 14, on the Columbia River-Omak Lake Road,
looking North toward East Omak. The dirt road on the right
goes past the South End of Omak Lake to Kartar Valley. The
fire originally started about ten-miles south of East Omak,
and headed South on both sides of the road until it came close
to the Kartar Valley turnoff. The fire then continued on to
the South...west of the road and ended in the vicinity of
Muter Spring1
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