Comptroller Bids Colville
Tribes Farewell
For the past four years my tenure as
Comptroller of the Colville Tribal Government has been the
most rewarding of my twenty-four year career. The lives of the
Colville people I’ve come to know have brought new meaning and
purpose to my life and renewed my commitment to serving
mankind.
I am proud to have served with my staff who earned an
unqualified, “clean” audit opinion with no questioned costs
for fiscal year 2004 for your $121M Tribal government.
However, consistent with the Indian commitment to family, I
have made the difficult decision to accept a new career
opportunity where I can be with my family on a daily basis.
With that I bid you the fondest farewell and express again
that serving the Colville Tribes has been “my pleasure”.
John Duncan
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Convalescent Center News
CTCC had an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday,
4/15/06. The patients really enjoyed seeing all the children &
families here for the hunt.
The patients went shopping at Walmart in Omak on 4/13/06. They
also went to watch Billy Drywater on Thursday, 4/20/06 boxing
at the CDA Casino.
The last week in April, the residents went on a trip to Two
Rivers Casino for an outing.
New Residents: George “Toots” French, Larry Thomas, and Merle
Desautel.
New Employees: Keanna Cawston NAR; Amanda Sampson NAR; Ken
Bray NAR; Alfonso Cardenas, Housekeeper; Cedric Orr, Dietary;
Dominic Davis, Dietary; Jason Batchelor, Dietary; Alice James
NAC; Robin Monnin, Housekeeper; Tammy Brinson NAC; Sherry
Allen RN; Freda Butterfly NAC.
Condolences to the Eileen Whalawitsa family.
Thank you,
Sally Hutton, Administrator
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Native American Research Center for Health
NARCH Grant
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Introduction
Substance use and misuse among Native Americans has been the
subject of a great deal of inquiry. Much of the research has
focused on general factors that are assumed to apply to all
Indian peoples. More recently researchers have been calling
for tribal specific and community specific research to address
the fact that Indian communities are not homogeneous. In fact,
while there are assumed to be many pan-Indian characteristics
that aboriginal people in the United States may share, there
is increasing awareness that there are also many differences
among Native communities and each community would be best
served by learning directly from its own members.
This research will provide information that will help the
community gain a better understanding of substance among young
adults on the Colville Reservation. We want to ask the young
adults directly about their alcohol and substance use
experiences and also about their cultural identity and
practices. It is our intention to evaluate and explore the
relationship between cultural identity, values, and practices
and substance use behaviors.
Young adults were chosen as a focus for this study because it
is a group of community members who often do not have a voice.
They are not usually asked directly about their experiences in
these areas so it is an area about which we would like to
learn more. In addition, young adults have probably been using
substances for less time than older adults and their behavior
may be more able to change if we can understand how to help
them change it. This group is also the future of our community
and will be raising the generations after them. We would like
to understand their experience and attempt to help them build
healthy lives for themselves, their children and
grandchildren. A first step is to understand their experience
from their point of view.
The study findings will belong to the Confederated Tribes of
the Colville Reservation. They can be used to better
understand the interrelationship between cultural identity,
practices, values and substance abuse. Whatever learning is
generated can then be used by tribal programs, community
groups, and individuals to help address substance abuse
problems in the community.
The sturdy will be a survey conducted among young adults on
the Reservation of the Colville Confederated Tribes. For the
purposes of this study, young adults are defined as people
ages 18 through 24 who are enrolled tribal members and/or who
reside on the Colville reservation or in the surrounding area.
The participants will be invited to participate by posting
flyers all over the community and through a mailing to
enrolled tribal members who fit the selection criteria.
Participants will be invited to attend a community gathering
that will include food served to them . The community
gatherings will be held in each of the four reservation
districts – Inchelium, Keller, Omak, and Nespelem – in order
to increase the likelihood that people will come.
This study will be descriptive in that it will give us
information about substance use and cultural practices that
can be reported as descriptive data. It will also be
confirmatory in that it will test the hypothesis that there is
a relationship between cultural identity, cultural practices
and substance abuse.
We hope to have everyone’s complete cooperation when the
surveys will be given in each district. Any questions please
call Dorothy Hamner at ext. 2436, Charlene Sam at ext. 2602,
or Cheryl Edwards at ext. 2785. Thank you.
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COLVILLE INDIAN HOUSING
AUTHORITY
QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES
For the period of January 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006, the
Colville Indian Housing Authority has provided the following
services to our clients:
• 6 grants for Elder Minor Home Repair in the amount of
$30,158.02
• 2 grants for Down Payment Assistance in the amount of
$9,785.00 for homes valuing $251,500.00
• 14 grants for Rental Assistance in the amount of $15,178.50
• 19 move-ins were processed.
• 72 annual inspections were conducted.
• Continued with modernization on the 43-9 units.
• Continued with Phase I of White Buffalo Meadows in Nespelem.
• Continued funding with Tribal Police for Animal Control
Program.
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CREDIT CORNER
Plan Your Work – Then Work Your Plan
Ted Piccolo, April 2006
It is spring time now and many folks are planning their
gardens. You know, first you have to buy the seed, then plan
how your garden will be laid out. For the rest of the season
you will make sure you water your garden. Weed your garden.
Harvest and thin when the time is right. As gardening is, so
is business planning.
Plan your work and work your plan may sound like an incredibly
simple statement. However don’t let the simple nature fool
you. As the small business counselor for the Colville Tribes I
have found that to be the biggest stumbling block in most
small business ideas.
That is to say that many people have GREAT ideas. However even
a great idea needs planning. Most often the planning process
starts a couple of years in advance. (Wait, did he just say a
COUPLE of years?) Yep.
But don’t let that discourage you. As you look around and see
any business enterprise, large or small you are looking at the
results of what has most likely been a long process. A process
that has been overcome by, well… Planning.
Two Simple Hints To Help
Let’s first start with watching your credit situation. Too
many times a good business idea comes along and unfortunately
the person with the idea had, in his or her past, let their
credit situation get out of control. They had let bills go
unpaid or paid late. Or they have accumulated too much debt to
go out and raise the money needed to start the new business.
Don’t let that happen to you. Start planning now by keeping a
sharp eye on your own personal credit.
Secondly let’s start saving. Start saving now for that idea
that is floating around in your head. Your chances at raising
the money needed to start your business will increase greatly
if you have been putting money aside leading up to the big
day. Starting now shows the lenders that you are serious now
and have been serious for quite some time about doing what
needs to be done to make your business a success.
I have seen too many good ideas falter because these two steps
were overlooked. You have good ideas, so let’s start treating
those ideas with the same care you would treat your business
with when you get started.
You are worth it. Your ideas are worth it. If you are in
business and want to try to reach a new market give me a call
and let’s see if we can help. If you have been planning on a
business for quite a while now, do give us a call, my service
is free so you have nothing to lose.
You can contact me, Ted Piccolo, at (509) 634-2624 or by email
at ted.piccolo@colvilletribes.com.
Thank you and plan on a great spring, then look forward to a
good harvest in the fall.
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TRIBAL RESOURCE CENTERS
Spring is here and time for cleaning. When going through your
materials and you are sorting and tossing, remember to look
for overdue books and tapes that you may have checked out from
the libraries. It is quite easy to over look materials that
need to be turned in. The Tribal Libraries does not place a
fine on late books, but it is hard to run a library when
materials do not return. The key word now is YET on the
subject of fines . To continue to have FREE library service,
patrons need to respect the privilege of having books and
tapes available for them to check out.
Because of the large area of the Reservation, the distance
most residents must travel and cost due to high gas prices,
one outing per week is generally planned to go to town, for
Tribal service programs, clinic visits, shopping and library
visit. The circulation time line for books and tapes is longer
at our tribal libraries than what patrons would encounter
should they live in the larger town/city off the Reservation.
Please keep our libraries running smoothly by having your
materials back in a timely manner. If you need more time,
please call for an extension.
Adrian Holm, Librarian
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Tribal TANF Update
TANF Overview: The overall goal of the Tribal
TANF program is to assist families to become self-sufficient,
consistent with specific principals and culturally relevant
strategies that will lead towards this end. Tribal TANF is
offered in a way that emphasizes work while promoting
responsibility, independence, and education to secure family
stability and self-sufficiency.
Participants who specify interest and readiness may be
eligible to receive employment counseling & job search
assistance after which a job search readiness assessment will
be made in order to place the participant in a Work Experience
program. WEX programs are intended to provide training for
TANF participants, and enable the participant to gain work
experience. Community service job skills directly related to
employment may also be paid to enhance the participant’s
employability.
A new program under the TANF umbrella has just made it through
council and became Resolution. Individual Accounts savings
program will allow eligible participants to deposit a fraction
of earned income into a 3 to 1 matched savings account. Income
accrued from the WEX stipends or other forms of earned income
can be deposited into these high yield savings accounts to
help participants overcome obstacles such as buying a house or
starting a small business. First home buyer classes and
business planning classes will be offered as well as consumer
credit counseling.
Tribal TANF also offers incentives ranging from $25 to $500
for achieving program goals. There is a $200 incentive for
obtaining a driver’s license, $300 incentive for earning a
high school diploma or GED, and a $200 incentive for the
completion of a drug or alcohol inpatient or outpatient
programs. On the average, the tribal TANF program awards over
400 Incentives per month to TANF participants for achieving
goals which lead towards self sufficiency.
The Tribal TANF program initiated a start up grant and
received a $500,000 from the Federal Office of Child Support
Enforcement to develop a fully comprehensive child support
program. Collecting Child Support for children is only one of
the objectives of the Colville Tribal Child Support program
whereas the main objective is to secure family stability and
personal responsibility. The Child Support program is expected
to generate federal funds and make available performance
incentives that will strengthen the bond between the
non-custodial parent and their children (i.e. parenting and
visiting programs, training and skills building programs to
assist non-custodial parents get and keep jobs, re-entry
programs for incarcerated parents.) The tribal TANF program
will be utilizing survey tools and community outreach events
to collect input & information as well as identify issues of
concern and possible barriers.
The Colville Tribal TANF program successfully renegotiated the
Intergovernmental Agreement with the State of Washington,
Department of Social & Health Services for another 3 year
term. There was no reduction in funding for the new three year
term. As part of the Intergovernmental Agreement, the Colville
Tribal TANF program now reports quarterly on six “Measures of
Success.” These measures of success include:
Clients leaving TANF due to earnings
Job Training Work Experience
Work Participation Rate
Receiving alternate sources of income/assistance
Receiving Incentive Awards
Leaving TANF within 6 months
The Measures of Success is used as a gauge as to how well the
Colville Tribal TANF program is doing in assisting TANF
families to achieve self sufficiency.
The Colville Tribal TANF program benefits from a cooperative
working relationship with the State of Washington Department
of Social & Health Services.
Tribal TANF has developed a referral process that provides
TANF recipients an option to attend classes at Northwest
Indian College at the Colville Site. By taking classes, TANF
recipients can satisfy elements of their self-sufficiency
plans and earn college level credits, concurrently. Some TANF
recipients are now in their third quarter of attending NWIC.
Upon completion of their program of study, students can earn
an Associates of Arts and Sciences Degree or an Associate of
Science Transfer Degree. For TANF recipients that do not
qualify for Federal Financial Aid, Tribal TANF has assisted
recipients with payment of tuition and books. Incentives are
also offered for students who are successful in completing
their classes. In addition, by taking NWIC classes, TANF
clients are meeting program participation requirements. Since
TANF recipients have began taking NWIC classes, TANF
participation rates have increased dramatically.
Each successive program we secure for the tribe strengthens
our claim to sovereignty. If you have any questions regarding
the TANF Program, please contact Ricard Tupling at (509)
634-2290 or 1-866-202-0471.
Ricard Tupling,
TANF Program Manager
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Tribes Establish
Protocols for Libraries, Archives, and Information Services
A gathering at the Northern Arizona University
(NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona occurred April 5-7, 2006 where
nineteen invited participants established the best practices
of “Native American Protocols for American Libraries,
Archives, and Information Services.” The protocols will serve
as national guidelines to assist non-tribal organizations and
institutions with the management of tribal materials in
libraries, archives, and information services.
Currently there are many non-tribal collecting institutions
that hold archival materials documenting indigenous people
native to North America. Since non-tribal institutions and
archival professionals are not academically or professionally
trained to manage tribal materials they remain committed to
intellectual freedom and equal access to everyone.
Unfortunately this applies to tribal materials without
consideration to culturally sensitive materials including
sacred and secret information. When tribal materials are
managed outside their native land by non-tribal institutions
they may harm, depict, misinform or display a negative affect
rather than demonstrate the beauty and complexities of tribal
culture, history and traditions.
An ideal standard would compel non-tribal institutions to make
all ethical, moral and professional efforts to return tribal
materials to their native land. However, the reality of such
efforts is near impossible once materials become property of
these facilities. In rare cases out of good faith non-tribal
institutions may be willing to return tribal materials to
their native land but not all tribes have proper facilities to
manage materials. Consequently, the lack of financial
resources available to tribes may result in collaboration with
local and state government agencies, universities, and
historical societies to “hold in trust” tribal materials until
a permanent facility is established. The heartbreaking truth
is not all tribal materials will most likely ever return home
imposing tribes to endure non-tribal institutions to be
responsible for the physical and intellectual control over
their tribal materials.
It’s essential a commonality of ethical best practices is
created for the appropriate care, use and preservation of
tribal materials. The protocols have the potential to impact
tribal communities on many levels and assist in the
preservation of and access to tribal culture knowledge. In
recent years the archival community, professional
organizations, and tribal communities discovered the need to
create a united stewardship for tribal materials managed
outside their native land. As sovereign nations with unique
government rights it puts tribal materials in unique status
leading conference participants to discuss the following
topics:
· The balance between preservation and access in perpetuity
· Intellectual freedom and individual and communal privacy
· Intellectual property rights
· Accessibility & Use
· Sensitivity and censorship
· Sacred and secret materials
· Library description practices
· Sovereignty and the public trust
· NAGPRA
Conference participants will introduce and present the
protocols for discussion and endorsement at the upcoming
scheduled events: the Society of American Archivists (August
2006), American Library Association (June 2006), the
International Indigenous Librarians Forum (September 2006),
the American Association for State and Local History
(September 2006), and the Society of Applied Anthropology
(April 2007).
Karen Underhill, Head of Special Collections at the NAU Cline
Library is responsible for gathering tribes to initiate the
significant steps to materialize the protocols. Over the
course of the next few months Karen will capture the essence
of the conference and format the best practices which will
undergo many collective reviews and revisions. During the
revisions conference participants will work together to
explore native organizations to accept responsibility for the
protocols including copyright control. Karen is humble in
words to assure conference participants she will not claim
authorship in the final product and is prepared to handover
copyright control as the primary recorder. Her dedication to
support tribal communities is exceptional and I believe her
inspirational efforts will be acknowledged for many years to
follow.
The participants during the conference included the following
tribes, professional organizations and institutions:
Anishinabe/Ojibwe, Colville Confederated Tribes, Mohawk/Akwesasne,
Shoshone, Mohave, Seneca Nation, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe,
Heiltsuk/First Nations, Comanche, Kiowa/Tohono O’odham,
Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde, Yorta Yorta (Australia),
Northern Arizona University Cline Library, Arizona State
Museum, Wheelwright Museum, the Society of American
Archivists, University of Oklahoma, Burke Museum, Smithsonian
National Anthropological Archives, and the University of
California.
This is a unique opportunity for tribes to educate non-tribal
librarians, archivists and closely related professionals
through the development of the protocols. Upon completion the
final product will serve as a collaborative tool among tribes
and non-tribal institutions.
In closing, I extend my appreciation to Karen Underhill (NAU)
for the invitation to attend and participate in these valuable
efforts to assist tribes in the preservation of cultural
materials. Thank you to conference participants, facilitators
and presenters for the opportunity to share and contribute my
professional knowledge. Lastly, the conference would not have
been successful without the “behind the scenes staff” and
sponsors and I would like acknowledge NAU Cline Library, NAU
Special Collections staff, NAU food & beverage servers, Nancy
Pitz (NAU), Willow Powers (Wheelwright Museum), National
Library of Medicine and various grant agencies.
Briana L. Bob,
Archives & Records Center
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