Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
“Delegate of the Year”
Andy Joseph, Jr., was just appointed “Delegate of the Year” by the 43 Tribes of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board. He also was re-elected as the Vice-Chair of the Board.
“The Northwest tribes have long recognized the need to exercise control over the design and development of health care delivery systems in their local communities. To this end, in 1972 they formed the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). The NPAIHB is a nonprofit tribal advisory organization which represents the tribes of Washington, Oregon and Idaho on health-related matters and to provide health-related technical assistance.
The NPAIHB represents 43 federally recognized tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest. Tribes become members of the Board through Public Law 93-638 authorizing resolutions passed by the governing body for the tribe. Tribal governments also appoint a delegate to represent them on the Board of Directors of the NPAIHB.
The Board of Directors meets quarterly to review Indian Health Service (IHS) policies and activities and to advise the Portland Area IHS from the perspectives of the tribal governments and Indian health care consumers. At these meetings, the Board of Directors also discuss and develop positions on current legislative and budget issues related to Indian health care and provides direction to staff.”
CIPP/CTRC/CIPV
Supervisors of the Year
CIPP Supervisor of the Year, John Gorr; Employee of the Year, John Hutton. CTRC Merval Allen, Supervisor of the Year; Vicki Harlen, Employee of the Year. CIPV Supervisor of the Year, Lyle Richmond; Clare Mosqueda, Employee of the Year.
Fundraisers for the
2nd Annual North Half Pow-Wow
Lasagna & Spaghetti Feed
(All you can eat)
February 10, 2006, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Keller Community Center
COST: $10.00 Per Adult - $5.00 Per Child
(Includes: Lasagna, Spaghetti, Bread, Salad & Drink)
• Drawing for 50/50 Raffle at 5:00 pm
• Ticket Sales begin for Item Raffle (Requesting Item Donations)
Bake Sale / Drawing for Item Raffle
February 23, 2006, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Admin Lobby - Agency Campus
Are you of Squaxin Island Lineage?
The Squaxin Island Tribe is in the process of planning a veteran’s memorial to honor all Native Americans who have direct Squaxin lineage. It has been brought to our attention that their might be some veteran’s who have Squaxin lineage but are enrolled in other surrounding tribes.
We would like to publicize our memorial in the hopes we might contact those veterans and include them in our memorial if they choose to be included. In that capacity, would you please publish a notice in your tribal newsletter or other means of contacting them and request they call Glen W. Parker, chairman of the veteran’s committee, at (360)426-1755 or Bob Whitener, secretary, at (360)426-3236. You could also send written material to Glen Parker at the Squaxin Island Tribal Administration Building, 70 SE Squaxin Lane, Shelton, WA 98584.
Thank you for your help.
Glen W. Parker
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Will Your Home Survive
This Fire Season?
NOT SURE?
Give your home a fighting chance! Call the Mount Tolman Fire Center to have your home assessed for fire danger. Sign-up for the Wildland-Urban Interface Program and have a defensible space created around your home, at no cost to the homeowner. To schedule an assessment call us at (509) 634-3111, please leave a message with your name, number, and the best time to reach you. From everyone at the Mount Tolman Fire Center, thank you, and have a safe fire season.
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I want to let you know about one of the biggest secrets in Washington State
To: All Veterans and their families
I want to let you know about one of the biggest secrets in Washington State. Let me first tell you I am no writer and that this secret is not and should not be a secret at all. However, until you know and read about this testimonial it will always be a secret.
My duty is with the American Legion as the 9th District Commander. I have seen and gone to a lot of events throughout my years with the American Legion. Nevertheless, nothing can come close with what I have witnessed this past weekend.
It starts on Friday night with a grand entrance, the beating of drums, and then the flags all in a line. First the United States followed by post colors then POW flag and the Native American flag. All the veterans in attendance are next in line with the Ladies Auxiliary, and then the royalty follows into the arena.
This opens and closes the Pow Wow for all three days. I sat next to a wonderful lady by the name of Cindy and her husband, Fred, who were my “teachers” throughout the weekend.
On this evening I was to witness a granddaughter getting her new tribal name. The family gave items away to celebrate this occasion to members in attendance. I received an elegant fur blanket. There were more giveaways as is the custom of the family to pay respect to those that had passed on throughout the year to ease the pain. We all had received many wonderful items from each family.
I felt very sad about those families that gave me those items for their loss of a loved one.
However, my “teacher” told me that I would disrespect the family if I did not take the item.
The master of ceremonies was a gentleman called Soy, who called me to the podium and introduced me. During the ceremonies on all three days he would take time to introduce me and thank me for being there with them.
Now, after the giveaways we were treated to some of the most wonderful dancers going around the room. Along with the beating drums made this a fascinating evening.
Again, leaning into my “teacher”, I asked a lot of questions; they answered every one. I gave her a very puzzled look at some of the answers she gave me. It was then that we both started to laugh.
As I left for the two hour ride home I reflected on all the sights and sounds of those two days. I could not wait to return for the last day of the event.
As I sat with my “teachers”, Fred and Cindy, who also introduced me to their daughter, Julie, who just returned from her duty station.
Sunday started around 1:30, we were treated to the start of the Grand Entry. Only this time I was asked by a very nice gentleman by the name of Tom to walk in with the colors. I was very honored and even felt a few inches taller at that moment as this was indeed a great honor.
As we concluded the Grand Entry, Soy was very kind and introduced me again. As I sat with my “teachers” Cindy and Fred. It was at this time Cindy took off her “End of the Trail” ring and gave it to me! I was very surprised and told her it was a very kind though but I could not take such a gift. However, she was very persistent and told me not to argue with my elders, so I now wear it as promised. By her act of kindness, Cindy gave me a part of her life (God bless her).
As we listened to more music and watched those great dancers I was in awe of the way the drummers hit the drums. How perfect every beat was, and the dancers, I’m very sorry that those names to the dancers escape me. And the authentic clothing is so perfect; this is something YOU have to see in person, I cannot do them justice by telling you about them.
As the day moved on Cindy took me up to the microphone to thank me for being a part of their weekend gathering. This was another humble situation for me. It should be me thanking them for allowing a stranger to learn new customs and courtesy and how wonderful they all treated me.
After returning to our seats Fred gave me his unit button that he had from Viet Nam. I assured Fred that there was no way I could ever take such a gift. I started to feel emotional as I tried to give it back to him. But Fred would not give it a second thought and told me not to argue with him. (Sometimes, you cannot say Thank You enough) “God Bless you, Fred.
At the end of the Pow Wow, there were awards for the best dancers in all the categories for the past three days, and then it was time to clean up and go.
This went on throughout the evening, when I left that evening Fred did not think I got enough items, so he gave me some more items of his (I already had a sack the size of Santa Claus). As I drove the two hours home that evening recalling all the fun I had, I could not wait to get back there only wishing more people could be seeing what I was witnessing. The warm, kind and very friendly people who are willing to give a stranger every thing and ask for nothing in return.
Saturday was no different until that evening when the Veterans were honored with hats, flags and poppies by the Nespelem Ladies’ Auxiliary. This was followed by a handshake by all the newly crowned royalty.
Then the Nespelem Legion led by a gentleman named Roy gave each Veteran a soldier’s Medal of Valor, I was issued one prior to this event. So Roy had asked me to help him put these on the Veterans. This was a great honor and I made sure that they got a salute as well.
Then the mothers received a Mother’s Medal in respect to their sons or daughters being in the service.
Then we were treated with a few of us getting a Pendleton blanket from a family member who has lost a person in the service. This giving is a way for that person to heal. I was very humbled to receive such a gift. I will forever remember the hug and salute I gave back to her for this prestigious honor.
I was honored once again when Soy asked me to talk on the floor. I thanked the Veterans for their service and the families for the support they give to those past, present and future veterans.
The family support is very important as the Native Americans teach the kids from an early age to honor and respect the elders.
I cannot even begin to count how many times a young person shook my hand, and those that could talk also included the words thank you. This was said by all the adults in the room as well along with a hug.
We then had more drum playing and the dancers, who were fascinating to watch, this was (priceless) in my education of the Native American culture.
As I said at the beginning, I am no writer but somewhere along this letter, I hope you have learned something new about our Native Americans.
I am proud to call them my new family and look forward to seeing them all soon.
This was my lesson in life, Thank You for reading it. Hope you will come and see for yourself, you will see me sitting in the front row center.
In closing, I wish to thank all those Native Americans who made this experience happen for me. I named only a few, but there were many others.
God be with each and every one.
Sincerely,
Ken Lee
(Ken Lee sent Fred and Cindy Manuel of Nespelem, WA. ....a copy of his letter that he submitted to a newspaper. Fred and Cindy then submitted the copy of Ken Lee’s letter to the Tribal Tribune.)
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