Have You Heard The News?

June 2016

Newsletter of the Coquille Indian Tribe

FROM THE

Galyak (Salmon) preparation

CHAIR Brenda Meade

Mike Lennox, Tom Younker and Tom Wheeler were three of the volunteers who helped clean the salmon for the 2016 Restoration Celebration.

Anticipation, contention, frustration

The Tribe received over 1,500 pounds of salmon from an ODFW fish hatchery as it does every year. The salmon arrived on ice and the volunteers immediately set upon cleaning the fish and properly wrapping them for storage in the Tribe’s freezers.

D

ear Tribal members and families,

It was great to see many of you at the Kokwel Fishing Derby at the Tribe’s Tarheel Reservoir. We enjoyed good weather for the event, and it was great to see how well our kids did. Congratulations to 9-year-old Jake Summers for catching the biggest fish! With summer just around the corner, we look forward to the end of the school year and many amazing events in our community: Nee-Dash – I look forward to Coquille people coming together June 20 to celebrate our Nee-Dash ceremony. We will celebrate the changing seasons and our many blessings, and we will share good food at a potluck. I hope you will be able to join us beginning at dusk at our Community Plankhouse. Help us support our young people upholding our traditions as they dance on behalf of their families and our Tribal community. Restoration – We are also excited to conduct our 27th annual Restoration celebration June 24-26. We have a lot of great activities planned and are looking forward

Please see Chair, page 15

Volume 24, Issue 6

Salmon not used at Restoration will be saved for other Tribe sponsored events such as the Camp Ta Nae Potlatch and the End of Summer BBQ. Photo by Chris Tanner

Fire lighting, salmon ceremony and General Council By Chris Tanner Newsletter editor

T

he 2016 Restoration Celebration will be held the weekend of June 24-26. The lighting of the fire, the Salmon Ceremony at Bullards and traditional foods lunch are just a few of the cool things scheduled for the 2016 Restoration Celebration weekend. At least three activities will be held on each day of the three-day event held in recognition of the anniversary of the signing of the Coquille Restoration Act.

Lighting the fire Friday starts off with the Elders Luncheon that begins at 11:45 a.m. in the

Mill Casino’s Spruce and Cedar rooms.

Salmon blessing

With no activities scheduled Friday afternoon, members of the Tribe will have plenty of time to visit with friends and family. Don’t forget to check out the basketry exhibits and traditional language kiosk at the Tribe’s main office before heading to the Plankhouse for Friday’s evening events.

Saturday is, as usual, the biggest day of the celebration. The Tribe’s first salmon ceremony will be held at Bullards Beach State Park and is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Many Tribal members and family have attended past first salmon ceremonies and can direct you to the location….just ask. Signs marked “private ceremony” and balloons will mark the trailhead leading to the blessing site.

At 5:30 p.m. CEDCO will give their annual shareholder report after hosting a dinner at the Plankhouse. The dinner and report out are scheduled to end by seven when the lighting of the fires occurs at the outdoor fire pit located near the Plankhouse.

You will have plenty of time to get back to the Plankhouse for the Tribal Council’s welcome and invocation at

Please see Restoration, page 10

2

Kwilae aes* /Calendar

Council Meetings and Workshops

Elders Committee

Thursday, June 9

Elders Meals

1 p.m. CIT main office. Workshops scheduled Wednesday, June 8, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.

General Council meeting

10 a.m. Sunday, June 26. Plankhouse. Restoration Celebration weekend.

Thursday, July 7

1 p.m. CIT main office. Workshops scheduled Wednesday, June 6, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Saturday, July 23

9 a.m. CIT main office. Workshops scheduled Friday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday, August 4

1 p.m. CIT main office. Workshops scheduled Wednesday, August 3, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Community Events Eat, Drink, Move, Meditate

5:30 p.m. Monday, June 6. CIT Community Center. Class followed by open gym. Meditation classes also scheduled June 13 & 20 at the Health Center, and June 8 & 15 at The Mill Casino.

Tsunami Evacuation Drill

Thursday, June 9. 3 p.m. Kilkich Housing Community.

Elders Trip - Gold Beach

Saturday, June 11. Day trip to Gold Beach for a jet boat tour of the Rogue River.

Child Care Assistance Program meeting Friday, June 10. 6 p.m. CIT Community Center.

Tuesday, June 14. 10 a.m. Community Health Center. The following elders events are scheduled in May: Curry County Luncheon – Thursday, June 16. 11:30 a.m., Lane County Dinner – Monday, June 20, 5:30 p.m. Douglas County Dinner – Tuesday, June 21. 5:30 p.m. Jackson County Lunch – Wednesday, June 22, noon. Coos County Lunch – Friday, June 24, noon, The Mill Casino

Father’s Day Fishing

Saturday, June 18. 11 a.m. CIT Community Center.

Youth Golf Clinic

Thursday, June 23. Bandon Dunes Practice Center. Registration forms at www.coquilletribe.org/communitycenter. htm. Forms must be postmarked on/or before midnight June 17. The Youth Golf Camp is scheduled for July 18-20.

Restoration Celebration

Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26. Multiple activities scheduled on each day of the celebration. Please see article on page 1 for more information.

Culture and Education Committee

Sunday, June 26. 1 p.m. CELS building.

Restoration Day

Tuesday, June 28. CIT offices will be closed on the anniversary of the signing of the Coquille Restoration Act.

3rd of July at The Mill

Sunday, July 3. 8 p.m. The Mill Casino. More information on page 4.

Fourth of July holiday

CIT offices closed on Tuesday, July.

Culture Days

Birthdays

Graduation necklaces

Friday, June 3. Omashi’s Haws (former Canoe Shed). Help make gift necklaces for the Tribe’s student graduates.

Restoration Day Weekend

Look for numerous CELSsponsored cultural activities during the Restoration Celebration weekend. Please call (541) 756-0904 for more information on culture and education events. Dial ext. 1233 for Theresa Libbett or ext. 1238 for Danielle Summers.

Nee-Dash Solstice Celebration Monday, June 20. Community Plankhouse. Join members of the Tribe’s community to celebrate summer solstice with a Nee-Dash. There will be a potluck dinner before the dancing begins. Please bring a side-dish or dessert to share with friends and family. Dancing begins at dusk and will last throughout the night. Please stay until morning or leave when you or members of your family feel ready to go.

Camp Ta Nae 2016 Registration Registration deadline is July 10. Camp Ta Nae is for kids ages 8 to 18. Mark your calendar for Aug. 16 through Aug. 20. This year’s camp will be held at Camp Myrtlewood located near Bridge, Ore. Registration forms have been delivered. If your family has not received one yet, please call Danielle Summers at (541) 756-0904, ext. 1238, or email daniellesummers@ coquilletribe.org.

June 2016

* Miluk for “Day”

June 11

Aleph Ashline Andrew Baird Mark Pirak Koda Price

12

Kari Ambler Roy Burnette Betty Hockema Kyle Robbins

13

23

Mercedez Paschal Windland Rice

24

Jackson Booker James Burns, IV. James Burns, Jr. Seylor Eldridge Randall Hunter Logan Scott

Michael Metcalf Alyson Simpson Ashley Waite Kiana Holley/ Sandberg Joshua Simpson

25

Bryson Burns Trevor Severson

26

14

Thomas Hill Enoch Niblett Steven Parrish Jacob Reeder

15

Roy Gilkey Jaieland Moore

Amanda Bennett Raymond Chase Austin Maier Jacob Mecum Xochil Acuna Ashley Cordes Wendy Metcalf Willow Rice Whitney Summers

16 Makenzie Chase Julie Eldridge

17

Shasta DeOs Daniel Mecum Paul Murphy

18

James Burns III Stephanie Spencer

19 Evan Graves

20 Terry Doyle Duke Summers

21

Rhonda Ferguson

27 28

Emilee Amy Kitzn Mitchell Hal Van Ortwick

29

Aciyana Castro Matthew Neiffer Lewis Simpson

30

Cody Brown Paisley Chambers Hannah Coimbra Quentin Saludes

July 1

Grey Heather Joseph Tripp

2

Jasmine Garcia Susan Young

3

Rachelle Gilkey

4

5

Tanner Cooper Kindra Ellsworth Heidi Mitchell

6

Ashlee Ambler Allisa Hicks Jeffrey Loomis Taylor Tripp Jared Wardlaw

7

Hallie Chambers Ezekiel DeOs David Hill Christopher Mecum Martin Tull

9

Lea Etta Sharp

10

Brein Anglin Elizabeth Hargis Scott Johnson Jabin Stoddard

11

Aiden Mecum Darren Mecum William Metcalf Roger Short

June 2016

Dene Tuth Din*/People

Photo courtesy of Billy Rice

Willow Rice, new Coquille Tribal member

A happy almost birthday to Coquille Tribal member Willow Millie Ann Rice, who will celebrate her first birthday on June 15. Willow is the daughter of Billy and Zakiya Rice and has one older sister, Windland. They live in Sandy Springs, Ga., near Atlanta. Willow was one of 11 people officially enrolled into the Coquille Indian Tribe following a review by the Tribe’s Enrollment Committee and the passing of Resolution CY 1642 at the April 7, 2016 Tribal Council meeting.

3

* Upper Coquille for “Among people”

Ten Years on CIHA Board

Photo by Anne Cook

Janet Simpson has been involved with the Tribe in many ways. One thing she has done is given ten years of service to the Coquille Indian Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. This Board consists of seven people appointed by Tribal Council to serve as CIHA’s governing authority. During a recent thank-you lunch, Denni Hunter, Toni Ann Brend and other members of the Board of Commissioners gifted Janet with a Pendleton Blanket for her work with CIHA.

UO Museum exhibits Coquille artist’s necklace

By Clark Walworth

Tribal Communications Director

A netted bead necklace made by Toni Ann Brend is part of a new exhibition at the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Besides being a Coquille Tribal Council member, Toni Ann is an accomplished artist in both traditional and original beadwork. The netted necklace on display in Eugene has special significance, because it replicates a piece made by Toni Ann’s grandmother more than a century ago. Laura (Lolly) Hodgkiss Metcalf was born in 1862, the daughter of Susan Adulsa and Charles Hodgkiss. She presumably made the necklace for use in dancing, ceremonies and other special occasions. Toni Ann guesses the original necklace was made in about 1882, based on the styles of beads Lolly used. The necklace features “Russian Blue” and “White Heart” beads, imported from Europe by Russian fur traders. The arrival of glass trade beads already had revolutionized traditional Native beadwork in the Northwest.

Toni Ann learned beadwork while living in Alaska in the 1980s and 1990s. After returning to the Coos Bay area, she was told that Coquille people – though accomplished basket weavers -- had no tradition of beadwork. She learned otherwise in 2003, when her cousin showed her the beautiful netted necklace made by their grandmother. Since then, Toni Ann has taught beadwork to other Tribal members, helping to restore a tradition that had faded during the decades when many Coquille people hid their Indian heritage. “They didn’t talk about the culture at all,” she said. “It was a lost art.” Toni Ann replicated Lolly’s necklace as a sample for a class she taught. Her version employs the design and construction method used in the original necklace. But she created her own color scheme, making her new necklace an original artwork rather than a direct copy. The replica is included in the UO museum’s exhibi-

Photo courtesy of Toni Ann Brend

This necklace made by Toni Ann Brend is on display at the University of Oregon.

tion “Strung Together: Beads, People, and History.” The exhibition spans thousands of years and six continents, displaying both traditional and contemporary beadwork. The exhibition will continue until Feb. 5, 2017.

Kilkich /Community

4

June 2016

Hey, Tribal members, where are you?

Changes to PRC Delivery Service Plan

By Dasha Beauvais

PRC Manager

Tribal Members Services Assistant

Are you feeling left out of the loop about Coquille Indian Tribe announcements and information? Stay in the loop by providing us updated contact information…

Consider all you get when you hear from us

Invites to special events such as Tribal Council Workshops/Meetings, Election Nominations, Mid-Winter Gathering, Restoration, Family Camp, Luncheons, Picnics, Cultural Gathering Days, Solstice, Men/Women Retreats,

Keep in touch If you need to update your contact info: Coquille Indian Tribe/Tribal Member Services 3050 Tremont North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0904; (800)-622-5869 [email protected] or [email protected]

Job Opportunities, Gift cards, Giveaways…just to name a few.

You can also choose how you would prefer to receive announcements and information, including USPS mailings or email, or both. We are not able to share this information with you if your information is out of date.

Please contact Jon Ivy or Dasha Beauvais in Tribal Member Services to update your address, phone, email or family status (new child, spouse, family member). Stop by, give us a call, or send us an email. We don’t want to leave you out, and we look forward to sharing ideas and information with you!

Community Fund Board has two openings

By Jackie Chambers

Coquille Community Fund Assistant

Dear Tribal members, Since 2001, the Coquille Tribal Community Fund has granted more than 5 million dollars for the benefit of the public within Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson and Lane Counties for the purposes of: education; health; public safety; gambling addiction prevention, education and treatment; the arts, the environment; cultural activities, historic preservation and other purposes.

The mission of the Coquille Tribal Community Fund is to provide assistance to organizations that make lasting contributions to the communities we serve. We believe through this spirit of giving we allow our communities to grow and prosper. In accordance with the Coquille Indian Tribe Community Fund Guidelines, Section 1.b. “The Fund will be administered by a board of seven trustees appointed by the Tribal Council. Each

Family fun, fireworks and BBQ at Tribe’s ‘Third of July’ party

The Mill Casino’s 3rd of July Firework show will once again include a Tribal member and employee family barbecue on the Ko-Kwel Wharf. Gates will open for the barbecue at 8 p.m. The firework show begins at 10 p.m. Tribal members, employees of the Tribe, and their spouses and children are invited to attend. The barbecue will include hot dogs,

chips, popcorn, coffee, and soda pop. Chairs will be set out for people to watch the festivities. Face painting will be available and glow-in-the-dark items will be handed out to children who attend.

We recommend you dress for inclement weather, as high winds off of Coos Bay after dark can make for a very chilly evening if you are not prepared. Please watch for a flyer with more information in your mail, email and on the Tribe’s web calendar.

trustee will have an equal vote on actions of the board.” Currently there are two vacancies on CTCF Board due to term limit expirations (Public at Large Positions 3 and 4). If you are interested in serving as a CTCF Board of Trustee, please send a letter indicating your interest to Jackie Chambers by Monday, June 30, 2016, at 3050 Tremont Street, North Bend, OR 97459, or email: Jackie chambers@ coquilletribe.org.

By Trudy Simpson

The Coquille Tribal Council has approved the following changes to the Purchased & Referred Care (PRC) Delivery Service Plan. These changes are effective May 21, 2016. 1. Bariatric Surgery Benefit (Weight Loss Surgery). 2. Permit designation of Naturopathic Physicians as Primary Care Providers. 3. Combined Acupuncture Therapy to the Massage & Chiropractic Benefit (Cap of $1,000.00 for all three services). 4. Genetic Testing Benefit Description. 5. Revised Urgent Dental Benefit. You may access the PRC Delivery Service Plan (DSP) online under the Coquille Indian Tribes Website. If you have any further questions please call Trudy Simpson or Brenda Borchman at (541) 888-4405 or (800) 862-7506.

Watch for your Family Camp confirmation Family Camp confirmation packets will be mailed the week of June 13-15. If you do not receive your confirmation by June 22, please contact Toni Scavera at (541) 888-9494 or (800) 622-5869, ext. 2211; email: [email protected].

Summer youth programs at Kilkich The CIT Community Center’s After School Summer Prevention and Little Feathers programs are both set to begin a season of fun on Monday, June 20. The After School Summer Prevention program is open to Coquille Tribal youth and Kilkich residents between 5-18 years of age. The Little Feathers Summer program is open to Coquille Tribal youth that are transitioning into Kindergarten. Both programs will have many fun and exciting things planned this summer including hiking, swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, games and sports. Many of

these will tie in with Coquille history and traditions. Breakfast, lunch and a snack are provided. Both programs will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The programs will be closed for holidays and Tribal events. Please contact Laura Angulo for questions on the After School Prevention Program and Kristina Simpson for the Little Feathers Summer program. (541) 8889494, ext. 2233 for Laura); ext. 2234 for Kristina; email: lauraangulo@coquilletribe. org; [email protected].

June 2016

Nith Leth Chut*/Jobs

* Upper Coquille for “He sweated”

5

New Plankhouse kitchen/bathrooms by Gardner & Smith

This month’s business profile features Gardner & Smith Construction, LLC. When you attend this year’s Restoration Celebration, you will appreciate the work they did re-modeling the Plankhouse kitchen while adding two new bathrooms to the site.

Emerging Small Business & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Gardner & Smith Construction is also licensed with the Oregon Contractors Board as a Residential General Contractor & a Level 2 Commercial Contractor. In addition G&S is an ODOT Prime Prequalified Firm.

What does your business do?

G&S is able to perform Public, Private, Commercial, & Residential Projects.

G&S performs various types of work – Excavation, Grading, Site Work, General Carpentry, Fabrication, Pole Buildings, Pile Driving, Concrete, Bridge Construction, Etc.

What motivated you to start your business? Trevor & Nathan worked together for a number of years & have a good professional & personal relationship. Trevor & Nathan both have different areas of expertise that complement each other, so they decided we would start our own business.

How long have you been in business? Gardner & Smith Construction, LLC was established in August of 2014, together Nathan & Trevor bring over 30 years of experience to the company. G&S has been very fortunate to hire employees whom have many years of experience in this industry as well.

What is unique about your business? G&S is an Oregon State Certified Minority Owned Business Enterprise,

Both Nathan & Trevor are lifelong Coos County Residents.

What has been the greatest challenge in starting/operating your business? Being a fairly new business, word of mouth is our best form of advertisement. We are committed to customer satisfaction through excellent performance, integrity, and value. Having the opportunity to prove that means we have to obtain the projects first and finish them with the customer being 100% satisfied. We take pride in our work and it is always our goal to prove to our customers that our work is “Top Notch” which allows us to grow and build relationships. The greatest compliment is a referral or a call back to complete additional projects.

What is your greatest success so far? Being able to compete with companies that we have always looked up to is exciting for us! We have had the opportunity to work as a subcontractor for PacifiCorp constructing transformer pads. We’ve

Photo courtesy of Gardner & Smith Construction, LLC

The crew from the Tribal member owned Gardner & Smith works on the Plankhouse kitchen remodeling, which will be fully operational for the 2016 Restoration Celebration. This project was supported by a grant award from the Confederated Tribe of Grand Ronde’s Spirit Mountain Community Fund.

also completed a box-culvert for Lincoln County, drove some piling for the city of Coquille, installed sheet piling on U.S. 101 for a fish passage, finished several projects for Bandon Dunes, poured many concrete slabs, footings, walkways, etc., and we have an upcoming project as a subcontractor for the city of Bandon. G&S just completed a general carpentry & concrete project on the Tribe’s Reservation at the Plankhouse. One may see us demolishing a build-

ing, pouring concrete, building a road, constructing a shop, placing culverts, driving pile, or on a bridge repair. The list is endless!

How can people contact you if they are interested in purchasing your product/ services? Office Phone #: (541) 572-0352; Office Fax #: (541) 572-1913; Email: [email protected].

Mill’s new program will train CIT members for leadership positions By Ray Doering

CEDCO Communications Director

A new training and development program will prepare Tribal family members for supervisory and technical positions at The Mill Casino • Hotel & RV Park. As part of CEDCO’s commitment to provide employment, training and advancement opportunities for qualified Tribal members and spouses, the new program is designed to help participants succeed in the casino hospitality industry. This training will be particularly useful as the Cedars at Bear Creek project moves forward.

According to Corporate Human Resources Director Dena Miles, the new program will replace the current CEDCO Tribal Mentorship program by focusing on more targeted training. “In listening to our Mentorship program participants and Tribal members who could not commit to such a lengthy training schedule, we developed a new approach that focuses on developing the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in individual departments,” Miles said. “Participants will gain a thorough understanding of how the department operates

through on-the-job experience, and then learn the skills to take on a supervisory role in the department.” Currently seven departments – Cage, Food & Beverage, Slots, Players Club, Security, Accounting/Revenue Audit and Facilities – are accepting trainees. Surveillance will offer an internal training program that is open only to current department staff members. Each department will create a dedicated development plan for new hires participating in the program. A variety

of classes will be available for personal development and empowerment as well as in-service training on the fundamentals of supervision and leadership. Participants must be 21 years of age or older to qualify. Application information has been sent to Tribal households. The deadline for applying is June 26. For more information or to view specific job descriptions or training plans, contact Margaret Simpson, (541) 7658800 ext. 2218 or Dena Miles, ext. 2290.

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Nith Leth Chut*/Jobs

* Upper Coquille for “He sweated”

June 2016

New employees and positions: Cody Libbett a new Coos County deputy Molly, Selena and Anthony from Southwestern Oregon Community College.

Before accepting her current position, Selena was working at Southwestern Oregon Community College as an Administrative Assistant. She previously worked for Cardinal Services in various capacities related to operations and human resources.

Anthony DiBenedetto Anthony DiBenedetto was hired as the Emergency Management Coordinator at the Community Health Center and began work Feb. 1. Anthony is a Tribal member and recently moved to the area from South Carolina. He served in the military for 20 years and has Army emergency preparedness experience along with college courses from Trident Technical College and Fayetteville State University. Tony is looking forward to the challenge of his new job, and we could not be happier to have him share his experiences in emergency planning with us.

Photo by Theresa Libbett

Molly Hockema Tribal member Molly Hockema joined the Social Services Department on May 23 as a Victims Advocate. Molly will work on program development for a domestic violence education and outreach program funded by a grant from the Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women. Molly holds a bachelor of science in Human Development & Family Science from Oregon State University. Before coming to work for the Tribe, Molly participated in two field internships.

Selena Kelly-Irvin Tribal member Selena Kelly-Irvin started working at the Community Health Center on May 9 as the Mobility Program Coordinator. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Business

Molly spent time with Trillium Family Services as a skills trainer intern working with youth in crisis. She also interned at Oasis Shelter Home as an advocate intern working with victims of domestic violence. Please stop by and say hello to Molly, Tony and Selena when you are at the Community Health Center. We wish them well as they begin the next steps on their career path.

The Coquille Tribal Police is the not the only law enforcement agency in Coos County with one or more members of the Coquille Indian Tribe on its force. Cody Libbett was deputized by Coos County Sheriff Craig Zanni on April 20. Cody was been employed as a guard at the Coos County Jail. He continues to work there while preparing to attend the Oregon Police Academy later this year. Cody is the son of Jody and Theresa Libbett.

Set up an interview, get a gift card Do you want to help the Coquille Indian Tribe improve its healthcare system, Tribal programs, and other services it offers? Set up an interview today and receive a $25 gift card as a thank you! Please call or email one of our interviewers: Monika Damron (Hualapai/ Navajo): (503) 416-3260; [email protected] Antoinette Aguirre (Navajo): (503) 416-3233; aaguirre@ npaihb.org

June 2016

Tsut Dah* /Heritage

Grateful to have a place for weaving and learning

Sharon Parrish, a longtime volunteer for the Tribe as well as retired Enrollment Coordinator and former Tribal Council representative, sent the following letter of thanks to the Tribe’s Cultural Activities Coordinator.

CIT Anthropologist

Elders, then others, can obtain Pelel (black bear) meat Biologist, Natural Resources

Every year the Coquille Indian Tribe receives bear meat from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or from trappers removing bears as needed to protect the health and safety of citizens and the forest. The Tribe’s Elders Services program has an annual quota of available bear

meat to provide to elders in the Tribe. After this quota is met, other Tribal members will have an opportunity to access any remaining black bear meat. Those of you who are interested in obtaining bear meat, to be processed at your cost, should contact Helena Linnell, Biological Planning and Operations Manager at (541) 756-0904.

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Meet Kintpuash, AKA Captain Jack By Denni Hockema

“I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to Danielle Summers for giving us a beautiful place to weave and to Bridgett Wheeler and Tribal Council for supporting the program with Photo by Danielle Summers the funds needed to provide Jennifer Trosper and Sharon Parrish show the baskets they the classes. We have been made during classes held at Omashi’s Haws. Basketry is learning how to weave with one of several culture classes held there in the last year. a wonderful teacher, Nan MacDonald. She teaches taught people how to make moccasins, in a way that makes it easy to learn. Jennifer beaded feathers, and necklaces for stuTrosper and I along with Quila Doyle are dent graduates. learning how to make our basket hats using different plants, cedar and sticks. I am so These classes are in addition to the proud to say I have made a basket hat. Again, ongoing basketry classes taught by Nan thank you.” Macdonald. The class schedule is printed on page 2 of the newsletter. Fliers for ­Danielle Summers organizes multispecific events are posted on the CELS ple culture classes at “Omashi’s Haws” Facebook page, posted on the Tribe’s throughout the year. Usually held on web calendar, and emailed to the Tribal Friday’s, the classes held this year have member email directory.

By Helena Linnell

* Upper Coquille for “Long ago”

October 3, 1873, Kintpuash or Captain Jack, Modoc Chief, was hanged along with several others for killing Gen. Edward Canby and the Rev. Eleazer Thomas. The U.S. military had forced the Modoc People from their home and onto the Klamath Reservation. Claiming poor living conditions, Captain Jack along with 150 men, women and children escaped the reservation, walking back to their home in the Tule Lake region. Violence broke out during surrender negotiations in 1872, so Captain Jack led his People to the protection of the Lava Beds, a maze of caves and trenches, which they knew well. Captain Jack is said to have believed that if high-level Army leaders were killed, that the government would stop harassing the Modocs. The general and reverend were killed during a meeting the next year. Over a thousand soldiers were sent after the Modocs. Greatly outnumbered Captain Jack surrendered. Captain Jack and five other Modoc men were convicted by a jury made up entirely of military men; four were sentenced to be hanged, the other two were sent to prison. Apparently the skulls of the executed men were sent to the Smithsonian Institute, where Dr. George B. Wasson Jr. found them in 1975. George was at the Anthropological Archives of the Museum of Natural History as a participant in the American Indian Cultural Resources Training Program. He was a graduate student at the University of Oregon at the time. There were several Klamath Tribal Members, who were also students at the U of O. George and the Klamath students had discussed the rumor that Captain Jack’s skull was at the Smithso-

nian, before he went to Washington D.C. Eventually, George had the opportunity to ask about the Modoc skulls; he was directed to the office of physical anthropology. When he entered the office he immediately felt uneasy. George asked the Director if the skulls were truly there at the museum. He pointed to an upper shelf behind George and then he realized why he felt anxious. George explained how important it was for the Klamath/Modoc People to bring their ancestors remains home. Because the Smithsonian felt they needed the skulls for scientific study, George made the suggestion to make replicas. NAGPRA laws were not enacted until 1990, which requires that all museums return any Native American remains and funerary objects to Tribes. The skulls of Captain Jack, Schonchin John, Black Jim and Boston Charley were returned to their families in 1984. Reportedly, over 2,000 people attended the execution of the Modoc men at Fort Klamath, where they were allowed to take souvenirs from the bodies. That may be how beads allegedly from Captain Jack’s necklace ended up in an 1898 time capsule in the foundation of the Lane County Courthouse. When that courthouse was torn down the beads were donated to the Lane County Historical Society and Museum in 1959. Recently, museum personnel were going through uncatalogued items when they discovered Captain Jack’s beads. They immediately called the Klamath Tribes. The museum was honored to return Captain Jack’s beads to his family and other members of the Klamath Tribes on February 19, 2016.

Himme*

8

(Youth)

June 2016

*Miluk for “Children”

9

Kids at work

Children visit Tribal workplaces

Tribal employees joined in the national Take Your Child to Work Day on April 28. The event dedicated to encouraging kids to strive toward their goals and supporting a family-friendly work environment.

Kids who came to work had a chance to watch and learn how their parents did their jobs. They got a little computer practice and helped with mailings. Older kids helped supervise younger children.

Nationally, the Bring Our Daughters and Sons To Work Foundation is a national, public educaton program that connects what children learn at school with the actual working world. Children learn that a family-friendly work environment is an employer and family issue and not just a women’s issue. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work helps girls and boys across the nation discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life.

Left: Community members of all ages go to the annual Kokwel Fishing Derby to try their luck at Tarheel Reservoir where the event is held every year. Above: Jonathon and Samantha Perez went to work with their mother, Becky Cantrell, and learned everything she does to manage the Community Center. Far left: Inacio Jimenez, son of Head Start teacher Ruth Jimenez, got the most out of the Bring Your Child To Work by supervising four Head Start students. Perhaps a future career in education is in the works? Left: Lily Perez and Aiyana Mendoza did not mind helping mail out fliers for the Tribe’s Clothes Closet, a clothing donation program at the Heatlh Center. Thanks to them, hundreds of families in the Tribe are aware of this service.

Kokwel Fishing Derby winners 0-5 Age Group

6-11 Age Group

1st Place Brenin Mitchell Total Fish Weight: 3.26 2nd Place Khloe Parrish Total Fish Weight: 2.30 3rd Place (tie) Brothers Talice & Tyson Russell Total Fish Weight .30 (per child)

1st Place Jake Summers Total Fish Weight: 3.60 2nd Place Aaliyah Ward Total Fish Weight: 2.16 3rd Place Hayden Ward Total Fish Weight: 1.92

12-17 Age Group 1st place Austin ward Total Fish Weight: 3.32

2nd Place Abigail Thomas Total Fish Weight: 1.50

2nd Place Robert Garrett Total Fish Weight: 1.68

3rd Place Ryan Meyers Total Fish Weight: 1.36

3rd Place Lois Parrish Total Fish Weight: 1.26

Adult Age Group 1st Place Robert Ward Total Fish Weight: 3.50

Biggest Fish Award Jake Summers Weight: 2.12 Smallest Fish Award Aaliyah Ward Weight: .18

Above: Aaliyah Ward accepts one of the two trophies she won at the 2016 Fishing Derby. This trophy is for placing second in her age group. Her second trophy was for catching the smallest fish of the day, a .18 pound mini-lunker. Cassandra DiBenedetto, executive assistant for the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department, led the organization of this year’s derby.

Wahl Dut Ni* /Education

10

* Upper Coquille for “He learned it”

June 2016

Preparing for Restoration, thinking about the future By Bridgett Wheeler

Culture, Education and Library Services Director

Spring is here, and the CELS staff, in particular Danielle Summers, has been busy organizing and leading many gathering trips. We have gathered clams, lamprey, and camas, and should have plenty of first foods to offer up for the Traditional Foods lunch on Sunday, June 26, at our 27th Restoration Celebration. An article on the Restoration Cele-

bration is included in the newsletter and an agenda is being sent out to all Tribal members. We hope to see you there. We have many fun activities planned, including atlatl, weaving, and drum making! The Tribal Council will be honoring the CIT graduates, with a few more honorary surprises.

If you are interested in attending the Culture and Education Committee (CEC) meeting at the tail end of this event, the CEC will be meeting on Sunday, from 1-4 p.m. at the CELS building. The CEC

agenda includes two program proposals on supporting Tribal Member businesses, recommendations on the new website and portal, and the scoring of the Chief Tony Tanner scholarships.

On another note, the CELS Department is currently engaged in brainstorming and visioning how we want our programs to improve, and how to plan facility-wise and budgetarily, for future growth. The key factors we are keeping in mind as we move through these exercises, is equal access, alignment with

our Mission/Vision statement, product to our Tribal members, other tribal-wide goals and initiatives. If you are interested in providing input, participating in these discussions, or have a need you feel is not being met, please contact me. As department staff, we can sometimes identify the services that we are not able to provide, but we really would like to rely on feedback from the membership. Nadedishta, Bridgett Wheeler, Culture, Education, and Library Services Director

Restoration

Pendleton gifts for earning your degree

noon. The Salmon Dinner begins at 1 p.m. as well as a wide-range of classes.

Attention Coquille Graduates! Get your Pendleton gift and be honored for your academic achievement.

Continued from page 1

Traditional Technologies Eight separate classes will be held during the Restoration Celebration. If you wish, you can choose to make a shawl, fishing lure, traditional style drum, drum sticks, cedar earrings, bead earrings, or a dream catcher. You can also practice Atlatl throwing in the field between the Plankhouse and the bathrooms. All classes are scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday from noon to 3.

Sunday General Council meeting Come by the Plankhouse on Sunday around 9:30 a.m. to grab a morning beverage and a snack before the 10 a.m. General Council meeting. This meeting is open to members of the Coquille Indian Tribe and their spouses. The celebration concludes with the Traditional Foods Lunch that features multiple endemic plant and animal species that were eaten by Coquille ancestors. Bear, Elk, Rabbit, Huckleberry, Camas, Perch, Salmon (heads and all), and Lamprey have all been on the menu at past traditional food lunches. Don’t be surprised if they turn up this year.

The Coquille Indian Tribe and the Tribe’s Education Department will be gifting Pendleton blankets, bags, and organizers to this year’s Tribal member graduates. Tribal members who have earned a high school diploma or G.E.D., earned a degree from a college or university (including Associates, Doctorate, Bachelor or Masters degree), or have completed a Vocational School program and received their certification will receive a gift for recognition from the Tribe for their accomplishment.

Can’t make Restoration? Don’t worry if you can’t attend the Celebration. The CELS Department will ship the gift to you if you are unable to be there. Please contact Rhonda Ferguson or Chelsea Burns at let them know that you’ve earned your diploma, degree and/or certification. Phone: (541) 756-0904; (800) 622-5869; email: [email protected] or [email protected].

The Tribe has honored its graduates during the Restoration Celebration for the last ten years. Graduates who are able to attend the 2016 Restoration Celebra-

Oops! We should have said ‘hummingbird,’ not ‘butterfly’ Last month’s newsletter incorrectly translated the Miluk language name of the Tribe’s youth canoe, Omashi Dugwn. Omashi Dugwn means Grandmother Hummingbird in Miluk and dugwn is the Miluk word for hummingbird, not “butterfly” as printed in the newsletter. If you would like to listen to a recording of the two Miluk words that

make up the Youth Canoe’s name, you can hear it online at https://soundcloud. com/miluk-org. Yes, this web link is connected to Miluk.org, a web page where you can click and listen to over 150 words in the Miluk language. While visiting miluk.org, look up the Miluk word for drum (bámbam): www. miluk.org/index/lolly/drum

tion and Salmon Bake on Saturday, June 25th will be introduced and awarded a blanket during a special ceremony.

Dai s’la! Canoe practice under way Summer is near and we’re getting the Canoe Family moving. This year, we are inviting you and your family out for weekend canoe pulls. Some of the upcoming events include skipper training, puller practice and some family fun days. If you are interested in participating in summer canoe family events, please contact Jesse Davis at CELS for more information: (541) 756-0904, ext 1209.

Tsut Dah* /Heritage

June 2016

* Upper Coquille for “Long ago”

Ja-la, tall ships! Members of the Coquille Indian Tribe’s community joined the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians in an exchange of gifts with the visiting Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, which drop anchor in Coos Bay every May. The canoe families met the tall ships, replicas of historical vessels, at Coos Bay’s downtown boardwalk after paddling from the Eastside boat ramp, a journey of several miles. Practice sessions and chances to paddle at some of the Tribe’s major events will be available throughout the year. Photo by Chris Tanner

Lamprey float CELS staff members and others traveled the South Fork of the Coquille River on May 12, harvesting lamprey under a State of Oregon harvest permit The Tribe has floated this section of the river since 2007, with mixed results through the years. Lamprey traditionally were caught in a trap overnight. Today we often use cotton gloves and gather them as we go. The un-gloved hand you see to the left belongs to Doug Barrett, the Prevention Activities Director for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. Several CTCLUSI representatives attended, including a member of their Tribal Council and several Tribal member employees of their Cultural Resources program. Photo by Scott Slyter

11

Lakamas* /Camas

12

* Chinuk Wawa for “Camas”

June 2016

Greenhouse camas A greenhouse was constructed recently near the CELS building to grow traditional tobacco, but that’s not the only endemic plant that will be planted there. Danielle Summers and Chelsea Burns recently harvested some camas from an area north of Bandon. Many of the camas plants they harvested were taken to the greenhouse and replanted for later use. Other bulbs were added to those taken at Euphoria Ridge and will be served on the final day of the Restoration Celebration. Over time, other traditional plants will be planted in the greenhouse, and later transplanted, as part of an ongoing effort to propagate plant species used by ancestors of today’s Tribe. Photo by Chris Tanner

Harvesting camas at Euphoria Ridge A small group of Coquille community members traveled to Euphoria Ridge on Saturday, May 14, a to gather camas bulbs for the Restoration Celebration’s traditional foods lunch. Left: Guerrin Wheeler holds one of the many camas plants he harvested without damaging the bulb. Like all camas harvested that day, experts looked at each plant the crew brought in to be sure they had not accidentally taken a white-bulbed “death camas” instead. Right: Chelsea Burns and Jake Summers focus on the patch of purple flowered camas plants they found on Euphoria Ridge, a result of the Tribe’s long-standing efforts to manage this section of the Coquille Forest for the production of native plant species. The Tribe supports several trips to this place every year.

Photos by Kassandra Rippee

June 2016

Munk-pumpum* /Drumming

*Chinuk Wawa for “To drum”

Feel the power of the drum By Anne Burnette Tribal Member

The whine came from the back seat of the van. We were making our way down Cape Arago highway toward Charleston, headed to our tribal lands and the Kilkich community, when the discordant tone sounded. “Why do I have to go to drumming tonight, Mom?” My eyes were immediately drawn to the rear view mirror to verify the voice even though I knew who it was. Sure enough, brown eyes met mine. “I don’t know. You tell me why!” It was Wednesday night and our family was doing what we always did on this night of the week; going to drumming at the Plankhouse. We had begun this tradition ever since we moved to the Coos Bay area 3-and-a-half years ago, and except for football season (when three boys played for three different teams and our schedules were crazy), rarely missed a Wednesday night. “Why do we go to drumming?” I repeated when I didn’t get an immediate answer. “Because it’s a way for us to give back to our Tribe,” came the less than enthusiastic reply. “And why is that important?” I queried further. us.”

“Because our Tribe does so much for

“That’s right” I replied, and then launched into a mini-lecture about all different ways the Tribe enriched our lives and helped us. I knew my kids had heard it all before, but since the question was asked, I pointed it all out again. We were blessed to be Coquille tribal members and I didn’t want my children taking that for granted. Countless blessings came our way because of our DNA and the wise stewardship of tribal leadership over the years. I wanted my kids to appreciate

what they were given and participate, even in a small way, in giving back to their community.

I reminded them about their youth fund, that made sports possible for our large family, affordable medical and dental care, Camp Ta Nae and the many other trips they got to take with tribal “cousins,” help with school supplies, coats with the tribal logo that came every fall, the fishing derby and other fun events the Tribe sponsored, scholarships for college… the list went on and on. My son had brought the complaint because he was tired. He had just finished track practice and had his first meet the next day. Wednesday night’s left our household a little harried. As soon as I got off work, I picked up my two youngest from the tribal center, drove to Marshfield to grab the older boys, and on the way back to Kilkich, picked up their sister at home. Sometimes we had time to stop and grab a snack to eat, sometimes we had to wait till after drumming. By the time we finished at the Plankhouse those evenings, there was barely time to eat dinner before bedtime. Still, drumming was one of the most important things we did together as a family and I knew it. My kids were too young to understand why at this point, but I wasn’t, so I made the decision for them. Sure enough, when we walked in to the Plankhouse and I breathed in the familiar scent of cedar that always felt like home to me, I was once again reassured of the importance of this family ritual. While I made my way to the inner sanctum of the drumming circle and the welcoming smiles that waited for me there, my children bounded over to friends. Wednesday night was family night for our tribe. Adults bantered back and forth while kids caught up on the latest gossip and good naturedly teased one another. The son who had complained, found his

place on a bench and was immediately caught up in conversation with several “cousins.” When the talking ceased and the drumsticks began their steady “boom, boom, boom,” slowly but surely, the kids made their way around the circle of singers and the fire, finding a familiar rhythm to the beat of the drum. Little ones, just barely able to keep their feet steady, toddled after older tribal cousins in the circle of the dance, entranced by the singing and happy energy coming from the crowd. Adults sang and smiled at each other with knowing glances as they followed the antics of excited tribal kids. “Fast and Fancy” saw the girls jumping and twirling at a quickening pace, a “Crow Hop” got everyone bounding to its jubilant beat, while the “Men’s Sneak Up” brought proud warriors showing off their abilities, exaggerating footwork to the beat of the drum. Later, everyone gathered around the drum for the final song of the evening as Lyman Meade, leader of the group, asked for announcements, prayer requests, and encouraged us to remember the men and women in the armed services who put themselves in harm’s way for our benefit. Then the room quieted and Lyman’s voice rose as he began to sing the lead for the last song of the night. The final anthem, sung by all, rose as a prayer; a prayer of safety for those we loved, comfort for those in need, and a blessing over our tribal community. This is why I had my children come to drumming, this is what fed and nourished their spirits in a way they didn’t yet understand. And as I saw them raise their voices with the rest of their tribal family in the tightly woven circle of our community, I knew the price was worth it. We were right where we were supposed to be on a Wednesday night.

Anne Burnette is a Coquille Tribal member and mother of five Coquille children.

13

Drum practice at Plankhouse If you would like to participate in drum and dance practice, please drop by the Plankhouse on Wednesdays. Practice begins at 6 p.m. and generally lasts about two hours.

Language Lab: Chinuk Wawa Hello (English); Dai s’la (Miluk); Ja-la (Athabaskan/Upper Coquille); Ƚaxáyam (Chinuk Wawa) This is third section of the Chinuk Wawa phrases we have printed in K’wen ‘inish-ha. Next month will bring the final section of the Miluk language phrases. Look for new words and resources in the following months.

Ƚush nayka? I’m good

Ƚaxáyam shiksh, chakwa haws Hello friend, come in the house Ƚaxáyam shiksh, hayásh ƚushtəmtəm nayka pus nanich mayka Hello friend, I am so happy to see you

Mayka tiki munk-ƚatwa kənim? Do you want to paddle (the canoe)?

Mayka tiki miƚayt khapa nayka tilixam ƚaska kənim? Would you like to be in my family’s canoe? Listen to recordings of these phrases on the Tribe’s web portal.

Luwae*/Health

14

* Miluk for “Heart”

June 2016

Diabetes Prevention Program changes Brush ’em if you got ’em, kids to help more Tribal members By Deborah Sensenbach RN Case Manager

By Dani Bliss Health Educator

Since, Jan. 2006, the Coquille Indian Tribe’s Diabetes Prevention Program has helped prevent and delay the onset of DIABETES in many Tribal members by helping them to lose weight and move more.

Changes coming this fall

Are you at-risk for Type II Diabetes? Take this test to see if you are at risk for having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to this test. Write in the points next to each statement that is true for you. If a statement is not true, put a zero. Then add your total score.

This fall the program is undergoing some changes. Previously the program had required that participants meet strict criteria that included a diagnosis of pre-diabetes, fasting blood sugar of greater than 99 or a hemoglobin A1C lab value of 5.7 or greater. The new Coquille Indian Tribe Diabetes Prevention Program will have less strict requirements and will allow people who previously did not meet the guidelines to take advantage of this amazing program.

1. I am a woman who has had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth. Yes 1 _____

Are you pre-diabetic?

Scoring 10 or more points — ­­ You are at high risk for having diabetes. Only your health care provider can check to see if you have diabetes. See yours soon and find out for sure.

If you have risk factors for diabetes, please see the risk test to the right. You may qualify for this program which provides personal coaching to help you lose a little weight, move more and prevent Diabetes. Those with the highest risk will be considered first for available spaces in the program, due to the urgency of their need to attend. Participants will receive one on one lifestyle coaching, weekly classes that include a meal and recipes, and will earn DPP Bucks to be used to purchase items from the DPP store. Please contact Dani Bliss at (541) 888-9494, ext 2216 or email her at [email protected] to see if you qualify.

2. I have a sister or brother with diabetes.

Yes 1 _____

3. I have a parent with diabetes.

Yes 1 _____

4. My weight is equal to or above that listed in the chart. Yes 5 _____ 5. I am under 65 years of age and I get little or no exercise. Yes 5 _____ 6. I am between 45 and 64 years of age.

Yes 5 _____

7. I am 65 years old or older. Yes 9 _____

Scoring 3 – 9 points — You are probably at low risk for having diabetes now. But don’t just forget about it. Keep your risk low by losing weight if you are overweight, being active most days, and eating low fat meals that are high in fruits and vegetables, and whole grain foods.

At-Risk Weight Chart (Body Mass Index) HEIGHT 4’ 10’ 4’ 11” 5’ 0” 5’ 1” 5’ 2” 5’ 3” 5’4” 5’ 5” 5’ 6” 5’ 7” 5’ 8” 5’ 9”

WEIGHT 129 133 138 143 147 152 157 162 167 172 177 182

HEIGHT 5’ 10” 5’ 11” 6’ 0” 6’ 1” 6’ 2” 6’ 3” 6’ 4”

WEIGHT 188 193 199 204 210 216 221

If you weigh the same as or more than the amount listed for your height, you may be at risk for diabetes.

Tooth decay in the United States is the most common chronic and infectious childhood disease, being at least five times more common than asthma. More than ½ of all children in the U.S. have cavities by the second grade. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps your child get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums and prevents tooth decay. Prevention of the disease includes measures such as brushing and flossing daily, and professional hygiene such as regular dental examinations and cleanings. Especially in children, diets high in sugary foods increase the risk of cavities. Night time bottle feeding or prolonged use of a sippy cup can also lead to early childhood cavities. If not treated, tooth decay can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, loss of self-esteem and confidence, and in severe cases, death of the tooth. An initial dental visit for your child should occur within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth and not later than 12 months of age. In an attempt to help decrease the amount of tooth decay in our Tribal children, the Community Health Center is offering dental fluoride varnish treatments for all children between the ages of 0-6. The varnish is painted on and coats the outside of the teeth. The varnish is safe and effective in helping to decrease the incidents of tooth decay and should be provided at least once every three to four months. When your child visits the dentist, remind the dentist that you are interested in getting your child’s teeth painted with fluoride. Health Center staff is also available to come to your home at your convenience to provide the treatment. You may also bring your child to the Community Health Clinic; just call Deb Sensenbach, RN at: (541) 888-9494 ext. 2204, or email her at [email protected].

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June 2016

Chair

culturally significant resources. We look forward to our concerns being addressed. We will work closely with Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter DeFazio on legislation that would decouple us from federal management requirements.

Continued from page 1

to spending time with family and friends. The weekend starts with lighting of the fires on Friday, June 24. I hope you can join us for our Salmon Ceremony Saturday morning, and of course our General Council meeting Sunday, June 26, at the Community Plankhouse. Please let me know if you have an item for the agenda.

Silence isn’t golden Tribal Council has also been spending a lot of time frustrated with a lack of consultation with our Tribe by federal and state officials. The Smith River Tribe from California is requesting to expand its service area and programs into Oregon, including our service area of Coos and Curry counties. These requests would include changes within the Oregon Department of Human Services and Indian Health Services.

Our Restoration Celebration is the time of year when we look forward to reporting to our Tribal Membership on issues and successes we have seen over the past year. You will receive program reports from our Tribal Administration and CEDCO as well. And more – Be sure to mark your calendar for a special fireworks show for family and friends on July 3 at Ko-Kwell Wharf, and of course this year’s Family Camp July 13-17.

Forest fight It seems like the Tribal Council has been spending more time than usual protecting and upholding our Tribal sovereignty. As you may have seen in the news that the Coquille Tribe submitted an official protest to the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed forest management plan. By opposing this plan, we are

Photo by Chris Tanner

Tribal member Jake Summers shows one of the trophies he won at the 2016 Kokwel Fishing Derby. Jake caught the largest fish and also trophied for having the heaviest total catch (3.46 pounds).

upholding the intent of Congress and our Tribal government for the Coquille Tribal Forest. The purpose of the Coquille Forest was to ensure sustainable timber harvests to fund our people’s basic needs, such as health care, education, and elder care; and let us manage for diverse values, including

This is not the first time that a tribe has wanted to expand its service area. Most tribes would like to expand their areas; we would if we could. It just hasn’t been possible without affecting other tribes. The Smith River request will affect not only the Coquille Tribe, but also the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians and the Siletz Tribe. Without meaningful consultation, we have been unable to define what all those effects might be. On May 12 I attended a Region 10 consultation in Suquamish, Wash., along with Tribal Council Reps. Eric Metcalf

and Linda Mecum and Deputy Director Mark Johnston, to bring these issues to the forefront. We hope these requests will be put on hold until meaningful consultation takes place with all agencies. We want accurate information on the effects of these decisions and a chance to give input. Vice Chair Kippy Robbins, Chief Don Ivy and I spent May 18 and 19 attending a Legislative Commission on Indian Services meeting and supporting a state agency training event. The agenda featured the importance of tribal sovereignty and consultation with tribes whenever agencies do things that might affect members of federally recognized tribes. We will continue to support the State of Oregon in making these communications a priority.

Want to know more? If you have any questions or comments, please call me or any one of your Tribal Council representatives. The Tribal Office number is (541) 756-0904 or 1-800344-8583. Lots more information about your Council’s activities is available on the web Portal. Go to www.coquilletribe.org and select “Portal.” You’ll find meeting agendas, minutes, reports and various exhibits. Thank you, Brenda Meade, Chairperson

Coquille Indian Tribe Tribal Council

Administration

Chairperson Brenda Meade (541) 297-8803 [email protected]

3050 Tremont Ave. North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0904, (800) 622-5869 [email protected]

Vice Chair Kippy Robbins (541) 297-9876 [email protected] Chief Don Ivy (541) 297-4967 [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer Joan Metcalf (541) 756-6861 [email protected] Linda Mecum (541) 297-5609 [email protected] Eric Metcalf (541) 808-7413 [email protected] Toni Ann Brend (541) 297-1279 [email protected]

Executive Director George Smith Deputy Executive Director Mark Johnston Human Resources — Rachele Lyon Property and Projects — Todd Tripp Finance — Mark Gagnon Tribal Member Services — Jon Ivy Natural Resources — Peter Wakeland Information Technology — Robert Goldrick Communications — Clark Walworth

Tribal Court

Chief Judge Donald Owen Costello Clerk Lynda Payton (541) 756-0904, (800) 622-5869

Tribal Police

Emergencies: 911 Chief Scott Lafevre 2602 Mexeye Loop Coos Bay, OR. 97420 (541) 888-0189

Nasomah Health Group

Director Rod Cook PO Box 921 North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 751-0940 [email protected]

Community Health Center

Health & Human Svcs. Admin. Kelle Little PO Box 3190 Coos Bay, OR. 97420 (541) 888-9494, (800) 344-8583

Contract Health

(541) 888-4405, (866) 862-7506

Community Center

Director Becky Cantrell (541) 888-9494; (800) 344-8583

Culture, Education & Library Services Director Bridgett Wheeler (541) 756-0904, (800) 622-5869

Housing Authority

Director Anne Cook (541) 888-6501, (800) 988-6501

Coquille Economic Development Corp.

Chief Executive Officer Judy Metcalf 3201 Tremont St. North Bend, OR. 97459 (866) 442-3326

Gaming Commission

Commissioner Terry Springer (541) 756-5664, (800) 953-4800

Medford Office

1257 N. Riverside Drive, Suite 13 Medford, OR 97501 (541) 779-1501 [email protected] 8-4 Mon-Fri, or by appointment

Floating for lamprey

Coquille Tribal members and staff organized two lamprey float trips this year. Both floats were held on the South Fork Coquille River between Powers and Myrtle Point. While the main purpose of these trips is to harvest lamprey for use by the Coquille Indian Tribe, it is also an slow and easy journey down one of the waterways used by ancestors of today’s Tribe for thousands of years. (Related picture on page 11) Coquille Indian Tribe 3050 Tremont St. North Bend, OR 97459

Page 9

Fish Derby catches success

Coquille Indian Tribe

Page 12

Camas dig at Euphoria Ridge

See K’wen ‘inish-ha online at

www.coquilletribe.org/tribalnewsletter.htm

Calendar......................2 Meet a new Tribal member.......................3 Update contact info...4 July 3 family party...4 Casino program trains Tribal members...........5 CITCHC hires three Tribal members..........6 A chance for bear.......7 Earn a degree, receive a gift..........................10 Drumming strong.....13 Are you at risk?........14

Also Inside

Page 5

Gardner & Smith remodel Plankhouse kitchen

June 2016