Page 1 - November 2013

CHEHALIS The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation “People of the Sands” TRIBAL NEWSLETTER November 2013 Free Vendors Provide Resources and Information Getting Smart About Indian to Communities in Case of Natural Disasters Education Means Looking By Shannon Sullivan, CTG Coordinator for Alternative Approaches We all know every year we get fooded in and have power By Jerad Koepp and Jason outages. The Community Medina Transformation Grant thought Public education has failed the it would be a good idea to Indian for 150 years, yet so many inform the community about of us continue to put faith in its natural disasters. The CTG reform. We have become too staff took on the challenge of familiar with the disappointing the Emergency Preparedness statistics. According to the National event in hopes that people Indian Education Association, only think about natural disasters 71 percent of Natives have a high and how to prepare for school diploma and of those, only them. Over 100 community 44.6 percent of males graduate with members from Oakville and a regular diploma. For those high the tribal community visited school graduates, only 11 percent the informational tables earn a bachelor’s degree. getting tips on emergency preparedness. Oakville Residents sign in before visiting the vendors providing resources and information at the Emergency Preparedness Event. Each year, tribes across the United States contribute millions of dollars The Community on October 24 at the Community Emergency Preparedness for the to their local school districts hoping Transformation Grant hosted the Center. The event was a great Chehalis Tribe, Chehalis Tribal an increase in funding will provide Emergency Preparedness event success with all the vendors: Continued on Page 2 better educational opportunities Youth Program Annual Pumpkin Patch Trip Makes for a Great Fun-filled Family Day to Native students. And each year the statistics remain unchanged. Some tribes have even taken the On Friday, October 11 the other fun activities the farm courageous step of creating their youth center travelled to has to offer. own schools—unfortunately often Schilter Family Farm in with the same results as the public the Nisqually Valley in Tony reminded the kids, schools. The fault does not lie with Olympia. This is an annual “You can have any pumpkin our students but with the method event for children and their you want, but you need Continued on Page 3 families to select their to be able to pack it out pumpkin to carve for the yourself.” Inside upcoming Halloween. Native American Month .................... 3 After leaving the farm, they Children were seen all went and enjoyed pizza Health and Wellness News ................ 4 climbing on the hay bales afterwords. It was a day CTG Director Goodbye Letter ........... 5 for a photo session. They well spent doing family Driving Tips During Floods ............... 6 enjoyed the hay ride and activities. Community Events ............................ 7 going through the mazes. September Birthdays ......................... 8 Parents were seen smiling Thanks Tony and the youth Community Building ......................... 9 taking pictures. All the Children enjoyed the day at the pumpkin center for providing such a Students of the Month ...................... 10 while the children played, patch climbing on the big hay bales at the great day! Christmas Events ............................. 11 explored and enjoyed the Schilter Family Farms. More photos on page 10 Early Learning Program Halloween .12