Page 1 - March 2014

CHEHALIS The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation “People of the Sands” TRIBAL NEWSLETTER March 2014 Free Program’s Fun Activities Educate and Encourage Chehalis Program Shares Ten Years of Tribal Community about the Prevention of Colon Cancer Chehalis Tribal Education History By Bobby Bush, Program Coordinator Think about all the change that has taken place within the Tribe The SPIPA Colon Health Program in the last decade. There has been and staff hosted the fourth annual more growth on the reservation March to Prevention Program at than one would typically expect the Chehalis Tribal Community within a small tribe, especially Center on March 1, 2014. There compared to the frst century of the were 41 registered participants Confederated Tribes of Chehalis. in the event, but as the event It was ten years ago the tribe progressed more people arrived. received a grant called Tribal Early There were approximately 60 Learning Opportunities or TELO participants that flled the gathering as most people refer to it. It was a room throughout the day. grant that focused on helping our youth starting in Head Start and We were lucky; the day had a full their parents with reading. That is agenda and the rain started after The tribal community gathered to learn about the prevention where it started but it sure didn’t the event. Dan “Bones” Gleason of colon cancer at the March to Prevention Colon Health Fair stop there. opened with a welcome and prayer hosted at the community center. for all the participants who came the reasons for screening. Messages she had for the group In the beginning, the program was from the seven Tribes of the Colon were to get screened at the correct located in the back of the youth Health Program. Robert Woodall, Pat Odiorne provided the keynote age. Also, Pat stressed that if they center in a small offce space also PA-C, Quality Assurance and address. She told the story of experience changes in their bodies designated for a library. When Control, provided an introduction her experience as a survivor the grant frst kicked off there to the SPIPA CHP and described and brought the group to tears. Continued on Page 2 wasn’t any buy in from the youth Community Families Gathers to Attend Cultural Drum-Making Class to come and read. So an after school program was conceived that while the kids were going to the The Cultural Program has started It was especially signifcant for the Youth Center for other activities, its Drum Making Classes in younger tribal members to learn we would offer homework help. February. The focus for the about the signifcance of the drum. We also began to work with the program is to have families work Oakville School District. While together to learn to make the Why You Keep Your First Drum in the school we could see that drums. The drum making class Continued on Page 3 has been a huge success with 35 The drum is a powerful instrument people signing up. Many children and is broadly considered to be Inside attended with their parents and the frst musical instrument used grandparents who helped each by humans. Indigenous people Auxiliary Building ............................. 3 other in this family activity throughout America refer to the Health and Wellness Events .............. 4 drum as the “heartbeat of Mother Benefts of Native Plants ................... 5 Tribal and community members Families learning to make native Earth.” Drums are used for dances, City of Oakville Activities ................. 6 are encouraged to come back and drums during cultural classes at ceremonies, games and sacred Well Water Testing Offered ............... 7 decorate their drums. That will be the Community Center practices. In America, the drum February Birthdays ............................ 8 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. drums. has a history that dates back to Early Learning News ......................... 9 The seed was planted as many pre-Columbian times. Remnants Students of the Month ...................... 10 participants were talking about It was nice to see our tribal of wooden cylinder drums, and Looking for a Job or a Career? ........ 11 what they wanted to paint on their members gather to work together. Continued on Page 12 Heritage and Culture Program .......... 12