Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - September, 2018
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STAFF PROFILES
Aftercare specialist Lucky Eagle welcomes partnership with the behavioral health
team and community.
will serve soon-to-be facilities director welcome. Please stop by to say hello.
I am happy to be here and feel so very
released inmates Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel is CONTACT
pleased to welcome Darrell Huggins
Good day to you all. My name is as the newest member of the executive Please contact me at lniccolocci@
Bobbie Bush and I am happy to be team. chehalistribe.org or 360-709-1628.
working for our tribe here at Chehalis. With nearly 25 years
I am a descendent of an original of casino experience,
allottee, Edward Darrell will oversee An advocate for
Smith (Chehalis), my facilities, environmental
great-grandfather, services and security those affected by
and Katherine Tobin operations as Facilities domestic violence
(Squaxin), my great- Director.
grandmother. Darrell is also an Darrell
Some of you may accomplished musician Huggins Greetings Chehalis tribal community.
know that I worked at and has had the My name is Tana Charley, and I reside
Skokomish Tribe for opportunity to play alongside many within the community. I grew up in
many years and then Bobbie celebrities through the years including Taholah and I am an enrolled Quinault
Bush
worked at SPIPA South BB King and Cher. tribal member.
Puget Intertribal Planning Agency He admits he has a passion for I have an Associate of Arts degree in
(SPIPA) for many years. whatever he does and a belief in the general education. I went to Washington
In 1989, I traveled to Skokomish addictive strength of positive energy State University and
from Northern California. My brother and looks forward to joining the team at I’m now in the process
Phil Bush lived up there at that time. Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel. of completing my
My great uncle and aunt, John and Jean Bachelor of Arts degree
Smith, lived up at Skokomish and my Creating meaningful from the University of
Uncle Richard Bush as well. Washington.
I was fresh out of drug and alcohol Chehalis behavioral My work history
treatment at that time and did not know includes having the
anything about anything. Now, I have health programs honor to serve children Tana
been free from cocaine since Oct. 20, and families that are Charley
1988. Hi, my name is Leah Niccolocci (nik- high risk and high needs.
Coming home to Washington was OH-lot-tee). I started as the Tsapowum The services I provide as a
the best move of my life. I learned how Behavioral Health Director on May 14. Domestic Violence Advocate are safety
to smoke salmon from my Uncle Bush. I was born and raised in Tacoma and planning, court assistance, case-
Aunt Leona Miller and Uncle Bruce moved to the Olympia related transportation, women’s group,
Miller taught me how to gather cedar, area with my family in education and prevention and someone
cattails and sweet grass and how to 2012. safe to talk to in confidence.
weave baskets. These life skills from our I’ve worked in the I am excited to be here as a Domestic
culture help me maintain freedom from behavioral health field Violence Advocate for the Chehalis
cocaine and heal my spirit. since 2008, completed Tribe.
My father was Robert E. Bush my bachelor’s degree My door is always open. Please feel
(Chehalis). My dad left Washington at The Evergreen State free to come see me in the Tsapowum
when he was a teenager because he was College and obtained Behavioral Health building.
getting into trouble and the judge gave my master’s degree in Leah
him a choice – leave the state, enroll counseling psychology Niccolocci CONTACT
in the army or go to jail. He met my at Saint Martin’s My 24/7 domestic violence hotline number is
Mom, Susanna Joy Farinsky (Russian/ University.
German), in Northern California, and My best learning has come from life 360-789-3627.
they were married. I was born in San experience, and most importantly, the
Rafael in 1954. relationships I’ve developed over the
I am a mother, grandmother, years. ‘My best learning has come
Chehalis Tribal Elder, basket weaver and Prior to coming to work for the
storyteller. Chehalis Tribe, I served the Skokomish from life experience, and most
I am excited to work for our tribe Tribe, worked in felony and family drug
as the Offender Re-Entry Aftercare court systems and spent time working importantly, the relationships
Specialist. I will be working with soon-to- with individuals with chronic mental I’ve developed over the years.’
be released inmates to ensure access to illness.
care and self-improvement opportunities. I am looking forward to maintaining – LEAH NICCOLOCCI, TSAPOWUM BEHAVIORAL
I am located in the Tsapowum Behavioral and creating strong and meaningful HEALTH DIRECTOR
Health Department. behavioral health programs in
