Page 5 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - Jan - Feb 2021

5

RETIRES Dolly explained.
It’s important to continue
From page 1 ‘The part I’m traditions and tell stories to
Filling a need going to miss younger generations so they are
aware of the “struggles to preserve
Through the decades, she is working the tribe for them,” she said. She
helped out in pretty much every hopes younger tribal members will
area of the Housing Authority. with the help bring back those values and
“I did a little bit of everything,” individual carry on the traditional ways.
Dolly said.
She collected rent payments, people. I’m A new path
verified income, processed Now that she is officially
paperwork, assisted move-ins, going to miss retired, Dolly said, “The part I’m
ensured houses were taken care of being able to going to miss is working with the
and conducted inspections to help individual people. I’m going to
keep the reservation drug-free. talk to them miss being able to talk to them
Dolly even stepped up to and listen and listen to them. I always took
fill in several times when the time to visit with them.” She
director position was vacant Virginia “Dolly” Canales bids farewell to her decades- to them.’ enjoyed being able to provide
and temporarily managed daily long work for Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority. assistance to those in need of a
operations as deputy director. home.
She took part in the businesses produced revenue Dolly was so actively involved
commissioning process with the for the Tribal Government and in her work that she didn’t have
U.S. Department of Housing and enrolled members. Dolly said time for many hobbies.
Urban Development (HUD) to this was the moment when the Although she isn’t working
build the first tribal housing for Chehalis tribe and its leaders had anymore, Dolly still gets up
the Chehalis people. This involved to make adjustments. Income was routinely at the same time
acquisition of land, building and used to form departments and every day. She plans to use her
maintenance of the homes. programs that provide services for retirement to organize documents
She also was part of a program tribal families. and photos she has accumulated
that helped provide down- One of the services Dolly wishes through the years.
payment assistance for individuals wasn’t fully developed during that more enrolled tribal members Dolly said one thing that
ready to buy homes. This was time and funding was sparce. would utilize is the Higher remains consistent is that she
a way for Housing to extend its Other committees Dolly Education Program. She would never misses a Gonzaga University
services to a larger demographic of volunteered on include Elders, like to see more of the younger men’s basketball game.
tribal members. Enrollment, Enterprise, Fisheries, generation go off to college, pursue Still involved
Learning experience Heritage & Culture, Head Start a degree and bring that knowledge She still plans to be involved
and Personnel.
back to the Chehalis people.
“I’ve always been a part of the Dolly was a member of the with tribal operations. Now
tribe,” Dolly said. Justice Committee, which is no Changing times that Dolly is on the outside
Both her mother and stepfather longer active. She also helped Dolly said the extra money looking in, it allows her to notice
served on the Chehalis Tribe’s lead and took great pride in the from the casino and enterprises previously overlooked matters.
Business Committee during Dolly’s Indian Action Team Program has caused the tribal people to She understands that the Business
childhood. She can recall when (also inactive). Individuals were lose part of their traditional ways Committee has a focus on certain
she would attend General Council trained in certain fields/ and that made them “Chehalis.” She endeavors, but living on the
meetings with her parents and trades that could lead to potential acknowledges that the earnings are reservation and being a part of the
siblings and the children would sit careers, such as construction and very beneficial, but she remembers community enables her to view
quietly while the adults met. education. Dolly remembers that a time when the tribe didn’t have certain needs from a different
When she was old enough, during construction training, many resources and had to work as perspective.
Dolly was glad to be able to be a participants learned how to read a community to survive. Dolly is looking forward to
part of the General Council and blueprints and perform electrical “We all had to work together as better times when the COVID-19
join various committees. She and plumbing work to obtain the a group,” Dolly said. “I remember pandemic is under control and
used it as a learning experience to skillsets to build and remodel a time when we had to pay dues people can get back to living
acquire knowledge from elders who houses. every month.” normal lives. Dolly highly
were involved in the development Tribal members would attend anticipates the moment when the
of the tribe. She also gained an Tribal growth the General Council meeting and tribe can start having gatherings
understanding of the purpose that The tribe had a major pay the Treasurer. She explained and annual ceremonies.
each committee served. development stage in 1995 when that is how they made sure their She wants the Chehalis Tribe
Dolly was on numerous boards Lucky Eagle Casino opened for electricity bill was paid. Back then, to continue moving forward and
since the 1970s and was Chehalis business. Dolly acknowledges that the tribe didn’t need to worry plan for the future by setting
Tribal Chairwoman for multiple the casino and Chehalis Tribal about as much because the only goals. Dolly encourages younger
terms during the late ’70s and Enterprises has impacted the tribe facility they had was the Tribal tribal members to buy a home
early ’80s. She said things were by providing its people jobs and Center. while they are young and working
not the way they are now. opportunities for financial growth. Dolly said she believes so they don’t have to worry about
“It’s very different,” Dolly “We weren’t prepared for the members have “lost part of what it rent upon retiring.
said, “We didn’t have that many difference that it was going to meant to be able to work together Housing operates underneath
employees. A majority of our make within our tribe … so, we as Chehalis tribal people.” She said HUD requirements and calculates
money was grant money.” kind of had to learn the hard way,” it seems most people aren’t willing rent based on household income,
This meant the Business Dolly said about taking on new to do anything without receiving which Dolly explained has gone up
Committee had fewer ventures operations during major tribal payment in return. “So, we are dramatically because of the tribe’s
to oversee. As with the rest of the development periods. losing the values that go along economic growth and increased
Tribe, the Planning Department The casino and tribally owned with how we used to do things,” annual stipend for its members.