Page 7 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July - August 2023

7
Students gain valuable experience

Youth workers spend
summer acquiring
training from tribe

On June 29, 27 Chehalis
summer youth workers attended a
Resource Fair in the Community
Center’s Gathering Room.
Representatives from tribal
departments Public Safety,
Emergency Preparedness, Care
for Each Other House, Education
and Social Services provided
information about their offerings.
Thurston County Crisis Line and
the University of Washington
offered outreach with presentations
and talks about processes to access
their services.
Racheal Mendez spoke to youth
about Chehalis Tribal Higher
Education and how to make
the most of applying with her
assistance. She also highlighted
the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). Chehalis tribal youth interviewed for summer job positions within tribal departments on June 29.
Erika Pickernell spoke about
the services and programs through Employment interviews Wellness Center, Early Childhood placement and interviews
the Caring for Each Other House. Education, Head Start and commenced. Selections were made
She invited youth to stop by if they Our 27 youth returned to the Information & Technology were by each department. Because youth
need a place to chill and relax, do Gathering Room for job interviews active and completed the interview were able to choose their preferred
bead work or just talk. A calming on June 30. Eight departments process. placement, they enjoyed more
room is available for folks to use. requested workers this year: Each student was asked to autonomy in their positions.
Chehalis Tribal Enterprises Housing, Facilities, Natural indicate their top three choices The youth began their summer
representatives from Great Wolf Resources, Community Center, for summer youth employment employment July 10.
Lodge and Talking Cedar spoke
to youth about future career
opportunities. Thurston County
Crisis center was also present to
share resources available and job
prospects.
Youth learned that 16 is the
minimum age requirement to work
at Great Wolf Lodge and Talking
Cedar.
After representatives from
each one of the departments and SUMMER YOUTH WORKERS FIND A PLACE WITH TRIBAL DEPARTMENTS
programs spoke and highlighted
available services, youth visited the
tables that most interested them. Laela Baker: Blueberry Farm Development Jayzen Owens:
They earned raffle tickets at each Shayden Baker: Building/Grounds Adrian Hjelm-Snell: Youth Center Information Technology
table. Youth then paused for lunch, Hollie Brockmueller: Youth Center Jake Jones: Blueberry Farm Kaytlin Pickernell:
which was provided by Lucky Eagle Building/Grounds
Casino & Hotel. Dylan Burke: Department Susette Klatush: Elders Courtney Price: Department
of Natural Resources Office of Natural Resources
Heritage & Culture Koner Burnett: Department Tayleena Klatush: Chehalis
Tribal Wellness Center
After lunch, the youth convened of Natural Resources Anjolysa Sanchez: Education
in the Heritage & Culture room Ulises Klatush-Cabrera: Development
with Trudy Marcellay, Yvonne Dyani Cayenne: Building/Grounds Kylee Secena: Chehalis Tribal
Peterson and Halisa Higheagle. Education Development Charles Latch III: Wellness Center
They were shown how to complete Jace Cayenne: Housing Building/Grounds Rachel Simmons: Blueberry Farm
a sweet grass and raffia medallion,
focusing on their work until 3:30 Dominic Delgado: Youth Center Jordan Lopez: Housing Riley Smith: Elders
p.m. Some learned the skill quickly Damious Hansen: Housing Chloe Lopez-Palmer: Education Tristan Smith: Blueberry Farm
and easily; others struggled a Tom Hayden: Education Development Eli Snell: Youth Center
little but should be proud of their
participation.