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## Record

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- **Document type:** Tribal code

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greatwolf.com  www.luckyeagle.com  www.eagleslandinghotel.net
Vol.
3/5

May 2010

Program
News

High School Grads Urged
to Contact Ed Office
Attention all Chehalis tribal and community
members! Graduation is approaching fast for
seniors in the final stages of completing their
high school education. The Chehalis Tribe
celebrates with a dinner and recognition
ceremony for graduates and family.
If you are aware of any community or
tribal member getting ready to graduate,
please contact JJ, Tawni, Jason or Nathan at
360-709-1888 with all their information.

Program Help Members of
Two Tribes Get Jobs
By Barb Churchill, Vocational
Rehabilitation Program Lead Counselor
The Chehalis/Skokomish Intertribal
Vocational Rehabilitation Programs received
a grant through the Department of Education
for five years! Both tribes have provided
a Vocational Rehabilitation Program since
1993 and look forward to serving you for the
next five years.
Part of the service we will provide an
informational newsletter which will be
mailed out three to four times a year. It will
offer information on a variety of disabilities,
alternative therapies, career tips and success
stories.
The purpose of Tribal Vocational
Rehabilitation is to provide a culturally
appropriate and community-based program
of services. Some of the services focus
on the individual’s strengths, resources,
priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities,
interests, and self-informed choices.
With these services, clients should be
able to prepare for and engage in gainful
employment within their communities.
A few disabilities helped by the program
include: learning disabilities, post traumatic
stress, traumatic brain injury, alcohol/drug
addictions, depression and eating disorders.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors help
clients explore and understand their barriers
and help turn them into abilities.
We are located in the Resource Center
(old clinic) behind the tribal center. Any
questions, please contact Barbara Churchill,
Project Manager, at 360-709-1633 or Orinda
Goddard, Counselor, at 360-709-1735.

Special Nikes Available
for Chehalis Tribal and
Community Members
The Nike Air Native N7 fitness shoe is
the result of nearly two years of research,
development, and fit testing, in partnership
with the Native American community.
The first-of-its-kind performance shoe is
built to address the specific fit and width
requirements for the Native American foot.
NIKE N7s are being made available for
purchase by all Chehalis community and
Tribal members. Sizes that are available
for men are 6 – 14 and for women are 5 –
12. Cost for the shoes is $48.00 (includes
shipping). Shipping takes about 2 weeks.
If you are interested in ordering a pair of
shoes, contact Cindy Beck at the Chehalis
Tribal Wellness Center, 360-709-1810.

Chehalis Tribal Newsletter
PO Box 536
Oakville, WA 98568

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©Copyright 2009 CHEHALIS TRIBAL
NEWSLETTER is a publication of the
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation.

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PERMIT No. 2

www.chehalistribe.org

CHEHALIS

TRIBAL
NEWSLETTER

Honoring Janette
Elders:
Whiteclaw

 She treasures
the moments she
spends with her
grandchildren,
page 3

 “People of the Sands” 

Chehalis youth group sends
message with music
Youth write and record music about
suicide prevention, page 2

Six Chehalis Teams Add to the Huge Storage
Success and Fun of Tribal Youth Building, RV
Park are Newest
Basketball Tournament
Additions of
Chehalis Tribal
Enterprises
By Fred Shortman, Editor

Youth enjoyed competing in the first Chehalis Youth Basketball Tournament
to be held at the tribe’s Community Center. Pictured (L-R) top row are Marvin
Youckton Jr., Logan, Coach Ray Lopez, Sr., Brian Ranger, Ray Lopez, Jr.,
Oscar Jackson, Shawn Youckton, Geo Jack, TJ Pickernell, and Jacob Black.
Front row (L-R) are Marcus Youckton, Carla Thomas, Gary Ortivez, III, Jordan
Bird, and Coach Bruce Klatush, Sr. Front is Alex Youckton.

By Carla Thomas, Events Coordinator Assistant
We first would like to say thanks to
our Chehalis Tribal Youth Basketball
Tournament volunteers. Many thanks to
Diana Pickernell. She was totally devoted
on our opening day of the tournament. She
was our official bookkeeper. She stayed
throughout the entire day, so thanks so
much, Diana, for such devotion!
While she was on the books, her sister,
Francis Pickernell, was keeping the clock
and scoreboard running. You really deserve
props for that one so.., thanks for stepping
up and volunteering when we really needed
someone! You didn’t abandon us.
We can’t forget thanking Darrin Jones
and Deidra Hawks. They stepped up to the
plate and did a game on the score board.

Also there was Ange Youckton, and Bruce
Klatush who were there for us in many
different aspects of the tourney, taking
garbage out, keeping the score book, and
coaching when our lil’ team needed!
The teams were in three divisions and
finished in the following order:
18 and Under Boys
Nisqually - MVP Jordan - All Stars: Kurtis,
Rikki
Skok - MVP Tre - All Stars: Berry, Cedric
Chehalis Bobby - All Stars: Bobby Jones,
Rikki Sutterlict, Cody
Chehalis Frazer
LaPush
Chehalis Marky - All Star: Marky
See Basketball Tourney, page 4

Storage Building
You can hardly miss the new building
at the main entrance to the reservation
along Anderson Road. It’s the Chehalis
Tribal Enterprises storage building. I’m
reminded it is a “storage building” and not
a “warehouse” (with lots of coming and
going and in and out operations). Indeed, the
building is designed to store tribal goods,
records, artifacts and other miscellaneous
items.
The building is 150 feet wide and
170 feet long, or 25,500 square feet. It
is designed with a substantial enough
foundation for a future second story
mezzanine. The building looks “good size”
from the outside but, when I walked inside, I
was truly impressed and uttered a “whoaaa!”
as I comprehended how massive the area
actually is.
The purpose of this structure is to
consolidate, store, have access to, and be
able to retrieve tribal records, equipment and
supplies which were being stored in as many
as 15 off-reservation locally-owned, leased
facilities. This new building allows for
consolidation and provides adequate space
for proper filing, easy access, and retrieval
when needed.
The interior space is subdivided into
secure storage spaces for each tribal
department and provides secure limited
See Enterprise, page 4

Multi-Generational Native Women’s Health Fair Helps Over
115 Women Stay Healthy with Experts and Workshops
By Christina Hicks, Community Health Coordinator
On Thursday, May 13, the Native Women’s
Wellness Program held the MultiGenerational Native Women’s Health Fair
at the new Chehalis Tribal Community
Center. We had ladies attend from the
Chehalis tribal community, Cowlitz Tribe,
Skokomish Tribe, Quinault Tribe, Oakville,
Rochester, Centralia, Chehalis, Olympia,
Seattle, and Aberdeen. There were over 115
ladies who attended.
This event was held to support National
Women’s Health Awareness Week
(May 9-15). It was a time for our tribal
community women to come learn and take
care of themselves: Women are the back
bones of our families and communities.
There were 30 vendor tables: The
American Cancer Society, National Cervical
Cancer Coalition-Pacific NW chapter,
Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on
Aging, Olympic AAA, ADSA-Living
Well with Chronic Conditions, DSHS,
SHIBA, Providence Sound Home Care &
Hospice, Native Wellness Institute, SPIPA Comprehensive. Cancer, Tribal Bear Project,
Colon Program, Journey Women, Costco,
and Chehalis tribal programs: Native
Women’s Wellness Program, Clinic, Dental,

Lynn Hoheisel, Diabetes Outreach Coordinator, seen tests Penny GleasonWheeler’s blood sugar level at the Chehalis Tribe’s Womens Health Fair.
Diabetes Prevention, Prevention -Tobacco,
Mental Health, Chemical Dependency,
Tribal Rez Pet Program, Tribal Housing
Authority, Heritage, three different massage
tables, reiki, and acupuncture.

The doors opened at 10:00 am with a
prayer from Patti Kinswa, a Cowlitz tribal
member who brought women from the
See Health Fair, page 4

2

Chehalis Youth Create Innovative Suicide Prevention Music CD

By Todd Denny, Music Mentor Academies
In April there were 32 youth and 14 adults
who gathered for the first ever “Chehalis
Tribal Youth Music Academy.” The group
spent four days immersed in examining
personal challenges they face at home, in
their community, and at school. During the
Academy, the youth created and recorded
an original CD of poetry and songs devoted
to cultural preservation and breaking the
cycle of violence, alcohol, drug abuse, and
suicide. The program, funded entirely by
a grant from the Northwest Portland Area
Indian Health Board, prepared Chehalis
youth for their work as musical peer
educators in their community and schools.
The idea for the Academy began with a
conversation with Cindy Gamble and Tony
Medina, who enthusiastically supported
the idea. Amy Loudermilk, tribal planner,
provided valuable technical assistance, as
did the Chehalis Business Committee, that
provided a letter of support to the grant
proposal reviewers. Amy stated, “The grant
was a great fit and an exceptional project to
work on for our youth.”
Under the guidance of Tribal Youth
Program Director Tony Medina, Heritage
Program Coordinator Elaine McCloud,
and Music Mentor Academies (MMA)
Program Directors Todd Denny and Jose
Gutierrez, the tribal youth were deeply
involved in creating a poignant CD.
Gutierrez observed, “It’s always powerful
when youth and elders communicate. The
Academy helped facilitate that connection.
Initially shy attendees quickly warmed to
express their personal feelings about suicide,
a difficult and important issue for all tribal
communities.”

Youth enjoyed spending the weekend creating and recording music for the
first ever Chehalis Tribal Youth Music Academy. Pictured (L-R) top row are
Tony Medina, Todd Denny and Elder Elaine McCloud. Middle row (L-R) are
Issack Hofstetter, Denay Young, Savanna Bird, Kiahra Pickernell, Valerie
Pickernell, Jerry Youckton, and Kathy Horn. Bottom row (L-R) are Mei-lien
Tanner, Daniel Gitchell, Bradley Gitchell, Jordan, Nathan Wittwer, Roberta
Youckton, and Jubilee Kainz. In front is CJ Youckton.
Kelly Horn of the Washington State
Youth Suicide Program presented a Youth
Allies Workshop that focused on three
critical areas: Show you care -- Ask the
question (are you thinking about killing
yourself?) and -- Call for help (1-800-273
TALK.) She said, “The more we build
protective factors for our youth, the less
likely they are to become depressed and,
possibly, suicidal. The Music Academy
serves as a protective factor in that it
provides a way for youth to express their
thoughts and feelings in a productive,
healthy way. It allows them to share a
message of hope to others.”
Elder Elaine McCloud remarked, “I have
a personal interest in the project since my
sister died from complications of a suicide

Oakville Senior Honors Chehalis Basket
Weaving Tradition for Cultural Arts Credits
By Diane Devlin, Cultural Coordinator

classes on Thursday evenings, where she
On May 14, 18-year-old Shelby McCrory
picked up all kind of tips and stories about
featured her basketry skills for the tribal
gathering and weaving from the elders.
community at the Gathering Room located
Note: Tribal elders who share a love for
in the new Community Center. Shelby
taught a cedar weaving class to demonstrate weaving meet on Thursday nights and help
community members with weaving projects
the skills she had engendered from years of
watching, learning and finally doing. Shelby or teach new ways to work with weaving
materials. The name “The Red Cedar Hat
showed participants how to make cedar
Club” was a nix-name we gave ourselves
woven graduation caps. In recent years,
one evening and it just stuck.
tribal students who graduated from public
Recently Shelby accompanied the Tribal
schools have opted to wear a cap woven
Cultural Coordinator on a cedar pulling trip.
from cedar, rather then the customary cloth
Each year the tribe issues cedar gathering
cap. The class turned out to be a big hit.
Shelby, a senior at Oakville High School, permits to tribal members for the purpose
of gathering and preparing cedar bark for
spent the past two years with the Chehalis
basket making. Shelby learned there are
Tribal Cultural Program developing her
basket weaving skills from gathering to final traditional rules to follow when gathering
basket materials, rules that have been passed
product. Shelby began recording her school
down from generation to generation. In
project last year. She wanted her Senior
addition to the types of tools we use to pull
Cultural Art Theses to showcase Chehalis
basketry and allow herself to carry on the art the bark, she also learned what we do not
do. For example: We never take more then
of basket making in her family.
Shelby comes from a long line of notable a fourth of the bark from a tree, so as to
guarantee the tree’s continued life.
basket weavers. Her great-grandmother is
Shelby learned many more gathering
Master Basket Weaver Katherine Barr and
aunties include Master Basket Weaver Cindy rules and techniques: We only gather from
female trees. We can begin to gather as early
Andy and Master Basket Weaver Marie
as March. Later in the summer it is best to
Griswold. There is a saying in my family
that we use when we see a person who picks travel up into the mountains to gather bark.
No bark is ever gathered in the fall or winter.
up the art of weaving so easily: We say, “It
Before the pulled cedar bark is brought
is in the blood.”
home, the puller must clean the outer bark
Shelby not only picked up the art of
weaving, she has the skills to teach others as off the ribbon-like bands that were extracted
from the trees. The cleaned bark is then
well. Last year Shelby was selected as one
rolled up and tied for easy packing.
of a few “Youth Featured Weavers” during
The cedar Shelby pulls is stored by
the 2009 NNABA National Basket Weavers
hanging it in a dry, covered space. Often
Conference held at the Great Wolf Lodge.
cedar is stripped into one-inch, half-inch or
Shelby was delighted to share and pass on
quarter-inch strips for weaving
her knowledge of weaving to eager younger
baskets. When Shelby is ready
weavers from around the country.
to make a basket, she splits the
When told by her instructor during
strips of cedar until they are
her junior year at Oakville High
paper thin for the best results
School that she needed to develop and
in weaving a fine basket.
implement a Native art project for a
The great thing about
cultural art credit prior to graduation
seeing our younger people
from high school, Shelby had no doubt
learning to weave is that we
in her mind what she wanted
know we have done our
her project to be. Shelby
job and the art will not
wanted to give back
die with us, but will be
to the community
honored for another
by sharing her
generation. The task
weaving talent she
then falls to those
had learned from
we have taught to
her family, and
pass it on, so our
acquired while
traditions will
participating in
live on. Shelby
tribal sponsored
McCrory is doing
weaving classes.
just that.
Shelby took
Shelby McCrory is an Oakville High School
it upon herself to
Senior who has made the commitment in
attend “The Red
passing on weaving traditions.
Cedar Hat Club”

attempt. I tell my story and share my pain
so hopefully it touches someone and helps
support prevention. The kids were enjoying
themselves once they got comfortable,
working hard yet having fun. The use of
music to spread the message about suicide
prevention really touched me.”
Sindick Bura and Kurtis Kelly, members
of the Nooksack music team, helped fuel
the passion for music creativity with high
energy musical performances and youth
song writing mentoring. MMA staff,
including professional recording engineers
and musicians, worked with youth, parents
and elders to record both traditional and
contemporary music.
The wide range of talent included
budding poets, traditional drummers, and

hip hop girls. The Academy included
daily suicide awareness workshops, music
and poetry project development as well
as jam sessions. Todd Denny said, “Our
goal is to break the cycle of secrecy and
denial regarding suicide in our Native
communities. To achieve this, there were
frank conversations with young tribal
members. We are taking an important step
toward health for future generations.”
Though the Academy ended in April,
the music created by the Chehalis youth
lives on. Follow-up visits with the youth
are preparing them to present their music as
peer educators at a community CD release
celebration this June. Watch for flyers. A
unique component of the Academy enables
tribal youth to evolve into an ongoing peer
education group which will continue to
attract other youth. The final CD will include
over 28 songs professionally recorded for
distribution to the participating youth and
the community.
Program partners that were instrumental
in accomplishing the music program goals
are the tribal youth program staff, including
the Chehalis Business Committee, Youth
Program Director Tony Medina, Tribal
Health Program Coordinator Cindy Gamble,
Heritage Program Coordinator Elaine
McCloud, Grant Writer Amy Loudermilk,
the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health
Board, the Washington State Youth Suicide
Program and the crucial component of
Chehalis parents, elders, and family.
For further information, contact
Todd Denny, Director, Music Mentor
Academies at 360-866-7140 or email info@/
ToddDennyMVP.com

Youth Learn Language, Cedar Work
While Making Gifts for Moms
By Fred Shortman, Editor

In April youth made an assortment of gifts
for Mother’s Day. What a special way to
honor mothers and recognize the love and
time they commit to raising their children.
The children attended classes in the Cultural
and Youth Center classrooms. They were
focused and committed to finishing their
projects so they could present them to their
mothers.
Cultural Center
At the Cultural Center classroom,
children decorating flower pots and making
handmade cedar roses. This two-day class
involved decorating pots with Elders
Sally Pikutark and Diane Devlin. Their
commitment greatly assisted the completion
of these Native gifts. The youth were also
assisted by Elder Elaine McCloud in the
making of cedar roses. On a special note,
Dan Penn, Language Coordinator, had
“Happy Mothers Day” in the Chehalis
language placed on each individual pot

and the youth learned how to say “Happy
Mother’s Day!” when they presented the
special gifts.
Youth Center
Youth Center staff Theresa Pannkuk and
Marla Medina provided craftwork supplies
like bobble heads, cups, flower pots, and
flowers for the youth to make Mother’s Day
gifts. Jerry Youckton and Theresa Pannkuk
encouraged the children use paint pens to
decorate their little bobble heads. The youth
displayed their artistic concepts choosing
different arrays of colors to paint with.
They personalized their bobble heads by
trimming the photos and gluing their smiling
faces onto them. Youth smiled and laughed,
thinking about what their mom, grandma
or aunt would think of their personalized,
handcrafted gifts. Others were seen
decorating cups or putting together flower
arrangements for their mothers.
Volunteers always make it successful,
and many thanks to
Valene Klatush, and
Frank Boyd. It was
great watching the
youth work on their
projects.
Elders and
youth work
together making
traditional
Mother’s Day
gifts at the
Cultural Center.

Chehalis
Tribal
Newsletter

420 Howanut Road
Oakville, WA 98568
(360) 709-1726 (office)
(360) 273-5914 (fax)
newsletter@chehalistribe.org
Articles and opinions expressed in this
publication are not necessarily the opinions
of this publication or the Chehalis Tribal
Business Committee.

Business Committee
David Burnett, Chairman
Don Secena, Vice Chairman
Jessie Goddard, Treasurer
Cheryle Starr, Secretary
Dan Gleason, Sr., 5th Council Member
Chehalis Tribal Newsletter Staff:
Fred Shortman, Communications
Coordinator. Go to this direct link
for online newsletters copies: www.
chehalistribe.org/news-events/index.html

The Chehalis Tribal Newsletter encourages
tribal members to submit letters, articles,
photographs, and drawings to be considered
for publication. These are subject to editing.
Contributing writers, artists, and
photographers include Chehalis tribal
community members and staff.
Submission deadline: 6th of each month
Printed: Each month

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation...
“People of the Sands”

3

Honoring our Elders:

Janette WhiteClaw
“..enjoys time with her grandkids and reading the Bible...”

Jeanette WhiteClaw was born to Elsie (Beckwith) and Alfred Pepion. She is 64 years
old. Her maternal grandparents were Lizzie (Williams) and Ernest Beckwith. Her
paternal grandparents were John and Julia Pepion. Her only sister, Carol, has already
passed on.
Jeanette’s mother, Elsie, had five brothers and four sisters, and her father came
from a large family from the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana. He had nine brothers and ten
sisters. Several of her father’s sisters lived to be over 100 years old.
Jeanette has five children; three sons and two daughters from her first marriage.
She has 27 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She has been married to
Richard Hazen since 1997.
Elsie raised Jeanette and her sister,
Carol, by herself. She spent much of her
childhood in California. Jeanette went
to school in Eureka, California, until the
middle of 11th grade, then she got her GED.
She remembers her mother attending beauty
school for a year, but she didn’t pursue that
career choice. Her mother enjoyed washing
dishes and continued being a dishwasher up
to a year before she died.
Jeanette looked forward to coming home
during the summer to her Grandpa Ernest
Beckwith’s house. Her grandmother had
died in childbirth and her grandpa did his
best to raise all nine kids on his own. She
was real close to him. She considered herself
one of his favorites, along with Albert
Ortivez, Jr.
In the summer they would go blueberry
picking and then go swimming. He would
set his net, and in the evening he would go
check his nets and go sell his fish. Jeanette
says he taught her so much from how
to drive a car to how to play slahal. She
remembers asking if she could practice
driving the car and he said she could. She
drove round and round: It seemed like for
over an hour. Her grandpa had gone in and
took a nap, and when he woke up and saw
Jeanette still driving, he poked his head out
and hollered at her to “bring that car back.”
Her grandfather had two beautiful
gardens. In the summer he was always
getting food ready for the winter, but he
would find time to lay a blanket out, and she
would get to lay in his arms and take a nap.
She said she would have beautiful dreams
while she slept in Grandpa’s arms. She

remembers he would give her anything she
asked for like money or a camera.
Jeanette remembers once when she
and Albert Jr. finished early from picking
blueberries, so they went to the river to
fishing. Because they hadn’t returned from
berry picking, her grandpa started worrying
about them. He searched the farm where
they were supposed to be berry picking,
and discovered they weren’t there. He was
really worried and didn’t know where they
could be. When he finally found them, he
was so mad he punished them by saying,
“No dinner, ice cream, and no swimming.”
When he finally calmed down, he ended up
cooking the fish they had caught, and taking
them swimming anyway. He told them that,
more than anything, he was just worried
about them.
When Jeanette was visiting during the
summer months, she became good friends
with Janice Beckwith and Lorraine Klatush.
Jeanette remembers walking over to
Lorraine’s to visit. Lorraine had a boyfriend,
but Jeanette remembers she wasn’t allowed
to have a boyfriend. So she would ask
Larraine all kind of questions about having
a boyfriend. When she asked Lorraine if she
kissed him and Lorraine said yes, Jeanette
remembers she acted like a typical preteen
girl and got all giggly.
When she was about 13, she had a
boyfriend in Little Boston at the Camp
Meeting. They didn’t do anything but sneak
a kiss. Her grandpa had a little book that he
wrote information in and he wrote, “Jeanette
has a boyfriend.”
A bunch of kids had gone to the beach

Janette smiles and waves a greeting
to her fellow Elders as she and
her husband arrive at the Elders
Christmas dinner.

back then, people did not getting paid for
and had jumped into the water. Jeanette
their time, so they worked at it because
said they were smelly and dripping wet.
they believed in the tribe. They had good,
Somehow her grandfather discovered that
friendly relationships.”
she was with her boyfriend. The rumors
She has words of encouragement for our
were that they were “getting too friendly.”
youth. “Respect your elders. Our children
When she returned from swimming, he
should be encouraged to respect each other
grabbed her and marched her in the church
and make good sound decisions, like our
all wet and smelly. Later, when he found
parents did with us in the past.” And, she has
out who the boyfriend was, and what had
suggestions on how to improve opportunities
really happened, he tore the pages up. He
had mistakenly though her boyfriend was an for our youth. “It would be nice to see more
activities for them to keep them out of
older guy.
trouble.”
Jeanette stays at
home these days,
dedicating her free time
to her grandchildren by
babysitting. She says
she treasures every
moment she spends
with them. She also
reads the Bible and
goes to church.
Jeanette is very
frank when asked
what she thinks about
the tribe today. She
feels discouraged
due to the outside
influence of nonIndians working
for the tribe who
don’t understand
This 1956 p
our ways. “It’s
hoto was ta
ken at the L
Church duri
ittle White
not like when
ng the Chri
stmas prog
Jenette wa
ram when
s eight years
Grandpa was on
old. Picture
are Lorrain
d front (L-R
e Klatush a
the Committee,”
)
nd Janette.
Winsor, and
B
a
ck is Joyce
said Jeanette. “It
Janette’s s
ister, Carro
l Joe.
was all volunteers

Elders Can Continue Living at Home Two Kinds of Bankruptcy Get
by Using These Easy Safety Tips
Clear Explanations
By LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L
For the majority of Native American
elders, living at home is their preference
and, in most cases, is the preference of
their families. The main reason elders
have to leave their homes is because they
have fallen and hurt themselves. There are
simple changes you can make in your home
that will make living at home safer and
more comfortable. Most of the tools and
products you need to make these changes
are available in your local hardware store or
home improvement center. You can begin
making some of these simple changes right
now.

Increase Lighting Throughout Your
Home
„„Open the curtains and use natural light.
„„When light bulbs burn out, replace them

with higher wattage bulbs; especially
the lights over the counters and stove in
the kitchen, in the bathroom, on porches
and sidewalks, and in entrance halls and
stairways.

Walk Safely
„„Remove all rugs that you could slip or trip

on.
„„Remove clutter in the hallways,
doorways, and stairs so you can walk
safely and easily through your home.
„„Remove or replace any worn or torn
carpeting and linoleum. Nail down trim
or floor boards that are uneven or sticking
out.
„„Make sure no nail heads are sticking out.
„„See if someone can put handrails in the
hallways so you have something to hold

on to for support and balance.

„„Wear shoes or slippers that are flat,

nonslip, fit well, and are comfortable.

„„Have someone help you move furniture

and extension cords in each room so you
can move around safely without tripping.
„„Paint or put bright colored tape along the
edges of steps so you can see where each
step begins and ends.

Make Your Bathroom Safer
„„If it is hard to sit on the toilet, you can

buy a piece that attaches to your toilet set
to make it higher so you don’t have to
bend down as far.
„„Change your showerhead to one that
allows you to control how hot the water
is so you don’t burn yourself.
„„Put non-slip strips or a rubber mat on
the floor of the tub or shower so you
don’t slip and fall.
„„Have someone put grab bars around
the bathtub and near the toilet so you
have something to hold on to. All that
is needed is a screwdriver and tape
measure.
„„If you have trouble balancing or get
tired easily when taking a shower, buy a
bath bench to sit on while you shower.
It’s safer and makes it easier for you to
take your shower.

If you are interested in some grab bars,
shower mats, walkers, canes, or a portable
toilet, and you are an elder, please contact
Christina Hicks at the Chehalis Tribal
Wellness Center at 360-709-1741. You
must be an elder over age 55.

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding for
people or businesses unable to repay their
outstanding debts. The two most common
types of personal bankruptcy are Chapter 7
and Chapter 13 – named for chapters of the
Federal Bankruptcy Code.
Filing for bankruptcy is generally
considered a worst-case scenario because
the results are so long-lasting and farreaching: Bankruptcy can remain on your
credit report for up to 10 years and make it
difficult to obtain credit, buy or rent a home,
get insurance or even a job.
It’s also expensive and complicated:
Chapter 7 bankruptcy can cost thousands
of dollars in up-front lawyer’s fees, plus
fees for a court filing, mandatory credit
counseling and budgeting courses, and
Chapter 13 is even more expensive. Under
Chapter 7 (“liquidation”) bankruptcy, an
administrator or trustee is appointed to
sell most of your assets, aside from certain
exempted necessities such as your primary
residence, a car, clothing, home furnishings
and work tools. Pensions and 401(k)
accounts are usually protected as well.
Once assets are liquidated, the trustee
distributes the proceeds to your unsecured
creditors. In exchange, many unsecured
debts, such as credit card and medical
bills, are forgiven, or discharged. However,
secured or fixed debts, such as mortgages,
student loans, taxes, alimony and child
support typically are not erased.
Eligibility for Chapter 7 is determined
by a “means test” which requires you to
confirm that your income does not exceed
a certain amount. The court uses the means
test to determine whether or not you have
sufficient money available to make at least
minimal payments to creditors under a
Chapter 13 plan. If you fail the means test,
your case will be dismissed or converted to a

Chapter 13 filing.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically remains
on your credit report for up to 10 years.
Also, you must wait eight years after having
debt discharged before filing again.
Under Chapter 13 (“reorganization”)
bankruptcy, debtors with steady income
are allowed to keep property they might
otherwise lose, in exchange for agreeing to
use future income to repay creditors over a
three-to-five-year period. You are assigned a
trustee with whom you develop a proposed
debt repayment plan.
The bankruptcy court decides whether to
accept or alter the plan, or to dictate another
plan. After it’s approved, both you and your
creditors are bound by the plan’s terms.
Generally, you make payments to a trustee
who in turn distributes the funds according
to the plan’s terms. Once all payments are
completed, the court will formally grant a
discharge of your debts.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy typically remains
on your credit report for up to seven years.
Also, you must wait at least two years after
having debt discharged before being able to
file Chapter 13 again.
Under bankruptcy law, before filing for
bankruptcy you must first receive credit
counseling from a government-approved
organization within six months before filing.
To find an approved credit counselor in your
area, visit the U.S. Trustee Program at www.
usdoj.gov/ust
In addition, after filing but before your
debt is discharged, you must also complete
an approved debtor education program. (Go
to www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/
de_approved.htm to find one.) You must
receive certificates of completion from
each program in order to proceed with your
bankruptcy.

4

Basketball Tourney (continued from page 1) Enterprise (continued from page 1)
access. Space was designed in collaboration
with the various heads of the departments.
The building was built at the direction
of the Tribal Council for all the right
reasons, and the various departments and
their staff members are looking forward to
enjoying the benefits and efficiencies of their
improved storage building for years to come.
RV Site, AKA “Mt. Chehalis”
The elevation of “Mt. Chehalis” stands
at 120’ above sea level. Not much of a
mountain, perhaps, but that is one, big pile

of dirt. Perhaps you’ve noticed it. It’s at the
north end of the reservation across from
EOT II along Anderson Road.
The 2.6 acre site is being developed by
Chehalis Tribal Enterprises as a 34-site RV
park, complete with water, electricity, WiFi,
and a sanitary dump. “Mt. Chehalis” was
created as the first stage of site preparation
and it will soon disappear as the work on the
site progresses. Confederated Construction
Company (CCC), the tribe’s construction
entity, is the prime contractor for the RV
park.

Chehalis Tribal Recreational Vehicle Park Site Plans

In the 18 U girls division pictured here is Taholah playing Chehalis during the
Youth Basketball Tournament. The game was very competitive and everyone
had fun as they demonstrated their basketball skills on the court.
18 and Under Girls
Taholah - Iya, Alicia
Chehalis - Jordan, Tammy
14 and Under Boys
Chehalis Marky - All Stars: Geo, Jacob and
Jordan
Chehalis Ray Ray - All Stars: Oscar, Shaun,
Logan
This was a fun, happy-go-lucky opening
tournament. It was an exciting one to say
the least. There was the very first-ever Point
Contest (first ever in Indian Ball). Everyone
was invited to participate. Our own Kayley
Trott from the Chehalis Tribe took it for the
girls division. Dustin Larkin won the boys
division. The winners of this event received
$20 cash prizes. It was a lot fun and we
should make this an annual event.. Aaaye.
Another new one for us is the MVP’s
from our 18U championship game, receiving
$100 cash prizes. Winners of this were
Cedric of Skok (2nd Place) and Jordan of
Nisqually.
As you can see, the Chehalis Tribe was
represented by having six teams in the
tournament. This was awesome because
without them this whole thing would have
been canceled...couldn’t have that! It was
to our unfortunate timing that we scheduled

our tourney the exact same time as
Nisqually’s tourney. Next year we’ll have to
schedule this one earlier in the tournament
season, so be looking for us earlier in the
year next year.
The most outstanding person in the
whole tournament would have to be Marcus
Youckton. He has a great attitude about the
game and about helping out in whatever
needed to done to make things happen. He
wanted to play on a team in every division,
but he cut his hair and couldn’t find enough
girls that wanted to play...lol.
But seriously, he kept himself involved
in this tourney in two different brackets the
14U and 18U. In the older bracket where
his lil’ team was struggling, he had came to
me and said, “I know Auntie, all I have to
do is play hard all the way through this win
or lose, right Auntie?” I answered, “Right
Marcus, play hard and have fun doing it!”
(They came back from being down by 17
points and made it a close game losing by
only 2 points).
He also is part of the Canoe Family and
they were running concessions, so of course
he was in there getting orders out as we
arrived (8 am!). I’m very proud of this lil
guy. He is a great leader and I’m proud to
say he is my nephew!

2010 Fisheries Steelhead Season Successful
By Andy Olson, Fisheries Biologist
The Chehalis Tribe Fisheries Program is
staying busy even when they aren’t fishing.
The new fish hatchery has been opened
and fish are in the building. Sheena Tanner
is happy to have some fish to care for, and
looks forward to watching them grow. The
fish are Rainbow Trout that will be released
at the ponds property for the Fatherhood
Fishing Day on June 18th. More fish are in
the works and eggs will be online in the
near future. Hopefully some of the fragile
runs can be helped by the Chehalis Tribe’s
conservation effort and recovered with the
hatchery.
The Steelhead season wasn’t as bleak
as the Spring Chinook last year, as good
numbers of fish returned and we had lots
of large fish caught. The fishermen began
to catch Steelhead in December and fished
until February operating on a two-day-aweek schedule. The fishermen made just
over $18,000 and paid over $500 in fish
tax to the Fishermen’s Fund. The Steelhead
averaged over eight pounds, and the biggest
fish was over 23 pounds. During the 2009-

2010 Steelhead season, there were usually
excellent flows for fishing and 15 fishers
participated. The new fish house was really
nice to enjoy with amenities like the new
digital scale and the large two-room walk-in
cooler. The space available for us is great
and we look forward to expanding the use of
the fish house with processing.
We didn’t have any major flood this
year, so impacts on fish from them should
be small, and the downstream migrant trap
has counted lots of Spring and Fall Chinook
and thousands of Coho. Hopefully ocean
survival conditions are good and we can
look forward to an upturn in the number of
fish returning to the Chehalis.
The Spring Chinook forecast doesn’t
allow for a commercial fishery this year, but
the Salmon Ceremony fish will come from
the Chehalis River and there will be a Tribal
Salmon Ceremony for 2010. The fishermen
all remember what happened in the 80s with
Spring Chinook, and nobody wants a return
to those days with returns of less than 300
fish. Last year there were only 650 Spring
Chinook counted on the
spawning grounds. The
forecast for this year is
even lower than last year
so these fish need to be
protected.
Sheena Tanner,
Hatchery
Technician,
releases Rainbow
Trout into the
rearing troughs
at the Hatchery.
These fish will
be grown before
releasing them on
the pond’s property
for the Fatherhood
Fishing Day in June.

Updating Your Current Address
with the BIA Can Find Big Money

Whereabouts Unknown (WAU) is the term
used for an Individual Indian Money (IIM)
account whose owner’s current address
information is not available to the Office of
the Special Trustee for American Indians
(OST). Some WAU accounts have thousands
of dollars just waiting for account owners!
Two account holders were glad they
stopped by the OST outreach booth at an
American Indian festival in August of 2009.
When the account holders updated their
address information, they found that one
account held more than $14,000 and the

other had a balance over $6,000.
To find out if you have a WAU account,
go to the OST website at www.doi.gov/ost/
wau. Each of the listed names represents an
account which may contain money for the
account owner. However, some accounts
have only land ownership interests. The
Trust Beneficiary Call Center (TBCC) is
another source to check. Call the TBCC, toll
free, at 1-888-678-6836 Monday through
Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday
from 6 AM to 11 AM.

Health Fair (continued from page 1)
Cowlitz Tribe. The ladies were given a
raffle ticket, and a passport, which they took
to each table for someone from each table
to initial. Once this was completed, it was
returned to the registration table for a gift
bag. Each gift bag included breast health
information, pink ribbon car magnet, key
ring, bracelet, sun screen, lotion with SPF
70, and a pedometer.
The passport created interaction, ensuring
that all tables were visited, and information
was exchanged. Along with the blood
pressure and diabetes screenings, H1N1
shots were also available. All the ladies had
their pictures taken. They were printed on
the spot and given to them in a frame.

with breast cancer and answered questions
from the audience. Christina Hicks also
talked about the NWWP, and mentioned
that each of the SPIPA tribes have this
program. She also asked the ladies who
did monthly CBE and mammograms to
raise their hands, and also asked those
who haven’t done these screenings to
raise their hands. Only a few hadn’t had a
mammogram.
„„Lori Stone, from the National Cervical
Cancer Coalition-NW Pacific Chapter, did
a presentation on HPV, cervical cancer,
and screenings, and answered questions.
All these workshops had about 35 in
attendance.

There were also four different workshop
presentations:
„„Jutta Riediger from Tribal Bear Program
did a 30-minute presentation on Hepatitis
C, STD’s and HIV/AIDS.
„„Pat Odiorne, Diabetes Prevention
Manager, did a healthy cooking demo and
made homemade “chili mac.”
„„Theresa Youckton, a Chehalis tribal
member, talked about the importance
of women’s health screenings, monthly
breast exams, CBE, and mammograms,
and talked about her own battle twice

There were door prize raffles every 30
minutes, the grand prize being a one night
stay at the Eagle’s Landing Hotel. Also
given away were two $50 Lucky Eagle
Grand Buffet gift certificates, two $25 Shell
gas cards, candles, relaxation gifts, T-shirts,
bags, travel mugs, aprons, bath sets and lots
more…..
Thanks to the many sponsors that helped
make this a successful health fair: AVON,
DOH-tobacco funds, the Northwest Portland
Area Indian Health Board, and the Office of
Women’s Health.

Men’s Health Fair

Wednesday, June 2
4 PM - 7 PM
At the Community Center
Gathering Room
There will be a barbecue, over 20
vendors. Grand prize raffle: STIHL
chainsaw, Cabela gift cards, 1 night
stay at Eagle’s Landing, gas cards,
and more. A free-throw shooting
competition and lots of information
about staying healthy. Contact
Christina Hicks at 360-709-1741.

Facilities Master Plan
Thursday, June 3
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
at the Community Center
The facilities Master Plan looks at
buildings, sidewalks, open space and parks.
The Plan focuses on the land between
Howanut Road and Secena Road, and from
Anderson Road to Niederman Road.
Come see how your ideas have fit
together into plan options, and share your
thoughts on the proposed options for future
development on the reservation.
Please contact the Planning Department
at 360-273-5911 or Ena Myers at 360-7091811 or email emyers@chehalistribe.org.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_chehalis%3A3da2ad6e69b31793. Public record. Not legal advice.