greatwolf.com  www.luckyeagle.com  www.eagleslandinghotel.net (2011)

greatwolf.com  www.luckyeagle.com  www.eagleslandinghotel.net

Vol.

December 2011 5/12

Program

News

Program News Page 3:

CHEHALIS

TRIBAL

NEWSLETTER

Chehalis Tribal Wellness

Center News

Medication Refills: If you are running out

of your pills, please call your pharmacy

before you run out. Please expect it to take

at least 1-3 working days for it to be filled.

Safeway Pharmacy phone number is 360330-5229. You call them and they send a

refill request to us, if you have no refills

left. After you’ve called them please verify

with the clinic at 360-273-5911 about your

prescriptions. They need to be logged in,

so they will be available no later than 4 PM.

Be aware that the clinic will have closures

during the upcoming holidays.

Patient Registration: You must notify

Debbie Shortman of any changes to: your

address, phone number, insurance coverage,

etc. You will be asked at every visit to the

clinic about this. Please remember to bring

your insurance card with you to every visit.

Flu Shot: The clinic is now giving out

the flu shot to everyone! You can call the

clinic to make your appointment with the

nurse; it is just now the beginning of the flu

season. Please call 273-5504 to get your flu

shot.

Dental Appointments: Please remember

if you make a dental appointment to please

remember to make it to them, If you know

you are not going to be able to make it to

your appointment PLEASE call at least 24

hours before the appointment so we are able

to schedule another appointment during

that time. Thanks for your cooperation and

consideration.

FREE

 “People of the Sands” 

 College offering preparation classes

at the tribal community center

 Tribe seeks public comment on

Howanut Realignment Project

 Spotlight on transit service

 Native Youth Basketball Photos

Youth Activities and Page 2

 Hatchery tour teaches children the dynamics of raising fish

 Program requests community input on HUD Indian Housing Plan

 Parent committee efforts reward students with presents from Santa

 Practicing safety protects you while shopping

Annual Meeting

Casino Hosts Annual Elders

Bazaar Bringing out Christmas Provides Insight

On Growth of

Spirit for Shoppers and Vendors

the Chehalis

Tribe

By Fred Shortman, Editor

Support Group Created to

Assist in Achieving Goals of

Getting Healthy

Do you have goals of getting healthy?

Eating differently? Getting into an exercise

routine? This new support group might be

just what you are looking for. Participants

will learn and share from each other as they

establish lifelong healthy habits.

Starting on November 10th, we will meet

on Thursday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30

pm in the Clinic PT room. All Community

Members are welcome.

For more information contact Cindy

Beck at 709-1810 or cbeck@chehalistribe.

org.

Dental Clinic Has Electric

Tooth Brush Available for

Community Members

The dental clinic has Oral B Triumph

electric toothbrush is available for $82.00

and for a limited time Oral B is offering a

$40.00 mail in rebate that ends on December

31. Retail price of this brush is $160.00. We

also have the brand new Sonicare Diamond

Clean toothbrush available for $66.00 retail

price for this brush is $200.00.

For more information please contact

Kristi Burke at the dental clinic or call 360709-1875.

Quote of the Day!

"Nothing great has ever been achieved

without enthusiasm."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chehalis Tribal Newsletter

PO Box 536

Oakville, WA 98568

FirstName LastName

Street Address

City, ST Zip

PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE PAID

OAKVILLE WA

PERMIT No. 2

www.chehalistribe.org

©Copyright 2009 CHEHALIS TRIBAL

NEWSLETTER is a publication of the

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis

Reservation.

Families enjoyed the day shopping for that native gifts for someone special

wandering from the wall to wall vendors at the Elders Bazaar.

By Fred Shortman, Editor

The Annual Elders Bazaar was held at the

Lucky Eagle Casino on Saturday, December

3. The room was filled with over 80 vendors

and Christmas shoppers looking for that

special gift. What better way to spend

the day for those hard core shop-a-holics.

There was plenty to pick from too! Vendors

provided a wide assortment of hand crafted

gifts from native art, carvings, basketry,

jewelry and much, much more.

The Elders provided a delicious

assortment of food as part of their fund

raising efforts. MMMM! Clam chowder,

fried bread, chili, goulash was soooo good!

They also sold raffle tickets to enhance a

chance at winning donated items from the

vendors.

The Shaker Church also sold raffle tickets

to help raise money for improvements to the

Church and other activities.

The Head Start program had photos with

Santa to assist in providing the purchase of

Christmas presents for the little ones in their

program. The parent committee has been

busy to make this yearly effort a special

Christmas for all the children attending

Head Start. They also had a buggy ride at

the Tribal Center to tour the reservation.

It was a good day as Christmas is almost

here. Merry Christmas and Happy New

Year!

The Annual Chehalis General Council

meeting was held on Saturday, November

12 at the Community Center. A large turnout

of 220 Tribal members came out to hear

the recent year’s accomplishments and

future direction of the Chehalis Tribe and its

Enterprises.

Program staff members were available

at their tables in the main lobby of the

Community Center to meet and greet

tribal members. Literature and information

was readily available. Social Services,

Law Enforcement, Planning, Wellness

Center, Natural Resources and other

Tribal governmental departments provided

information and answered questions to

individual Tribal members. The Eagles

Landing Hotel provided complimentary

lattes in the morning to announce the

coming in 2012 of a Starbucks espresso

shop off the new hotel lobby.

Chehalis Tribal Enterprises

The Enterprises (CTE) were represented

by David Youckton, CEO and Chris

Richardson, Managing Director. They

presented the operating results of each

business that the Tribe operates outside of

the casino and Great Wolf Lodge, including

the Eagles Landing Hotel, Confederated

Construction Company, End of the Trail

Stores, Stamping, Burger Claim restaurant,

the storage warehouse and I-5 billboards.

The casino and lodge have their own

management companies which reported

See Annual Meeting, page 4

Basketball League Keeps Youth Moving and Promotes

Healthy Lifestyles By Fred Shortman, Editor

This is the second year for the Inter-tribal

of encouragement from the parents, and

the support of the Tribal communities in

Youth Basketball League. The fall season

coaches as they played at their skill level.

the continued commitment in keeping

is winding down with the last game being

Each game you could see the improvement

this worthwhile league going. The youth

played in December. This year the boys

as they gained precious game experience.

are looking forward to the Spring league

and girls played in the two Elementary

Many thanks to all the youth and with

schedule which will start soon.

and Junior High School divisions.

Many of the games were played at

several locations every Wednesday

evening with the hosting tribe

providing a meal. Participating in

the fall league were the Skokomish,

Nisqually, Suquamish, and

Chehalis Tribes.

The Inter Tribal League

was formed with the intent of

having native youth play other

natives from Tribal communities

throughout the Northwest.

The league is drug and alcohol

free and promotes healthy life

styles, sportsmanship, engaging

community members and

increasing school attendance.

Students who participate must be

in school or striving to attain their

GED.

Win or lose the youth had fun

Team Chehalis (Wearing blue) plays defense against team Nisqually (Wearing white)

as they dribbled, passed and shot the during a game in the Nisqually gym. Nisqually came out the victor, but all the youth

basketball. You could hear words

had fun playing a sport they love.

2

Hatchery Tour Teaches Children Practicing Safety Protects You

the Dynamics of Raising Fish

and Your Family While Shopping

By Scott Freeman, Public Safety Officer

Christmas is almost here and we are all

out shopping. Don’t let criminals be your

“scrooge” this holiday season or anytime of

year. Take a few precautions when you venture

out to do your shopping and you will “take a

bite out of crime!”

„„Remember the threat of physical assault is

Bette Tanner, Fish Hatchery Technician demonstrates to the Head Start

Students how the smolts are fed during a tour of the Fish Hatchery.

By Larry Durham, Fisheries Biologist

On Wednesday, November 2, a group

of young children from the Tribal

Headstart program toured the new tribal

fish hatchery and fish house. A total of

16 kids went on the tour. They got to

see young rainbow trout, and watched

them being fed. They also saw the egg

incubators, rearing tanks, and some

seines used to sample fish in the rivers.

They looked at the large freezer in the

fish house. All of the children received

some pictures to color.

Right now, the first salmon eggs

taken from Chinook (king) salmon and

spawned at the new facility are hatching.

This is a milestone for the fish program.

The salmon were captured in the Black

River not far from the hatchery, held in

captivity until they were ready, and then

the eggs were fertilized at the hatchery.

The salmon won’t be fed for another

2 to 3 weeks, as they will live off of

their yolk sacks until then. The hatchery

also has a good number of chum (dog)

salmon eggs that will be hatching in late

December or early January.

The rainbow trout at the hatchery

are growing rapidly. There are 17,000

of them and they weigh nearly 2 grams

each. Right now, they are being fed

about 2 pounds of fish food each day.

This amount of food will make the

population gain 2 pounds of total weight

each day so in one week, there will be

14 more pounds of fish in the tank than

there is presently. Soon the fish will be

divided into 2 groups and each group

will have their own tank to live in. The

plan at this time is to grow the trout to

a good size and to release them into

reservation fishing ponds.

Halfway There - Update on the

Inter-tribal Biggest Loser Contest

By Cindy Beck, Patient Navigator CTWC

The first month of the Biggest Loser

competition has ended, and we are mid-way

thru month 2. I apologize for the delay in

getting you these results. Hopefully future

results will be timelier.

October Winners

„„Chehalis - John Tanzy 5.67%

„„Squaxin Island - Mike Ulakovich 4.46%

„„Skokomish - Terri 9.66%

„„Shoalwater Bay - Christine H. 8.19%

Each monthly tribal biggest loser will

receive $85. Congratulations to all! Please

remember - If you miss a weigh-in, you will

not be eligible for the monthly biggest loser

prize.

The Competition will end with a

dinner at Squaxin Island in February and

a representative from NIKE will be there

to present the grand prize to the overall

winner. Besides the NIKE gear – the

winner will receive $685. Second Place

will receive $342.00. Third Place will

receive $171.00. And both fourth and fifth

place will receive $85 each.

On March 22nd there will be a

Maintenance Weigh-In. Any participants

who keep their weight off – or lose more,

will split $1,381.00. REMINDER: the

next weigh in is Tuesday November 29

– but if you want to stop by the clinic on

Monday the 28th I will be here – and you

can get weighed.

For more information contact Cindy

Beck at the Chehalis Tribal Wellness

Center at 360-709-1710.

not greatest in the crowded portion of malls

and shopping centers. It’s when you’re

in the distant reaches of parking lots or

isolated areas that you are most at risk. To

protect yourself:

„„Always try to walk to and from your vehicle

with another person. If you are alone try

and stay close to another group of shoppers.

If you are alone and leaving at night ask

security for an escort to your car. Have

your keys ready when you approach your

vehicle. Look inside your vehicle before

getting in to make sure nothing is out of the

ordinary.

„„More than 100,000 children are abducted

every year – often in malls or department

stores, according to the National Center

for Missing or Exploited Children. Never

use the arcade or toy store as a baby sitter;

predators are on the prowl for unattended

children.

„„While we’re taking about our kids, think

about this: It is estimated that about 21,600

children end up in the hospital each year

after they’ve fallen—or even leaped—from

shopping carts, according to the National

Safe Kids Campaign. Children 5 and

younger, particularly boys have the highest

risk. Shopping cart injuries can be very

severe, including death. If your child must

The Head Start Parent

Committee did picture with

Santa and buggy rides as a

fund raiser on Saturday in

which we raised $230.00.

There were several parents

involved. We had more than

20 kids get their photo with

Santa, and probably about 20

get buggy rides.

The money that is raised

goes to get every child at

Head Start a present from

Santa. We have raised a little

over $1,000.00 of our final

goal of $2000.00

The parent committee is

also doing a bake sale on

December 16th. And we are

having Krispy Kreme donut

it QaPaa it XaaS aA it faYaayiAq

(it ka-pow it hash aTHL it kwhy-ITHL-k)

(Chehalis house of healing)

Pictured here

is the sign for

the Chehalis

Tribal Wellness

Center. This is

a helpful hint

to assist you in

pronouncing it

in our Chehalis

language from

our Dan Penn,

Language

Coordinator.

day on December 19th. Any one

interested in pre-ordering donuts

can contact a Head Start parent.

We will be selling donuts at

EOT 2 and EOT 3 on Monday

December 19th.

Buggy rides were available

at the Tribal Center on

Saturday, December 3.

The rides were offered

as part of Head Start

Program fund raising

efforts purchasing a

present from Santa for

every child in Head Start

Program. Pictured (L-R)

are Tristan Knutson and

Desiree Knutson.

Photo by Jessi Knutson

Protect Your Baby’s Teeth Following

These Important Guidelines

Your Baby’s Teeth are very important! They

help with chewing and learning to talk.

Program Requests Community Input strong and healthy.

„„Lift the lip and look for chalky white or

on HUD Indian Housing Plan

brown spots. Go to the dentist if you see

also request a copy of the IHP by contacting

the Housing Authority by e-mail at edctha@

comcast.net or by calling at (360) 273-7723.

Community members may comment on

the IHP by telephone, e-mail, or in person

at the Housing Authority office. Written

comments are preferred; however, all

public comments will be reviewed prior to

submission of the final IHP is delivered to

HUD. The IHP is due to HUD by January

17, 2012.

If you have any questions about the IHP

or the Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority,

please contact James Gutierrez, Executive

Director, at 360-273-7723 extension 100 or

edctha@comcast.net.

From all of us at Public Safety. Have a safe

and happy holiday season.

Parent Committee Efforts Reward

Students with Presents From Santa

„„Take these steps to keep your baby’s teeth

The 2012 Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority

Indian Housing Plan (IHP) is an annual plan

required by HUD. The IHP is an opportunity

to report to the Chehalis Tribe and HUD

about the proposed activities of the Housing

Authority for the 2012 Fiscal Year that

begins on April 1, 2012.

One of the requirements of the IHP is to

allow community members to have a thirty

(30) day opportunity to review the Plan and

comment on the proposed activities. The

public comment period opens December

1, 2011 and will close at noon on January

2, 2012. A copy of the IHP will be at

the Housing Authority office and Tribal

Administrative building during regular

business hours. Community members may

ride in the shopping cart, please use the

child seat and don’t let them ride in the

basket or on the frame of the cart, for their

safety.

„„The kids are safe how about our wallets

and purses? A man should carry his wallet

in the front pocket of his pants, rather than

in a back pocket or in his jacket. A woman

should hold her purse close to her body,

with the opening facing towards her, if

walking with another person keep your

purse between the two of you.

„„What about getting our cash out of the bank.

First always handle your bankcard with the

same prudence you handle cash or credit

cards. Memorize your pin number and

try not to let others see you enter it on the

keypad. Choose a bank ATM that is highly

visible and in well –lighted areas. While

you’re getting your cash pay attention to

who’s around. If someone looks or acts

suspicious, don’t take chances, cancel your

transaction and walk away. Lastly, collect

your receipts never leave your private

information available for someone to steal

your identity.

„„So you couldn’t find a parking space near

the doors to park. Make the best of it and

at least try and park near or under a light,

or well-traveled roadway. Stow purchases

and valuables in the trunk, if you leave

valuables in plain view, you might just

return to find your window smashed and

your things missing.

from the bottle around 12 months of age.

„„Feed your baby a healthy diet and lit

sweets and sodas.

„„Ask about fluoride varnish treatments to

protect your baby’s teeth from cavities.

these signs of cavities.

„„Brush baby’s teeth twice daily with a

smear of fluoride toothpaste beginning

when the first tooth come in.

„„Put baby in bed without a bottle and wean

Chehalis

Tribal

Newsletter

420 Howanut Road

Oakville, WA 98568

Tribal Center (360) 273-5911

(360) 709-1726 (office)

(360) 273-5914 (fax)

Fshortman@chehalistribe.org

Articles and opinions expressed in this

publication are not necessarily the opinions

of this publication or the Chehalis Tribal

Business Committee.

360-273-5504

Business Committee

David Burnett, Chairman

Don Secena, Vice Chairman

Stephanie Pickernell, Treasurer

Cheryle Starr, Secretary

Dan Gleason, Sr., 5th Council Member

Chehalis Tribal Newsletter Staff:

Fred Shortman, Communications

Coordinator.

Chehalis Tribe Vision Statement

To be a Thriving, Self-sufficient, Sovereign

People. Honoring our past and serving

current and Future Generations.

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 Sand”

Centralia College will be offering college Tribe Seeks Public Comment on 33

preparation classes at the Chehalis Tribal

the Howanut Realignment Project

Community Center this winter quarter.

These classes will lead you to college level

courses. All classes are offered to all Tribal

and Community members. Chehalis Tribal

members will be paid through the Higher

Education program.

Security numbers, Date of

Birth, Maiden name,

○ Data sheet for Centralia financial Aid

○ You can get this information at www.

centralia.edu/admissions/finaid/

forms.html.

Starts: January 3, 2012

Schedule will go as follows:

Monday –Thursday total of credits 13-15

Math

(5)

7:55 to 9:00 AM

English

(5)

9:05 to 9:50 AM

Reading or windows (n/a) 9:55 to 11:00 AM

In order to take these classes you must…

„„Apply to Centralia College

○ Receive acceptance letter

○ To do this go to www.centralia.edu

„„File for your Free Financial Aid

Application (Financial Aid is optional

but college tuitions are expensive and

Chehalis Tribal members not applying

will only receive a Basic Scholarship

award of $130.00 per credit this barely

covers tuition and books)

○ To do this go to www.fafsa.ed.gov

(Things you will need to fill out the forms)

▪ IRS Taxes for 2010, Social

Security Number, WA ID, Date of

Birth

▪ Ages 24 & ↓ will need (unless you

have children)

▪ Parents taxes 2010, Social

„„You must take the Compass test at

Centralia College

○ You may go to the Phoenix Center/

Library at the Centralia College or call

Racheal Mendez to find out good time for

her to drive you there.

○ The test cost $10.00 (Chehalis Tribal

Members test will be paid through the

Education Program)

„„Chehalis Tribal members must also have

the following forms filled out:

○ A completed Chehalis Tribal Higher

Education Scholarship application

which includes:

▪ Release of information form

▪ Refund Agreement & basic

Scholarship agreement

▪ Proof of Tribal enrollment

▪ Copy of High School Diploma/

GED completion

▪ College transcripts if any

Please feel free to contact Racheal

Mendez at the Community Center, email:

rmendez@chehalistribe.org or 360-70-1698.

The proposed plan for the Howanut Realignment Project will flatten 3

existing sub-standard curves, add 5 foot shoulders, and improve riparian

function and water quality along Willamette Creek.

The Tribe proposes a road improvement

project between the Black River and

Willamette Creek Bridges. This project is

identified in the Tribe’s 2010 Long Range

Transportation Plan. The project reconstructs

1 mile of existing road to improve motor

vehicle safety, allow for pedestrian and bike

use, and to enhance local water resources.

The project will flatten 3 existing substandard curves, add 5 foot shoulders, and

improve riparian function and water quality

along 1500 lineal feet of Willamette Creek

by providing a critical areas buffer.

A draft environmental assessment (EA)

was prepared for the proposed project

pursuant to the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969. The EA evaluates

alternatives for compliance with applicable

environmental laws.

The EA is available for review online at

the Chehalis Tribe website at: http://www.

chehalistribe.org/news-events/index.html.

If no significant issues are identified during

the comment period, the Chehalis Tribe

will finalize the EA and issue a Finding of

No Significant Impact (FONSI). Unless

substantive comments are received, the

Chehalis Tribe will not publish another

notice for this project. However, should a

FONSI be issued, it will be available for

public viewing at http://www.chehalistribe.

org/news-events/index.html

The draft EA is also available at

the Chehalis Tribal Center- Planning

Department at 420 Howanut, Oakville, WA.

Written comments on the draft EA

should be directed to Kayloe Dawson,

Transportation Planner, Chehalis Tribe, P.O.

Box 536, Oakville, Washington 98568, or

by e-mail at kdawson@chehalistribe.org.

Comments also can be faxed to 360-2739024.

2011 Winter Native Youth Basketball League

SPOTLIGHT ON TRANSIT SERVICE

Looking for a ride? Looking for an

alternative to high gas prices? The Planning

Department is evaluating the possibility of

providing a local van/transit service and

also seeks to increase public awareness of

existing transit

services in the

area. Recent

community

survey results

from the

November 12th,

2011 Annual

Meeting shows:

„„85% of

responders

would support

a local, tribally

operated,

transit service

(an on-call

shuttle van),

while 29% of

responders

would

personally use

such a service.

„„Current

regional

transit services

{Grays Harbor

Transit, Twin Transit,

Intercity Transit, and

Rural and Tribal

Transportation

(R/T)} have been

used by 11% of responders in the last

6 months. At least 17% of responders

are unaware of existing transportation

services

The most direct transportation service

on the reservation is provided by Rural and

Tribal Transportation (R/T). R/T provides

scheduled bus service to the communities

of Tumwater, Centralia, Rochester, Tenino,

and Bucoda. Their “Rochester Loop” bus

route has 4 scheduled stops along Anderson,

188th, the Casino, and Moon Road. For more

information on this and other routes visit

their website at: www.Transpo.org. R/T

asks that rides be scheduled 24 hours

in advance by calling 1-800-650-7846

during office hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00

PM, Monday thru Friday.

4 Annual Meeting (continued from page 1)

directly to the GC.

CTE remains strong in the hiring of

Tribal members. Sixty-two percent of

CTE employees support Native American

families. CTE’s mission continues to

emphasize 4 main objectives: jobs, profit,

taxes and growth. Most of the CTE

managers are Tribal members. Their

introduction to the General Council was

met with a resounding applause for their

commitment and hard work in holding these

upper management positions.

The report on the past year’s operations

was positive and included the following:

End of the Trail Stores are showing a profit

for the first time. The addition of the EOT

2 fuel island and separate diesel canopy

is complete. Chehalis Tribal Construction

was being reorganized as the Confederated

Construction Company, LLC, (CCC)

which received SBA 8a status in 2011 as

a minority business eligible for federal

contracts. The Eagles Landing Hotel

expansion with the addition of at least 92

rooms is within budget and on schedule.

The expansion will open to the public in

March 2012. Afterwards, the original 70

hotel rooms will be upgrading to match the

new section. This should be completed by

June. An added venue within the hotel will

be Starbucks, which will offer sandwiches,

salads and pastries as well as its world

famous coffee. Enterprises worked with the

Tribal Real Estate office to submit a fee-totrust application for the property known as

Eagle One, located behind the Arco AM/PM

in Grand Mound. Two long term contracts

with the Pilot and Love’s national truck-stop

companies were secured for the static sides

of the I-5 billboards.

Enterprise has developed and

implemented a debt payment plan in

coordination with the Tribal CFO. CTE

debt was reduced by $2 million in 2011,

including a sinking fund. The oldest CTE

debt will be paid off by 2014, this includes

the EOT stores and original hotel. CTE

paid-off the Maytown billboard debt in full

in 2011. With this improved outlook, CTE

plans to have new enterprises fully pay

for its own debt load. This business plan

applies to the Eagle RV Park, Burger Claim

restaurant and the new hotel expansion.

What are the new plans for the year

2012? With the recent passing of I-1183,

Tribal members CTE Managers were introduced at the annual General

Council Meeting. Each have worked hard to earn their respective positions.

Pictured (L-R) are) David Youckton, CFO, Chris Richardson, Managing

Director ; Manny Medina, Overall EOT Manager, Anna Hartman, HR

Coordinator; Lucy Hill, Eagles Landing Hotel; Pam Youckton, Stamping;

Steve Burnett, Construction Manager; Not Pictured are Duffy Black, EOT 2;

and Bev Starr, EOT 1.

CTE will analyze the prospect of distributing

liquor to our existing businesses. In

addition, the success of selling beer at EOT

3 warrants EOT 2 to also sell beer & wine

in order to better serve its customers. CCC,

the new 8a construction company, will start

to bid for government contracts. Starbucks

will be a new venue at the Hotel which will

open in early 2012. Hotel expansion will be

completed in March. CTE is exploring the

feasibility of opening a second franchise for

Burger Claim. They are always searching for

new investments and business opportunities,

including various properties owned in Grand

Mound.

The Tribe receives two types of cash

flow from Tribal businesses: free

cash and taxes. Free cash, if any, in

excess of debt payments, working

capital, capital expenditures,

sinking funds and new venture

investments is returned to the Tribal

government at the end of each

year. In addition, a variety of taxes

is generated from fuel, cigarettes,

hotel room and retail sales, which

are passed through to the Tribal

Government.

Lucky Eagle Casino

Lucky Eagle Casino was

represented by two Tribal member casino

executives Rodney Youckton, Director of

Operations, and Joseph Dupuis, Casino

Manager. They presented a slide show

about the Casino Operations and answered

questions from the floor. They also provided

success stories on the advancement

and training of Tribal members within

the organization through the Tacoma

Community College. They provided

information of how the economy has

impacted the Casino operations, but has

maintained very steady numbers.

Great Wolf Lodge

Mr. Patrick Alvarez was introduced as

the new general manager for the Great Wolf

Lodge having started on September 12 of

this year. He has worked several Great Wolf

Lodge properties over the past 8 years. He

really likes Washington and plans to make

this his permanent home. He introduced

his Tribal liaison, Sheila Bray, to assist

in communicating with the Tribe and its

members.

He provided information on upcoming

events and the improvements in order for

Tribal members to make reservations and

day passes. Though the Tribal member

employee numbers were low, his team will

continue with the Internship program to get

more tribal members interested in working

to become pack members with the lodge.

The Great Wolf Lodge has a lot going

on right now. The ginger bread house is

$20.00 per family to rent for lunch or dinner.

That does not include the meal. Reservations

for the House are made thru the Camp

Critter restaurant. The proceeds go to Big

Brothers, Big Sisters Organization. Santa

did not parachute in this year due to heavy

fog, instead he rode in on his custom Santa

Harley Davidson! It snows in the lobby 4

times a day. The snow starts toward the end

of the Clock Tower Show which runs at 8

am; 10 am; 8 pm; and 9 pm.

Enrollment

The freeze on enrollment remained as

the General Council voted to keep the freeze

on enrollment, allowing only minors to

be enrolled. There were 18 more children

approved to be enrolled bringing our

enrollment to 856.

Due to the length of the annual meeting,

another meeting on Saturday, December 17

was scheduled to fill the open

committees’ positions.

Program staff members

were available at their

tables in the main lobby

of the Community Center

to meet and greet tribal

members during the

Annual General Council

Meeting. Pictured (L-R)

are Daryl Boyd, Taheirah

Kalahiki Executive Director

CTLF and James Guiterrez,

Housing Director.

Chehalis Tribal Loans Program Ginger Bread House Raises Money in

Support the Big Brother and Sisters

Available Promoting Tribal

Members to Become Successful By Fred Shortman, Editor

By Taheirah Kalahiki, Executive Director CTLE

We would like to introduce the Chehalis

Tribal Loan Fund (CTLF), a program that

was implemented into the Confederated

Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation in 2007.

The main goal of this program is to provide

Tribal Members with access to lending

opportunities for microenterprise loans,

commercial loans and other financial tools

and products to help promote growth and

development for the Chehalis People. The

CTLF is here to help YOU make your ideas

become reality through entrepreneurship,

savings programs and investment

opportunities. Our team will help you start

a business plan and help you along with the

process to promote a successful venture.

Come visit us and tell us your ideas.

For more information contact Executive

Director: Taheirah Kalahiki at 360-7091831or

Loan Program Coordinator: Diana

Pickernell at 360-709-1631.

“Providing Support to Tribal Members

and their families through economic selfsufficiency for generations to come”

Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year!

From The Chehalis Tribe

The beautiful Chehalis Tribal Native American Christmas nativity scene at

the Community Center for everyone to enjoy. This year an added touch was

the white Christmas trees.

park is available only to

Ever fantasized about

registered guests, meals at the

what it would be like to

gingerbread house are open

share a meal with family

to the general public, as is the

or friends inside a liferesort’s restaurant.

size gingerbread house? If

Proceeds from a $20

so, the Great Wolf Lodge

reservation fee will be

in Grand Mound has a

donated to the Big Brothers

fundraiser that will fulfill

Big Sisters of the Lewis and

that dream while benefiting

Thurston Counties. The fee

local children. A small crew

is in addition to the cost of

at the indoor water spent

meals that are ordered off the

about 400 hours of work

resort’s restaurant menu.

constructing a 10 feet by 12

A family and friends from

feet gingerbread house in

Bothell and Kent Camp Fire

the main lobby.

The 10 Feet by 12 Feet

The gingerbread house

Ginger Bread House sits USA celebrated a birthday

in the Ginger Bread House

seats for up to eight

up to eight people for

saying, “We love coming to

diners and is available

breakfast, lunch, and

the Great Wolf Lodge. The

for breakfast, lunch and

dinner and is located in

Ginger Bread House was an

dinner. It’s a great ambiance the main lobby of the

added plus. It’s a great cause

with smell of the sweet of

Great Wolf Lodge.

and very, very fun. Eating

ginger bread and company

inside the Gingerbread House

of friends as you share a

smells soooo good! We would do it again.”

meal together. Although the site’s water

Families from the Camp Fire USA celebrated a birthday and shared a meal

at the Great Wolf Lodge’s gingerbread house. Santa dropped in and wished

them a Merry Christmas. Pictured (L-R) are Alexandra, Kandysse, Santa,

Patti, Jenni, Holden, and Taylor.