The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, ‘People of the Sands’ (2021)

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, ‘People of the Sands’

CHEHALIS

TRIBAL

NEWSLETTER

October-November 2021 FIND HISTORY, HERITAGE, RESOURCES AT CHEHALISTRIBE.ORG

inside

Staff additions / 3, 5

November birthdays / 6

Healthy holiday eating / 7

Halloween events / 8

Obituaries / 10

Annual Meeting brings tribal

members together / 11

Oakville school plans / 12

One-day bridge build

Tribe’s new structure

raised with unique kit

page 5

Thank you for serving

Veterans honored with

ceremony, drums

page 9

Burn sets

up prairie

restoration

By Charles Latch

The Chehalis Tribe

partnered with Pacific

Northwest organizations to

hold a 22-acre prescribed burn

Oct. 4 on reservation land.

Natural Resources and Trust

Services departments teamed

up with various state ecology

groups to make the cultural

burn possible. Tribal community

members and the Chehalis

Canoe Family held a ceremony

before the blaze on Balch Road’s

prairie with a controlled burn

crew in attendance.

Native American ancestors

in the region used the cultural

practice for generations prior to

colonization. It restored natural

resources such as camas, carrots,

strawberries, blackberries and

other seasonal plants important

to their daily lives.

The focus of the recent

prescribed burn is to restore

See BURN, page 4

A recent cultural burn on the

Chehalis Reservation aims to

eliminate invasive species and

bring a hearty camas harvest.

The Chehalis Tribe’s new venture, the Flying J Travel Center in Tumwater, offers robust amenities.

Flying J truck stop opens

Tribe’s travel center delivers

safety, comfort to customers

By Frazier Myer

Chehalis Tribal Enterprises is excited to invite

customers to its newest business the Flying J

Travel Center at Exit 99 off Interstate 5.

The Flying J opened its doors at 2725 93rd

Ave. SW in Tumwater on Oct. 13. Semi-truck

drivers and others in the area have quickly taken

notice of the new establishment. CTE held a

grand-opening ceremony on Oct. 28 to honor

and bless the significant moment for future tribal

prosperity.

The travel center for professional truck drivers

offers amenities such as showers, washers and

dryers, a visitor lounge area, Taco Bell restaurant,

easy self-checkout machines, diesel and unleaded

fuel and much more. The truck stop provides

weigh stations and more than 70 parking spaces

See FLYING J, page 2

Oakville and

Rochester

superintendents

received a

generous

contribution

from the Pilot

Company at the

ribbon-cutting

ceremony.

2

FLYING J

From page 1

for drivers to comfortably and

safely sleep overnight.

The Flying J also features 12

premium spaces for a fee. The

spots have water and electricity

stations truck drivers can hook

up to. Anyone can reserve and

use the amenities. For example,

people traveling in RVs can utilize

showers and laundry facilities

while they relax and recover.

Partnering with the Pilot

Flying J company is estimated to

more than double the fuel sales

revenue than if the tribe operated

the business alone, Chehalis Tribal

Enterprises CEO David Burnett

said.

“Taxes are going to be the

biggest impact for the tribal

government,” Burnett said.

The tribe’s fuel tax agreement

with the state ensures 34 cents for

each gallon sold comes back to the

tribe in tax revenue.

A long road

Bringing the business to

fruition involved a lengthy process

that took nearly nine years to

complete. The tribe acquired

the land in 2013. Unforeseen

circumstances meant breaking

ground and construction were put

on hold until April of this year.

The Flying J officially opened six

months later in October.

Burnett explained that

the Chehalis Tribe decided to

purchase the land in 2013 and

make improvements to a truck

stop already on site to make

that business operational. That

plan was halted when the tribe

attempted to place the property

into reservation trust land. Tribal

leaders were notified that the land

Semi-truck drivers will find a safe place to rest during their travels at the Flying J Travel Center.

FLYING J

The Chehalis Tribe’s new

24-hour travel center is at

2725 93rd Ave. SW, Tumwater.

Amenities include diesel

lanes, showers, ATM, bulk

propane, CAT scale, Lottery,

Pegasus, laundry and Taco

Bell restaurant. For more

information, call 360-7904495 or go to pilotflyingj.

com.

had extensive contamination.

The BIA required action from

the tribe and the state Department

of Ecology. The two parties

developed a plan to clean up the

site before the BIA could officially

place the land from fee to trust.

Burnett said the process took time

because numerous steps went into

cleaning the contaminated area.

Crews were hired to demolish

the old building and remove a

‘The establishment is a huge

improvement to this area.’

– Gabe Toma, President of the

Tumwater Chamber of Commerce

mountain of dirt. The soil was

hauled 50 miles south to Kelso

and processed. After clean soil was

placed at the site, the Department

of Ecology analyzed the area,

declared it safe and issued a “no

further action needed” letter to

the BIA. This enabled the tribe to

place the land in trust and begin

developing the land.

Before construction could

start, the tribe first had to

choose whether to operate as an

independent business or partner

with a major brand. Tribal leaders

put a lot of consideration into

the decision. In 2018, the tribe

was weighing the benefits of

both options, Burnett said. A

brief negotiation with the Pilot

Flying J company didn’t result in

an agreement. Months later, the

company contacted the tribe highly

motivated to complete a deal.

Beneficial collaboration

CTE assessed the alternative

of operating independently.

That evaluation resulted in an

estimate of 300,000-400,000

gallons of fuel sold each month.

But by partnering with Flying J,

brand recognition increased the

projected volume of sales to more

than 850,000 gallons a month.

Collaborating with the

established national company

generates significantly more

business. All major trucking

companies are tied into contracts

with specific fuel companies and

must use their brand. Therefore,

most truck drivers are not

allowed to purchase fuel from an

unbranded store. Partnering with

the Pilot Flying J company will

generate much more profit than if

See FLYING J, page 3

Customers can choose from a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks.

3

HR adds

training

specialist

FLYING J

From page 2

the tribe had opened the business

independently.

The Flying J brand is owned

and operated by the Pilot company.

There is a Pilot Travel Center

directly across the freeway at 2430

93rd Ave. SW, Tumwater. The

Chehalis Tribe’s new establishment

isn’t meant to take business from

the neighboring truck stop. Both

entities believe the entire area will

grow and benefit all businesses

located at Exit 99.

The Flying J Travel Center will

ultimately increase the tribe’s net

income. Burnett said in addition to

profits generated from the fuel tax

agreement, the business will create

employment opportunities for

tribal and community members.

The collaboration is also

significant because it creates a

working relationship between

the Chehalis Tribe and Pilot

Flying J. The brand donated

$2,500 to Rochester and Oakville

school districts. Both school

superintendents were present at

the travel center’s ribbon-cutting

ceremony. Rochester and Oakville

are the two districts that serve kids

on the Chehalis Reservation.

“Overall, we’re excited to be

here and partner with the tribe,”

Pilot Flying J Travel Manager Eric

Homer said.

He explained that the business

will be a major draw because of

its location on the I-5 corridor.

The spot allows easy access for

all guests, from professional

truck drivers to those on daily

errands. Truck drivers provide

a vital service delivering goods

Denise Miño enjoys

working with tribe

The new truck stop offers parking for more than 70 trucks and RVs.

and supplies to help meet dayto-day needs. Flying J is an

essential stop for drivers to park,

fuel up and sleep to remain in

compliance with state Department

of Transportation safety laws.

WSDOT requires drivers rest a

certain number of hours while on

the road.

Boon for Tumwater

In addition to creating a

financial footprint for the tribe in

the Tumwater area, the Flying J

will have a positive impact on more

than just the tribe’s growth. It will

enhance the city’s overall image.

President of the Tumwater

Chamber of Commerce Gabe Toma

has worked with the organization

for more than five years and served

as president the previous three

years. He described the significance

the Flying J has already had on the

surrounding area.

“The establishment is a huge

improvement to this area,” Toma

said.

Toma highlighted that it’s

important for the organization

to support local businesses. An

establishment of this size will

create job opportunities, improve

surrounding property value and

provide important services to

travelers and local customers.

Burnett spoke at the ceremony

and wanted to express that key

business opportunities were made

possible by Chris Richardson,

who passed away in February.

Richardson was an enrolled

Chehalis tribal member, managing

director at CTE and a dedicated

businessman. He spearheaded

numerous opportunities and built

partnerships with companies that

helped the tribe grow in recent

decades. He is deeply missed by

the tribal community.

RAISING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

On Oct. 22, Chehalis tribal employees dressed in pink to show support for breast cancer survivors,

honor those lost to the disease and help champion finding a cure.

The Chehalis Tribe’s Human

Resources Department is

pleased to welcome Denise

Miño as the new Training and

Development Coordinator.

Miño previously worked at

Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel as

the Learning and Development

Leadership Specialist for the

past two years. Prior to that, she

worked for the state in various

roles related

to training,

technology,

emergency

management

and public

health.

Denise is

a graduate of

Tenino High

Denise Miño

School and

has a bachelor’s degree from

Brigham Young University. She

is a graduate student at Walden

University where she is studying

to become an industrial and

organizational psychologist

with an emphasis in Human

Resources Management.

Denise said she enjoys

working with the tribe.

“It’s the people. I loved the

people I worked with at the

casino and am excited to be

a part of the HR team on the

tribal government side. I have

lived in the area for most of

my life and have some longstanding connections to the

tribe,” she said.

Human Resources Director

Stephanie Pickernell is excited

to get the training program up

and running again.

The first order of business

will be to put on core

competency classes, including

harassment- and safety-related

trainings.

Up next, Human Resources

staff will create and lead a

supervisory training series and

provide other courses that will

help strengthen the workforce.

Please watch for staff

training opportunities in the

near future.

4

BURN

From page 1

the camas plant. In full bloom, it

is a vibrant purple lily. The small,

bulb-like root was an important

food source for Chehalis and other

Salish Tribes of the Northwest.

Camas can be dug up

from April to June. Ancestors

traditionally slow-roasted the

plant over an open fire for 2448 hours until it turned brown.

Heating the plant caramelizes the

sugars and sweetens the camas. It

was dried and stored for eating in

colder months.

The plant also is considered

an anti-diabetic food because it

does not raise blood sugar levels.

Attempts to revive the plant

tribal ancestors used as a staple

resource saw a major step with the

controlled burn on Balch Road.

In modern times, the general

population is taught to be afraid

of blazes because of wildfires,

which are prevalent on the West

Coast and destroy hundreds of

thousands of acres each year.

House fires also raise fears.

Chehalis people, along with

other regional indigenous tribes,

used fire for thousands of years

as long-term prairie maintenance

to provide the highest yield when

cultivating seasonal harvests and

storage of supplies for cold seasons.

Prairies were normally burned

every three to five years depending

on type of harvest yield.

Embracing tradition

Tribes across the nation are

losing part of their culture as they

become assimilated to mainstream

social norms and no longer

practice traditional ways of the

native people.

Chehalis tribal members

William Thoms and Dan Penn

of Trust Services spoke about the

importance of the cultural burn to

bring back prairie resources.

“Times are different, things are

different, our needs are different,

but it feels good and it feels like

were doing the best we can to

honor this practice,” Penn said.

Thoms told those in attendance

that the work done by Trust

Services staff is more than just

paperwork and going through files.

“Our real job is to find all these

old traditions that have seen this

lapse and do everything we can to

bring them back,” Thoms said.

Community members were

given the opportunity to speak

about the land and significance of

resources on the prairie.

“These are the things that don’t

Chehalis tribal members hold a ceremony at Balch Road’s prairie for the first cultural burn in centuries. The

practice was used by native ancestors to replenish essential resources provided by the land.

‘Our real job is to find all

these old traditions that

have seen this lapse and

do everything we can to

bring them back.’

– William Thoms,

Culture Resource Specialist

Prairie Technicians Sean Evangelista (left) and Farley Youckton Jr. earned

a certification that allows them to work on prescribed burn fire lines.

have a monetary value. This is

our wealth, this is who we are,”

Chehalis tribal member Glenda

Comenout said.

Extensive training

The tribe’s Department of

Natural Resources hired Prairie

Technicians Farley Youckton Jr.

and Sean Evangelista to train for

controlled burns. Training was

extensive, taking six months to

complete. The technicians obtained

red-card certification issued by the

National Wildfire Coordinating

Group, giving them the ability

to work on the fire line during

prescribed burns.

Youckton, an enrolled Chehalis

tribal member, said training

included a 40-hour online class,

physical fitness tests, pesticideapplicator classes, first aid classes

and safety courses on how to

operate a chainsaw.

All of the training doesn’t

compare to the act of preforming

large controlled burns. Youckton

said this is the first time he put his

training into practice.

“It was a new experience. It

turns out grass can be really hot,”

he said.

Although he understands the

cultural significance the event

has for the tribe, Youckton said

there are dangers involved in a

prescribed burn. Fire can be very

unpredictable, which is why the

burns are thoroughly planned and

require a large crew to keep it from

spreading out of control.

Though winds were mild and

conditions favorable, the fire

was more intense than Youckton

anticipated. His safety training was

put to use as the fire spread quickly.

Youckton and Evangelista stayed

composed and completed tasks

with assistance from professional

prairie restoration groups.

Habitat enhancement

Sarah Hamman, Director

of the Science and Ecostudies

Institute and co-founder of the

Camas Prairie Cultural Ecosystems

Collaborative, has led teams on

controlled burns at numerous

sites across the state. She has been

a part of projects such as these

for years, but this is her first time

working on a tribal reservation.

Hamman said the burn is

something that took years of

planning and effort from various

parties to develop and organize.

She led the burn by instructing the

tribe’s technicians and her crew

of nearly two dozen professional

wildfire fighters.

“It brings back the important

cultural practice that has helped

keep these prairies as prairies for

thousands of years,” Hamman

said of the importance of burns on

tribal lands.

This burn will enhance the

habitat of the prairie by eliminating

invasive species such as Scotch

broom, which has no value and is a

nuisance.

Just before the start of

spring, members of the tribe’s

Department of Natural Resources

and Hammand’s Camas Co-Lab

will plant camas seeds in the area

burned to develop a harvestable

yield of camas for tribal members.

5

100-year bridge installed in just one day

Innovative kit used to

create new structure

By Charles Latch

The Chehalis Tribal Planning

Department upgraded tribal

infrastructure with installation of

an innovative new bridge on the

reservation. It is the only bridge

of its kind west of Oklahoma and

was completed in a single day.

Howanut Road connects both

sides of the reservation and serves

as a popular alternative to the

highway for locals commuting.

The construction location was

next to the Fisheries building.

Brian VonCluck, Utilities Project

Manager for the Chehalis Tribe,

explained that the bridge was

needed based on a failed annual

inspection from the Bureau

of Indian Affairs. Community

members utilized a temporary road

while the old bridge was closed.

VonCluck said the bridge is

unique because construction of

this magnitude usually takes 18

months to complete and is typically

done with box culverts. Planning

and construction crews saved time

and money by designing intuitive

ways to complete the project using

a bridge kit. Planning placed a

temporary road on the site Oct. 4,

demolished the bridge Oct. 11 and

installed the new bridge on Oct. 22.

“This will be the future of

bridges,” VonCluck said.

Transportation Planner Bryan

Sanders spent the past two years

working on the project. He said

Planning and construction crews

used a kit to complete the bridge

next to the Fisheries building.

the bridge is expected to stand

for at least 100 years and the

improvements will make it much

safer for everybody moving

around the Chehalis Reservation.

The bridge also will help protect

against flood waters on the Black

River during the rainy season. And

it will allow residents to utilize

Howanut Road year-round.

Counselor takes client-centered approach

Matt McIver brings

flexible attitude to

Behavioral Health

Matt McIver recently began

working with the Chehalis Tribe

Behavioral Health department

as a mental health counselor in

November. McIver is a licensed

clinical social worker.

He grew up in Olympia and

graduated from Capital High

School in 2003. From there,

he earned a degree in business

administration from Washington

State University. McIver worked in

sales and marketing for a number

of years but found

that line of work

unfulfilling and

lacking purpose.

This led to a

career change.

He started his

career by working

Matt McIver

in schools,

particularly in

special education departments.

He mainly worked with students

who have social and emotional

struggles.

He has years of experience

coaching basketball, football and

track. He eventually went back

to school and earned his master’s

in social work from Simmons

College with a concentration in

clinical social work. The past four

years, he worked as a therapist for

at-risk youth and their families.

McIver specializes in cognitive and

dialectical behavior therapy.

Although he has worked

mainly with adolescents, he feels

comfortable with clients of all

ages. He describes his approach

as laid back and client-centered.

As a social worker, he is trained to

meet clients “where they are at,”

meaning he doesn’t believe in a

one-size-fits-all approach or trying

to put his personal agenda on a

client. He believes in following the

client’s lead and working together

as a team to assess each individual’s

needs and wants throughout

treatment and adjusting

interventions accordingly.

McIver and his wife recently

moved back to Olympia after

spending seven years on the East

Coast in Boston and Maine. They

have two children: 3-year-old son

Caleb and 1-year-old daughter

Alma. During his free time,

McIver enjoys playing basketball

and being in the outdoors.

He is excited to be back home

in the Pacific Northwest and looks

forward to being a part of the

Chehalis tribal community.

6

Aria Lopez: Happy

2nd birthday perfect

girl. Mom and Dad

love you so much!

Landon Simmons:

Happy 6th birthday.

We love you!

Simmons family

Payton Simmons:

Happy birthday to

our favorite girl. We

love you! Simmons

family

Tyson Canales:

Happy birthday my

son! Eleven years

young and we are

so very proud of

you. You are strong,

resilient and

intelligent beyond

your years. You are

a hard worker at

everything you do

and an AMAZING

big brother. We

love you, Mom.

Michah McNair: Happy

birthday son. May all your

wishes come true on your

special day! Love Momma,

Shannon, Sister and Sissy

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

PRINCE ADAMS

MADOLEEN GODDARD-BOYD

VALERIE PICKERNELL

KEVIN ALBERT

ANTHONY GOMEZ

DESIRRAY POPE

GERALD ALDRICH

LUCY HILL

GRACE QUILT

FRANCISA AYALA-KLATUSH

JORDAN BAKER

SIMON BAKER

TARYN BAKER

JAUNITA BILL-SANCHEZ

GABE HIGHEAGLE

HEATHER HOYLE

ENRIQUE JIMENEZ SANCHEZ

ANTONIO JONES

ALICE JONES

NATHAN BOYD

WILLOW JONES

KENNETH “BOONER” BROWN

JR.

BROOKLYNN KLATUSH

COURTNEY BROWN

CHRISTIBETH KLATUSH

TAYLEENA KLATUSH

SIDNEY BROWN

DAPHNE BURKE

BOBBIE BUSH

TYANNA CANALES

TYSON CANALES

JAYLEE CAYENNE

MADELINE COLSON

TANAYAH COMENOUT

RANDY CORNWELL

RACHELLE FERGUSON

ASHLEY FERN

KATY FOX

CASILDA GARCIA-STARR

DYLAN GLEASON-WHEELER

ROACHEL LAMBRETH

CYRENA LITTLESUN

ATHENA LOPEZ

MONIQUE LOPEZ

ARIA LOPEZ

JOAN MARTIN

LISA MCCLOUD

MICHAH MCNAIR

MAELANI OMAN

ASHLEY ORTIVEZ

AURORA ORTIVEZ

LUCILE ORTIVEZ

WAYNE ORTIVEZ

JOSEPH REVAY SR.

LINNAEA SANCHEZ

LUWANNA SANCHEZ

NATALIE SANCHEZ

SOFIE SEKISHIRO

KANE SIMMONS

PAYTON SIMMONS

RACHEL SIMMONS

KRISTOPHER

SHORTMAN

ALEXIS STARR-WRIGHT

AMIL STARR JR.

MAYNARD STARR

CARRIE SQUALLY

APRIL THOMPSON

KEIRA THRAILKILL

LORI TOVREA

MIA VIGIL

RYAN WHITE

JOURNEY WHITEEAGLE

KYIAN WITTWER

BELATED WISH

Andrea Phillips: Happy

birthday! Cheers to 50 years

sis! Love ya, Yvonne.

PHOENIX WITTWER

TERRY PALMER

CHRISTOPHER YAWN

PENNY GLEASON

SHONI PANNKUK

MARCUS YOUCKTON

ORINDA GODDARD

YVONNE PHILLIPS-HAUKOM

PAM YOUCKTON

Simon & Taryn Baker: Wishing

both of our November babies a

very happy birthday! Love Mom,

Dad, Jeremiah and Laela.

7

Wellness Center

adds space, services

Expansion improves

safety procedures and

offers room to grow

The Chehalis Tribal Wellness

Center has a new extension

to provide specific services to

community members.

The addition is in the back near

the tiny homes. It will provide

space for COVID-19 testing and

allow urgent care for patients

who need to be seen quickly but

don’t have life-threating concerns.

This will keep patients that are

coming in for routine checkups

or appointments separate from

those who might have or been

exposed to COVID-19. The new

wing essentially will keep the

community healthy and prevent

the spread of a serious outbreak.

Wellness Center Director

Denise Ross recognized the

need to expand the building and

its services for years. The tribe

applied for and was granted

federal funding from the

American Rescue Plan Act to

combat COVID-19 effects and to

improve its medical facility.

Ultimately, the new extension

will provide safety for those who

need to visit the center. Ross said

that when the pandemic began

in 2019, patients coming in to get

tested or vaccinated for COVID-19

crossed paths with people coming

in for routine checkups.

The addition provides a safe

solution with all rooms built to the

highest standards and designed to

be modified into hospital rooms.

This means it can be converted to

a small overnight hospital if the

tribe decides to take that route in

the future.

Construction began on a fast

track in October 2020. Originally

on a tight deadline, funding

was expanded through 2021.

This allowed CTWC and those

responsible for design time to

thoroughly complete the project

within grant funding regulations.

The new timeframe gave

construction crews more

opportunity to acquire all

materials needed for the

expansion. COVID-19 delayed

shipping for numerous items,

which stalled completion of

The Chehalis

Tribal Wellness

Center’s

recently

completed

expansion

offers

essential

changes now

and flexibility

for the future.

the extension. The doors finally

opened in October.

Recently, Ross became the

Director of Behavioral Health.

She plans to use additional ARPA

funds to continue expanding

the CTWC building. The plan

is to build another wing to the

facility and relocate Behavioral

Health into the modern working

space. Additional plans include

upgrading the x-ray machine,

adding space for medical

procedures such as ultrasounds

and providing rooms for

specialized practices such as

Tips to eat healthier this holiday season

By Cathy Visser, Chehalis Tribal

Wellness Center Dietician

Do you eat more candy, cookies

and desserts during the holidays

starting on Halloween and

continuing through New Year’s

Eve? Many people do.

Don’t despair. It’s been a tough

year with the pandemic and

limited ability to socialize and

exercise with others. This can be

a good time to find ways to eat

better and move more. Here are

some easy tips to incorporate:

n Bring a healthy dish to the

potluck like a green salad, veggie

tray, whole grain crackers and

salmon dip, or fresh fruit salad.

n When eating at a potluck

or holiday meal, take less of each

food and savor it.

n For seconds, choose the foods

you love the most and enjoy them.

n Tune in to your hunger and

fullness. If you wait too long to eat

GET IN TOUCH

Contact Chehalis Tribal

Wellness Center Dietician

Cathy Visser for an

appointment at 360-2074052 or trueforyounutrition@

gmail.com.

In-person appointments are

available each Tuesday and

remotely through Zoom on

other days. Christina Hicks and

I will resume Diabetes Lunch &

Learn sessions in January.

between meals, you will be overly

hungry and primal hunger kicks

in, making it hard to stop eating.

n Start your day with a

healthy breakfast such as oatmeal

with nuts and fruit or eggs and

wholegrain toast.

n Keep fruit close for snacking.

n Carry a water bottle and try

to drink six-eight cups of water

each day.

n Avoid sugary coffee drinks

and sodas, which have six to

13 teaspoons of sugar per

12-ounce serving.

n Use a smaller plate for your

meal so it looks fuller.

n Slow down when eating. It

takes 20 minutes for your stomach

to tell your brain that you are full.

n Chew each bite thoroughly

(10-20 times) and put your fork

down between bites.

n If you are the cook, use more

herbs and spices and less butter

and oil to flavor foods. For example,

sweet potatoes are naturally sweet

and can be served without added

sugar or marshmallows.

n Enjoy your holiday meals

even if you eat more than usual.

Feeling guilty leads to restrictive

eating and potentially binge eating.

n In addition to listening to

your hunger and fullness, try to

find ways to move more.

This can be challenging when it

is rainy or snowy outside. Make a

plan to meet a friend a few times

each week to walk somewhere safe

inside or outside.

Consider going back to the gym

to work out depending on your

vulnerability to COVID-19. Some

gyms are offering live online Zoom

classes, plus there are free yoga

and exercise classes on YouTube.

Cleaning, gardening and chores

around the house also count

toward your daily movement. Find

ways to move that you enjoy and

you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

It is my goal to provide medical

nutrition therapy to all people

served by the Chehalis Tribal

Wellness Center.

Have a safe and relaxing

holiday season!

8

Photos provided by Jodie Smith and Theresa Youckton

House haunted event

Spell-binding fun Healing

draws 135 community visitors

The Chehalis Tribe celebrated

Halloween with multiple events

in the week leading up to Oct. 31.

Festivities began with Tribal

Trick-or-Treat on Oct. 28. Head

Start and Early Head Start

children visited various tribal

buildings to collect candy and

show off costumes. Staff from

the Healing House, Community

Center, Housing and the Lucky

Eagle Casino & Hotel took part

with a trunk-or-treat path along

the softball field.

Behavioral Health held two

separate events on Oct. 29 to

start a weekend of fun for the

youngsters. Healing House

staff decorated the building

as a haunted house to delight

and spook guests. The event

coincided with another activity

by staff members, who put

together a Halloween Carnival

at the tribe’s main Behavioral

Health offices.

The final event of the weekend

was the annual Halloween Party

at the Community Center on

Oct. 31. The evening was filled

with activities such as a haunted

house, raffle prizes, a trunk-ortreat and candy stations for youth

inside the Community Center.

Behavioral Health gave the

tribal community excellent scares

at its Halloween haunted house

on Oct. 29. The evening was one

of various outreach events the

program holds throughout the

year. The haunted house kicked

off early and drew in guests until

late in the evening.

The event was an opportunity

for community outreach and to

welcome visitors to the Healing

House, which provides essential

services to those who live on

the Chehalis Reservation. Staff

members organized a photo

booth, haunted maze, goody bags

and a barbecue meal to go. Five

dedicated members recruited

helpers (ghouls) to help with the

Halloween celebration. About 135

community members participated

in the activities.

The Healing House, formally

called the Wilson House, is a

grant-funded trauma service and

includes crime victims advocacy,

domestic violence and youth in

CONTACT US

For questions, call

360-709-1677. Behavioral

Health members are always

welcoming visitors to Healing

House to meet the friendly

staff and learn about services.

need of care (youth prevention).

The Healing House is under the

Behavioral Health umbrella. Staff

offer one-on-one grief trauma

counseling, cultural craft classes

and support to specific group

counseling.

From the Healing House:

“Thank you to all who planned,

helped, cooked and enjoyed our

haunted house. We truly hope you

had fun.”

9

Giving thanks to

those who served

The Chehalis Tribal Heritage

& Culture and Human Resources

departments took time Nov. 10

to honor employees that served

this country in the United States

armed forces.

Chairman Harry Pickernell Sr.

presented handmade drums to the

21 tribal government employees

at the ceremony. The tribe is

deeply grateful for military service

provided by these brave people.

Youth Serveries Coordinator

Melanie Stevens explained the

importance of the project and

the effort that went into making

the custom handmade deer hide

drums for the tribal veterans who

represent four of the five military

branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

and Marines. The drums were

designed with a military emblem

in the center to signify the specific

branch each employee served in.

“It touches my heart. I want

to thank them for their service,”

Stevens said. She personally has

many relations and friends who

served in the armed forces. Tribal

leaders felt it was important to

acknowledge these brave men and

women on the holiday.

‘It’s not what we do it for

but it’s nice for people to

acknowledge it.’

– Sean Uhlich, Chehalis

Tribal Public Safety Sgt.

Chairman Harry Pickernell

Sr. gave a sincere thank you

announcement over the intercom

to all of the military service

providers before they were gifted

with the drums.

Chairman Pickernell said the

event is “to show them how much

we appreciate them and they’re in

our hearts. The Chehalis have a

long history of having warriors in

our tribe.” He said it is the tribe’s

duty to honor the men and woman

who have served and protected

this country.

The tribal veterans appreciated

the heartfelt gifts. Chehalis Tribal

Public Safety Sgt. Sean Uhlich

spoke about the recognition.

“It’s not what we do it for but

it’s nice for people to acknowledge

it,” he said.

Above:

Daniel “Bones”

Gleason

attends a

ceremony

honoring

veterans on

Nov. 10 at

Lucky Eagle

Casino & Hotel.

Left: Farley

Youckton

Sr. (left) is

recognized for

his military

service.

TRIBAL VETERANS

Rita Mercer: Air Force

John Williams: Air Force

James Elder: Army

Derec Filkins: Army

Samuel Heller: Army

David Jessen: Army

John McPherson: Army

Frances Pickernell: Army

Miguel Santiago: Army

Robert Strader: Army

Sean Uhlich: Army

Scott Williams: Army

Kyle Gulbranson: Marines

Edward Keller: Marines

Kehyn KickingWoman:

Marines

Michael McNair: Marines

Gary Waer: Marines

Tabitha Dennison: Navy

Amanda Lawton: Navy

Nelson Terry: Navy

Farley Youckton: Navy

10

IN LOVING MEMORY

Dale Francis Klatush Jr.

Oct. 31, 1959–Oct. 18, 2021

Photos

provided by

grandson

Christopher

Secena:

“I love and

miss her

so much!”

Roberta Josephine

“Skamink” “Bootsie”

Wells Secena

Sept. 16, 1939–Oct. 6, 2021

To lose someone I loved so much brings pain

beyond belief. There are no words to ease my pain,

sadness and grief. I feel I’ve lost someone so close, so

wonderful and dear. I think about your special ways

and wish that you were near. But although you have

left this world, you’ll stay within my heart guiding

like an angel knowing you are always near. For love is

everlasting and so are my memories and your legacy

that’s always there to light the way for me.

– Roberta’s only daughter Allison (Secena) Carter

“Even though I

walk through the

valley of the shadow

of death, I will fear no

evil. For you are with

me. Your rod and your

staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4

Roberta’s funeral

service was on Oct. 12,

2021, at the Chehalis

Tribal Community

Center. Ben Charles

Jr. officiated the

ceremony. Many

attended to show their

love and respect for Roberta. She was buried next to

her husband at Secena cemetery.

Roberta is survived by sons Raymond Jr.,

William, Donald and Ron; daughter Allison

(Secena) Carter; siblings William, Roy and Rena;

21 grandchildren; and 32 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband

Raymond; son Samuel; brothers Ralph, Rueban,

Ronnie, Richard, Reggie, Raymond and Robert;

sisters Rosetta, Ruth, Ruby and Sophie; great

granddaughter Hona Daniels and many nieces and

nephews.

Pallbearers were Reggie Sanders, Jeff Choke,

Jerry Youckton, Joe Sanders, Mike Sanders and

Roger Shortman.

Dale Francis Klatush Jr. was born

Oct. 31, 1959, at Centralia Providence Hospital.

He resided in Oakville and peacefully passed

Oct. 18, 2021, at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital

in Lacey with his loved ones by his side.

Dale Jr. was born to Vivian Rosalind Young

and Dale Klatush Sr.

He met the love of his life 1981 and they

started a family in 1984. He raised his nine

children and 13 grandchildren to be full of love

and abundance.

Dale was so full of love and such an

amazingly strong man. He was all about his

wife, kids and grandchildren. Anytime you saw

him, you knew Paula wasn’t too far behind, and

vice versa.

Dale always had the biggest smile on his

face and gave the best hugs. Anyone who knew

him, knew when you hugged him, you had his

scent on you for the rest of the day. His cologne

was distinctive. Dale was a stubborn man, but

he was loyal. It didn’t matter what time of day,

if you needed him, he was there.

Dale made it to about the ninth grade in

school, then later earned his GED. First, he was

employed with the Chehalis Tribal Housing

Department. He helped build the End of the

Trail I. He later worked at Lucky Eagle Casino.

For the past 14 years, Dale worked at End of

the Trail II in maintenance alongside his wife,

Paula, and nephew Christopher.

Whenever Dale wasn’t at work, he was at

the river, which he called his second home.

Dale and his son Paul and grandsons Nathaniel

and Ulises were always at the river fishing or

out looking for a deer. Dale took such pride in

teaching his children and grandchildren how

to fish and hunt.

In his younger years, Dale was one of the

best pool players around the Pacific Northwest.

He could win a game off of a break. Dale and

Paula went all around the counties playing

pool with their group.

Dale was the best man in all of our lives.

May this legendary man rest in peace.

He is survived by his wife, Paula Klatush;

sons Dale III, Derrick and Paul; daughters

Connie, Correna, Mariah, Airel and Serenity;

grandchildren Desirray, Jordan, Nathaniel,

Ulises, Dakota, Dale IV, Cayden, Rena, Paulita,

Francisca, Sunshine, Chase and Richard;

sisters Karen and Bev; brothers Renny and

Bruce; and numerous cousins, nieces and

nephews.

Dale was preceded in death by his daughter

Cassandra Pope; sisters Colleen Klatush and

Joyleen McCrory; brother Larry Sasticum; and

parents Vivian Young and Dale Klatush Sr.

Candlelight services were Oct. 26 and

funeral services were Oct. 27 at the Chehalis

Tribal Community Center.

Photos provided by

Desirray Marie Klatush

11

The Chehalis Tribe’s Annual Meeting on Nov. 6 at Great Wolf Lodge provided a welcome reunion after many long months of social distancing.

Tribe reconnects during Annual Meeting

Family and friends enjoy long-awaited visit

while chairman provides community updates

Hundreds of Chehalis tribal

members filled Great Wolf Lodge’s

Events Center in Grand Mound

on Nov. 6 for the 2021 Annual

Meeting.

The day featured giveaway

items from tribal departments

and businesses, raffle prizes and

annual updates from tribal leaders

and management. It also offered

an opportunity for tribal members

to visit with each other.

The Chehalis Tribe is a

tight-knit community. Prior

to COVID-19 mandates, it

would always reconnect at large

gatherings. This year’s Annual

Meeting served as the first chance

for many tribal members to visit in

person with each other.

“It feels like a family reunion,”

one tribal elder said.

Great Wolf Lodge catered

breakfast and lunch for those in

attendance. The five Business

Committee members took the

floor and introduced themselves,

then started the meeting at noon.

Chehalis tribal elder Wayne

Barr said a prayer as the official

introduction.

Chairman Harry Pickernell

Sr. thanked tribal members and

medical staff that helped keep

the community safe for the past

two years. Those unable to attend

in person were given an online

alternative.

The tribe took many precautions

to ensure its members would be

comfortable and follow safety

guidelines. Chairman Pickernell

said in-person gatherings are the

most beneficial way of getting

information out to the masses. He

has periodically provided tribal

updates on social media, but

prefers face-to-face meetings.

“The video updates are nice,

but it’s nothing like being in

person and seeing everyone’s face,”

Chairman Pickernell said. “I enjoy

this platform much better.”

Although the COVID-19

pandemic caused many uncertain

times for the tribe, the chairman

wanted to highlight and thank

tribal leaders for adjusting quickly.

Various resources were utilized

to keep the tribe moving forward

amid the crises and uncertainty

created by COVID-19.

Leadership groups kept

business thriving and the tribe

even developed new opportunities

for its enterprises, education

programs and tribal wellness.

The latest update for the

community is that COVID-19

vaccines are now available for ages

5-11.

The Annual Meeting brought

hope for the future that more

doors will be reopened and the

tribe will continue expanding and

moving forward in 2022.

CHEHALIS TRIBAL NEWSLETTER

The Confederated Tribes

of the Chehalis Reservation,

‘People of the Sands’

Articles and opinions expressed

are not necessarily those of this

publication or the Chehalis Tribal

Business Committee.

SUBMISSIONS

We encourage tribal members

to submit letters, articles,

photographs and drawings to

be considered for publication

in the newsletter (materials are

subject to editing). Contributing

writers, artists and photographers

include Chehalis tribal community

members and staff.

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Frazier Myer, Charles Latch,

Audra J. Hill and the Information

Technology Team

TRIBAL CENTER

Main line: 360-273-5911

Address: 420 Howanut Road

Oakville, WA 98568

Office: 360-709-1726

Fax: 360-273-5914

VISION STATEMENT

To be a thriving,

self-sufficient, sovereign

people, honoring our past

and serving current and

future generations.

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

chehalistribe.org

Chairman: Harry Pickernell Sr.

Vice Chairman:

LeRoy Boyd Sr.

Treasurer: Sheilah Bray

Secretary: David Burnett

Fifth Council Member:

Jason Gillie

© copyright 2021

The Chehalis Tribal

Newsletter is a

publication of the

Confederated Tribes

of the Chehalis

Reservation

12

Exciting

Oakville

updates

We are so grateful for this

school year to have gotten off to

such a great start, even in the

midst of COVID-19. Oakville

School District has so much

to be grateful for. Here are the

highlights:

n Our enrollment is more than

330 students. This is the most

students we have had in Oakville

in many years!

n We hired almost a dozen new

staff this fall. We have grown and

needed to add four new staff on

top of the group we already had

last year.

n We opened an Elementary

Plans are under way for construction of a new Oakville Elementary School building using bond funds.

library and are stocking it with

many books for students to check

out and use.

n Finally, our school bond

projects are about ready to get

started. We will be replacing

the old elementary building and

remodeling the high school,

putting in new parking lots all

around campus and working on

WIC THROUGH SPIPA

Breastfeeding help, health

education, checks to buy food

and services referrals

NEXT DATE: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dec. 9 at the Wellness Center

CONTACT: Debra Shortman at 360-709-

1689 or wicnutrition@spipa.org

the softball and baseball fields

as well as adding bleachers to

the football field. We are making

several other small improvements.

There will be a few inconveniences

in the meantime, but it is all

temporary so we can have amazing

facilities next year.

Please reach out if you any

questions or comments. Also, we

need classified staff and substitute

teachers. If you have thought about

bus driving, cooking, maintenance/

custodial or paraeducator work,

we are hiring staff and need more

people to help serve our students.

Go to oakvilleschools.org or call

360-273-0171.

– Rich Staley, Oakville School

District Superintendent

USDA food program

9:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dec. 16

at the Community Center

South Puget Intertribal

Planning Agency’s program

offers food to fill your freezer,

refrigerator and cupboards

CALL: Debra Shortman at

360-709-1689 or 360-438-4216