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

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_chehalis%3Aa16b5a90ff253456

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

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

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_chehalis%3Aa16b5a90ff253456. Public record. Not legal advice.