# 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%3Ae7bfa2f4ca1fc270 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, ‘People of the Sands’ CHEHALIS September 2021 inside Communications trainee / 2 Housing puts funds to good use during pandemic / 2 Healing House / 3 Family nurse practitioner / 3 October birthdays / 4 Wear pink for breast cancer awareness / 6 TRIBAL NEWSLETTER FIND HISTORY, HERITAGE, RESOURCES AT CHEHALISTRIBE.ORG Serving his country Chavez Secena charts a new path in the U.S. Army page 7 Enriching program Heritage & Culture preserves traditions page 5 Burnett helps tribe stay on track Lead for Facilities & Maintenance has big goals for future By Frazier Myer The Chehalis Tribal Planning Department leads a major project to update the wastewater treatment system. Project upgrades treatment plant New wastewater system to better protect tribal community and environment By Frazier Myer T he Chehalis Tribal Planning Department kicked off installation of a new wastewater treatment system on the Chehalis Reservation on Sept. 14. The system will enable the tribe to monitor wastewater activity and know exactly what is being put back into the ground. Ultimately, the project will better protect the community. The ground on the reservation is highly concentrated with sand and other gritty minerals, which causes water to seep through it quickly and doesn’t allow for proper filtration. The wastewater plant is crucial for community health. The project delivers an upgrade from the previous system. The new sewage treatment plant is larger with updated equipment. This will lead to less maintenance and allow it to service the entire Tribe and Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel. The system will keep drinking water safe for those who live on Chehalis tribal member Jimmy Charles “Chuck” Burnett is the Facilities & Maintenance Director for the Chehalis Tribal Government. His family and friends have called him by the nickname Chuck his entire life. He said embracing it occasionally causes confusion when having to use his real name because the majority of people know him simply as Chuck. Burnett’s parents are Nadine and Jimmy Burnett. His father was a minister while raising his children, which led to the family moving around a lot. They left Washington to relocate to Idaho during Burnett’s early years. He finished high school in Alaska See BURNETT, page 6 or visit the reservation and offers protection from natural threats created in the environment. The water treatment program is constructed to have waste transfer through it to create what is known as class A water, which is clean enough to put in rivers or lakes. The tribe stores its water in a man-made pond. Brian VonCluck, Utilities Project Manager for the Chehalis Tribe, led the project on the reservation. See PROJECT, page 8 As Facilities & Maintenance Director, Chuck Burnett has tackled numerous projects to benefit the Chehalis Tribe. 2 Connecting the past, present and future Charles Latch pivots to career sharing stories REACH OUT Communications Trainee Charles Latch looks forward to hearing from the Chehalis community. Please contact him at clatch@ chehalistribe.org. Charles Latch is also a talented artist. His most recent piece is an intricate carving made from an alder. Watch for Latch out in the community as he attends events and tells tribal members’ stories. Chehalis tribal member Charles “Chuck” Latch joined the Information Technology department as Communications Trainee in September. Latch grew up and lived most of his life on the Chehalis Reservation. He is the son of Janice Latch and has two brothers (Calvin and Kevin Bray) and three sisters (Sheilah Bray, Stephanie Pickernell and Selena Kearney), all enrolled Chehalis tribal members. He also has two children, Olivia and Charles. Latch is passionate about Native American art and history. His favorite style is carving, and he is currently working on a wooden mask crafted from an alder. Latch has put countless hours into studying the craft and has worked with artists throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has many years of experience working with his fellow native people on the Chehalis Reservation. Latch worked for both the Tribal Government and Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel. He worked in food and beverage for 10 years at the casino. While at LEC&H, he moved from busser and server to supervisor and trainer. Latch also worked in construction as an operating engineer apprentice and heavy equipment operator. During the months COVID-19 has impacted the tribal community, Latch was hired by Facilities & Maintenance to help clean and sanitize buildings. He also worked with Social Services as an assistant cook and delivered meals to Chehalis tribal elders. As he spent time engaging with the community, he saw the Communications Trainee position as an opportunity to become even more involved with his people. Latch is looking forward to his new career in journalism and sharing fellow tribal members’ stories. He views multimedia journalism as an outlet to connect the past, present and future generations and strengthen tribal cultural knowledge and identity. Housing uses money to offset COVID reverberations Department provides much-needed assistance The Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority received $324,515 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2020. This is what the funds were used for: n Purchased gloves, masks and cleaning supplies for staff. n Sanitized and disinfected three units. n Provided one-time utility assistance in the amount of $400 per household to all tenants in housing, homeowners in housing and participants in CTHA’s Rental Assistance program. n Supplied 89 homes with cleaning supplies. n Forgave rent and mortgage payments for half of March, April and May for all tenants and homeowners in housing. n Provided technology for remote work and video conferencing. n Installed air purifying ductless heating and air conditioning to four units. n Provided dumpsters to tenants for spring cleaning. n Offered curbside garbage pickup for two weeks. n Assisted three participants with emergency rental assistance. n Purchased office furniture for social distancing. n Rehabbed one unit because of severe water damage. If you received emergency assistance from CTHA already, you might be eligible to receive more help. CTHA has authorized an additional three months of assistance. Contact the office at 360273-7723 for more information and to see whether you qualify for emergency rental or utility assistance. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS ALLOCATION In March 2021, Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority received $1.3 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Funds from the Department of Treasury. So far, this is what the funds have been used for: TYPE OF ASSISTANCE PEOPLE TOTAL Past due rental payments 39 $65,291.72 Future rent payments 58 $39,416.08 Prospective rent 60 $118,831.91 Past due utilities 27 $8,646.74 Current utilities 38 $6,723.65 Prospective utilities 43 $20,706.63 Total funds: $259,616.73 3 Jessica Small tackles new role at clinic Family Nurse Practitioner ready to serve community Support for healing journey On Sept. 16, The Chehalis Tribe’s Caring For Each Other House hosted an open house to share with the Chehalis community that we are open and ready to help. The Healing House provides support services for trauma and crime survivors. Crime victims, domestic violence and youth prevention programs are available. We offer cultural teachings, body movement, grief and trauma counseling and training. The open house was well attended by the community and Chehalis tribal employees. Healing House staff members would like to thank everyone who visited. Special thanks to Health Director Denise Ross for supporting our event and mission. Youth Prevention (Caytee Cline), Domestic Violence (Samantha Sandstrom) and Victim Services (Jody Lusk) programs are now housed in the Healing House! Please watch for announcements about upcoming events for youth, family and the community. GIVING THANKS Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel honored Native American Appreciation Day on Sept. 24 by gifting tribal members a cedar bowl and cutting board. The boards were customized with the Chehalis Tribe’s basket logo. Pictured are tribal elders who picked up their gifts at the LEC&H Events Center. The Chehalis Tribal Government used the occasion to show its appreciation for employees by giving staff the day off. The Chehalis Tribe’s Healing House offers a safe space for recovery from the trauma of violence. Congratulations are in order. After working as a nurse in tribal health for the past 11 years, including six years as a registered nurse with the Chehalis Tribal Wellness Center, Jessica Small is pleased to stay on as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Small is a graduate of Washington State University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner program. She completed her clinical rotations at family practice locations throughout Jessica Small western Washington. Small values the patient/ provider relationship and building trust with each of her patients. She enjoys getting to spend time face to face and learning how she can help community members through their health care journey. She is passionate about functional medicine and will return to school to obtain a functional medicine certificate. This type of medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Small also has started the process to provide treatment to those with substance use disorders. Small has been married for 23 years and has two sons. During her free time, Small’s focus is on quality family time. Her family enjoys camping, hiking, exploring local rivers and traveling. She also works on projects at home, such as creating a mini-farm to help take steps toward becoming completely self-sufficient. Small looks forward to getting to know the community well and help serve through her practice. 4 OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS CORTNEY BECKWITH RICKIE MARION ANDREA BORDELON-LANNEZ ELAINE MCCLOUD AVA BOYD MARLA MEDINA JOEL BROWN KADYN MITCHELL TREY BROWN MADDEX MOWITCH JACKSON BROWN ALYSSA MULLINS RITA BURKE ESTRAEA MUSIC-OLNEY MADISON CARTER AMBER OLIVER WILLOW CAYENNE EDWARD OLNEY WELSEY CHRISTJOHN LEILANI ORTIVEZ TABITHA COLSON ANTHONY COMBS ANGELA CORTES TODD DELAMATER JOSEPH DELAMATER RAMONA FRICKE TALIYAH FULTON VIRGINIA GARITY LESLEY GILLIE DYLAN PALMER ABIGAIL PALMER DANIEL PENN CASEY PICKERNELL RYAN PITZENBERGER HILARY POWELL DAKOTA QUEZADA-KLATUSH KAHLI REYNOLDS DYLAN HJELM RAYNA ROMERO KAYTLIN HOLMES-PICKERNELL SCARLETT ROMERO LEON HOUSE LETICEA ROMO AMARIA ROSADO CANDICE JANSEN SELENA KEARNEY JOLI KING TANYA KINKADE Estraea Music-Olney: Happy birthday to the most amazing little girl who is kind, sweet, loves all animals, is helpful, artistic, musical and strong like her Daddy. Mommy and Daddy love you to infinity and beyond!!! ANDREA PHILLIPS DELORES ROURKE EDWARD SANCHEZ GEORGE SANCHEZ ANJOLYSA SANCHEZ Kaytlin Pickernell: Happy 13th birthday Kaytlin (aka Piggy), love Mom, Dad and Emily. PAULITA KLATUSH JANET SANCHEZ CONNIE KLATUSH TOMAS SANCHEZ DALE KLATUSH STORMIE SANCHEZ KAREN KLATUSH KAYLEY TROTT WILLIAM SECENA RYDER VIGIL BRUCE KLATUSH JOHN SHORTMAN TYMSEILA WASHBURN ARYANA KLATUSH CARMEN SHORTMAN BRAIDEN WITTWER CORRENA KLATUSH LOI SIUFANUA-BOYD ARLAND YOUCKTON LYDIA KLATUSH-FROMM TRISTAN SMITH CLARENCE YOUCKTON WALTER LEWIS ROBERT TEAGUE KENDALL YOUCKTON-MEDINA Lydia Klatush-Fromm: Rock ’n’ roll soul mama says happy 40th birthday, love Mom. 5 Classes teach vital ancestral traditions Program helps tribe maintain strong cultural connections ‘I sat and watched my grandma since I was a little girl.’ By Charles Latch The Chehalis Tribal Heritage & Culture Program strives to preserve traditions by hosting a cultural Native American arts class twice a week. Community members ages 5 and older are welcome to join the instruction-based courses from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes provide an opportunity for tribal and community members to gain a better understanding and greater respect for generations that thrived off the land and its resources. Native American people collected and foraged material off the land to create necessities for thousands of years prior to colonization. The program promotes and emphasizes the significance of cultural preservation. The Chehalis Tribe recognizes how important identifying as a Native American is to its members and encourages maintaining a strong connection to the land. – Instructor Karen Klatush The Heritage & Culture Program offers a creative outlet for tribal members to carry on their ancestral traditions. Instructor Karen Klatush displays a beautiful quilt. FALL SCHEDULE COMMUNITY & CULTURE Hours: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday Essential history Class participants have the chance to work with materials their native ancestors used to make what are now known as traditional artifacts that were once used as essential everyday items. Instructors Karen Klatush and Skylar White-Eagle Rosbaugh, both enrolled Chehalis tribal members, explain how to work with raw materials such as cedar, cattail, sweet grass, deer hide and much more. Klatush is surrounded by artwork, including items she keeps near her desk that remind her of her ancestors. She has special memories of her grandmother, who gave her a handwoven coil basket that Klatush shares with pride. “I sat and watched my grandma since I was a little girl,” Klatush said. She remembers that her grandmother was often surrounded by cattail and raffia. She would watch and learn as her grandmother worked. Klatush said the best part of her job is working with tribal YOUTH CENTER Children must be picked up by 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4:30 p.m. Friday HERITAGE & CULTURE youth, giving them a break from electronics. She hopes they will carry on their Native American ancestral traditions. Develop skills The program’s classes teach students a variety of skills, such as weaving techniques (baskets, roses and hats); beading; and creating drums, moccasins and dream catchers. There is something for everyone. Don’t worry about skill level. The program offers opportunities for both aspiring and more advanced artists. Participants will be able to learn about exclusive rights tribal members have to collect materials, how and when to harvest items such as cedar, display their artwork and meet fellow artists. Although dedicated times are available to work on art projects, the program is flexible and will provide the time, space and materials needed for community members to work on specific projects. An open classroom is offered throughout most of the week and staff members can assist with artwork. Klatush and White-Eagle Rosbaugh operate the program and arrange classes with assistance from Youth Support Services Coordinator Melanee Stevens. Prior to joining the Chehalis Tribe team, Stevens had 10 years of experience working See TRADITIONS, page 6 Craft Nights: 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Ribbon Skirts and Shirts class: Nov. 13-14 Ornament and Stocking class: Dec. 11-12 COMMUNITY EVENTS Halloween walk-through: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Youth Center Gym Turkey Distribution: 10 a.m. Nov. 17 Create a Christmas Candy Bag: 1 p.m. Dec. 15 Community Christmas Party: 11 a.m. Dec. 19 * All dates and times are subject to change. 6 Think pink for breast cancer awareness On Oct. 21, don your favorite pink attire for Indigenous Pink Day, a national breast cancer awareness campaign for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Native Women’s Wellness Program asks men and women of all ages to wear pink and share photos on social media using the hashtag #indigenouspink. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and the most common cancer found in American Indian/Alaska Native women. The goal of Indigenous Pink Day is to educate all Indigenous people on the importance of early detection and remind men and women to keep up to date on screenings. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Wear Pink to honor relatives who have faced or are now facing breast cancer. BURNETT From page 4 and moved back to Washington for school and to start a family of his own. Prior to starting work with the Chehalis Tribe in December 2020, Burnett worked on the Quinault Reservation for 35 years. He worked for the Quinault Nation and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Burnett was responsible for numerous jobs, from general manager for a logging company on the Quinault Reservation to operating heavy equipment. He also managed a road maintenance crew through completion of major construction projects. Working for his own tribe “has always been a dream of mine since I was a young man,” Burnett said. He remembers his childhood days when he and his siblings would attend general council meetings. “I remember thinking that it would be fun to work here for our own people and try to contribute and do my part,” Burnett said. He thought of it as his duty as an enrolled member to help the tribe grow and prosper. After hearing about the Facilities & Maintenance director vacancy, he was encouraged by his daughter to apply and become more involved with the Chehalis people. Burnett oversees janitorial, transfer station, grounds crew, water and wastewater building maintenance, HVAC and fleet. A CONTACT US The wellness program has mobile mammography clinics at each SPIPA site. To find out if you’re eligible for a free or low-cost mammogram, contact Community Wellness Manager Christina Hicks at 360-7091741 or chicks@chehalistribe.org. CREATIVE WITH PINK A group photo will be taken at 11:55 a.m. Oct. 21 at the Wellness Center. Send Hicks a photo of you rocking pink via email or text 360-628-2638. GET SCREENED Talk with your health care provider for advice and information on breast cancer screenings. ‘In my mind, if things are operating smoothly, most people don’t even see or hear from us.’ – Facilities & Maintenance Director Chuck Burnett major project he headed this past year is a complete overhaul of the infields at Tomahawk Stadium and Legends Field Complex to prepare for Tribal Days in May. Burnett secured a company to repair the roof on the Wellness Center. Also on the horizon are plans to paint the water towers to ensure proper function for the future. A long-term project Burnett is leading is restructuring the sewer system for Tribal Government buildings and housing districts. He also is overseeing installation of a generator to back up the wastewater system in case of a lengthy power outage. Burnett wants to play a part in crisis management. When Burnett first became director, he focused on wrapping up ongoing projects. Now that he has settled into his role and provided a structured staff schedule, he is developing goals for the future. Burnett wants to reduce the number of calls regarding repairs to allow his crew to provide maintenance and upkeep. “In my mind, if things are operating smoothly, most people don’t even see or hear from us,” Burnett said. He wants to make sure the department is efficient while developing a solid working relationship with the rest of Tribal Government employees. Two of Burnett’s favorite pastimes are spending time with loved ones and staying involved with baseball and softball. Burnett has two daughters and one son. He had his oldest daughter, Christibeth, with his first wife. After reconnecting with his childhood sweetheart and second wife, they welcomed son Ryan and daughter Arielle. His children are grown and have careers, but a love for baseball and softball is something they all share. Burnett played ball in his younger years and coached his kids through high school. He has taught baseball and fastpitch softball to generations of youngsters and continues to give pointers to players at tournaments. Burnett looks forward to growing with the Chehalis Tribe and being involved with the community. His goal is to maintain buildings and infrastructure on tribal lands as daily operations expand. He hopes to bring the Indian National softball tournament to the Chehalis Reservation, which is a big task but would generate recognition for the tribe. Classes teach weaving with traditional materials. TRADITIONS From page 5 with the Alaskan Natives. She specializes in plant medicine. During the COVID-19 shutdown, Stevens partnered with the program to maintain participation. Heritage & Culture and Youth Services made adjustments to continue serving the tribe. Amidst the shutdown, Klatush, White-Eagle Rosbaugh and Stevens put together and distributed nearly 300 kits for adults and 300 for youth. The take-home kits were intended to keep community members active and culturally aware. “I want people to know we’re still here,” Stevens said. Though she doesn’t work directly with Heritage & Culture, her program collaborates on activities year-round. Stevens said it’s crucial to discover ways to be involved and connect with the environment and culture. She explained that each individual needs to feel grounded to properly function and reach his or her full potential. CONTACT US To learn more about the program, to-go kits, volunteering and how to become an instructor, please call Skylar WhiteEagle Rosbaugh or Karan Klatush at 360-709-1721. Heritage & Culture recently held its first Culture Camp. Attendees learned techniques for beading, carving, painting, wire wrapping, sewing and more at the free event at the Chehalis Tribe’s Community Center. 7 Tribal member follows his dream in the Army Chavez Secena unearths strength, determination in training as well as the drill sergeants. He trained with people from diverse backgrounds. His best friends at camp were guys he met from West Virginia. ‘It broke down the civilian part of me and built me back Inspiration from home up as a soldier.’ Throughout the six months at By Frazier Myer Chehalis tribal member Chavez Secena, 21, completed 22 weeks of basic military training from Feb. 5-July 9 at Fort Benning Army Base in Columbus, Ga. Chavez grew up and was raised a majority of his life on the Chehalis Reservation. His mother is Rachelle Wells-Ferguson and his grandparents are Bill Secena and Georgette Wells. “I’ve always been interested in the Army ever since I was a kid,” Secena said. His grandpa played a major role in his upbringing and taught him a lot about how to approach life. “He taught me how to always care for people and treat everyone with respect,” Secena said. “It is just how my grandpa raised me.” Secena believes joining the Army and serving his country shows compassion for others. He hopes to be a role model for fellow tribal members and the general public, especially the younger generation. Secena was given the job of indirect fire infantryman and is a member of the mortar squad. He will provide the first support to soldiers on the front line. Only 1 percent of the United States population joins the U.S. Army; out of those, just 1 percent are placed in the infantry, where close-range combat is possible. Building strength The six-month training was hard mentally and physically, according to Secena. Drill sergeants pushed them close to their limit every day. “I’m very grateful that they did that because it made me humbler,” Secena said. “It broke down the civilian part of me and built me back up as a soldier.” Secena got in great shape and built up his endurance from the daily workouts, running and drills. He lost 21 pounds training thanks to activities such as running while carrying a heavy bag and hauling mortar equipment. He shaved his 1-mile time down to six minutes and 18 seconds, 2-mile time to 13:35 and 5-mile run to 40 minutes. Secena braved an endurance run called a ruck, which requires a change of pace – Chavez Secena on his six-month Army training Chavez Secena celebrates with his mom Rachelle Wells-Ferguson after completing his military training and becoming a member of the U.S. Army. and is intended to become more challenging with each mile. After a couple months of getting in shape, he was able to complete the 5-mile, 8-mile and even 12-mile runs easier. The housing situation at Fort Benning was very similar to the movie “Full Metal Jacket.” They were placed in a giant room with rows of bunk beds stacked next to each other. Each building housed 56 troops sleeping in one room. The oldest trainee was 36 and the youngest was 17. They went to bed at 9 p.m. each night and woke up at 4 a.m. every day to began physical training. 5 phases of training Training was split into five phases: red, white, blue, black and gold. In the red phase, soldiers built confidence. The white phase introduced training in firearms such as pistols and machine guns, throwing hand grenades and mounting grenade and rocket launchers. The blue phase taught proper techniques for repelling down towers and introducing the mortar system. In the final two phases, troops learned how to perfect tactical movements for specific scenarios in the field, began simulated fire and practiced with live rounds. Forge ahead Secena said the hardest part of his entire training experience was the forge, which came after the blue phase was complete. He described it as “one full week of just sweating.” It was the breaking point for a lot of people. Secena celebrated his 21st birthday while pushing through the forge. He trekked 53 miles during a one-week period, completing 27 miles in just one day. The troops had to finish the task in full gear while carrying equipment. The forge is the point in training when the Army trains soldiers how to prepare for an enemy, set up and ambush, remain quiet while walking through the woods and set up a patrol base. Another part of the grueling week was an obstacle course, which included climbing over a wall and crawling in the mud underneath barbed-wire. Simulated bullets added to the pressure and stress. During part of the course, there were pipes in the ground that went off when soldiers would get close. “I got close to one of those pipes and it blew up right in my face,” Secena said. It caused his ears to ring and the mud in his face distorted his vision, but he kept crawling through the mud and completed the course. Important skills The tough mental challenges of training is designed to help teach soldiers how to work through challenges they encounter. Some people were unable to complete the training and were sent home. The camp started with 236, but only 219 completed the full 22-week program. Additional training included rifle shooting. Secena improved tremendously while in training. His stress shooting score rose from 21 out of 40 to 39 out of 40. He was motivated by his peers Fort Benning, Secena was able to contact family and friends only by letter or phone. He was given one 10-minute phone call each week, which he looked forward to almost every Sunday. He called his mom, grandparents and close friends. “Just hearing them talk on the other side of the phone inspired me to keep moving on and pushing forward,” Secena said. He was able to leave the Army training base on rare occasions. Those days included holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The drill sergeant also allowed troops to leave camp to relax and recover after the forge. Fresh outlook “Going through basic training made me humbler and made me appreciate everything that I have because they take that all away,” Secena said. “I see everything differently now ... I really appreciate everything that I have.” Secena said he no longer takes for granted the quality food he is able to eat, being able to choose his meals and drinking anything besides water. The worst part of the experience was getting punished and having to do drills whenever someone in his camp was disciplined. If one person messes up, the whole team is punished. The drill sergeants would always remind them “one team, one fight.” A new life After he completed training, Secena was honored with and received his crossed rifles pin, which signifies troops turning into soldiers. He briefly visited Washington to see his friends and family for 10 days. Secena is stationed at his first base in Fort Hood, Texas. Because the U.S. is not at war at this time, he will be stationed and continue training to prepare for active combat. Secena encourages anyone interested in joining the Army to never give up on being a part of the military. 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 8 An extensive overhaul of the Chehalis Tribe’s wastewater treatment system will provide significant benefits to the community. PROJECT From page 1 Construction began after years of planning and development and a lengthy process to finalize the new system’s design. It was important to ensure the project would be done correctly and fit the tribe’s needs. The Planning Department worked with the state and filed applications through the Department of Ecology to receive a loan from the Clean Water Safe Evolving Fund (CWSRF) for the project. The Chehalis Tribe contracted with Roglin’s Construction. Roglin’s is the company that completed the roundabout project during the summer of 2020. The structure the Planning Department and designers developed increases the system’s ability to move water in and out, creating more efficient water flow management. They also enhanced the electronic equipment that runs the main plant to control the entire system better than in the past. This project benefits the Chehalis Tribal Government because it will now control the membrane bioreactor, which determines what goes into the ground. The Utilities team will manage the system and provide services to those living in the area. Additionally, the project will better equip LEC&H and allow room for growth. VonCluck headed the project with assistance from various other project managers. He reorganized the agreement with the state, WIC THROUGH SPIPA Breastfeeding help, health education, checks to buy food and services referrals NEXT DATE: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Wellness Center CONTACT: Debra Shortman at 360-709- 1689 or wicnutrition@spipa.org developed the scope of work, selected the design team and put together the proposal for the construction crew to make this major overhaul successful. In total, the wastewater project will span more than five years, from when the need for an upgraded wastewater plant was realized to completion. It’s scheduled to be wrapped up by early spring. USDA food program 9:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 21 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%3Ae7bfa2f4ca1fc270. Public record. Not legal advice.