NEWS FROM THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF COOS, LOWER UMPQUA & SIUSLAW INDIANS (2022)
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The Voice of
May 2022
CLUSI
Issue 5
Volume 23
www.ctclusi.org
NEWS FROM THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF COOS, LOWER UMPQUA & SIUSLAW INDIANS
Tribal Council Election, April 10, 2022 Results
Brad Kneaper, Chair (Siuslaw) Position#2
Teresa Spangler, (Siuslaw) Position #4
Doug Barrett, (Siuslaw) Position #6
Authored by Morgan Gaines, Communications Specialist
Save the Dates:
Tribal Council Elections were held on Sunday, April 10, 2022. Polls
were open at the Tribal Hall for in person voting between 12 noon and
4:00 p.m. Staff and members of the Election Board were available to
assist with registering voters, voting questions, and aiding the third-party
contractor ISLER CPA with the official count.
The certified elections results determined position #2 is newly elected
Brad Kneaper, position #4 is newly elected Teresa Spangler, and position
#6 in re-elected Doug Barrett. The official vote numbers are posted here
(at right) in this edition of the Voice of CLUSI paper as well as on the
Tribal Government Website at www.ctclusi.org.
Tribal Council held a special meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022 to
determine the Chair and Vice Chair representative for the Council. Turn to
page four of this paper to hear from your new Tribal Chair, Brad Kneaper
and residing Vice Chair, Julie Siestreem.
Your voice as a General Council member matters. One way to have
your voice heard is to vote in your Tribal elections. According to data
collected from the Elections Clerk, there are 910 Tribal members eligible
to vote out of a total of 1,316. However, only 565 of those eligible voters
are actually registered to vote. Only registered voters receive absentee
ballots to vote by mail. This makes it vitally important for you to register
to vote to ensure that your voice is heard during Tribal elections. In the
April 10th Tribal Council Election only 43% of registered voters submitted
ballots by either absentee mail-in or in-person.
Remember, next year is also an election year for Tribal Council Positions
#1, #3, and #5. To ensure that you receive a ballot by mail, please contact
the Election Clerk and make sure you are registered to vote.
Call 541-888-9577 and ask for Elections or email jmcneil@ctclusi.org
Tribal Scholarships Application Deadline
May 22, 2022
Visit www.ctclusi.org to fill out an application online.
Summer School
July 5 - 15, 2022
See flyer on page 18. More details coming soon.
Confederated Tribes of Coos,
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Eugene, OR
Permit #481
2
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
May 2022
Tribal Council Business
Activity of Elected Tribal Council Members from March 11, 2022 – April 09, 2022
Chief Doc Slyter:
3/13 Tribal Council Regular Meeting
3/15 Goose Point Zoom meeting
3/16 Blue Earth Board
3/17 Leader’s Circle
3/18 Tribal Council Special Meeting
3/23 Tribal Council Special Meeting
3/31 Toured Gregory Point/Plank House with
Barton Robison
4/01 Luncheon for Green Algae problem in
Lakeside
4/04 Took Bob Bailey from Elakha Alliance
on tour of Coquille Plankhouse & our
Plankhouse
4/05 Coos County Commissioner Zoom
Meeting
Total Hours: 55.25
Debbie Bossley, Chair:
March - April In Office 20 days
03/13 Tribal Council Regular Meeting
03/15 OTGA Meeting
03/16 Port of Coos Bay Container Facility
Meeting
03/17 9 Tribes & Governor / Leaders Circle
03/18 Tribal Council Special Meeting
03/21 President of the Senate Courtney &
Representative Rayfield Meeting
03/22 Social Services Director Interview
03/24 Leaders Circle
03/24 Social Services Director Interviews
03/29 Lakeside Cemetery
03/30 GFORB / Tribal Council Business
Meeting
03/31 Chair Meade Meeting / Leaders Circle
Total Hours: 94.5
Julie Siestreem, Vice Chair:
03/13 Tribal Council Regular Meeting
03/15 Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance
Meeting/ Capital Projects Meeting
03/16 Port of Coos Bay Container Facility
Meeting / Blue Earth Board Meeting
w/ Tribal Council
03/17 Oregon Racing Commission / Tribal
Chairs & Governor / Leaders Circle /
IPC 4j
03/18 Tribal Council Special Meeting
03/21 Virtual Spring Break Camp / President
of the Senate Courtney &
Representative Rayfield Meeting
03/22 Virtual Spring Break Camp /
Director of Social Services Interview
03/23 Virtual Spring Break Camp / Tribal
Council Special Meeting
03/24 Leaders Circle
03/25 Director of Social Services Interviews
03/28 RESPECT ACT (H.R. 3587)
Chair Raul M. Grijalva
03/29 Lakeside Cemetery in person visit
with Chair Debbie Bossley, Lakeside
current Government / White House
Tribal Briefing
03/30 BIA/CTCLUSI Meeting / Coos Head /
GFORB / Tribal Council Business
Meeting
03/31 Oregon Tribal Broadband Summit II /
Chair Meade Meeting / Leaders Circle
04/04 Forest Planning Advisory Committee
Update
04/05 Coos County Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting / Traditional
Consultation ITEK White House
04/06 Director of Social Services Interview
04/07 Tribal Consultations on FEMA 20222026 National Tribal Strategy
04/08 Water Healing Gathering Planning
Meeting
Total Hours: 94.5
Iliana Montiel:
03/13 Tribal Council Regular Meeting
03/16 Blue Earth Board Meeting
03/17 Leaders Circle
03/18 Tribal Council Special meeting
03/23 Tribal Council Special meeting
03/30 GFORB / Tribal Council Business
Meeting
03/31 Leaders Circle
Reading & responding to emails
Total Hours: 37
Josh Davies:
03/13 Tribal Council Meeting / Celebrated
my Mom’s Birthday
03/16 EAC Board of Directors Meeting /
Blue Earth Board Meeting with Tribal
Council
03/17 Met with HECC / Leaders Circle
03/18 Tribal Council Special Meeting /
ESSR III Healing Ceremonies Tribal
meeting
03/23 Tribal Council Special Meeting
03/24 Leaders Circle
03/29 White House Tribal Briefing - Biden’s
Budget / Tribal Consultation on
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law /
White House Tribal Briefing
03/30 GFORB Meeting / Tribal Council
Business Meeting
0331 TSPC Commissioner meeting
04/01 TSPC Commissioner meeting
04/05 Tribal Consultation on Indigenous
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
04/07 Tribal Consultations on FEMA’s draft
2022-2026 National Tribal Strategy
Total Hours: 86
Doug Barrett:
03/13 Tribal Council Meeting
03/15 Capital Projects Meeting
03/16 Native Wellness Gathering Planning
Committee / Blue Earth Board
Meeting With Tribal Council
03/17 Oregon Racing Commission Zoom
Meeting / Leaders Circle
03/18 Rivers and Waters Healing Ceremony
Planning Meeting / Tribal Council
Special Meeting
03/23 Tribal Council Special Meeting
03/24 Leaders Circle
03/25 Rivers and Waters Healing Ceremony
Planning Meeting
03/30 GFORB Meeting / Tribal Council
Business Meeting
03/31 Leaders Circle
04/04 Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
04/05 Tribal Consultation on Indigenous
TEK, (Traditional Ecological
Knowledge)
04/07 Leaders Circle
04/08 Rivers and Waters Healing Ceremony
Planning Meeting
Total Hours: 74 & Emails
Enna Helms:
03/13 Tribal Council Regular Meeting;
03/16 Blue Earth Board with Tribal Council
03/17 Tribal Council Leaders Circle
03/21 Tribal Council Special Meeting
03/22 Tribal Council Leaders Circle
03/25 Director Interviews
03/30 Tribal Council Business Meeting
03/31 Tribal Council Leaders Circle
04/04 Forest Planning Advisory Committee
Update
04/08 Water Healing Gathering Planning
Meeting
Total Hours: 36
“Bridging Cultures, Healing Hearts” - Amanda Bridge Dedication
You are invited to attend a very special event on
May 21, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. in Yachats, Oregon.
“Bridging Cultures, Healing Hearts”
Oregon Parks & Recreation Department, View the Future,
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes
of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, Oregon Coast
Visitors Association, City of Yachats, and additional partners,
are proud to announce the completion and formal dedication
of the Amanda Trail Suspension Bridge, located just south of
Yachats city limits.
Following the dedication will be a reception and
performances of the play, “Amanda Transcending”. All events
are free, although tickets must be reserved due to limited
seating. Oregon State Covid requirements will be required in
all settings.
To register visit the website
www.viewthefuture.org and click on
“2O22 Bridge Dedication”
You will find all the information you need to get tickets and
register your RS.V.P.
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS?
The CLUSI Tribal Council welcomes your ideas,
comments, criticisms, etc.
Please write to: Confederated Tribes of
Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians
ATTN: Tribal Council 1245 Fulton Ave.
Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
COMMITTEE INTEREST LIST
If you are a Tribal member and interested in
being on a committee, please contact Christine
Sylvester, 541-888-7532. We are currently
keeping a list of those interested so that when a
committee vacancy occurs we can fill it as soon
as possible, so please contact us whether there is
a vacancy or not.
Information
ATTENTION VETERANS AND FAMILIES
Veterans we need your help. Veterans are honored at
the Salmon Ceremony each year. Please contact Jeannie
McNeil at 541-888-7506 or at email jmcneil@ctclusi.org
for new requirements needed to be honored.
US FOREST SERVICE
NORTHWEST FOREST PASSES
Now available at the Tribal Administration Building,
Florence and Eugene Outreach offices.
Requirements are: 1. Must be a CTCLUSI Tribal
member. 2. Must be over 16 years old. 3. You may only
be issued one per year. The passes hang from the rear
view mirror and are good for access to some Forest
Service fee areas. Area maps available.
3
CHANGES?
Please let us know if you have a change in
address, phone number, name or addition to
your family. Changes should be submitted
to Enrollment Dept., either online at www.
ctclusi.org/enrollment or mail to Enrollment
Dept., 1245 Fulton Ave., Coos Bay, OR
97420. Phone: 541-888-7506 or Fax: 541888-2853.
TRIBAL COUNCIL MINUTES
The full meeting video is available at www.
ctclusi.org If you are an enrolled member of
CTCLUSI and would like to receive typed
copies of the Tribal Council Meeting minutes
please submit a written request to Jeannie
McNeil 1245 Fulton Ave. Coos Bay OR
97459 or jmcneil@ctclusi.org including the
date requested , your name , current address
and Tribal Roll number for verification.
CTCLUSI Departments, Services & Offices
Government Office
Lee Ann Wander
Chief Executive Officer
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-9577
lwander@ctclusi.org
Purchased/Referred Care
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-4873
Toll free 1-800-227-0392
Fax 541-888-5388
prc@ctclusi.org
Health Services Division
Iliana Montiel, Interim Director
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-7526
Toll free 1-888-280-0726
Fax 541-888-5388
imontiel@ctclusi.org
Education Department
Josh Davies, Education Director
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone: 541-888-1314
Cell: 541-294-4105
Toll free 1-888-280-0726
jdavies@ctclusi.org
Department of Human
Resources
Jennifer Silva, Director
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone: 541-888-7508
Toll Free: 1-888-280-0726
Fax: 541-897-9881
jsilva@ctclusihr.org
Family Support Services
Iliana Montiel, Interim Director
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-7526
Toll Free 1-888-280-0726
Fax 541-888-5388
imontiel@ctclusi.org
Cultural Department
Jesse Beers,
Cultural Stewardship Manager
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-1319
Fax 541-888-2853
jbeers@ctclusi.org
Tribal Dental Clinic
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-6433
Toll free 1-877-688-6433
Fax 541-888-7505
Eugene Outreach Office
135 Silver Lane, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97404
Phone 541-744-1334
Toll Free 1-800-877-2718
Fax 541-744-1349
Tribal Housing Department
Jamie Meyers, Director
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-435-7150
Cell 541-808-4295
Fax 541-435-0492
jmeyers@ctclusi.org
Tribal Court
J.D. Williams, Chief Judge
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-9577
Toll Free 1-888-280-0726
tribalct@ctclusi.org
Tribal Committee Members
Budget Committee
Elders Committee
1. George Barton
2. William Ingersoll Jr.
3. Margaret Corvi
4. VACANT
5. Teresa Spangler
6. Allen (Butch) Swigert
7. Roseanna Perry, Chair
ladyperrie@gmail.com
1. Arleen Perkins
2. George Barton
3. Warren (Tom) Brainard
4. VACANT
5. Martin Harris
6. Allen (Butch) Swigert
7. Brad Kneaper
Enrollment Committee
Culture Committee
1. David Petrie
2. Doug Barrett
3. Scott Slyter, Chair
slyterdesigns@gmail.com
4. Jade Fong
5. Michael Brainard
6. Patrica Whereat-Phillips
Education Committee
Elders Activities
Iliana Montiel, Interim Director
1245 Fulton Ave.
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-7526
Fax 541-888-7526
Toll Free 1-888-280-0726
imontiel@ctclusi.org
1. Coline Benson
2. Julie Siestreem
3. Heather Gleason Biesanz
4. Ashley Russell, Chair
arussell@ctclusi.org
5. Bryson Bossley
Investment Committee
1. Roseanna Perry
2. Jade Fong
3. William Ingersoll Jr., Chair
bill7@yahoo.com
4. Andrew Newsome
5. Vicki Faciane
Language Committee
1. Debbie Bossley
2. Patricia Whereat-Phillips
3. Skip Brainard
4. Vicki Faciane
5. Teresa Spangler
1. Megan Medina
2. Alycia Cossey
3. Jade Fong
4. Jamie Biesanz
5. Ayuthea Cisneros, Chair
isabella.a.cisneros@gmail.com
Housing Committee
Election Board
1. VACANT
2. Danny Krossman, Chair
dkrossman33@gmail.com
3. Roseanna Perry, Vice Chair
4. Josh Davies
5. Bryson Bossley
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
If you or anyone in your Tribal family has had
any recent special awards or achievements that
you would like to share, please submit your
information and photos to the newsletter. I look
forward to hearing from you! -Morgan Gaines
mgaines@ctclusi.org
1. Andrew Brainard
2. Michael Brainard
3. VACANT
4. Mark Petrie, Chair
mpetrie@ctclusi.org
5. Josh Davies
6. Pauline Benson
7. Ashley Russell
Florence Outreach Office
Physical: 3757 Hwy. 101
Mailing: P.O. Box 2000
Florence, OR 97439
Phone 541-997-6685
Toll Free 1-866-313-9913
Fax 541-997-1715
Tribal Gaming Commission
Rusty Bossley,
Executive Director of the
Gaming Commission
5647 Hwy 126, Suite 100
Florence, OR 97439
Phone 541-997-2830
Fax 541-997-7293
rbossley@ctclusi.org
Tribal Police
Brian Dubray, Police Chief
5647 Hwy 126, Suite 100
Florence, OR 97439
Phone 541-997-6011
Fax 541-902-6507
bdubray@ctclusi.org
Department of Natural
Resources
Roselynn Lwenya, Ph.D.
Director of Natural Resources
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Phone 541-888-9577
Toll Free 1-888-280-0726
Fax 541-888-2853
rlwenya@ctclusi.org
Are you a Tribal member
who would like to learn more
about a Tribal Committee,
or are interested in being on
a committee? Reach out to a
Committee Chair person or
a Tribal Government Staff
member.
Committee Chairs are noted
at left with current sitting
members of the committee at
the time of publication of this
paper.
For questions, please contact
Christine Sylvester, 541-8887532 or csylvester@ctclusi.org
The Tribe maintains a list of
those interested so that when a
committee vacancy occurs we
can fill it as soon as possible, so
please contact us whether there
is a vacancy or not. Letters of
interest remain on file for one
full year. Members can serve
on up to three committees
simultaneously.
Upcoming Events
Turn to page 19 of this publication for a monthly calendar of
upcoming events or visit the Events Calendar on the tribal website
at https://ctclusi.org/events/
Tribal Council
Doc Slyter, Chief
Tribal Chief
541-808-7625 (cell)
dslyter@ctclusi.org
Enna Helms
Position #1 Council
541-297-7538 (cell)
enna.helms@ctclusi.org
Brad Kneaper, Chair
Position #2 Council
541-808-5178 (cell)
brad.kneaper@ctclusi.org
Julie Siestreem,
Vice-Chair
Position #3 Council
541-294-6055
jsiestreem@ctclusi.org
Teresa Spangler
Position #4 Council
541-294-3972
tspangler@ctclusi.org
Iliana Montiel
Position #5 Council
541-217-4613(cell)
iliana.montiel@ctclusi.org
Doug Barrett
Position #6 Council
541-297-2130 (cell)
doug.barrett@ctclusi.org
Council Meeting
May 8, 2022
10:00 a.m.
To practice safe social distancing
guidelines, this meeting will be
streamed online. Please login to the
citizen portal of www.ctclusi.org
and click Council Meetings for the
zoom link to this meeting.
Agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation
3. Approval of Minutes as needed
4. Tribal Council Reports
5. Tribal Chief Executive Officer
Report
6. Chief Financial Officer Report
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Other
10. Good of the Tribes
11. Executive Session as needed
Council meeting video available to view at
www.ctclusi.org
4
May 2022
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
Tribal Council Corner
An Introduction from Newly Elected Chairman Brad Kneaper
Greetings,
I want to introduce myself to everyone. My
name is Brad Kneaper and I am a Siuslaw
member of the Tribe. First and foremost, I
want to acknowledge and thank previous
Council members and recognize the work
they have done. Each and everyone have
contributed to the future and welfare of
our Tribe. I am honored and privileged to
serve the Tribe in this capacity. I retired in
March of 2021 as Chief Law Enforcement
Officer for our Tribe. In that capacity I was
the Tribal Police Chief and the Executive
Director of the Gaming Commission. I
began employment with the Tribe on April
1, 2004. I was very fortunate to have had
the opportunity to work for my Tribe.
I want to continue the work that previous
Councils have done. I believe there are
many important goals that we should strive
to reach. Economic diversification is very
important to the future of our Tribe. I would
like to see that our children, grandchildren
and future generations benefit from new
programs and programs that are already
in place. A goal of mine is to see those
programs and benefits expanded to include
all our tribal families no matter where they
live.
Our culture is vitally important and we
need to preserve it. We need to make it
possible for our people to learn from our
culture and find out who we were and where
we came from while moving into the future.
I want to see our people enjoy our forests.
Hunting and Fishing rights that should have
never been lost need to be restored. While
our forests need to be preserved, we need
to do that responsibly. I don’t think that
anyone wants to see our forests clear-cut.
There is a lot of work to be done. I
mentioned a few things above, and these
are some of the things I believe and want to
see, but we need your help. Come to council
meetings either in person or by Zoom. Join
committees, and be part of the planning and
development process. Communicate with
Council and Government Staff in a positive
way. Neither Council nor Government
Staff want to keep information from you.
Sometimes all of us may miscommunicate
information, if there is confusion we want to
clear that up. We all want to work together
for the benefit of the tribe.
I wish you all health and happiness.
Brad Kneaper, Tribal Chair
A Message from Vice Chair Julie Siestreem
Dear General Fellow CTCLUSI members,
The April 2022 Elections brings forth change
in Tribal Council. Council positions are elected
by the people, and first I want to encourage
you all to exercise your right as an Enrolled
member of this Tribe to VOTE. We only have
approximately 25% of our eligible voters
participating in our elections. Let your voices
be heard and please participate in our Election
process.
Our former Chair Debbie Bossley and former
Councilmen Josh Davies will be missed, I
enjoyed and appreciated working alongside
them and learned a tremendous amount from
each of them during our time in office together.
I want to acknowledge their daily dedication,
devotion and hard work over the last four years
and offer my thankful gratitude for their strength,
sacrifices, guidance and service.
All the candidates should be commended
for their efforts who ran for Tribal Council with
the desire to work for the Tribe. Each of them
deserves respect for their participation in our
Election process. Thank you to fellow Tribal
Members David Petrie, Michael Romine and
Vicki Faciane for your passion and desire to
help our people.
Finally, congratulations to Brad Kneaper, our
new Chairman, Teresa Spangler and Doug
Barrett, our newly elected and re-elected
members of Tribal Council. With change comes
room for growth, new perspectives and fresh
ideas. I personally look forward to continuing
the positive path Council has established, with
our new Council members. To work together
with unity to continue this momentum for the
betterment of the Tribe. We are in a constant
and continuous state of prayers for good health
and spirit for all of us.
Respectfully yours,
Julie Siestreem, Fellow Tribal Member and
Tribal Council Vice- Chair
Comments from Your Tribal Council Elected Members
I am very honored to have
been one of the Tribal members
chosen to serve on Council. The
work that has been done in the
last four years has made so much
forward progress and I am very
grateful to be able to continue this
great work. What I look forward
to more than anything is once
again connecting with our Tribal
community.
I will work hard the next four
years in a positive way and please
always know you can reach out
to me at any time when you have
any questions or concerns.
Teresa Spangler, Tribal Council
I am humbly honored to be reelected to serve you. The work I have
done on a Council level is so important
to me, I am committed to work for
all our members for the betterment
of the Tribe for the next four years.
Thanks to all past Councils for the
time they served and everyone who
dedicated to fight for the Tribe before
us. I am excited to continue with all
the projects and plans that have been
started, to see them completed will
be very rewarding. The Council will
continue to work hard on all matters
of concern together as we move the
Tribe forward.
Please call me any time with any
questions or comments and ideas, we
work for you.
Doug Barrett, Tribal Council
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
5
Donald Boyd Ivy ~ February 21, 1951-July 19, 2021
Chief Donald Boyd Ivy of the Coquille Indian Tribe passed
away on Monday, July 19, 2021, peacefully at home with
his family by his side. He had fought a courageous seven
month battle with cancer. Don was preceded in death by
his parents, Fred Ivy and Mary Gladys Burns Ivy. He is
survived by his wife, Lucinda DiNovo; his sister and brotherin-law, Corrine and Greg Burnum; his son and daughter-inlaw, Jon Ivy and Soo Lee; and grandson Elliott Ivy.
Family and close friends remember Don as intensely
loyal, joyful and private, valuing his family and home life
above all. A lifelong learner and scholar, he avidly sought
out and read everything he could find addressing Northwest
prehistory and history, current environmental and Native
American issues, and popular culture.
In the public sphere, Don was a natural leader widely
recognized for his intelligence, integrity, creativity and
boundless intellectual curiosity. His infectious energy and
commitment to the common good enabled him to establish
new, productive relationships with and among diverse
groups and individuals. A skilled consensus builder, he
advanced understanding of his Coquille Tribal ancestors’
traditional culture while helping to create unprecedented
collaborations at state and local levels. His work included
active participation in a wide range of community events
and activities. Above all, he was deeply committed to
advancing core values and quietly strengthening the next
generation.
Don is credited with establishment of Oregon’s
exceptionally positive inter-tribal and inter-governmental
relationships, expanded opportunities for education,
increased tribal economic independence, and invaluable
productive communication networks within and among
tribal, state and local governments, academic institutions
and non-tribal communities. His legacy includes vastly
increased understanding and appreciation of the history,
traditions, culture and continuing significance of the Coquille
Indian Tribe, and heightened awareness of the relationship
of natural systems to contemporary issues. Much of his
work was accomplished quietly, often anonymously. His
goal was always to “make good things happen”
Don was born February, 21, 1951, in North Bend, Oregon.
He spent much of his childhood and early youth roaming
the Coos and Coquille Tribal homelands’ backwaters
and bayfronts; surfing its ocean beaches; exploring its
coves, headlands and tidelands; and venturing through
the forests, prairies and banks of the Middle Fork Coquille
River. His passion for discovery and fascination with the
natural world remained with him throughout his life.
Don’s energy, resourcefulness and strong work ethic
were apparent from an early age. As a youngster he sold
pumpkins from a Hood River fruit stand, picked beans in
Eugene, peeled bark for chittum buyers, and collected
and sold scrap metal. In his teens he worked at the local
Sunset Market, then as a stock boy for Albertson’s in North
Bend. At 25, he was appointed Albertson’s Portland-based
store director, managing stores in Oregon and Washington
until 1982. In 1983, he accepted a position with E&J Gallo
Winery and was ultimately
named Gallo’s
territory/brand manager
for all of
Western Oregon.
Don returned to
Coos Bay in 1989
for the Coquille
Indian Tribe’s
inaugural
restoration
celebration.
( A f t e r
decades
of
work,
the
tribe
had regained federal recognition on June 28, 1989.)
Initially a volunteer on the tribe’s Self-Sufficiency Planning
Committee, he returned to Coos Bay permanently in 1991
as the tribe’s first self-sufficiency planning coordinator
and economic development specialist. During the next
several years, he helped write the Tribe’s Constitution
and ordinances, and helped develop and implement the
first tribal budgets. He also assisted in drafting articles
of incorporation for the then-new Coquille Economic
Development Corp. (CEDCO) and facilitated the tribe’s
acquisition of Tupper Rock in Bandon, Ore., a site of
enormous cultural significance.
In 1993, Don began working as a consultant to the
Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians and the U.S
Bureau of Indian Affairs, advising Oregon and Northern
California tribal governments on development of tribal
constitutions, on governance, and on economic and
community development projects. His clients included
the Yurok Tribe, the Klamath Tribes, the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs, the Lummi Nation, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians,
and the Tulalip Tribes. In 1996, Don assisted the Coquille
Indian Tribe with reorganization of CEDCO and revision of
its articles of incorporation.
In 1997, Don was hired to establish and lead the Coquille
Indian Tribe’s then-new Cultural Resources Program. He
recognized that the tribe’s recently regained sovereignty
mandated even more intensive work to locate, reassemble
and interpret scattered documentary and physical
evidence of tribal history and culture. Don believed strongly
that accurate knowledge of tribal culture and history was
essential for current and future generations’ academic,
economic and political progress.
Don independently began collecting and researching
written materials concerning local tribal history, and he began
exchanging that information and cultural knowledge with
historians, anthropologists, geologists and archaeologists
at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon.
He soon developed professional relationships — and in
many cases, close personal friendships – with leading
academics working throughout Southwestern Oregon.
Field researchers noted that Don’s deep familiarity with
traditional cultural practices altered their understanding
and recognition of historic landscapes. Undergraduate and
graduate students working under Don’s supervision found
him to be an exceptionally engaged and inspiring mentor
who strongly encouraged their professional development.
Don was especially proud of the many students who, after
working alongside him, obtained advanced degrees in
related fields.
At the same time, Don worked with other tribal
representatives statewide to help state, federal and
local land managers recognize and modify practices
that inadvertently harmed tribal cultural resources or
destroyed culturally significant sites. He was instrumental
in creation of Oregon’s Culture Cluster, through which all
nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon and 19 state
agencies achieved productive communication and more
effective protections of cultural resources. The group still
follows Don’s vision of collective stewardship as its core
principle. The strong inter-governmental relationships he
helped build have made Oregon a national leader in tribalstate land stewardship.
To further education and awareness of the Coquille
tribal identity and understanding of the Coquille Tribe’s
perspectives, Don designed and organized an annual
Coquille Tribe Culture Conference. Under his leadership,
the conference was held annually for 11 years, attracting
the enthusiastic participation of tribal members, academics
and agency representatives. Don managed the conference
to maximize opportunities for individual and group
discussions that would further sensitivity to tribal concerns
and build positive partnerships to enhance protection of
cultural resources.
In 2005, Don became deeply involved in design
and construction of what would become the
tribe’s now-iconic Community Plank House.
Embodying Don’s vision of connected past,
present and future, the building combines a
form anchored in traditional culture, with a
welcoming interior easily adapted to a wide
variety of tribal celebrations and events.
The significance of this structure for the
tribe’s cultural renaissance was recognized
early by Don’s cousin, the late George
Wasson, who predicted the house would
inspire a revival of traditional dancing. In
fact, the Plank House quickly became the
natural gathering place for tribal members
and youth to dance and drum during annual
solstice celebrations.
As another facet of the Cultural Resources
Program, in 2007 Don assisted in the creation
of the Kilkich Youth Corps. Fired by his energy
and passion for continued stewardship of
ancestral homelands, the program engaged
tribal teens in the physical work of cultural
resource and environmental restoration. Like
so many of Don’s initiatives, the Youth Corps
provided its participants with immediate benefit while also
preparing them to meet future challenges. The youth gained
knowledge and experienced meaningful accomplishment,
while also gaining basic life skills and a sense of personal
responsibility.
Don also worked with partners to ensure that young
people throughout the region were aware of local tribes’
histories and cultures. Beginning in late 2004, he, along
with representatives of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and
Siuslaw Indians and the Coos History Museum, created
what was at the time the only structured multi-week school
program highlighting local tribes’ traditions, technologies
and continued presence in the community. The program
proved so popular and effective in addressing existing
curriculum gaps that it now serves schools in Coos, Curry,
Lane and Douglas counties. In 2017, inspired in part by
this program, the Oregon Legislature mandated creation
and teaching of K-12 Native American curricula statewide.
In 2014, Don was elected chief of the Coquille Tribal
Council, the primary cultural and spiritual representative of
the tribe. He served in this role for seven years, retiring
shortly before his death.
Between 1990 and 2020, Don participated as a highly
valued member of state and local boards and committees
- literally too many to count. They include the Oregon
Heritage Commission (vice chair), Oregon Racial Justice
Council, American Leadership Forum, Southwestern
Oregon Community College Foundation, Partnership for
Coastal Watersheds, Port of Coos Bay Marine Reserves
Recommendation
Committee,
Coos-Curry-Douglas
Business Development Corp. Board, Coos County
Planning Commission and South Slough Natural Resource
Advisory Committee.
Don’s lasting impact extends far beyond tribal and state
interests. He repeatedly devoted time and effort for the
benefit of the entire South Coast community. He was
among the first to recognize the multiple economic, social
and cultural benefits of constructing a new museum on the
downtown Coos Bay waterfront, and he helped inspire the
Coquille Indian Tribe to provide a generous early gift of $1
million that triggered successful construction fundraising.
The facility was completed in 2013, with the Coquille Tribe
its single largest donor. Under Don’s recent leadership, the
Coquille Indian Tribe acted as the first vocal supporter and
an important partner in creation of Southwestern Oregon
Community College’s new Health & Science Technology
Center.
Don was also generous with his time, appearing as a
highly popular and sought-after speaker at innumerable
community events. He also accepted various invitations to
assist with educational programs at the community college,
including field trips for participants in Road Scholar Elder
Hostel excursions, and for geology students.
In the private sphere, Don’s adventurous spirit and
curiosity inspired a lifelong enthusiasm for travel. He loved
exploring unfamiliar cities and countrysides on foot, simply
to discover new people and places. In addition to visiting
much of the United States, he made multiple trips to Europe,
Central America and East Asia, with Thailand, Cambodia,
China and Cuba among his favorite destinations.
Throughout his life, Don continued to spend countless
hours fishing, crabbing and clamming on Coos Bay. A
talented chef and generous host, he was happiest when
cooking and sharing meals with family and friends. In
gatherings big and small, he always made a point of
individually welcoming each guest with a warm hug, and he
created an atmosphere in which meaningful conversation
could flourish. Having transformed his backyard with
an intensive assortment of native and exotic plants, he
delighted in the diversity of visiting birds, and later qualified
as a master gardener through OSU Extension.
Don consistently chose to share his many gifts in the true
spirit of potlatch, a tradition shared by the Coquille Tribe
with many other Pacific Northwest tribes. In Don’s words:
“To potlatch is to give and receive; to share and to care;
and to pay back (and pay forward) for the blessings and
benefits we have received – or hope to receive. It is about
helping those who need help now, with hopes that they can
and will help us later. As we are helpful to each other, so too
are we helped in our own lives.”
A public memorial service and Celebration
of Don’s life will occur at 1 p.m., Saturday,
May 7, at The Mill Casino ● Hotel, 3201
Tremont Avenue, North Bend, Ore., with a
reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers the family asks donations in Don’s
memory be made to the Donald Ivy Memorial Scholarship
Endowment at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Don was a student at SWOCC and in 2021 was named
the SWOCC Distinguished Alumnus for his significant
contributions to the community. To help students and the
community in Don’s honor, donations can be made online
at www.socc.edu/give. Donations can also be made online
to the Elakha Alliance www.elakhaalliance.org/donivy/, of
which Don was a founding member and whose mission is
to restore a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon
Coast.
6
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
May 2022
Tribal Riparian Management Strategy
Contributed by Colin Beck, Forest Lands Manager
us to fully exercise tribal sovereignty and self-governance in the
The Forestry Program recently presented a draft version of our
management of the Tribal Forest.
Tribal Riparian Management Strategy to members of our Forest
Planning Advisory Committee, Culture and Natural Resources staff, • In September of 2021 we presented a range of management
alternatives to Tribal Council, and sought direction from Tribal
and Tribal Council. This strategy will ultimately be incorporated
Council on the management direction that should be incorporated
into our Forest Management Plan, and will guide protection and
into the Forest Management Plan. Tribal Council directed that
restoration of water quality as well as salmon and lamprey habitat
we should pursue the “Holistic Forest Management” approach,
on the Tribal Forest. This strategy was developed over the past
which provides a balanced approach to managing for revenue as
year with input from the Advisory Committee and other Tribal
well as ecological and cultural objectives.
Members, and with assistance from leading scientific experts in the
fields of forest hydrology and fisheries biology. Dr. Gordon Reeves, • In November of 2021 we completed a draft of the Tribal Forest
Management Code, and in February of 2022 we completed a draft
Research Fish Biologist (Emeritus) at the Pacific Northwest
of the Tribal Forestry Regulations.
Research Station and Dr. Lee Benda,
Both of these documents are
Forest Hydrologist at TerrainWorks
required under ITARA. We are
both assisted in the development of
currently working on a Tribal
the Riparian Management Strategy.
environmental review process, and
The focus of the Tribal Riparian
a policy for managing Threatened
Management Strategy will be to
& Endangered Species under the
use tribal ecological knowledge, upEndangered Species Act. These
to-date science, and state-of-thedocuments will be presented to
art computer modeling techniques
Tribal Council for initial review in the
to identify areas where protection
near future.
and restoration can most benefit
•
We presented a draft version
fish and other aquatic organisms.
of our Tribal Riparian Management
We have delineated Tribal Riparian
A thinned stand on the Lake Creek Tract of the Tribal Forest.
Strategy to members of our Forest
Management
Zones
(TRMZ’s)
Planning
Advisory
Committee,
in areas where protection and
Culture and Natural Resources staff, and Tribal Council earlier
restoration will have the greatest benefit to aquatic ecosystems.
this month. This Tribal Riparian Management Strategy will be a
Unlike private, state and federal forestlands where a generic “one
major component of the FMP.
size fits all” approach is used, the TRMZ’s on the Tribal Forest are
developed using site-specific factors including stream gradient, • We are currently finishing up a draft of the “Management Objectives
and Guidelines” that will be a major section of the FMP. Once the
stream size, stream aspect, landslide susceptibility, and the
draft is completed, it will be distributed to the Forest Planning
potential for the stream to provide fish habitat.
Advisory Committee, Culture and Natural Resources staff, and
The Tribal approach will also differ from that used on private, state,
Tribal Council for review and comment.
and federal lands in that appropriate management activities will
be implemented in the TRMZ’s where doing so will benefit aquatic • We are planning to have a completed draft of the FMP in May
or June of 2022. The draft will be circulated among the Planning
species. Such management activities could include selective
Advisory Committee, Culture and Natural Resources staff, and
harvest (thinning) to promote development of large trees, tipping
Tribal Council for review and input. Once we have incorporated
trees into streams to improve in-stream habitat, and planting native
the feedback that we receive and obtained preliminary approval
species to improve habitat and biological diversity.
from Tribal Council, the FMP will need to be reviewed and
The Tribal Riparian Management Strategy will be one of the
approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
most environmentally sound and scientifically defensible riparian
management approaches in the Pacific Northwest. The only • This coming summer, we will be meeting and negotiating with
the Bureau of Indian Affairs to secure their approval of our FMP
other forest that will be implementing a comparably progressive
and the Tribes’ ability to operate under ITARA without the need
approach is the Elliott State Research Forest. The Elliott is also
for future BIA approval and oversight. We hope that the BIA will
within the Tribes’ Ancestral Territory, and we’ve been working
complete their review and approve the FMP and other necessary
closely with the State and OSU on the future management of that
documents in September of 2022. At that point in time the FMP
forest. We hope that our approach to managing riparian areas on
will require a final approval from Tribal Council.
the Tribal Forest as well as on the Elliott will serve as an example
for other land managers, and will lead those land managers to • Concurrent with our negotiations with the BIA, we will be working
to plan upcoming management activities on the Tribal Forest.
adopt management approaches that provide improved protections
These management activities will likely include timber sales,
and benefits for salmon and lamprey.
thinning, reforestation, road maintenance, invasive species
Forest Management Planning Update
control, and planting of native species. These management
Development of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) has faced
activities will be detailed in an Operations Plan, which will detail
some setbacks due to staff turnover as well as ongoing staffing
management activities over a period of approximately five years.
shortages; however, the Forestry Program has been able to
Once the Operations Plan has been drafted, we will seek input
overcome some of these setbacks and we are making significant
from Tribal Council, staff, the Advisory Committee, and the Tribal
progress towards completing the FMP and getting the Forestry
Membership. The Operations Plan will ultimately require approval
Program fully operational. Here’s a quick summary of our progress
from Tribal Council.
to date and planned timeline going forward:
• In February of 2021 the Forestry Program presented a variety • Once the Tribal Forest Management Code and Regulations,
the ITARA documents, the Forest Management Plan, and the
of forest management options to the Forest Planning Advisory
Operations Plan have all been reviewed and approved by Tribal
Council, Culture and Natural Resources staff, and members of
Council, we will proceed with the implementation of management
Tribal Council. We received some helpful input from staff and our
activities including timber sales. Individual timber sales will require
Advisory Committee members. Those present were generally
additional approval by the CEO and/or Tribal Council. We expect
supportive of the “Holistic Forest Management” alternative, though
that timber sales could be ready for approval in October of 2022,
which the Tribal Forest would be managed using ecological forestry
with on-the-ground activities starting in the winter of 2023.
techniques to provide a balance of timber harvest, cultural and
While we’ve made significant progress to date, there are many
environmental protection, and a diversity of habitat and species
diversity. The primary characteristics of this approach are longer steps of review and approval that need to take place before
harvest rotations, uneven-aged management (no clearcutting), management activities such as timber sales are implemented. We
will continue to work with Tribal Council, the Advisory Committee,
and a focus on protecting and restoring aquatic habitat.
• Tribal Council provided direction for CTCLUSI to enter the the Tribal Membership and staff to seek input on the FMP and
Indian Trust Asset Reform Act (ITARA) Demonstration Project in upcoming management activities.
If you are interested in learning more about the Tribal Riparian
September of 2021. Under ITARA, the Tribes will be able to carry
out many forest planning and management activities without Management Strategy or the Forest Management Plan, or would
the need for oversight and approval from the Bureau of Indian like to provide suggestions and input, please contact the Tribes’
Affairs. This will reduce the Tribes’ management costs, speed Forest Lands Manager, Colin Beck, and cbeck@ctclusi.org or
planning timelines, increase management flexibilities, and allow (541) 888-9577.
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
7
Garden Boxes Still Available
Contributed by Jesse Beers, Cultural Stewardship Manager
When COVID-19 hit we were presented with an obstacle: the
inability to safely access the community garden due to health
concerns relating to COVID-19. This pandemic also inhibited our
ability to gather, learn from our Elders, and teach our youth as
a Tribal community. We recognized that our community garden
isn’t beneficial to our Tribal membership if they aren’t able to
utilize it without risk. Because of this, we sought innovative
ways and resources to be able to provide our Tribal people with
ways to supply themselves with their own traditional foods and
other healthy fruits and vegetables from the safety of their own
backyards.
While, working from home during quarantine our department
wrote a small grant with the goal to
provide garden boxes and soil to
Tribal Elders and Families who were
interested within the five-county
service area. This way should they be
quarantined at home again they can be
more self-sufficient and grow their own
fruit and veg. Having our tribal citizens
be self-reliant is a great way to increase
our tribal citizen’s Food Sovereignty.
Luckily, we received this grant from the
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health
Board (NPAIHB).
Thanks
to
our
maintenance
department’s hard work on the garden
boxes and delivery. We were able
to provide 4 patio planters and they
constructed 22 raised beds, which were delivered to 22 tribal
families, 11 of which were Elders. We have now secured and
sent out fifty different organic garden and herb seeds along with
harvest brodiaea, camas, sweet grass, bear grass, and traditional
tobacco. With this small grant and teamwork, we were able to
provide large results.
Now, through the CARES act we are once again able to offer
this resource and maintenance has already started putting them
together. Just as before this is a first come first serve opportunity
as there is a limited amount of lumber. We have a small waiting
list left over from the last funding and we will be contacting them
shortly. If you already have a garden box and would like another
feel free to contact us and we will put
you on a waiting list. If we have enough
boxes you maybe able to get another.
For those that don’t have any garden
boxes and missed your opportunity last
time or didn’t have the space and now
do, here’s your chance!
If interested in this round of 4 foot by
8 foot garden boxes and live within the
five county service area please contact:
Jesse Beers- Sha’yuushtl’axan hiich
(I am a Siuslaw Person)
CTCLUSI Stewardship Manager
3757 Hwy. 101 Florence, OR 97439
Cell: (541) 297-0748
E-mail: jbeers@ctclusi.org
VIRTUAL CULTURAL FRIDAYS
3:30-5:30 PM (PST)
Call for Archery &
Fishing Instructors
FIRST HUNTER & FISHER PROGRAM
SUMMER 2022
2X PER WEEK FROM
JUNE 20THJULY 29TH
The Culture & Natural Resources
Department is looking to host our first
ever First Hunter & Fisher Program this
summer for youth ages 9-13 in the
Eugene and Coos Bay Areas. If you
would like to become an instructor
(Must be able to pass a background
check), please contact Jesse Beers at
jbeers@ctclusi.org or (541) 297-0748 or
Ashley Russell at arussell@ctclusi.org or
(541) 888-7511.
Traditional
Cooking
Q&A
with
Jesse Beers
May 27th
Join live via ZOOM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85039393602?
pwd=akI3M0Y5cUJyTXI2TDhGeXdxU3pyUT09
8
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
May 2022
WHAT’S IN A NAME? HANIS, MILUK, SHA’YUSHTŁ’A UŁ QUUIICH
Contributed by Patty Whereat-Phillips, Tribal Linguist and Enna Helms, Linguist Associate
Our Tribe has been known as the “Confederated Tribes of the
Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians” for many years. At
least since the 1960s, although before then occasionally there were
other variations on the name (such as the Siuslaw, Lower Umpqua
and Coos Bay Indians which was the name used in an appeal
to the United Nations to repudiate the US government’s tribal
termination policy). In the 19th century, there were more interesting
spellings from explorers and colonists – Koos, Kusa, Kalawotset,
Sheastuckles, among many others. However, with few exceptions,
all of these names were in whole or in part misunderstandings on
the part of the writers. Few really understood the actual relations
of Tribe and language. Indeed, even today few do.
The traditional languages of the Tribe have other names, and not
everyone is familiar with the traditional names of the languages.
The modern name “Coos” refers to two languages spoken on the
bay (very closely related in many respects, but distinct enough to
be classified as two distinct languages) which are hanis and miluk.
The name “Coos” has referred to both of these communities on the
bay, as even the earliest explorers largely failed to pick up on the
fact that there were two languages spoken on the bay. The Lower
Umpqua and Siuslaw spoke two dialects of the same language.
Linguists early on named their language “Siuslaw” (to avoid
confusion with other Umpqua languages, namely the unrelated
Upper Umpqua language).
As mentioned above, there were two languages spoken on Coos
Bay. Broadly speaking, hanis was spoken at villages along much
of Coos River, the upper bay down to the Empire region. The
miluk speaking villages began at a place roughly halfway between
Empire and Charleston, down the bay through South Slough and
Cape Arago. A southern dialect of miluk was spoken by the Lower
Coquille people that lived in 3 villages at or near the mouth of the
Coquille River. However, the full distribution of the languages is
a little more complex than this. Miluk villages on the main bay all
had seasonal fishing camps on the South Fork Coos River (this
was the actual “Millicoma River”). Just as many Hanis villages also
had seasonal camps on kuggwiich (today’s “Millicoma River”). And
while these were primarily camps inhabited seasonally for fishing,
there were always a few people who preferred to stay year-round
VIRTUAL CULTURAL FRIDAYS
3:30-5:30 PM (PST)
CLASS
May 6th,
2022
13th,
& 20th
CEDAR
GRADUATION
CAP CLASS
Join live via ZOOM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85039393602?pwd=akI3M0Y5cUJyTXI2TDhGeXdxU3pyUT09
For more information, for supplies, and/or to sign up, please contact:
Ashley Russell @ (541) 888-7511 or arussell@ctclusi.org
in these far upriver communities. Which likely meant there were at
least a few miluk speaking people that lived year-round up South
Fork.
Now, many people might assume that Tribe=language, meaning
Tribe and language are synonymous. But the reality wasn’t that
straightforward at all. Interestingly, the hanis and miluk communities
did not recognize tribal boundaries between them. Both hanis
and miluk recognized Tenmile Creek as a boundary between the
Lower Umpqua and Coos Bay people, and a point near Cut Creek
as a boundary between them and the Lower Coquille. But on the
bay itself there were no boundaries. As was common in Oregon
coastal villages, each village had a lot of political autonomy.
Although larger villages with well respected chiefs tended to
have more influence than others. But they were more like a loose
confederation of villages recognizing a complex web of social and
economic ties in common. I write a little bit about this in a little
more detail here: https://shichils.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/onbountaries-and-Tribes/
The modern name “Coos” is, I think, likely to have come from
a couple of sources. The first being from the journals of Lewis
and Clark in 1806. They asked the Tillamook and Clatsop about
Tribes to the south, and they called the Coos Bay people “Coooo-oos”. Then, in both Hanis and Miluk the bay and the area is
called kuukwis, which sounds similar to Coo-oo-oos. In both Hanis
and Miluk, kuukwis means ‘south’, as the people felt closer kinship
to the people to the north than the Athabaskan peoples which
dominated the south. (The popular story that Coos means lake or
place of pines is wrong, and in part reflects a confusion with Cöos
county in New Hampshire which does mean white pines in the
Abenaki language, which is not related to our languages).
The meaning of the names hanis and miluk isn’t yet known, but
they are tied to two politically influential and prominent villages:
hanisiich (loosely, “hanis place”) in Empire and milukwich (“miluk
place”) near Charleston.
The Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw spoke dialects of the same
language. Currently we call this language sha’yuushtł’a uł quuiich,
a name that was voted on by the participants in a language page
on facebook to reflect the traditional names of each Tribe.
Although some words were different the two communities had no
trouble understanding each other’s speech. The name “Umpqua”
apparently comes from a place name of a location somewhere near
Roseburg in the Upper Umpqua language and early on became
applied by colonists to the entire river. The Lower Umpqua were
also often known as Kalowatset which is the Tillamook name for
them. In their own language, they are the quuiich which means
“south people ‘’ from south (quuii) and people (hiich), reflecting
that they are the southern community of people that spoke the
same language as the Siuslaw people.
“Siuslaw ‘’ is just an anglicized version of the name in the Native
language, sha’yuushtł’a. Unlike quuiich, this name doesn’t have a
clear etymology. As best I have been able to determine, it comes
from the name of a creek which was probably the source of
drinking water for a village on the North Fork Siuslaw. This name
became the name for the Siuslaw (sha’yuushtł’a) people.
The quuiich people lived in several villages from the mouth of
the river up to a village known as Ts’aliila, which is located just a
short distance upriver from Wells Creek and Scottsburg, as well
as on the Smith River, and at least one fish camp on tsaxinich
(Tahkenitch) creek. Smith River falls was an important seasonal
fishing site for salmon and lamprey.
The sha’yuushtł’a lived in villages from the mouth to far up Lake
Creek and the Siuslaw River. Triangle Lake was a meeting place
for Siuslaw and Kalapuya people to trade, and some Siuslaws
went elk hunting in the hills just to the east of the lake.
Unlike the hanis and miluk, the sha’yuushtł’a and quuiich did
recognize a boundary between the two, it was chiltłkuus (Siltcoos)
creek and lake. To the north, the Alsea and Yaquina kind of
mirrored the Siuslaw and Lower Umpqua in that they were two
bands that spoke the same language. All four of these Tribes had
a legend to explain this pattern. Long ago, Coyote called the First
People together and announced that he would send one couple
each to the Siuslaw and Umpqua rivers and they would speak the
same language. Then he sent one couple each to the Alsea and
Yaquina rivers, and they would speak one language. And so it was
for many generations until disrupted by American colonization.
For more information on our languages, check out this youtube
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DhINhxni8s.
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
9
“In the Loop” with the Circles of Healing Program
CTCLUSI Circles of Healing Program
LADIES SELF-CARE
H. E. A. L. I. N. G.
Heal, Empower, Affirm, Learn, Inspire, Navigate, and Gather
Contributed by Kathy King, Circles of Healing Coordinator
•
•
•
•
•
Culturally Sensitive Trauma Healing Support Group
Circles of Healing
Utilizes traditional healing circles at the beginning of each
session
Includes education about complex trauma, CPTSD, and the
brain
Educates about symptoms attributed to trauma and complex
trauma
Incorporates themes of balance and holistic healing approaches
Support Group is facilitated in 10 weekly sessions to promote
healing and progression
Meet Up at
Circles In The Sand
Objectives
Weekly objectives include: examining the importance of balance
in all aspects (physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional); goalsetting; understanding and creating safety in all forms; recognizing
forms of emotional dysregulation and developing skills to manage
them; recognizing and navigating triggers; understanding the
functions of anger and developing skills to acknowledge and
navigate anger and its underlying emotions; skill-building to manage
symptoms of anxiety; growing self-compassion, empathy, and selfesteem; identifying, creating, and sustaining healthy relationships;
understanding family systems; identifying the occurrence of lateral
violence; recognizing the effects of generational trauma; boundary
setting and healthy communication skills; prevention and planning;
and for increased understanding of the phases of healing. A short
confidentiality agreement will apply to create a safe space for
sharing.
We will meet in Scenic Bandon
We’ll stay outdoors to view the
circles & socially distance
Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 10:00am
May 21, 2022
For information and to sign up, please call or text
Kathy at 541-808-8152.
There is a long, steep stairway down to the beach
which can be quite cool and windy.
Sponsored by the Circles of Healing Program
CTCLUSI Health and Human Services Division
LADIES SELF-CARE
At the end of each session, there will be a celebration ceremony.
Please join us for a
Zoom Class!
2022 Summer Session
Session 2: June 13th - August 15th
Medicine Pouch
Bag & Abalone
or Bezel
Necklace
Session 2 - Afternoons: Mondays at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
on ZOOM, for 10 weeks
Contact the Circles of Healing program for information and
registration for this support group. Registration and participation
are at no cost and all participants will receive a certificate of
completion as well as a copy of their weekly attendance logs.
Please reach out for technology or other assistance in advance,
as we seek to meet individualized needs.
Circles of Healing Program: (541) 808-8152
LADIES SELF-CARE
SAVE THE
DATE
Dreamcatchers
Class
-TuesdayJune 28, 2022
6:00pm
Supplies will be sent
out via USPS mail.
Photos courtesy of Pixabay
Open to all women.
Class size is limited.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
at 6:00pm
For more information or to RSVP,
please call or text
541-808-8152
RSVPs are kindly requested by
Tuesday, May 1, 2022, so we can get materials
out to you.
Sponsored by the Circles of Healing Program
CTCLUSI Health and Human Services Division
10
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
May 2022
Spring Break Virtual Camp 2022
Authored by Morgan Gaines, Communications Specialist
Spring Break Virtual Camp 2022 was a hit hygiene. Culture lead them in activities
with the youth who attended! Many of the youth around food dehydration and learning about
who participated were from out of the area. first foods. Education and Culture joined
That is certainly one good thing about having together to present activities on solar power
the ability to hold events through zoom, we get and traditional technologies for tool making
to see so many faces that otherwise we might and other uses. Youth were also lead in drum
not. We are looking forward to seeing everyone stick making and painting of their drums,
in person again when it is safe to do so, but are and presentation on lamprey conservation,
delighted at meeting our Tribal families living canoe culture, and the revitalization of Youth
throughout the country. Each family/participant Council.
was sent an activity kit filled with items that
Thank you to all the staff who participated
were for various events throughout the week and made this camp such a success. Also
of camp. For example, they were sent kits for thank you to all the youth and their families
beading, mosaic making, canoe cut outs, drum who participated and provided feedback. We
painting and more!
look forward to seeing you again soon!
Youth hold up their painted drums for everyone to see!
st
Monday, March 21 through Friday, March
25th youth, their families, and staff gathered
online. Each morning, break out groups
learned their traditional languages and greeted
one another in morning talking circles. Here
they had a space to share and practice their
traditional language.
Police Chief Brian Dubray joined us on
Monday after camp protocols and introductions
for a presentation on cyber safety. Our
online presence has greatly increased due to
Covid-19, with school taking a hybrid approach
and events such as our own virtual camp. He
reminded us of the importance of online safety,
what type of information not to share, and how
to watch out for one another.
To keep us energized and get us moving
rather than sitting at our computer screens to
long throughout the day, we did physical warm
ups by following along to Powwow Dance.
Youth had a blast learning one of their own
Tribal dances and put their endurance to the
Tribal siblings participated in virtual camp together from Washington, loved to have them join in.
test with the hop dance game. That definitely
got the blood flowing and appetites up for their
at home lunch breaks.
Afternoon sessions were held in the Tribes
new virtual space Gather.Town. This virtual
space was created to replicate the Tribal
Hall, Community Center, and other spaces
around the reservation. Through the creation
of an avatar, youth were able to explore these
spaces, practice more of the language, do
various scavenger hunts for traditional plants
and first foods and so much more. Together
they watched a movie online as well as played
games such as an escape room based off of a
traditional story about nuusgilii.
Throughout the week youth also met the entire
Dental Clinic team, Education Department
Staff, members of Culture and the Department
of Natural Resources, Tribal Council members
and Communications staff. The Dental staff
lead a fun toothpaste slime activity while
teaching youth about the importance of dental
Exploring Gather.Town
Showing off mosaic skills!
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
11
Spring Break Virtual Camp 2022
What was your favorite thing from the entire camp?
What do you want to see for the next camp?
ants to
the rocks. W
t
u
o
b
a
g
in
earn
Isabelle - “L
camp.”
g at the next
in
k
a
m
ry
e
tt
do po
Talice - “Making the necklaces, and
the solar
power activity. We should do sol
ar powered cars.”
the
doing
d
n
a
ody
!”
everyb e fun things
g
n
i
e
e
- “S
, mor
Paislie uture camp
g. F
beadin
Gather.Town was a huge hit with the Youth who picked up the hang of it
quickly while us adults caught on in due time.
Ge
neck nevieve
lace
s an ”Beadin
d do
ing g the
g
the j
in
ump
Eli
k
a
dan
and jah ce”
“M
mo “Re
re b ally
e
zi ”
ead
like
n
ing
d
ke lry.
c
for bead
a e
nex ing
M jew
t ca ,
e
mp
th
!”
ce.
g the neckla
in
k
a
m
d
e
v
ar!”
o
Chase - “L
rson next ye
e
p
in
y
d
o
b
every
Wants to see
Tribal Dental Team spent a session talking about dental hygiene and leading
fun activities over zoom
Jaylah - “Honestly can’t think of
one thing
that was her favorite. Want to be
in person next
camp!”
Pa
ever tty - “Be
yo
in
crea ne from g able t
tive
o
wor all ove gather
r! A
ks b
toge
n
y ev
eryo d seein ther wi
g all
th
ne.”
of th
e
Ashley - “W
atching every
interact with
one
each other a
nd learn the
history, lang
ir
uage, but m
ost importan
the nuusgilii
tly,
Escape Room
in Gather.”
Every morning youth participated in their Native
Language Classes to learn vocabulary words for each
day’s activities. They learn the language so fast!
Afternoon sessions took place in Gather.Town. Here youth interacted with each other using
avatars while exploring a virtual replica of Tribal Hall, the Community Center and more!
Youth listened in during a presentation all about the lamprey conservation efforts that the
Tribe has been doing. They learned how lamprey was not only a traditional food source for our
ancestors but remains a vital part of our local ecosystems.
12
May 2022
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
Health Department Hires
Purchased/ Referred Care Specialist
Say Hello to
Housing Director Jamie Meyers
My name is Heidi Reiber
and I’m the new Purchased
/ Referred Care Specialist in
the Coos Bay office. I have
lived in the Coos Bay / North
Bend area my entire life.
I attended school in Coos
Bay and North Bend before
graduating from Marshfield
High School in 2002. I
previously worked at The Mill
Casino Hotel and RV Park
for 16 years. This position
will give me more, much
needed time with my family.
My boyfriend Kyle and I had
our first child in 2020. Our
daughter, Reilin, will be two
in July, and watching her
grow up has been one of the biggest joys of our lives. I enjoy
time spent at the beach searching for treasures, camping with
friends and family during the summer months, and gardening.
I am excited to be part of the PRC team and I look forward to
learning new skills and meeting new people.
I have worked for CTCLUSI
since November of 2016
as the DHAT Coordinator/
Dental Billing Specialist in the
dental clinic. During this time,
I have worked with the State
of Oregon to help the DHAT
(Dental Health Aide Therapist)
program
be
successful
and pass legislation for the
DHATs to become licensed
in Oregon. Before working
for CTCLUSI, I worked doing
property management and
was a part of the first building
in North Bend obtain the
Urban Renewal Grant in 2012
where I managed the project
during upgrades. I earned my
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management while also
working full-time.
I am the mother of two boys, 20 and 13, and the mother-in-law
to a 21-year-old. I spend my off time with my family as much as I
can. My youngest is active in many sports, and I enjoy taking him
to practices and watching him play. If we have time outside of that,
we enjoy exploring new places and small hikes.
I am looking forward to working with Tribal members in a new
aspect while doing everything I can to maintain the standards set
before us while providing affordable living.
Call PRC at 541-888-4873
or Toll Free at 1-800-227-0392
JAMIE MEYERS
Director of Housing
Office: 541-435-7150
541-808-4295
jmeyers@ctclusi.org
MELANIE MATESKI
Housing Portfolio Manager
Office: 541-888-7504
Cell: 541-808-4104
mmateski@ctclusi.org
ANDREW BRAINARD
Housing Tenant Liaison
Office: 541-888-7533
Cell: 541-808-1701
abrainard@ctclusi.org
Tribal Member Sharon Arnold Retirement Celebration
Authored by Morgan Gaines, Communications Specialist
On February 25, 2022 a retirement celebration was held
amongst staff to honor Tribal member Sharon Arnold
during her last day with the Purchased and Referred
Care (PRC) department of The Confederated
Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians.
Sharon has been helping Tribal members for over
13 years. When she started in 2008 she trained
at the front desk, then moved into the dental
office and part time in contract health. From
there she moved into PRC full time. She is
already missed but we are so very grateful to
her for all of her time and dedication through
the years. We wish you every happiness in
your retirement.
Some of the kind works shared during her
retirement celebration include:
“It’s been so fun to work with you, I
appreciate all the years that you’ve given us
and that you’ve stayed as long as you did.
It’s just been an absolute pleasure to work
with you. Tribal members love you and you’re
going to be truly, truly missed.” ~ Iliana Montiel
“[When I came onboard with the Tribe] you
were so very welcoming, and at the same time,
kind of intimidating. You knew so much, you
were such the office professional in every step
of the way. There wasn’t a day you didn’t show up
ready to present as the professional you were. Every
single day, on time, I just can’t say enough about you.
We grew very close…I think of you as a sister, mom, a
coworker, a friend, you’re just a very, very special person that
was always so balanced and great to work with as a coworker…
You’re going to be missed a lot.” ~ Nancy Spray
Sharon shared amongst the kinds words of her friends and
coworkers that “I want everyone to know that I’ve appreciated
what the Tribe has done for me…and have nothing
but gratitude for all that the Tribe has done for
me and my family.” Sharon also shared some
parting words of wisdom by letting us all know
“If you can’t have fun when you’re working,
you should go someplace else. You should
enjoy your job, and especially the people
you have to share more time with than
your family, so you need to care for what
you do.”
Tribal Council members gift Sharon with
a Pendleton blanket
Most attended via zoom while a small group gathered with Sharon in the
Community Center to celebrate her last day of work at CTCLUSI
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
13
Elders Corner
The Elders Spotlight of the Month will feature a new Elder each month. Elders are selected from a list of the Eldest to the Youngest Elder, starting with the Eldest. Elders will be
contacted by Kimmy Bixby of Community Health Services with information for an article to be published in a future edition of The Voice of CLUSI newsletter. Many thanks go out
to our Elders for all that they have done for our Tribal community. We hope to use this opportunity to highlight a few of your many accomplishments. Thank you Elders!
Contributed by Kimmy Bixby, Community Health Aide
Chris Cornellsen
Attention Tribal Elders:
Coos
Help us celebrate you!
If you have not yet been featured in
the Elders Corner and would like to be,
please reach out to us by contacting
Kimmy Bixby at (541) 808-8684 or
email kbixby@ctclusi.org
Chris Cornellsen
Elders Committee
Are you interested in serving on the Elders
Committee?
Contact us today for more information by
calling Christine Sylvester at 541-888-7532
or email csylvester@ctclusi.org
• My native heritage that I’m aware of starts
with
my
great-great-great-grandmother
Nancy Walker, her daughter (my greatgreat-grandmother) Etta Carlson was
married to Gustav. Their daughter (my greatgrandmother) was Lizzie (Elizabeth) Carlson
Hodges. Her daughter was my grandmother,
Daisy Hakanson Ellefsen, married to Art. My
mom, Lynn (Marylyn) Cornelssen, was their
daughter and married my Dad Hank (Henry)
in 1958. I have a sister Cathy, 3 nieces and
nephews, and 5 great-nieces and nephews.
I’m currently engaged to Rojelio Castrejón
and we plan to wed later this year.
Proudest Accomplishments:
• Graduating from Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo with a degree Bucket List:
in Graphic Design and I’m
• I don’t have a bucket list. Just live life to
proud to have worked in that
the fullest, travel, and be fit and healthy.
profession for over 35 years.
• Co-founder of a non-profit,
Favorite Saying:
helping raise funds to help
“When life gives you lemons make
organizations fight bullying, and lemonade.”
promote inclusion and tolerance
Favorite Hobbies:
in our youth.
• Travel. So far, I’ve been to 13 • Hike
• Camp
countries and 22 states, and
• Travel
DC.
Title VI Program Services Available to Elders
The Title VI Program for Elders (age 55 and over) provides federal grant monies for our Congregate Meals Program, Frozen
Meals Program, Chore Service and Respite Care Services for Tribal Elders, Spouses and Widow(er)s whose primary residence is
within our five-county service area (Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Lincoln counties).
This month we would like to highlight Chore Services:
Chore Services Program Eligibility:
Some but not all inclusive eligible chore
services include:
Elders age 55 and older whose primary place of
residence is within the five-county service area of:
Yard work, including lawn mowing, leaf raking,
Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Lincoln Counties.
general clearing of debris around the home
Tribal spouses are not eligible for Chore Services;
Weather stripping around doors and windows
however, widow(er)s are eligible until the time
Gutter cleaning
they remarry.
Snow removal from driveway and sidewalks
Services must be provided at the Elder’s primary
Purchase and stacking of firewood
place of residence is within the five county service General cleaning of the household, including but
area.
not limited to dusting and cobweb removal,
vacuuming, trash removal, bathroom cleaning,
The purpose of the Chore Services program is to
dishwashing, laundry, scrubbing floors and walls,
provide assistance to Elders with activities they
appliance cleaning, window washing, and stripping
cannot easily do for themselves and which, by
and remaking beds.
having someone perform these duties for them,
allows them to remain living independently in
their own home(s).
There are forms that must be filled out for this service. Those forms can be picked up at your local office or
mailed to your home. The cycle for these funds is not on a calendar year.
The funds are available annually from April 1st of the current year through March 31st of the following year.
For further information on Chore Service, please contact your local Community Health Aide:
Coos Bay - Barbara Black (541) 888-7520
Florence - Doug Morrison (541) 997-6685
Eugene - Kimmy Bixby (541) 744-1349
14
May 2022
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
LEARN ABOUT WILDFIRE SMOKE AND HOW REDUCE EXPOSURE
Contributed by Ali Grove, Air Protection Specialist
We are blessed to
live in the lush Pacific
Northwest, with plenty
of fresh air and cool
coastal winds. However,
wildfire smoke knows
no boundaries, and
even from far away
can find its way into
our communities. The
composition of wildfire
smoke is complex and
the chemical species
are determined by the
burn site, vegetation
burned, and weather
conditions. All wildfire emissions have a substantial amount of
PM2.5 (about 90%), which has a significant impact on human
health. Particulate matter at this size is especially harmful
because the hazardous chemicals are so tiny, they can enter
the bloodstream. Proactive planning is essential for keeping
our families and loved ones safe during smoke events. I would
like to look back on a traditional Coos story that was shared
with me about a ‘fire wind’ - a big fire that came over the sea
and people hid in the mud to escape it.
A version that Frank Drew, Hanis Coos, told in English:
“One time long ago there came from the west, in the daytime,
five gusts or layers of fire, from the ocean; they swept across
the land. It seems as if the people knew just what to do to
save themselves. Everything burned. One sheet of fire came
east quickly. Seeing it coming the people all went into the river
and mud flats, crawling into the west mud and water until the
sheet of fire had passed over them. Only the mud did not burn.
Four more sheets of flame were evaded the very same way.
The people had taken sealion paunches and put into them the
infants that could not run. The people could not explain what
made the fire come that way, but maybe it was to purify the
earth.”
What is PM2.5?
PM2.5 means particulate matter
measuring 2.5 microns or less
across. A micron is a very small
unit of measure – one millionth
of a meter.
• These particles are so small
that they cannot be seen by the
human eye.
• Particles this small can be
easily inhaled and travel deep
into the respiratory tract and
have been associated with a
variety of short-term and longterm health conditions.
While we need not hide
in the mud from wildfire
smoke, this story tells of the
Source: United States
resiliency of the first people Environmental Protection Agency
and how preparedness can https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/
help in times of need. There particulate-matter-pm-basics
are a few precautionary
actions that we can take to
get ready for wildfire smoke events:
• Designate a room in your home to be a “clean room.” This
room should have as few windows or doors as possible, or they
should be closed, to keep smoke out. Use an indoor air cleaner
or filter fan to make the air in the room even cleaner. HEPA
filters are highly rated.
• When the air looks and smells smoky, it may not be the best
time for activities outdoors. Use your best judgement.
• If you must be outdoors, NIOSH approved masks with the
label “N95” or “N100” are the most effective type of mask that
protects you from air pollution.
• Keep an eye on PM2.5 levels in your area during wildfires.
AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map is a reliable source, which can
let you know if there are fires or smoke plumes within a 150mile radius of your selected location (fire.airnow.gov).
If you have any questions on air protection matters feel free
to contact me at my Office: 541-435-7156 Cell: 541-294-6136
or Email: agrove@ctclusi.org
Department of Natural Resources
Clean Air Program
Has received a grant from DEQ to promote
Clean Air in Tribal Communi�es
Survey to follow
For more informa�on please contact:
Ali Grove: (541)-294-6136
agrove@ctclusi.org
15
www.ctclusi.org
Progress Update on Upgrades to DNR’s Environmental Testing Laboratory
May 2022
Contributed by Janet Niessner, Environmental Scientist
Since 2016, the Department of Natural Resources and Culture’s Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS)
environmental laboratory has been dedicated to monitoring water
Although our Shimadzu GCMS-TQ8050 was purchased in
quality to monitor baseline measurements and find trends on a
2020 to investigate pesticides, herbicides, PCBS, PAHs, and
monthly basis. But water is the basis for all life, and therefore
other contaminants of concern (COCs), formal training was
affects and is affected by its ecosystem. As a result, the laboratory
cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff worked hard
also looks at sediment, vegetation, fish tissues, and culturallyto analyze samples, but had difficulty with remote software
handled materials for a variety of contaminants and pollutants.
training in trying to work and understand the results. Training
The long-term objectives of the laboratory program are focused
was finally rescheduled and completed in April 2022, and
into three areas: 1) to support sovereignty and self-governance;
routine analysis has begun on water, vegetation, sediment,
2) to collaborate with agencies to understand environmental and
human health risks; and 3) provide educational resources to the
and fish tissues.
Tribal community.
Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain
Beginning in Fall 2021, DNR asked Tribal
Reaction (qPCR)
Council for funding to support analytical
The long-term objectives of the
Staff have completed the installation of the
improvements to the Department’s
laboratory program are focused
Agilent AriaMx quantitative polymerase chain
Environmental Testing Laboratory, which
into three areas: 1) to support
reaction (qPCR) instrument and NanodropOne
happily was granted! Staff purchased
sovereignty and self-governance;
Spectrophotometer to analyze the presence/
numerous analytical instruments and
2) to collaborate with agencies
absence of for DNA, RNA, and proteins. In
associated testing supplies to understand
to understand environmental and
coordination with the Facilities and Maintenance
the presence of toxic algae, pesticides
human health risks; and 3) provide
Department, we are in the midst of building a
and herbicides, DNA and RNA, legacy
educational resources to the Tribal
clean-room structure for sample processing to
contaminants (such as PCBs, PAHs),
community.
avoid sample contamination.
pharmaceuticals and drugs, and heavy
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
metal toxicity (such as arsenic, lead, and
assistance:
mercury). The laboratory will also support regulatory compliance
Electrical upgrades were completed in February to
testing for the wastewater treatment plant in Florence, contractual
accommodate new ovens, furnace, bioclave, and vacuum
bacteria testing in water, and numerous grant-funded projects.
pump to perform analysis for Total Suspended Solids, Total
In February 2022, DNR staff reported to the community about
Dissolved Solids, Volatile Suspended Solids, and more.
the massive upgrades occurring to our laboratory. So much
Staff are nearly complete with written formal procedures to
has happened since that time! Apart from ongoing trainings,
undertake validation testing to assure quality testing. Staff are
staff are already scheduling monthly routine analysis, compiling
coordinating with Facilities and Maintenance staff to form a
draft protocols, and calculating per-sample analytical costs for
collaborative and fluid routine by summer 2022.
grant applications with local partners. The Laboratory Program
team, formed from DNR’s various environmental programs, has Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (pXRF):
Laboratory and cultural staff presented the purchase proposal
a structured workplan for development and a draft Laboratory
to Tribal Council in April 2022 for a pXRF to screen for the
Management Plan. More specific updates include:
presence of heavy metal contamination on a variety of
FlowCam
materials. Staff are working through the procurement process
The FlowCam Cyano was successfully installed and laboratory
and preparing health and safety protocols for its operation. The
staff are pacing through the training modules running samples
instrument will require no installation or routine maintenance,
collected from Empire Docks in Coos Bay. Routine analysis
and can be put to immediate use upon arrival. In the mean
has already begun to understand what phytoplankton and
time, participating staff are drafting testing plans for specific
projects so that analysis can be carried through in a structured
zookplankton exist in the various waterbodies.
manner depending on the material and the application.
Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LCMS)
DNR
hopes to meet with Tribal Council for development of the
Upgrades are nearly finished for facility HVAC requirements.
Our new Shimadzu LCMS-9030 Quadrupole Time of Flight Laboratory Program, as well as for suggestions on bestowing a
traditional Tribal name for the entity. Staff are poised to put up a
(QTOF) with two Nexera X3 High Performance Liquid website page as well that would describe our function and advertise
Chromatographs (HPLCs) are scheduled for installation the educational opportunities. As analysis moves forward, results will
week of May 9th. Staff will have a couple weeks to work with influence educational outreach on health concerns to both the
the instrument to develop some working knowledge and Tribal community and community at large. Moreover, cultural staff
questions prior to the official operational training scheduled for will be facilitating the Gather.Town platform to include visual and
the week of May 23rd. Staff will also be traveling to Maryland interactive education for these incredible tools, especially in how
for more advanced operational training hopefully by Fall or they can be used with traditional ecological knowledge.
Stay tuned for more important updates regarding laboratory
Winter 2022.
capabilities and a virtual tour in the coming months!
PEACEGIVING
Peacegiving is a traditional Restorative Justice
option available to you for the resolution of conflict.
All Peacegiving issues are confidential.
Are you in trouble with the law?
Are you suffering with drugs, alcohol or addiction?
Are you ready to make a change?
What does true Wellness look like for you?
A life without drugs or alcohol is possible for you.
Make the choice for a better life.
Confidential
Photo By: Jesse Beers
For more information about Peacegiving, please visit the Peacegiving
Website or contact the Peacegiving Coordinator at the
address listed below.
Peacegiving Coordinator
1245 Fulton Avenue
Coos Bay, OR 97420
PHONE: (541) 888-1306 or (541) 888-1316
EMAIL: Peacegiving@ctclusi.org
Website: https://ctclusi.org/tribalcourtpeacegiving
Contact Tribal Wellness Court.
(541) 888-1307
16
May 2022
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
Education Corner
Abbie Wright Earns Full Scholarship
for Summer Abroad Program!
Explore with Us in Gather.Town
Spring has Sprung! Virtual scavenger hunts for first foods and
spring flowers are now available in our CTCLUSI metaverse.
gather.town.
Check them out at gather.town.
For more information, to receive an invite link, and/or for login
For more information, to receive an invite link, and/or for login help, contact Eriq Acosta at (541) 888-1318 or eacosta@ctlcusi.org or Desiree
Kane
gather@ctclusi.org
help,
contact Eriq Acosta at (541) 888-1318 or eacosta@ctlcusi.
org or Desiree Kane gather@ctclusi.org
Spring has Sprung! Virtual scavenger hunts for first foods and spring flowers are now available in our CTCLUSI metaverse. Check them out at
Abbie Wright (Coos) of Grants Pass High School (GPHS) is
headed to South Africa this summer! There she will spend three
weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, working on projects that bring
South African President Nelson Mandela’s legacy to life.
Only 10 students in the entire state of Oregon received full
scholarships to attend the CIEE summer opportunity.
Congratulations Abbie, we look forward to hearing about your
experience when you return.
Information contributed by Shawna Wright
OUR TRIBAL YOUTH ARE OUR TRIBE'S FUTURE.
INVEST IN A TRIBAL YOUTH TODAY.
To donate to a Tribal Higher Education Scholarship,
d in the tribal newsletter
that the education
department
is seeking
youthor
spotlight
contact Christa
Hernandez
at (541)
435-7166
ts.
chernandez@ctclusi.org
STUDENT RECOGNITION DINNER
SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2022
Please check CLUSI web page for updated
information.
Contact education; 541-888-9577
jdavies@ctclusi.org
kporter@ctclusi.org
eacosta@ctclusi.org
Attention 2022 Graduates!
Are you graduating from high school or your higher education
institution this spring term? If you would like a dentalium necklace
with your school colors to wear to your graduation, please contact
the culture department as soon as possible. Call Ashley Russell
at 541-888-7511 or email arussell@ctclusi.org by Friday, May 20,
2022 to ensure enough time to mail your necklace to you before
your graduation. Thank you.
ATTENTION HIGHER
EDUCATION STUDENTS
TRIBAL
HIGHER
EDUCATION
STUDENTS
NEED YOU!
SCHOLARSHIPS
NOW
AVAILABLE
Apply online via laserfiche at www.ctclusi.org
Scho lar shi p Ap p l ic at io n
D eadlin e is Ma y 2 2 nd b y
1 2 :0 0 am (P S T )
For more information, please contact
Karen Porter at @ kporter @ctclusi.org or
(541) 888-1315 or
Josh Davies at jdavies@ctclusi.org or
(541) 888-1314
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
17
Education Corner
Tribal Youth Ages 14-24
Mission Statement:
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw
Indians Youth Council strives to protect and preserve the
cultural, spiritual, and traditional values of the Coos, Lower
Umpqua, and Siuslaw
Indians.
Youth Council aims to embrace our cultural traditions and
strengthen our Tribal community as well as positively impact
the communities in which we live.
Youth Council works towards a common good while always
being mindful and looking forward to the next seven
generations by being good stewards of the lands, waters, and
communities in which we live.
If you are interested in being part of CTCLUSI Youth
Council please contact:
Josh Davies
jdavies@ctclusi.org
541-888-1314 (office)
541-294-4105 (cell)
New Beginnings for Tribal Students (NBTS) Presents
Tribal Youth Pre-college OSU Summer Camp
August 22-25, 2022
Designed for CTCLUSI Youth entering 10th – 12th grades
Learn about going to college and how to get help with
financial aid, scholarships, and explore majors!
Explore SWOCC and OSU campuses and visit cultural
centers including the OSU Ina Haws Longhouse.
Hands-on FUN field trips about environmental science and
careers. Meet science professionals and college students.
Other activities include:
• Sleep in the dorms at OSU
• Snorkeling in the Santiam River with scientists
• Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport
• Visit ecological and cultural restoration sites
• Canoe trip to Waite Ranch on the Siuslaw
Youth will come home having experienced life on the OSU college
campus and a packet for how to get help with entering
college/community college and the Native American cultural support
resources on campus.
A range of environmental sciences and careers are explored but not a
required interest for youth.
Camp participation and all meals are FREE.
Campers will be supervised 24 hours per day.
All Covid-19 safety measures in place at the time for CTCLUSI and OSU
will be carefully followed.
This event is also co-sponsored by the OSU Department of Fisheries, Wildlife
and Conservation Sciences, and Oregon Sea Grant.
Last day to sign up June 7th
https://laserfiche.ctclusi.org/For
ms/New-Beginnings-TribalStudent-OSU-SOCC-OvernightCamp
For more information contact:
Josh Davies
CTCLUSI Education Director
jdavies@ctclusi.org
(541) 294-4105
Bessie Joyce
NBTS Program Manager
bessiejoyce4@gmail.com
(541) 743-6106
Congratulations
Carson McMahan
for earning Student of the Week at
your Elementary School!
On March 4, 2022 Carson was awarded
student of the week for “PAWS-itively
working hard to meet goals in the
classroom and school.”
We are so proud of you, keep up the
good work!
18
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
May 2022
Tentative Schedule for Summer Programming
May:
July:
th
• Virtual Cultural Friday 3:30-5:00 pm (PST) (May 6 )
• Materials Gathering (roots, bark, sedges, sticks, etc…)
(July 1st & 2nd): Site TBD-Enna Helms
Graduation Caps
th
• Chief Don Ivy Memorial Ceremony (May 7 )
• Summer School (July 5-15)
• Regalia Making July 19th – 22nd 9:00-4:00 pm (Eugene
• Materials Gathering (roots, bark, sedges, sticks, etc…)
th
(May 6 ); Smith River Tract-Enna Helms
Office)
th
• Regalia Making July 26th – 29th 9:00-4:00 pm (Tribal Hall)
• Virtual Cultural Friday 3:30-5:00 pm (PST) (May 13 ) –
Graduation Caps (Continued)
• Tseriadvn Village Ceremony (May 14th) Salmon Bake and August:
• Local Canoe Journey/Honoring the salmon on all the rivers
Canoe Activities (Sat and Sun)
th
(August 4th, 5th, and 6th)
• Virtual Cultural Friday 3:30-5:00 pm (PST) (May 20 ) –
Finish Graduation Caps
• Salmon Ceremony (August 7th)
• Materials Gathering (roots, bark, sedges, sticks, etc…)
• Culture Camp (August 8-12th)
th
(May 20 ); Lake Creek Tract-Enna Helms
• Canoe Pull (August 12th)
• Amanda Trail Suspension Bridge Dedication (May 21st)
• BPA Field Trip Grades 8-12 (August 19-21st)
th
• Virtual Cultural Friday 3:30-5:00 pm (PST) (May 27 )
• OSU Tribal Youth Program Grades 10-12 (August 22nd –
Traditional Cooking (prerecorded video): live Q&A with
25th)
Jesse Beers
• Back to School Party (August 27th)
June:
• Summer Solstice Kits
• Materials Gathering (roots, bark, sedges, sticks, etc…)
(June 10th & 11th); Site TBD-Enna Helms
• Materials Gathering Week (roots, bark, sedges, sticks,
etc…) (June 13th & 17th); Site TBD-Enna Helms
• Materials Processing (roots, bark, sedges, sticks, etc…)
(June 18th) - Enna Helms
• Student Recognition Dinner (June 18th)
• First Hunter/Fisher Program (twice per week from June
20th- July 29th).
• Summer Solstice (June 20th- 22nd)
Are you in the 5
County Service area
and needing a ride?
The Tribal Transportation Department
aims to provide necessary transit
services for accessing shopping,
employment, education, health care,
and social/recreational opportunities to
all CTCLUSI members and their eligible
family members currently lacking
reliable transportation.
Transportation options that may be
provided directly include door-to-door
rides with a 72-hr advance notice and/
or bus passes. In addition to services
provided directly from the Transportation
Department, CCAT services are
available free of charge by presenting
your Tribal ID card to the CCAT driver at
the time of service.
*Door-to-Door Service is limited to Coos
County at this time*
For more information or to access
these services, please contact
Kathy Perkins, Tribal Transportation
Coordinator, at 541-888-9577 ext.
7550.
Due to the shifting landscape around Covid 19,
in person activities and events are subject to
cancellation, rescheduling, or conversion to hybrid/
virtual gatherings. Please be patient with us as we try
to schedule summer programming accordingly. Our
goal is to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable
populations.
Be sure to refer to your current newsletters, the
online event calendar at www.ctclusi.org/events/
or the government staff members organizing the
event for more information. Thank you for your
understanding.
CTCLUSI Summer School
July 5 - 15, 2022
This camp is for students entering Kindergarten through 12th Grade
or students who are 5 through 18 years of age. We are offering camp
to Tribal Enrolled students, step/foster/adopted children, and children
of other federally recognized Tribes. The Education Department will
be following protocols put in place by Tribal Council in regards to
Covid-19 pandemic. We will keep participants up to date with
information as it comes available.
Please sign up for Summer School using the Laserfiche link at:
https://laserfiche.ctclusi.org/Forms/Summer-School-Application
Deadline to sign up
June 16, 2022 at 11:59pm
Once signed up for Summer School,
a confirmation email will be sent.
Email will include Summer School Zoom information, mandatory
parent/camper meeting, along with additional important camp
material.
www.ctclusi.org
May 2022
19
Upcoming Events
May 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
TUESDAY
2
3
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
4
FRIDAY
5
SATURDAY
6 Cedar Grad Caps
7
3:30pm - 5:30pm
Chief Don Ivy
Memorial @ The Mill
Casino1pm - 4pm
Materials Gathering,
Smith River Tract
8
Regular Council
Meeting 10:00 a.m.
15
Tseriadun Honor
Ceremony & Salmon
Bake, Port Orford
22
Scholarships
Deadline 12am
29
5
9
10
16
23
30
11
17
18
12
13
Culture Committee
Meeting 4:00 p.m.
Cedar Grad Caps
3:30pm - 5:30pm
19
Bridge
20 Cedar Grad Caps 21 Amanda
Dedication,
24
25
26
2
Memorial Day
All Tribal Offices will
be Closed
Ladies Self Care
Medicine Pouch 6pm
31
1
6
7
8
14
3:30pm - 5:30pm
Tseriadun Honor
Ceremony & Salmon
Bake, Port Orford
Materials Gathering,
Lake Creek Tract
Yachats 1pm
COH Circles in the
Sand, Bandon 10am
27
28
3
4
Traditional Cooking
via zoom w/ Q&A
3:30pm - 5:30pm
9
10
11
Culture Committee
Meeting 4:00 p.m.
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
June 2022
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
29
30
31
1
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
Regular Council
Meeting 10:00 a.m.
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
19
20
21
THURSDAY
2
9
3
10
4
11
Culture Committee
Meeting 4:00 p.m.
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
16
17
18 Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
Deadline to sign up for
Summer School (7/57/15)
Materials Gathering,
Location TBA
22
23
24
25
29
30
1
2
6
7
8
9
Student Recognition
Dinner
Summer Solstice
26
27
28
Ladies Self Care
Dreamcatchers 6pm
3
4
Fourth of July
All Tribal Offices will
be Closed
5
Summer
School
CULTURE
COALITION
SEEKING
EXPERIENCED
TRIBAL ARTISTS
The Tribe is looking for available and
experienced bead and leather workers
(hand sewing only) to help complete a
representation of Lottie's dress.
Contact Pam Stoehsler at
(509) 386-3318 or
Enna Helms at ehelms@ctclusi.org
LOTTIE'S DRESS
REPRESENTATION PROJECT
The Tribe is looking for available and
experienced bead and leather workers
(hand sewing only) to help complete a
representation of Lottie's dress.
TRIBAL ARTISTS
SEEKING
EXPERIENCED
CULTURE
COALITION
LOTTIE'S DRESS
REPRESENTATION PROJECT
20
May 2022
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
Three Rivers Casino Donates to
Local Schools Althetic Divisions
LOTTIE'S DRESS
REPRESENTATION PROJECT
CULTURE
COALITION
Contact Pam Stoehsler at
(509) 386-3318 or
Enna Helms at ehelms@ctclusi.org
SEEKING
EXPERIENCED
Coos Bay, OR. February 28, 2022 -
TRIBAL ARTISTS
Tribal Council Woman Iliana Montiel presents a $10,000 check donation from Three Rivers
Casino to the Marshfield Pirates Football Coach John Lemmons and his State Championship
winning team. Congratulations on a historic season!
The Tribe
is looking
for available
Three
Rivers Casino
also donated
$10,000and
to Siuslaw High School in Florence, Oregon for
experienced
bead andinleather
workers
winning
State Championship
their division
as well.
(hand sewing only) to help complete a
representation of Lottie's dress.
THE VOICE OF CLUSI
If you or anyone in your family
has had any recent special
awards or achievements that
you would like to share, please
submit your information and
photos to the newsletter. I look
forward to hearing from you!
Contact Pam Stoehsler at
(509)
386-3318
MONDAYS
6PM-9PM or TUESDAYS 6PM-9PM
$50 Cash Hot Seats every
Pick your color and you
Enna Helms
at ehelms@ctclusi.org
30 minutes. PLUS, $10 Free Play
could win $100 Cash.
Good Neighbor Prize for the
Drawings every 30 minutes.
entire bank!
Earn 25 same-day points
to play.
keep
WEDNESDAYS 7PM-9PM
THURSDAYS 7PM-9PM
Drawings every 30 Minutes to
Drawings every hour to win
win up to $1,000! Earn 50
up to $2,500! Receive one
points and swipe at the kiosk
entry for every 25 same-day
to pop a balloon for your
points earned.
prize amount. Earn
additional entries for every
Morgan Gaines, Communications Specialist
Office: (541) 888-7536
Cell: (541) 808-7918 or mgaines@ctclusi.org
100 same-day points earned
(limit 4). If you are picked at
one of the drawings from
7pm to 9pm, you'll win that
prize.
WIN $1,000 CASH!
PHARAOH’S
FORTUNE
Saturdays from
7pm-9pm
Drawings every 30 minutes.
Earn entries Sunday - Saturday.
2X entries on Fridays. One entry
for every 50 points earned.
MONDAY - CHICKEN BACON RANCH PIZZA
& WINGS
With spring onions, Roma tomatoes, and tri-colored
bell peppers. Served with six wings and choice of
sauce. $20
Open Daily - 8am-12am
Bay shrimp and snow crab piled high on a
brandy garlic butter crouton with melted
swiss cheese. Served with French fries. $12
TUESDAY - FISH TACOS
FRIDAY - OVEN ROASTED PRIME RIB
Served f rom 4pm-9pm
Drizzled with garlic, lime crema and served with
coleslaw. $16
SATURDAY - SMOKED BBQ BRISKET
Served f rom 4pm-9pm
Beer battered cod on a warm tortilla topped with
avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro, red cabbage,
cotija cheese, fire-roasted corn and black bean salsa.
MAY
WEEKLY SPECIALS
THURSDAY - SEAFOOD MELT
WEDNESDAY - TOP SIRLOIN
Ten ounces with mushroom onion demi-glace. Served
with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, brown gravy,
chef’s choice vegetables and garlic bread. $16
Served with au jus, baked potato, chef’s
vegetables and a dinner roll. $20
Served with baked beans, coleslaw, corn
on the cob, sweet cornbread. $18
COOS BAY
5 4 1 - 8 0 8 - 9 2 0 4 | T H R E E R I V E R S C A S I N O . CO M
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.