Tribal News May 2018 FIFTH EDITION
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Yooyoolah COWLITZ “One who calls” Tribal News May 2018 FIFTH EDITION Chairman’s Corner Klahowya, it is time for our Cowlitz revenue for the Tribe and our members. family to come together for the June I will always work to ensure that ilani General Council meeting. Thank you is the premier gaming, dining, meeting for continuing to entrust me with the and entertainment destination in the Pa- wellbeing of the Tribe. It is an honor to cific Northwest. serve as the Chairman of the Cowlitz The ilani Casino doors have been Indian Tribe as we look to our bright open for over a year and we look for- future and open a new chapter in serv- ward to greater returns for the Tribe ing tribal members. We had many with the meeting and event center and challenges in the past that seemed in- the Cowlitz Ballroom now open. We surmountable, but we have prevailed. have also opened the Cowlitz Tobacco As we grow and prosper together, we Outlet and it has been very productive in should expect to face new challenges. yielding returns on our investment. We We must come together as a tribal fam- have improved access to the self-park lot ily, now more than ever, for the benefit by widening Cowlitz Way to three lanes of future generations. and have added a new overflow parking We must honor and pay tribute to lot to serve our customers during high those who have helped us reach this demand events. We are designing a gas point of growth. Words cannot explain station and convenience store which is the loss we feel as a Tribe from the un- scheduled to open next year. Phase II timely passing of Councilman Lenny construction could take place as soon as For the first time in 160 years the Cowlitz Tribe flag was raised over its land in a poignant ceremony. Bridges. He will be greatly missed as a 2019, subject to availability of financing. warrior and champion for education, We are beginning a Market Evaluation housing, and economic development. and Demand Study for a new hotel to be We must carry-on his spirit of dedica- built adjacent to our ilani casino. This ilani’s New Meeting & tion and service as we work for the bet- study will be used for predicting traffic terment of our tribe. needs, designing the hotel, and support ilani Casino - Sonny Bridges serves financing of the project. We are in the Entertainment Center Opens as chair of the Cowlitz Tribal Gam- early stages of planning the new hotel ing Authority. As part of my respon- addition and related conference facili- sibilities, I serve as vice-chairman of ties. This next phase is planning to in- with Salute to Cowlitz Tribe the Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Authority. clude a 4-diamond hotel building of up After the opening of ilani Casino on to 400 rooms, with conference facilities, Ceremony Highlights Include Tribal Drums and Flag Raising April 24, 2017, it has become our single largest asset and the largest source of please see CHAIRMAN, page 2 ilani in Ridgefield, Washington, has design elements, the opening ceremony attracted clientele for premier gaming, of the Meeting & Entertainment Center entertainment and dining since its 2017 honored the Native American tribe by opening. centering on elements of cultural signif- Table of Contents: On April 5, the property added a new icance. Cowlitz drummers gathered to draw: the 30,000-square-foot Meeting accompany dignitaries, tribal members Government .............................. Pg 2-3 Culture ................................... Pg 10-12 & Entertainment Center, complete with and guests, while spiritual leader Tanna Public Safety ................................ Pg 4 Community .............................Pg 13-15 the Cowlitz Ballroom entertainment Engdahl conferred a blessing in English and Chinook. She was joined by Roy Wil- Government ................................. Pg 5 ilani ........................................ Pg 16-17 venue accommodating up to 2,500. The Elders ........................................... Pg 6 Health Page ............................ Pg 18-19 center’s opening ceremony reiterated the son, fellow spiritual leader and honorary destination’s focus on the heritage of the chief, and Bill Iyall, tribal chairman. And, Veterans ...................................... Pg 6 Human Services ...................... Pg 18-19 Cowlitz Tribe, incorporating elements of for the first time in 160 years, the Cowlitz Enrollments .................................. Pg 7 Government .......................... Pg 20-21 tribal culture while launching a dynam- Tribe flag was raised over its land in a poi- gnant ceremony. Education ..................................... Pg 8 EDC ............................................. Pg 22 ic entertainment schedule. Voc Rehab ..................................... Pg 8 Housing ...................................... Pg 22 Entertainment Schedule Takes Form Opening Ceremony Honors Cowlitz Tribe Youth ............................................ Pg 9 Natural Resources ....................... Pg 23 After the ribbon cutting, as guests Just as ilani pays tribute to the Cowlitz Tribe and Northwest sensibilities through please see ILANI, page 3 2 • Cowlitz Indian Tribe Newspaper • May 2018 new permanent jobs with the opening of Brandon Molett, and Administrator-In- are unable to take off work for health Chairman ilani Resort Casino. We look forward to vestigator William (Bill) Elliott. Cowlitz care visits. We are seeing more people continuing a positive relationship with Tribal police will also support public take advantage of these hours and hope Continued from the front page federal, state, and local governments, safety needs at all tribal facilities. We that we can expand to other days with and with our local neighbors. thank retired Chief Public Safety Officer increased use of the clinic. We are inte- Community and Government Cen- J.A. Goss, Jr., for his leadership in build- grating services for Pathways to Healing ter – We continue working on a Res- ing such an experienced team. (PTH), Mental Health, and Indian Child ervation Master Plan to bring focus to Strategic Planning – We continue to Welfare (ICW) programs, to expand our a vision for our Cowlitz Community work on the strategic planning process efforts to help people heal after their and Government Center. Planning for for the Tribe, led by Jerry Iyall, Christine traumatic experiences and lessen the the reservation includes the new tribal Myers, Kim Stube, Abriel Johnny-Ro- risk of harm to vulnerable children, and administration building, a future cul- driguez, Dan Meyer, Debbie Hassler, improve coverage in the state. HHS is tural community center/museum, an and Phil Harju. We began our process, committed to the elimination of health RV park, potential Elders housing, and after our previous extensive town hall disparities, to promote physical, mental, more diverse economic development. meetings, meeting with Tribal Council and emotional wellness that strength- We are planning to build the Cowlitz and all parts of the tribal organization, ens, and empowers our Native commu- Community and Government Center including boards, committees, depart- nity, while honoring our Creator, Moth- on the reservation. The new building is ments, and programs. This is a big effort er Earth, our Elders, and our children. planned for the southwest corner of the and will take several months to develop Thank you to the Health Board, our reservation. It could house tribal admin- a long-term plan. Tribal Council will staff and active Tribal leaders for their istration, natural resources, tribal court, be evaluating and prioritizing services important work in HHS. enrollment, IT, transportation, child through this strategic planning process. Natural Resources – The Natural care development program, youth ser- We will adopt a Mission Statement, a Resources Department (NRD), led by vices, benefits services, Elders services Vision Statement and identification of Taylor Aalvik, continues to work to and meals, planning, facilities, econom- our values. We will develop strategic protect and restore our homelands with Chairman Bill Iyall ic development, and legal affairs. It could initiatives to improve our operations to the numerous projects and programs also allow growing space for programs better deliver services to all tribal mem- that we do. Our Tribe has been engaged and a multi-use gym/assembly hall with bers. We must take initial steps for El- for over a year addressing much concern additional restaurants, and up to 2,000- a full commercial kitchen. As we build ders and for youth. Elders, education, associated with a proposed methanol car capacity parking garage. Recent the physical infrastructure on the res- housing, and health care all weigh in facility near Kalama, Washington. meetings for the refinance of the res- ervation, we are building vital tribal as needs as priorities for the council to In addition, there are significant ervation and casino development loans government infrastructure for health, evaluate. Strategic planning and finan- findings in the environmental impact show the benefits of early refinancing housing, economic diversification, edu- cial planning are highly interrelated statement (EIS) associated with the and beginning the process of restructur- cation, culture and now our tribal police and interdependent disciplines that are Millennium Coal proposal for Longview, ing this debt. department, led by Public Safety Direc- the cornerstones of effective organiza- Washington, where there is no offsetting Tribal members seeking employ- tor Donald Walkinshaw (see details, be-