The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation CHEHALIS “People of the Sands” May 2014TRIBAL NEWSLETTERFree Governor Inslee Tours the Chehalis Roundtable Discussion Improve Small Reservation to Discuss Tribal Issues By Jeff Warnke, Director of Business Growth in Indian Country Government Public Relations The Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund was invited to a Roundtable with On April 17, Governor Jay Inslee Senator Maria Cantwell and became the first Governor in recent newly presidential appointed memory to visit the Chehalis Small Business Administration Reservation for the sole purpose Administrator Maria Contreras- of meeting with the Business Sweet Committee to discuss issues with the Tribe and tour the Reservation. The Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund was Governor Inslee was touring in one of three Native CDFI’s invited Lewis County and on his way back to participate with Washington to Olympia for a meeting on the State Community Development Oso mud slide relief, but he made Financial Institutes (CDFI) in a time to stop at the Tribal Center roundtable discussion. The CDFI where he met with Tribal Leaders Program is under the Department for more than two hours. The During his visit to the Chehalis Reservation, Governor Jay of the Treasury. The vision of meeting started with a dialogue Inslee discuss flooding issues on the Chehalis River with the Community Development between the Governor and the Chairman David Burnett. Financial Institutions Fund is to Chairman discussing how the State Governor Inslee was especially the Legislature, Washington State economically empower America’s and Tribe can work together on interested in hearing about state provided more than two million under-served and distressed common issues such as tax policy, funded projects on the Reservation dollars to construct the bridge communities. hunting and flood mitigation such as the Sickman Ford Overflow which several months after the projects. Bridge. Through a grant from Continued on Page 2 President Obama recently appointed Maria Contreras Sweet as Administrator of the Small Family Night Brings Laughter and Comedy with the Harlem Crowns Business Administration (SBA). On Saturday, April 12 the Senator Maria Cantwell’s office Chehalis Tribe hosted the Harlem organized the Round Table, and Crowns basketball team at the invited Ms. Contreras-Sweet to an Community Center gym. They open discussion on how the SBA is demonstrated their individual functioning with Washington State basketball skills and teamwork CDFI’s. against our very own Chehalis Continued on Page 3 Stars. It was a night of dazzling displays of passing, dribbling, Inside dunks and superb shooting. The Planning Staff Profile ......................... 3 Crowns provided their style of Children Learn the Joy of Gardening.. 4 “clownball” as the night was filled Community Garden Project Begins ... 5 with a running line of chatter Charity and Auction Events ............... 6 throughout the game, along with Legal Help, Arts Classes ................... 7 assorted gags and comic routines. May Birthdays .................................. 8 The masters of ad-lib brought “People of the Sands” ........................ 9 tears of joy, cheers and laughter to Students of the Month ...................... 10 the audience. Harlem Crown Herbie Scaife, Jr. selects a youth from the Spring Break at the Youth Center .... 11 Continued on Page 2 bleachers to demonstrate some basketball fundamentals. Annual Easter Egg Hunt .................. 12 Governor visit continued from Page 1... Jhon Valencia gave the Governor a tour of bridge opened allowed for water passage that both the Health and Dental facility. Governor would have caused flooding on the Reservation Inslee was impressed with the size of the clinic before. and scope of services available to the Tribal community. Valencia and the Governor also After the meeting, the Governor toured several talked about the Tribe’s efforts to enroll Tribal areas of the Reservation. First, touring the Tribal members in the State Health Exchange created as Head Start, Governor Inslee met several of the a part of the Affordable Health Care Act. children and heard from Tracy Bray about Early Learning on the Reservation and how the efforts Finally, Governor Inslee toured the Sickman of the Tribe would make the kids ready for Ford Bridge. The Bridge is the largest local elementary school. flood mitigation project completed to date with During Governor Inslee tour of the Early The Governor also toured the Wellness Center. funding from the 2012 Jobs Act. Learning Programs he learned about floam during a classroom activities. The Early Learning Program had some special guests this month as we were visited by our Business Committee and Governor Jay Inslee. They were given a small tour and information about our comprehensive Early Learning Program. While on the tour the Governor talked and played with some of the children, sharing with us that he had grandchildren the same age. Governor Inslee was particularly interested in the Floam that the children were using at one of the tables and he had to try it out himself! We were honored to be able to represent our Community by “showing off” what we do every Pictured are Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and his advisors with the day to our Tribal and State elected officials and Chehalis Business Committee and tribal representatives. invite you to stop by and visit us also. Harlem Crowns continued from Page 1... raised and how they were able to escape the he started smoking. He confessed it hurt his game drugs, alcohol and gang violence the inner city so he decided to quit and hasn’t smoked for over brings. The choices to pursue basketball gave 25 years. them the opportunity to pursue a career, all the while having some fun and chasing their dreams. Youth Center Director Tony Medina gave out There are many good athletes who had the talent basketballs to all the children who came that but not the discipline, which didn’t allow them evening. He encouraged them to have the Harlem to achieve their goals. They used basketball as Crowns sign an example, but there are many other sports and them. education available to everyone to place their energy into to be successful throughout life. Their leader and mentor Herb Scaife, Sr., is the first to admit that basketball helped him get The where he is today. Keeping him physically fit Harlem Harlem Crown players sign autographs and in good health brings a feeling of a natural Crowns for youth after the game. high. Being disciplined in order to stay sharp helped with a focused mind and strong principles are Daniel The Crowns tell it how it is...growing up and required. School is a major asset, learning from Gitchell advice to youth teachers and coaches along the way. There are with a Half time was surreal and a moment for the many things that he didn’t understand until he slam dunk players to share with Elders, adults and youth got older and wiser and he gave them the respect during the alike. Each player talked about where they were for making him a better person. Being stubborn, game. Page 2 chehalistribe.org greatwolflodge.com luckyeagle.com eagleslandinghotel.net Continued from page 1... Staff Profile: Chehalis Tribal Projects Manager Chehalis Tribal Projects Manager, area of which has been increased Dave Hinkson, has been with the to allow for storage for the tribe’s tribe for a short six months, but he’s Emergency Management Supplies, managed to facilitate many times and is scheduled to be completed in that worth of work around the Tribal June; and getting to the bottom of Center, Community Center and new the mysterious leak issues plaguing ball fields. Many of these projects the building during the rainy increase safety and comfort for the season, which is all seasons. Dave community and are highly visible, assures us they have found some and some of them are helping to pretty specific problems already secure our culture and keep us safe and the problem will continue to behind the scenes. be addressed. This summer, a dry chemical fire suppression system Pictured are (L to R) Maria Contreras-Sweet, Julie Burnett, If you’ve been to the Tribal Center for the Tribal Archives, housed in Executive Director of the Chehalis Tribal Loan Fund, Senator lately you may have noticed that the Community Center, will begin Maria Cantwell, and Natalie Charley, Executive Director of the the front doors are now equipped installation and be finished by years Taala Fund (Quinault) with automatic door operators. end. This is vitally important for the Those front doors can be heavy, protection of the artifacts contained Ms. Contreras was very open to hearing CDFI’s points of view, questions, especially if you’re handicapped, in the archives to escape both fire and concerns. Senator Maria Cantwell is the Chair of the U.S. Senate a small person, or your hands are and water damage. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She and her staff full, so they’re a welcome upgrade. took into consideration everything that transpired at the meeting and One has also been installed at the And, of course, the new ball fields promised to look into what was discussed at the meeting. Both Executive entrance of the Business Committee continue to be improved upon. Director’s of CTLF and the Taala Fund also were invited to attend a US Room and other locations are being Pathways have been added and Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Field Hearing considered, as well. Another new concrete has been poured in certain on Driving Growth: Small Business Innovation and Research. This meeting addition for safety in the Tribal areas to increase ADA compliance. was held at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, Washington. Center complex is exterior lighting Additional sod has been laid for the Elder’s Center.