December 2012 - Central Council Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska

Tlingit & Haida Central CouncilTribal NewsDecember 20122012 Native American Heritage Month LuncheonTlingit Haida Central Council was pleased to hosta luncheon in celebration of Native AmericanHeritage Month on November 19, 2012. Specialguest speaker, Dr. Rosita Worl, provided a veryinformative presentation titled, “Tlingit Law,American Justice and the Destruction of TlingitVillages.” She spoke of traditional Tlingit lawand the U.S. military attacks in Southeast Alaska;specifically, the villages of Kake and Wrangell in1869 and Angoon in 1882.Dr. Worl is recognized statewide and nationallyfor her work in preserving Native cultureand serves as President of the SealaskaHeritage Institute (SHI). Her Tlingit names areYeidiklasókw and Kaa háni, and she is Ch’áak’(Eagle) moiety of the Shangukweidí (Thunderbird) clan from the Kaawdliyaayi Hít (House Lowered Fromthe Sun) in Klukwan.L-R: President Edward K. Thomas, ANS Grand President Freda Westman,SHI President Rosita Worl, and ANB Grand President William E. MartinFollowing Dr. Worl’s presentation, ANB Grand President William E. Martin and ANS Grand President FredaWestman shared a Grand Camp resolution that is being submitted to the Alaska Legislature, GovernorParnell, Alaska Federation of Natives, Tlingit Haida Central Council, and other Southeast tribes to nameNovember 14th Walter Soboleff Day. With approval from the Executive Council, President Thomas declaredNovember 14th as Walter Soboleff Day.To view Dr. Worl’s presentation online, please visit: http://vimeo.com/53955608. Thank you toKathy Dye, SHI Media and Publications Director, for recording and posting this video.• President Edward K. Thomas HonoredIN PresidentSIDE• “Champions of Change” Program Launched• Salish Kootenai College Welcomes Interim• ANTHC $5,000 Scholarship Reinstated• Tribal Youth Reflect on Elders & YouthConference• News from JOM• Local Documentary Features Tribal Youth & Staff• Renee Wheat-Kitka Promoted• 477 Client Application Notice• Child Care Improvement Activities• Juneau Job Fair• New Employee Introduction• Tribal Transportation Relocates• 2013 Wellness for Caregivers Workshop• Mark Your Calendars• Congratulations Shannon Roxanne James• New TANF Office Opens in Sitka, Alaska• Child Support Questions & Answers• 2012 Grants Guide Workshop

Edward K. ThomasPresident Edward K. Thomas HonoredCourtesy of U.S. Senate Committee on Indian AffairsThe United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs recently honored PresidentEdward K. Thomas as a modern day leader. In November, National Native AmericanHeritage Month, the committee recognized President Thomas as a national advocatefor self-governance, subsistence hunting and fishing, and a powerful Native voicefor Indian health care and education reforms, and noted that in his capacityas a tribal leader, he has met with Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush,Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, and with theSecretary General of the United Nations.President Thomas was born and raised in Craig, Alaska. He is a Raven of the Tlingittribe, Sukteeneidí (Dog Salmon) clan. His Tlingit names are T’sa Xoo and ShaansKadake and his Haida name is Skil’ Quidaunce.Central Council is proud of President Thomas’ many accomplishments and very much appreciates his continueddedication and leadership. He has served as the Tribe’s president for twenty six years.“Champions for Change” Program LaunchedSubmitted By: Megan GregoryOn Monday, November 19, former Senator Byron Dorgan, the founder and chairman of the Center for NativeAmerican Youth at the Aspen Institute, announced the launch of a new program, “Champions for Change,” aspin-off of a White House initiative.The Champions for Change program recognizes and encourages inspirational Native youth (ages 14 to 24)working in their tribal or urban Indian communities to promote hope and make a positive impact. Championscan include individuals who initiate programs, events, or other efforts to improve the lives of fellow Nativeyouth and Indian Country.Five finalists will be selected to be recognized at a spring 2013 event in Washington, DC. Finalists will alsobe invited to serve a two-year term on a newly-created Youth Advisory Board at the Center. To find out moreinformation about the Champions for Change program, please visit the Center For Native American Youth at:www.cnay.org. Applications are now available online at: www.cnay.org/Online_Application.html.2Correction: In the October 2012 issue of Tribal News, the Alaska Native Sisterhood 1st GrandPresident’s name was incorrectly spelled. The correct spelling is Victoria Canul Dunne.Alaska Native BrotherhoodGrand President, William E. Martin1st Grand President, Sasha Soboleff2nd Grand President, Frank AlbyGrand Secretary, Peter NaorozGrand Treasurer, James LlanosGrand Sergeant at Arms, Jimmy Williams2012 Grand Camp Election ResultsAlaska Native SisterhoodGrand President, Freda Westman1st Grand President, Victoria Canul Dunne2nd Grand President, Beverly RussellGrand Secretary, Carol DuisGrand Treasurer, Marietta HopkinsGrand Sergeant at Arms, Brenda LouiseCentral Council congratulates all ANB/ANS elected officers!

Salish Kootenai CollegeWelcomes Interim PresidentA tribally controlled college located in Pablo, MontanaThe Salish Kootenai College (SKC) Board of Trustees is pleased to announcethe appointment of Elaine L. Frank, EdD as Interim President. Dr. Frankhas been with the college since 1994 serving in many capacities. They lookforward to her leadership during this transitional time.Elaine L. Frank, EdDDr. Frank received her EdD in Gifted Education/Educational Psychology fromthe University of Georgia, her MA in Gifted Education from Oklahoma City University, and her BA in MusicEducation is from Western Washington University.Elaine was recruited and hired at SKC in 1994 by Academic Vice President Jerry Slater. In addition to her roleas Director of Institutional Research, she assisted him with his variety of responsibilities including managingprograms and grants as well as teaching college courses. She credits him and his successor Alice Oechsli withmentoring her into the various leadership roles she has served at SKC. In addition to Director of InstitutionalResearch her leadership roles included Director of Enrollment Services and Interim Academic Vice Presidentprior to her current appointment as Interim President.Prior to her arrival at SKC, Dr. Frank has co-authored multiple publications and given presentations at nationalconferences that focus on gifted and talented students and providing quality education to students fromminority cultures. She continues to advocate for high expectations and strong support systems for students fromunderrepresented populations. Her leadership style is much the same where she demands task completion whileproviding the necessary support for employees to achieve that goal.Dr. Frank is Haida from Southeast Alaska. Her parents are Mason and Lynn Frank of Seattle, WA. Mason isoriginally from Hydaburg, AK, while Lynn is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Siblings are Dean and StephanieFrank. She is married to Vernon Finley (Kootenai Tribe of Montana) and they have two children. Elaineattributes her education to her family as well as Sealaska Heritage Institute and Tlingit Haida Central Council.The Salish Kootenai College Board of Trustees welcomes Dr. Elaine Frank as Interim SKC President.ANTHC $5,000 Scholarship ReinstatedThe Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is pleased to announce the reinstatement of the ANTHC$5,000 scholarship for the remainder of the 2012/2013 academic year. The Education, Development andTraining (EDT) department at ANTHC is accepting applications now through December 31, 2012 to awardfor the remaining spring and summer terms. This scholarship may be used for tuition, books, and fees forprofessional certificate programs or higher education degrees. ANTHC grants these scholarships as an integralpart of its long-term strategy to increase Alaska Natives and American Indians in the healthcare field.The scholarship award is open to all individuals who are Alaska Native or American Indian and meet thefollowing eligibility requirements:• Permanent Alaska residents• Interested in working in the healthcare field• Currently enrolled in a formal education or training programANTHC will be offering this scholarship at the beginning of each academic year. For more information, pleasecontact Courtney Bridges, EDT Trainer, at 907.729.1911.3

Tribal YouthReflect on theElders and YouthConferenceNews from Johnson O’MalleySubmitted By: Mischa JacksonElders and Youth Southeast Alaska Representatives“I enjoyed hearing the elders speak tous younger ones; telling us it’s our jobto take the role as a leader or a man. Iknow that when I see the next generationI would know what to say to them. Iam glad I took the opportunity to cometo this conference. If I had anotherchance to come I would.” - Elijah Marks“Going to this conference has expandedmy knowledge for my culture. It was achance for us to show our elders thatwe want to learn and keep our culturewith us. We have an important key rolein keeping our language/singing/dancinggoing on so it can be with us forever, generationafter generation.”- Rolonda ScaifeThis October, the Johnson O’Malley program funded a group ofSoutheast Alaska student and elder representatives to travel and attendthe 29th Annual Elders and Youth Conference in Anchorage. The annualconference is sponsored by First Alaskans Institute and is held priorto the annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention. This year, JOMsent elders, youth, and chaperones from the compact communities ofDouglas, Haines and Wrangell. With the support of the Juneau SchoolDistrict, the JOM program was also able to send seven Juneau studentsto attend the conference.The theme for this year’s conference was “Native Knowledge: Respectingand Owning Our Living Culture.” Overall, the conference was a greatlearning experience for all the students that attended. There was agreat balance and mixture between cultural performances, cultural/traditional education, keynote speakers, and guided dialogues, as well asa variety of presenters and workshops. Every year the conference getsbetter and more engaging. Students have the flexibility to choose froma variety of workshop topics that interest them and they always enjoythe discussions and knowledge shared during the men’s and women’shouses.This year at the Sealaska regional breakout session, Juneau DouglasHigh School sophomore Elijah Marks was elected the youthrepresentative to the StatewideElders and Youth Council,while Florence MarksSheakley was elected the elderrepresentative.“Thank you for sending me to thisconference because I got the opportunity tolearn more about all the other Alaska Nativecultures and I was inspired by the elders.I hope to inspire my family and friends totake advantage of opportunities like this.”4- Jeffrey Isturis“I learned about the different communities inAlaska and got to see their traditional dancesand hear their songs. This trip has reallyinspired me to do more to help out our culture.I’m glad I had a chance to talk with the eldersand learn so much from them. I hope to comeagain next year.” - Iris PilcherThe JOM program wouldlike to congratulate Elijahand Florence on their newlyelected roles and thank allof the JOM Southeast Alaskarepresentatives for their activeand engaging participationthroughout the conference.

Local Documentary FeaturesTribal Youth and StaffHow do you tell the difference between red and yellow cedar?Who are some local cedar weavers?Submitted By: Native Lands & ResourcesWhy is cedar so deeply woven into the Tlingit and Haida way of life?Tribal YouthReflect on theElders and YouthConferenceThis past October, students and staff from the Native Lands & Resourcesdepartment received answers to these questions and more during thefilming of a local documentary. Fred Olsen from the Organized Village ofKasaan, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tlingit Haida Central Council havebeen collaborating on a documentary about cedar trees for the last twoyears.Ten students from Thunder Mountain and Juneau Douglas high schoolswere able to earn extra credit in school by spending a day with localknowledge bearers and ecologists for the film. From Juneau Douglas HighSchool, Dominique Stitt, Julia Gregory, Cheyenne Hinckley, Isabell Bryan,Clara Ramos, Linda Palmer, Lisa Palmer, and Kayla Browning attended.Megan Johnson and Justin Watanabe represented Thunder MountainHigh School.Lillian Petershoare and Barbara Schrader of the U.S. Forest Servicehelped students hike to a local stand of cedars trees that have growntall due to healthy water drainage and snow cover in the winter. CarrieSykes, Tlingit Haida Central Council knowledge bearer, presented theimportance of cedar trees for traditional and customary uses. Herdiscussion about cedar as a resource for totem poles, canoes, fishinghooks, baskets, and clothing materials brought clearer understanding ofsubsistence as a way of life, not just a reference to food resources as oftenportrayed. Her Haida traditions promote a sincere understanding andrespect for cedars as living beings.At the second annual CultureCamp in 2010, Paul Hennon, LeadResearch Forest Pathologist forSoutheast Alaska, also contributedto the documentary by teachinglocal students about cedar ecologyin a warmingclimate. Thedocumentaryis in its finalstages ofproductionand will beavailablethrough theU.S. ForestService.Cedar fieldtrip photoscourtesy ofFred Olsen.“The conference was fun and verymotivating. They spoke about gettinginto your culture, language, and learningand respecting our elders. Overall, Ibelieve this was a good experience and itmotivated me to learn and get more intomy Native community and culture. If this isavailable next year I’ll be sure to go.”– Ruby Nashoanak“It was a great experience all around.I really hope I can come again; seeingand hearing stories from the elders area lot of fun. And I can’t wait to share thisexperience with my family. Coming to thisconference really made me proud of beingAlaskan Native.” – Trey Williams“I had a fun time at the elders and youthconference. I learned a lot about Nativeculture and I liked watching the dancegroups and seeing how different thecultures can be. I liked talking to the eldersto learn about how we should be.”- Miranda Harvey 5

Renee Wheat-Kitka PromotedThe Employment & Training TANF 477 program is pleased to welcome ReneeWheat-Kitka, who was recently promoted to Sitka TANF Caseworker on December1, 2012. Prior to her promotion, she served as an Administrative Clerk II. Renee isRaven-Frog and is married to her kindergarten sweetheart Thomas Kitka. Renee hasa son, Joshua Keller, who is a senior at Sitka High School and will graduate in May2013.Renee was raised in Sitka by her mother Barbara Anderson of Juneau and the lateHarold (Sonny) Enloe of Sitka. Her biological father was the late Robert (Tucker)Wheat of Juneau. Her maternal grandparents are Margaret Ling and the late SaulAguirre. Her paternal grandparents were the late Orville and Daisy Wheat. Renee’sbiological paternal grandfather was the late Matthew Wanamaker.Submitted By: Employment & TrainingRenee Wheat-KitkaRenee graduated from Rochester High School in 1989 and lived in Washington Statefor twenty-three years. She returned to Sitka in May 2012. Renee has twelve years of office experience. Uponaccepting employment with Tlingit Haida Central Council, she was employed with the law offices of Harold D.Carr where she worked for eight years as a Legal Assistant. Her main duties as an intake staff member were todetermine for the attorney the merits of a personal injury claim for the purpose of entering into a contract witha client.Renee is very happy to be home in Sitka assisting TANF clients in becoming self-sufficient. Her responsibilitiesat the Sitka TANF office include processing applications and managing a caseload of 35-45 clients. Two ofher favorite assignments include assisting clients in obtaining full-time employment and encouraging themin furthering their education. She’s proud that two of her clients will receive their Certified Nursing Assistant(CNA) certificate and another will receive a Licensed Practical Nurse certificate (LPN) this month.We are happy to have her on board and we are excited we have another tribal member joining the E&T Team.6477 ClientApplicationNoticeThe Employment &Training Division is pleasedto announce that 477applications are now beingaccepted via email. Clientsmay submit their applicationsvia email to:477intake@ccthita.org.College Speech ContestAwards ScholarshipsCourtesy of Cut Bank Creek PressCut Bank Creek Press, a Native-owned publishing company, will awardtwo $1,500 college scholarships to the winners of its first speechcontest titled “Speakin’ in Indian.”Currently enrolled college students will upload 5-minute video entries toYouTube in response to one of two theses:1. “Native people and tribes should expend substantial resources onthe preservation/restoration of Native languages and make it a toppriority because…”, or alternatively,2. “Native people and tribes should not expend their limited resourceson the preservation/restoration of Native languages and make it a toppriority because....”Cut Bank Creek Press will announce contest rules on January 1, 2013.Submissions will be accepted from January 15 through February 15,2013. For complete scholarship information, please visit their site at:www.cutbankcreekpress.com.

Child Care Quality Improvement ActivitiesSubmitted By: Alice BagoyoThe Child Care Assistance program administers a quality improvement program through Employment andTraining’s 102-477 program. This year, we provided a subcontract agreement to the Boys and Girls Clubs ofAmerica with the focus of combatting obesity among Alaska Native/American Indian children.“The impact of obesity is reflected in Alaska’s concurrent epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and other chronicdiseases and has lead to the national projection; that due to obesity, today’s children may be the first generationto have a shorter life expectancy than their parent’s generation.” ~Ward Hurlburt, MD MPH Alaska ChiefMedical officer.”The Boys and Girls Clubs of America has developed a Triple Play program in five of our Southeast Alaskacommunities including Hydaburg, Kake, Ketchikan, Klawock, and Petersburg. The overall goal is to serve 130students between the ages of 6-13. Focus will be in skill-building activities that increase feelings of belonging,usefulness, influence, and competence with the following objectives:Mind ObjectivesBody Objectives• Build awareness for eating a variety of nutritious foods• Members will interact positively• Members believe in importance of maintaining health and wellness with youth and adults and• Increase overall feelings of well-beingengage in healthy relationships• Members will be more likely to make healthy and smart food choices • Increase number of youth/• Soul objectivesexisting members participating• Increase amount of time each day members participate in activities in the program• Increase member knowledge of physical fitness and how it is an essentialpart of lifeWe would like to encourage you to check this valuable program out in your community.Juneau Job FairSubmitted By: Jamie HillThe Employment and Training (E&T) 477 program participated in the annual Juneau Job Fair held October19th at the Centennial Hall. Five staff (Angela McIntosh, Barbara Taug, Jamie Hill, Pam Credo-Hayes, and ArayaJohnson) attended to answer questions about job openings and services within the Tribe. Letters of invitationwere sent to clients within the Juneau service area to attend the fair. Several tribal citizens mentioned theyappreciated the information provided at the fair and were excited to see what government and private businesseswere doing to recruit new employees.There were a total of 63 tribal citizens that visited the E&T table during thefair. Staff helped tribal citizens with applications and visited other employertables to gather information on their current job openings. Numerous nontribalcitizens and other employers also visited the 477 table to view currentjob openings and ask about services offered.We encourage tribal citizens to utilize the 477 program’s computer lablocated at the Mendenhall Mall office to create and/or update cover lettersand resumes. Eli Derenoff is the on-site instructor and can help with many ofE&T Job Fair Table your questions. The computer lab is open Monday through Friday from 10:00AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Tribal citizens may also access theState of Alaska’s ALEXsys site at: https://alexsys.labor.state.ak.us/default.asp to apply for current job openings andtraining opportunities. The next Juneau Job Fair will be in March of 2013 at the Centennial Hall. See you there!7

New Employee IntroductionMy name is Valesha Patterson and I am a Haida Eagle. My mother is TracyNix, and her mother and father are Marilyn and the late Allen Nix Sr. ofHydaburg, AK. My father’s name is Douglas Patterson; his parents areLillian and the late Joe Patterson of Juneau. My Tlingit nickname given tome by Lillian Hammond is See Tlien.Submitted By: Valesha PattersonI traveled many times throughout my schooling years from Juneau toHydaburg to Washington and back. I settled myself in Juneau, in 2006,getting a job with the U.S. Forest Service, enrolling myself into JuneauDouglas High School and living with my Aunt Jo Ann. Early on I foundTristen with mom, Valesha Pattersonpride with my fellow Natives in the Early Scholars and PITAAS’ programs,in particular Ricky Tagaban and Erin Tripp. The three of us were passionate about our culture and schooling.Whether we made an impact or not, we wanted our Native voices heard. Ricky and Erin have continued to dothat since graduation. Ricky is currently attending UAA and serves as the Tlingit Haida Central Council YouthRepresentative. Erin is an intern at Goldbelt Inc. and is attending UAS.I have always had a motherly nature about me. So, that motherly instinct really kicked in when my childhoodsweetheart of two years, James Washington, and I had our first child, Tristen. He is now a fiery ball of energy,soon to be three years old. The first two years of his life we lived in Hydaburg. In heart, I am a village girl, butknew that was not the life for me.We moved to Juneau in November of 2011. Utilizing the Tlingit Haida Central Council Work Experienceprogram, I began working in the Office of the President (OTP) in May 2012. I found an extended family withthe ladies of the OTP. I found my passion and sense of pride again joining the “Get Out The Native Vote”campaign. I became a permanent employee for the Tribal Transportation department in September. I now workfor both departments part-time, and although it is a lot of work, I thoroughly enjoy it.I am excited to be working for the Tribe and hope to bring a young perspective in anything that I do.Tribal Transportation RelocatesSubmitted By: Tribal TransportationThe Tribal Transportation department is pleased to announce it has moved onsite into the first floor of theEdward K. Thomas Building located at 9097 Glacier Highway in Juneau, Alaska. The department had previouslyleased space in the Jordan Creek Center.“We are really pleased to be housed now with our colleagues at Central Council. It will be a great opportunityto work more closely and collaboratively with other parts of the organization,” said Mary A. Miller, TribalTransportation Director. In addition to Mary, the Juneau Transportation office staff includes ProgramCoordinator Brandilyn McDonald and Administrative Clerk II Valesha Patterson.In spite of the disruptive move, the department is busily working on a road construction project to be built inSaxman this summer, several design projects for Central Council’s parking lots, a subdivision design for theTlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority, as well as being involved in several other transportation planningefforts.The Transportation crew invites you to stop in to talk about your transportation issues or learn more about whatwe are doing.8

2013 Wellness for Caregivers WorkshopA Workshop for Elderly CaregiversDate: March 20, 2013Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PMLocation: Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall320 W. Willoughby AvenueJuneau, Alaska 99801Submitted By: Marilyn DoyleNo Registration FeeLunch will be providedDoor Prizes!The Elderly Services program is working with the Tlingit and Haida Elders’ Caregiver Council to provide aone-day workshop for elderly caregivers. The goal of the workshop is to increase the level of access to caregiversupport services and information for the Native elderly.Tlingit and Haida Elders’ Caregiver CouncilThe Tlingit and Haida Elders’ Caregiver Councilmeets on the second Tuesday of each monthfrom 12 noon to 1:30 PM in the Andrew HopeBuilding (2nd Floor Tribal Family & Youth ServicesConference Room or 3rd Floor Conference Room).All interested elders from the Juneau Communityare welcome to join.“Litseeni K u oo” - Juneau Elders’ Fitness GroupThe “Litseeni K u oo” group meets for chair fitnessevery Thursday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon atthe Vocational Training & Resource Center. AndreaEbona-Michel provides one-hour of professional levelphysical exercises to participating elders. Lunch andtransportation are provided! All interested elders in theJuneau community are welcome to join.If you would like more information on the 2013 Caregivers Workshop, Tlingit and Haida Elders’ CaregiversCouncil, or “Litseeni K u oo”, please contact:Marilyn DoyleElderly Services CoordinatorToll Free: 1.800.344.1432 ext 7168Direct: 907.463.7168Email: mdoyle@ccthita.orgorDonna JamesFamily Service WorkerToll Free: 1.800.344.1432 ext. 7131Direct: 907.463.7131Email: djames@ccthita.orgDecember EventsMark Your Calendars3: NCAI Budget Meeting on FY2014 Recommendations – Washington, DC3-4: Tribal Wealth Management Symposium – Lincoln, CA4-5: White House Tribal Nations Summit – Washington, DC6-8: Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration & Reform Meeting – Seattle, WA17: CCTHITA Audit Committee Meeting – Teleconference20: CCTHITA Executive Council Meeting – Teleconference25: Christmas Day (CCTHITA Offices are Closed)Notice: In the October issue of Tribal News, Sealaska Corporation board meeting dates were published without authorization.We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.9

Congratulations Shannon JamesSubmitted By: Barbara TaugIn 2007, Shannon Roxanne James applied for services with the Tribal Assistance forNeedy Families program. At the time, Shannon was a single parent raising threedaughters, Tyonna age 20, Kayley age 5, and Savannah age 1. She had recently relocatedfrom Angoon hoping to find more opportunities for employment in Juneau.Shannon was hired by Cornerstone Home Health Care where she worked caring forthe elderly and paraplegic patients by providing state approved in-home services; suchas, bathing of clients, cooking, and shopping. In 2008, Shannon injured her shoulderand experienced difficulty fulfilling the requirements of lifting and moving of herShannon Roxanne Jamesclients. She was medically diagnosed with a disc disease and surgery was required onher shoulder. The rehabilitation process was lengthy for Shannon. She knew she would have to find another typeof employment after she was medically approved to reenter the workforce. Since Shannon found the medical fieldinteresting and wanted to work with people, she decided to go back to school to become a Phlebotomist. She appliedfor scholarships to attend the University of Alaska-Southeast (UAS) for the 2011 fall semester. With the assistanceof the Tribal Employment and Training Program, her Permanent Fund Dividends and the Pell Grant scholarships tocover the tuition, she was accepted at UAS.Juggling the responsibilities of homework and the care of her children was difficult at times, but Shannon wasdetermined to finish school. She was required to complete 300 blood draws during her internship at the BartlettRegional Hospital Clinical Laboratory to meet the requirements of the certificate program. In May, Shannonreceived her Phlebotomy certificate. She accepted part-time employment with Budget Rental, submitting applicationsto all the medical offices, including Bartlett Hospital. She updated her resume and was called by Bartlett Hospitalfor an interview. She has accepted a part-time position at the Bartlett Laboratory until April 2013, when she willbecome a full-time employee. Until then, Shannon continues to work her two part-time jobs and is grateful tothe Tribal Employment and Training program for providing the assistance she needed to reach her goal of selfsufficiency.I am so proud of you Shannon! Good Luck with your new career. We wish all the best for you and yourfamily.TANF staff, L-R: Renee Kitka, Brenda Chapman,Sharon Wright and Julie Lane10New TANF Office Opens in Sitka, AKSubmitted By: Employment & TrainingThe Sitka Temporary Assistance to Need Families (TANF) program hasopened their new office in the Shee Atika corporate office located at 315Lincoln Street. The space was newly-constructed and is a beautiful areaon the ground floor of the building. The move was culminated with anOpen House on November 21, 2012. It was largely attended by the SitkaTANF participants, members of the Sitka Tribes of Alaska and TlingitHaida Central Council. In addition, staff from Shee Atika and the SitkaState of Alaska Department of Public Assistance were in attendance.TANF Manager Brenda Chapman traveled from Juneau to participate inthe Open House and to meet with visitors as well as staff members. It was good to see her here. The Sitka TANFstaff, Sharon Wright and Renee Kitka, are enjoying the new location, though still adjusting and working out thebugs of the move. It is felt by both staff and clients that the downtown location is more accessible.The staff of the Sitka TANF office would like to thank Julie Lane and her husband Ned for their tremendousassistance in the move. Both came to Sitka the preceding week expressly for that purpose. Julie’s organizationalskills, willingness to jump right in and help, and Ned’s willingness to help move the heavy furniture was, indeed,greatly appreciated. Thank you both!

Child Support Questions and AnswersSubmitted By: Tribal Child Support UnitHow can I help make my case move quicker?The best way is to provide a complete application and supply all supporting documentation. Examples: birthcertificates for each child, completed Paternity Witness Statement, and as much information on the noncustodialparent as possible (address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, etc.)Does TCSU perform paternity testing?Yes, TCSU staff is certified to perform DNA testing but only as it relates to establishing child support. DNAtesting can only be done when ordered by the Tribal Court.Can I find out information on someone else’s TCSU case?TCSU follows a very strict confidentiality policy. If you are not a party on the case, TCSU cannot release anyinformation. TCSU cannot confirm or deny the existence of a case.If I am a party, can I find out information about the non-custodial parent, such as address orphone number?No, TCSU adheres to strict confidentiality rules and does not release confidential information to either party.Does the Tribe represent me at Tribal Court?The Tribe does not represent either the custodial or non-custodial party. The Tribe remains a neutral party inthe case and works with both parties to establish paternity and child support.Does the Tribal Court hear custody cases?At this time, the Tribal Court does not hear custody cases. However, the Tribe is working on developing tribalcustody codes for the Court to start hearing custody cases in the future.If I owe child support will TCSU garnish my Native dividends?On a case-by-case basis, TCSU may garnish Native dividend funds when there are arrears owed to thecustodian of the child. TCSU will not garnish Native dividend monies to pay child support owed to a tribe oranother state.How can I help to make sure there is minimal lag time on receiving child support payments?The best way is to make sure you keep your contact information, i.e., mailing address, physical address, andphone number updated. If you move or change your phone number, you are required to contact TCSU within10 days to provide updated contact information.Where do the child support payments come from?Most payments are received through Income WithholdingOrders submitted to the non-custodial parent’s employer.Employers are required by law to deduct child support fromthe non-custodial parent’s wages.How often does TCSU send child support payments?TCSU’s policy is to process payments within three businessdays upon posted receipt. The frequency of payments dependson how often the non-custodial parent is paid. Examples:Some employers pay monthly, others pay weekly or bi-weekly.If you have questions regarding childsupport, please feel free to contact theTribal Child Support Unit:Tribal Child Support Unit320 W. Willoughby Avenue (3rd Floor)Juneau, Alaska 99801Ph: 907.463.7132 | Fax: 907.463.7392Toll Free: 1.800.344.1432 ext. 7132Central Council welcomes news from tribally enrolled citizens. If youhave news to share, or would like to receive Tribal News, contact:Jodi Garrison, Office of the President/PublicationsEdward K. Thomas Building • 9097 Glacier Highway, Juneau AK 99801Direct: 907.463.7123 • Email: jgarrison@ccthita.org11

Central CouncilTlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska9097 Glacier HighwayJuneau, Alaska 99801www.ccthita.orgPRESORTEDSTANDARDPAIDJuneau, AKPermit No. 139RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDPreserving our sovereignty, enhancing our economic and cultural resources, and promoting self-sufficiencyand self-governance for our citizens through collaboration, service, and advocacy.2012 Grants Guide Workshop“Get it Funded for Southeast Alaska”Submitted By: Carrie SykesIn November, the Business & Economic Development (BEDD) department held the 2012 Grants GuideWorkshop in Juneau, Alaska. Training was provided by Grant Writers, LLC to 17 participants, all of whichwork for tribal organizations or entities that provide services to tribal members. The theme was, “SharingSuccessful Strategies for State, Federal, Corporate and Private Grants,” with a focus on the needs of Southeast.Participants learned how to: Prepare for grant opportunities before fundingannouncements are released; effectively utilize databases for grant searchesand data research; share issues and strategies with other grant writers;make online submissions easy by exploring a variety of submission formats;and how to work with other attendees who shared common goals andchallenges.Grant Writers, LLC provides consultationThe hands-on workshop provided an opportunity to develop an actualproject and participants were able to receive one-on-one consultation andadvice about their proposal.It was a huge success with many participants saying it was the best grant writing workshop they had attended.BEDD is planning to host another workshop and will also be developing an instructional DVD.