Council Dispatch #156     April 7, 2023, Quarterly Meeting Opening

 

  • Chairman McDonald welcomed everyone to the quarterly council meeting and announced breakfast is being served in the conference room and Tribal Health Department is offering shingle shots, flu shots, and COVID-19 shots.

 

Tribal Elders

 

  • Joe McDonald thanked the drum group. He congratulated Council for working together so well. Joe thanked Jim for getting the work done on the pow-wow grounds. Household toilets and showers do not work for those large events.

 

  • Stephen Smallsalmon has been talking Indian at Nkwusm for 20 years and trying to get the language going. Nkwusm will have an end-of-the-year pow-wow in May and he would like the council to attend. There will be four drums at the pow-wow, and he invited everyone to attend. The council works for the people and they need to help the membership.

 

Personnel Department

 

  • Cynthia Matt reported there are a number of vacant positions, and she has some job applications available. The emergency hire jobs are for tribal members only, but the other positions are for anyone who wants to apply. CSKT has tribal member hiring preference.  FIIP is looking for ditch riders. She has some government driving forms for anyone interested in applying. The drug policy was amended. Safety-sensitive positions cannot test positive for marijuana. Chairman McDonald explained marijuana is now exempted from pre-hire drug testing, except for safety-sensitive positions, and employees must refrain from being under the influence while employed. The voters voted to make it legal by referendum. The State licenses the vendors that sell prescription, recreation, and over-the-counter marijuana products. The Tribes continue to research options. Ellie Bundy urged individuals to purchase products from the dispensary for safety reasons; there are concerns about off-the-street marijuana being laced with fentanyl. Len TwoTeeth clarified it is not legal to use or distribute marijuana on Indian trust lands, but it is legal on fee properties within the reservation.

 

Early Childhood Services

 

  • Jeanne Christopher and Carrie Antoine discussed the workforce. ECS met with SKC Early Childhood Division and asked if it was possible to go forward with in-school programs for juniors and seniors that may want to work in early childhood and work towards their degree in early childhood. Ronan High School and Two Eagle River School are interested. Students can be duly enrolled in high school and Salish Kootenai College to earn a degree. ECS also identified a number of classes they will hold this summer for the staff parents that might be interested and the high schoolers. They will have classes for one week which is a three-credit class. The staff members are paid to attend the class. SKC and ECS have worked to secure a grant so each participant will receive a $500 incentive. They plan to have three classes throughout the summer months to ensure people are working toward their qualifications for a specific position. The staff has been busy with recruitment efforts and working with the schools. There are some grandparent positions available for the centers from Arlee to Polson. ECS has an agreement with SKC to waive the tuition for the staff and the program pays for them to attend one class per quarter.

 

Division of Fire

 

  • Ron Swaney, Robert McCrea, and Whitney Malatare announced the Division of Fire has several vacant positions that will be filled for the upcoming fire season, fuels crew, and fire suppression. Chairman McDonald expressed the need to have a stable and competent workforce going forward in today’s fire environment and a workforce that has stable funding and adequate wages providing security and viable earning while promoting workforce sustainability and the successional development of future leaders.

 

Natural Resources Department

 

  • Whisper Camel-Means announced the department will be hiring 8 to 10 fish processing staff members on emergency hire for Mack Days. There are position descriptions available at the front desk today for anyone interested. There are positions available for the Blue Bay manager and campground workers, Wildland Recreation, seasonal customer service positions at the Bison Range, and the Aquatic Invasive Species stations/watercraft inspectors.

 

Indian Preference Office

 

  • Melinda Charlo reported the Ronan construction project is underway and flaggers are needed. Any certified flaggers can get signed up on the on-call list. More heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, and carpenters are needed. The Perma Bridge project will need carpenters later this season. Melinda certifies Indian-owned businesses to get preference for contracting with the Tribes. An RFP for supply for the bridge project is being advertised. The IPO assists businesses that are looking for workers and the office keeps an on-call list of laborers, drivers, operators, etc. CSKT has a memorandum of understanding with the Montana Department of Transportation to hire contractors from disadvantaged enterprises. Melinda can get a workshop scheduled if needed. Applications are available on the tribal website and via email or mail.

 

 

S&K Gaming

 

  • Juliana Tanner announced there are 42 seasonal workers needed for the Gray Wolf Peak Casino, Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino, and Big Arm Resort. Vacancies are advertised on Facebook and in the Char-Koosta News. It has been difficult to find employees to hire since the pandemic.  New hires are provided with the necessary training for their position. The Chief Executive Officer was advertised and interviews were conducted, and Daniel Hansen was hired to fill the vacancy.

 

Tribal Court

 

  • Brad Pluff reported the Tribal Court has been attempting to hire a couple of clerks for several months. There are either no applicants or the selected candidates do not show up for drug testing. The Deputy Clerk and data input jobs are vacant. The clerk staff are one of the lowest paid jobs within the organization and he would like to get that changed. There were no applicants for the attorney judge. The code requires it be a tribal member. The vacancy was advertised three times. Brad spoke to some attorneys and placed them on a retainer, as needed, as a temporary solution. They are working on a Healing Court. They will tour Tulalip’s Healing Court in the next couple months.

 

Department of Human Resources Development

 

  • Dallas Hewankorn gave an overview of the Summer Youth Employment Program. The application deadline is May 18. The Summer Youth Career Fair will be on June 10. Youth will be aware of employment locations. Youth will be hired on a six-week contract and may be extended for two weeks if the job sites want it extended. The youth must be tribal members from a federally recognized tribe and at least 14 years of age by July 1. Applications are available out front. When inspectors visit the home they will prioritize what work needs to be done with the funding.

 

Facilities Maintenance

 

  • Jim Adams announced the Facilities Maintenance Department is always looking for employees, techs, day/night workers, and groundskeepers. No degree is required for these jobs; people just need a good work ethic. They will be trained on the job.

 

Tribal Council

 

  • Tribal Council Members gave an update on the past quarter’s activities.

 

  • Council recognized the following employees who recently retired: Bernie Azure – 01/05/23, Clayton Matt – 03/20/23, Levi Hewankorn – 03/30/23, and Don Cline – 03/30/23.

 

  • Council recognized the following employee who have 35 or more years of tribal government service: Laurence Kenmille – 02/07/1981, Nancy Schall – 05/05/1983, Albert Plant, Sr. – 06/22/1983, Gary Acevedo – 07/17/1983, Mike Durglo – 08/17/1983, Billie Felix – 12/04/1983, Albert McLeod – 03/28/1984, Ruth Swaney – 06/05/1984, Renee Camel – 06/18/1984, Bing Matt – 09/05/1984, Steve Ashley – 10/14/1984, Sue Lawson – 11/09/1984, Ed Dumont – 11/26/1984, Charles Morigeau – 03/15/1985, Abby Dupuis – 06/23/1985, Natalie Kenmille – 09/15/1985, Mark Padilla – 12/15/1985, Marie Torosian – 03/17/1986, Randy Ashley – 03/15/1986, Mona Ebensteiner – 03/31/1986, Lorraine Stevens – 04/26/1986, Gwen Clairmont – 05/01/1986, Greg Funke – 05/18/1986, CloAnn Westerman – 08/30/1986, James Westerman – 10/08/1986, Leonard Grenier – 11/10/1986, Micky Fisher – 01/17/1987, Barb Mann – 04/21/1987, Renee Joachim – 05/06/1987, Richard Burland – 06/12/1987, Donna Durglo – 11/09/1987, Donna Mitchell – 11/16/1987, Wanda Salomon – 11/23/1987, Loretta Caye – 12/02/1987, Sheryl Steele – 01/22/1988, and Steve McDonald – 01/26/1988.

 

  • The following individuals were recognized: Bernie Azure has been a long-term reporter for the Tribes. Len TwoTeeth acknowledged Bernie being a veteran and thanked him for his service. Dennis Courville was recognized for his years of service. Jessica Courville gave some background information on Dennis. Dave Rockwell was acknowledged for all the work he has done for the Tribes for the past 46 years. Stephanie Gillin acknowledged him for the work he did for the Bison Range. Dave wrote a book, created interactive DVDs, and digitized them. The Ronan High School Girls Wrestling Team was recognized for winning the state title for Class A & B. Coach Cameron Neiss thanked the community for supporting the team. Tirza Two Teeth was the first tribal member girl to win a state wrestling title.

 

Tribal Member Services

 

  • Patricia Hibbeler gave an update on the ARPA emergency home repairs. 300 applications have been received to date. A home inspector will be hired. The goal is to address houses with the greatest need first as they begin contracting for those projects. DHRD is running the program and is overseen by Tracie Couture and Patricia Courchane. People need to submit their applications as soon as possible if they are in need of home repairs. Emergency home repairs and elders are the priority. The majority of the funds will be spent in 2023.

 

 

 

  • Patricia Hibbeler gave an update on the Ronan Health Clinic, which will be open soon. Phase one is set for a grand opening on May 4, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tours of the clinic will be offered. Tribal Health is moving in the furniture and equipment. It takes time to get the systems up and running. They will offer soft services with a limited number of patients while they test the system. It will be open for full service by mid-May.  Phase one is being geared toward women and children services. Specialty clinics will be brought in.  Phase two will bring in new market tax credits and allow for an expansion to add physical therapy and fitness. New construction will begin in May and it should be completed in January. There will also be a drive-through pharmacy.

 

  • Patricia Hibbeler and Marie Torosian gave an update on the Three Chiefs Culture Center, which will be moving to the former Pablo Bank building. The renovations will begin soon. Exhibits will be displayed upstairs and the curation facility will be downstairs. The vault will be renovated for storing artifacts. The upstairs vault will store the paintings, photo collections, and historic papers. Education classes will be held downstairs. There will be office space upstairs and downstairs. Len TwoTeeth suggested having some reflectors to show where the road and Three Chiefs are located.

 

Tribal Membership

 

  • Teresa Wall-McDonald and Leroy Black discussed the tribal priority resolutions for mental health, job retention, and addiction treatments. It is important for the membership to have access to treatment. Teresa and Leroy did some research. In October there was a total of 1,173 employees and only 266 of those signed up for healthcare, which is 20% of the employee base signing up for healthcare benefits. What is holding people back from signing up for that benefit is the cost of health insurance. Teresa advocated in the next budget cycle that the Tribes consider paying a larger share of the employee health insurance. It is important for job retention.  If the Tribes paid a larger share of the health insurance cost, it would increase the number of health choices, increase revenues for the Tribal Health Department, and increase the third party revenues. Insurance programs offer webinars on mental health, wellness, and nutrition. Patricia Hibbeler commented that the department is following policies. There is a policy review and hopefully things will change in the future. Those policies were developed many years ago. The Tribal Health Committee should attack this issue. Council will continue discussions on this matter.

 

                    

 

NOTE:  The official Council Minutes will contain more complete details about lengthy discussions and should be considered the official record of Council. Dispatches are written from notes taken live and may occasionally contain partial information, over-simplified characterizations or an occasional error. Council reviews and corrects the draft minutes before approving as the official record.  Comments (both affirmations and concerns) are part of change and are expected and encouraged. Along with any specific comments, please also share what you would like to hear more about in upcoming communications. The email address for comments is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..