Char-Koosta News (Pablo, Mont.) 1985-current, December 25, 2014, Image 1

135¢ USPS No. 495-170 DH Volume 46, Number 10 CSKT releases animal field guide app — page 4 =i a oD Christmas Card winner— page 4 , N\OOSTIA The official news tet of the Flathead Indian » Reservation EWS December 25, 2014 Elder’s Assistance Payment program to start in January By Adriana Fehrs PABLO — This January, tribal elders can expect the first assistance payment designed to aid them with primary living expenses during the winter months Previous Tribal Councils wanted to develop a tribal elder payment program as a part of the cultural and traditional heritage of caring for the elders. Vern Clairmont, CSKT Director of Financial Management, says the Tribes had never had ability to create a payment program in the past, but now a fund, via revenue tax sharing agreements with the State of Montana, makes it possible to continue the program into the future The program is intended to assist tribal elders 65 and older. Elders wanting to enroll will submit an application with a copy of their photo ID. Applicants must be 65 or older by December 31 to be eligible Enrollees can receive their payment in the form of a check or direct deposit CSKT mailed out 1,149 applications to eligible elders. So far, CSKT Accounting has received 950 of those applications Clairmont says those who have lost or may not have received their application can pick up a new one at their office, located in the Main Tribal Complex The deadline for the January 2015 payment has been waived; those wanting to enroll can still apply Technically, the deadline was December 2, but since the program is still the first year, and many elders still have questions, they will allow continual applications Those enrolled in the program can expect a $500 payment around January 5 For those not enrolled, as soon as they submit their EGS Kids Share Holiday Gheer Ronan ECS kids came eh Pablo to sing Christmas carols to council on December 12. Adorn with Santa hats, red noses, and plenty of smiles, the kids' songs brought the room into the holiday spirit (photo Robert McDonald) application, the Tribes will send out the payments as soon as possible, but currently CSKT Accounting hasn’t decided if they will send out payments daily or weekly The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has not determined if the funds fall under the Tribal General Welfare Doctrine, and will or will not be taxable If the elder’s assistance payment is determined to be taxable, will be required to mitigate additional work any potential impact for individuals eligible or Medicaid, or any other federal assistance receiving SSI programs. The Tribes expect the IRS to make a decision in first half of 2015. “As SOON as We get notice from IRS, we will mail out notices,” says Clairmont Ruth Swaney, CSKT Office of Financial Management Budget Director, says it’s important for those who are enrolled in the payment program, to keep their mailing address current with the CSKT Enrollment Department SPCC Elders Committee has busy day at December meeting Left: Steve Archibald from the BRRC&D updates the Elders Committee on the cultural exchan is on the left; right: SPCC Elders Committee member Mike Durglo, Sr. talks about the BPA ST. IGNATIUS a full house and full agenda at this month’s Salish Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee Elders Committee meeting in the SPO Long House The top of the agenda was the acknowledgement of the December birthdays that include Gloria Whitworth, Louie Adams and Noel Pichette. I won’t tell you how they are but there is a lot of wisdom among those three earned by their time on the planet. Happy Birthday * Kevin Askan of the Preservation Office discussed the Bonneville Power Administration main feeder power line that dissects the Flathead Indian Reservation from the Hot Springs area southeasterly through the South Fork Jocko River Tribal Primitive Area Negotiations on the right-of-way through the reservation are currently in process and the Preservation Office would like to interview folks, including elders who have knowledge about the historical use of the area, especially ceremonial uses as well as hunting, fishing and It was gathering in order to restrict access to those culturally sensitive areas The South Fork Jocko River Tribal Primitive Area already has restricted access that allows only members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes into the area. However, most of the other right-of-way route doesn’t. Consequently the Preservation Office would like to know if there are areas along the route that have been used for cultural purposes “We encourage you to interview,” Askan said “It will provide us with a snapshot in time that has to suffice for 25 years.” The Preservation Office and representatives from the Elders Committee as well as SPO Culture Committee staff will schedule a field trip along the route to locate and identify any cultural sensitive areas * Keisha Etches of the Preservation Office gave an update on the potential repatriation and/ or preservation of some off- Flathead Reservation burial sites and funerary objects in the Salish aboriginal homeland territory Through the auspices of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Preservation Office is working with the Washington State Parks and Elders Committee member Louie Adams gives the BRRC&D entourage a personal history lesson about the Bitterroot Salish. (B.L. Azure photo) . ‘ Recreation ( ommission the Bitterroot and Deer Lodge national forests, the University of Montana and various northwest tribes to ferret out the issues of import to the various tribes BRR wie The Preservation Office wants the Elders Committee input on the issue and will keep them posted on the pre gress * Steve Clairmont of S&K Holding told the Elders Committee that S&K Holding is in the process of changing its name to better reflect its mission that has morphed beyond its initial its original purpose He said the S&K Holding board of directors wants the official name to tap into the culture and language of the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai people. His suggestion was “The Peoples Business Services” for its logo written in the Salish and Kootenai language. SPCC Director Tony Incashola told Clairmont that the culture committee previously composed a list of names for the various tribal entities and would review it and provide Clairmont with suggestions garnered from the list Clairmont said he would also meet with the Kootenai Culture Committee to get their input and hopes to come up with a list of potential names to present ge camp in the Bitterroot Valley. Dana Hewankorn of the Tribal Education Department right-of-way through the Flathead Reservation. (B.L. Azure photos) to the S&K Holding board of directors at its January meeting ¢ Shondin Pete of Salish Kootenai College Indigenous Research Center told the elders that he is working on coming up with a research methodology that focuses on the aspects of how to conduct anthropological on Indigenous people from an Indian/tribal perspective “We want to use the norms, values, knowledge and philosophy of our people to come up with a mode! that guides our research,” Pete “We the way we do this type of business in Indian Country, including here on the Flathead (Reservation).” Pete said SKC is seeking input from “knowledgeable people” like the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai elders for guidance on creating the research methodology “We want to know what is the appropriate method from the tribal perspective to reach our research goals,” Pete said. “We don’t want to continue to use the Western research model. We want to See \SPCC page — 2 said want to change