A symbol of collaboration

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Oregon Department of Human Services have been collaborating for the past several years on how to help Tribal families access needed services.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the two organizations marked their government-to-government relationship by raising the Grand Ronde Tribal flag at the ODHS Polk County office in Dallas. 

Tribal Elders Dave Leno and Henry Petite raised the flag as Leno’s daughter, Tribal Social Services Department Manager Dana Ainam and Petite’s daughter, Children & Family Services Program Manager Kristi Petite, looked on. 

This event has been more than two years in the making to honor the longstanding government-to-government relationship between ODHS and the Tribe, according to a press release written by ODHS Tribal Affairs Communication Specialist Tony Aaron Fuller (Colville and Yakama). 

“The Grand Ronde Tribal Flag now proudly flies in front of the Polk County ODHS office in Dallas, symbolizing our shared dedication and ongoing collaboration,” the press release stated.

ODHS District Manager Cydney Nestor discussed the flag's deeper meaning during the ceremony.

“As we raise this flag today, let it symbolize more than just a banner,” she said. “We hope it serves as a continual reminder for Polk County to recognize and engage with our local Tribal communities. This flag is both a reflection on past harms and a beacon of hope for future collaboration. It calls us to deepen our understanding, foster stronger relationships, and ensure our services genuinely respect and serve the Tribal Elders, children and families.”

Kristi Petite noted in an email to Smoke Signals that the Tribe’s Social Services Department often collaborates with ODHS on how to support the membership in accessing state support and services.

“The conversation (regarding the Tribal flag) arose as Klamath County had just opened up their Indian Child Welfare Act Court, working closely with the Klamath Tribes, and having the Klamath flag raised was such a meaningful event for them all down there,” Petite said. “It took two-and-a-half years for Polk County to get all the approvals to get the actual pole raised, which lead to a lot of conversations amongst our programs around all the systematic barriers that people/families face when trying to access services/supports.”

In addition to services such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program and daycare assistance, ODHS representatives have also begun career development support in the effort to recruit Tribal members for social services and state government jobs, both remote and in-person. Available positions range from entry-level to leadership roles.

In 2022, ODHS established a Tribal recruitment team, which includes two employees, Senior Tribal Recruiter Greg Azure (Santee Sioux) and Tribal Recruiter Michelle Ochoa, who are focused on building strategies for attracting Tribal candidates.

“To enhance Native representation in the Oregon Department of Human Services, increasing Tribal participation in our workforce is essential,” Azure said. “We believe that employees with a Tribal perspective are vital for effective decision-making and engagement with Tribal communities. As a state agency, we are committed to maintaining a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Tribes and honor sovereignty throughout Indian Country.”

Azure added that since then, they have worked with various Oregon Tribes, including Grand Ronde's Employment and Training (477) program, to raise awareness about employment opportunities and services available to their members.

“Our outreach includes an email “E-Blast” that reaches over a thousand contacts, featuring job postings aimed at candidates who support Tribal interests,” he said. “The Tribal recruitment team also offers various services to assist candidates, including skills assessments, application help, resume and cover letter support, mock interviews, and post-employment assistance.”

For more information, contact Azure at 503-509-6443 or Ochoa at 541-952-9928, or visit oregon.gov/employ/jobseekers/Pages/default.aspx. Tribal members seeking job placement assistance can also contact the 477 program at 503-879-2165 or trinity.sherwood@grandronde.org.