American Rescue Plan Act General Welfare Assistance for Tribal Members
October 19, 2021
Dear Tribal Member,
Tribal Council has made the decision to utilize American Rescue Plan funds to provide cash assistance to eligible Tribal Member households to address negative economic impacts caused by the COVID -19 pandemic during the period of March 3, 2021 through December 31, 2021. The amount of assistance for 2021 is based on Tribal Council’s assessment of the severity of actual and reasonably anticipated COVID-19 economic impacts upon our Tribal Member population during this time period. Please note that this assistance must only be used to address these specific impacts.
Beginning October 19, 2021, each eligible enrolled adult member and enrolled minor child will be able to submit an application to receive this assistance. Deadline for submission of a complete application is November 30, 2021.
To be eligible to receive this assistance payment:
- You must be an Enrolled CTCLUSI member as of October 17, 2021 OR you must have a completed Enrollment Application approved by the Enrollment Committee by November 9, 2021.
- You must have an approved Tribal Member Emergency COVID -19 General Welfare Assistance American Rescue Plan (ARPA) application on file.
- You or your household experience negative impacts from the COVID -19 Pandemic in an amount not less than the assistance amount.
If you have any questions, please contact ENROLLMENT by email at jmcneil@ctclusi.org for further instruction.
- Applications must be submitted and approved by December 1, 2021.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal News
Press Release
October 1, 2021
Media Contact:
Debbie Bossley, Tribal Council Chair
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians’ Tribal Council vote to give emergency funds to all Tribal Government and Enterprise employees.
Florence, Ore. — The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians is pleased to announce the Tribal Council met September 29, 2021 and voted unanimously to approve Emergency COVID -19 Assistance to all qualified current full and part time employees of CTCLUSI Tribal Government and all Tribal Enterprises, this includes Three Rivers Casino Florence and Coos Bay, Ocean Dunes Golf Links, and Blue Earth.
The Tribal Council has determined, it is imperative to provide general welfare assistance on an emergency basis to Eligible Citizens experiencing financial needs resulting from this national pandemic incurred between March 1, 2020 and October 1, 2021 including, but not limited to, increased costs of living expenses such as food, housing, utilities, medical and other anticipated and unanticipated living expenses and income losses.
Tribal Council Chair, Debbie Bossley said, “COVID-19 has affected our Tribal community much longer than imagined. Tribal Council recognizes that it has had some devastating effects on many of us. We are honored to have the resources to offer assistance to staff and their families during this difficult time.”
This is to provide emergency economic assistance to Eligible Citizens, who have experienced financial hardships during the COVID-19 Pandemic, utilizing CARES Act funding in the amount of $1,000.00 for each approved eligible applicant.
About the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians is a federally recognized Tribe made up of 3 tribes (4 Bands): 2 bands of Coos Tribes: Hanis Coos (Coos Proper), Miluk Coos; Lower Umpqua Tribe; and Siuslaw Tribe. The Tribes trace their ancestry back to the aboriginal inhabitants of the South-Central coast of Oregon. The Tribes employs more than 600 employees through its government and enterprise functions. For more information, visit ctclusi.org.
- Published in Tribal News
Tribal Member Input Needed for Tribal Hall Kitchen Remodel/Upgrade
Historic Tribal Hall has funds approved for a full kitchen remodel and upgrade. Tribal Member Input Requested. The deadline for any submission is Oct 9, 2021.
This project will include: New cabinetry, Countertops, Appliances, Fixtures, Flooring. Tribal Council has directed that membership be allowed the opportunity to provide input for any specific needs for consideration in the planning for this project. Please submit any suggestions, comments or concerns by clicking the button at the top of this post.
The deadline for any submission is Oct 9, 2021.
Tribal Council will approve final plans at the Sunday October 10, 2021 Regular Council Meeting.
***The images below are examples of the Tribal Hall Kitchen Remodel. No design has been finalized or approved as of this time.***
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Covid-19 Vaccine Application/Booster Dose
Who Needs an Additional COVID-19 Vaccine?
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Flu Vaccine Application
Flu Vaccines are available. Please fill out the Flu Vaccine Application form to schedule an appointment.
Getting a flu vaccine this fall can reduce your risk of getting flu and help save scarce medical resources needed to care for people with COVID-19. It’s important for everyone to do their part to stay healthy this flu season. Prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses:
Mask Up: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask when out in public.
Lather Up: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Sleeve Up: Roll up your sleeve to get a flue shot.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Tribal Forest Closures (open update 9/20/21)
All,
Effective immediately, the Tribe will be instituting a closure of the Tribal Forest for all areas where the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is at Level II or higher. This closure is necessary to protect the Tribal Forest from the risk of loss due to wildfire.
IFPL’s are updated throughout fire season by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Coos Fire Protection Association (CFPA), which are responsible for protecting the Tribal Forest from wildfire. ODF and CFPA monitor fuel moisture levels as well as weather trends throughout fire season, and adjust the IFPL’s accordingly.
Note that after the recent rain event, all seven of the Tribal Forest tracts are currently at IFPL I. This means that all areas of the Tribal Forest are currently open. The table below shows the current IFPL and closure status for each tract on the Tribal Forest.
| Tribal Forest Area | Fire Protection Zone | Current IFPL as of 9/20/2021 | Current Closure Status as of 9/20/2021 |
| Lake Tract | WT-1 | IFPL I | Open |
| Smith Tract | WT-1 | IFPL I | Open |
| Tioga Tract | CS-2 | IFPL I | Open |
| Macy Tract | CS-1 | IFPL I | Open |
| Umpqua Eden | CS-1 | IFPL I | Open |
| Coos Head | CS-1 | IFPL I | Open |
| Talbot Tract | CS-1 | IFPL I | Open |
Please see the attached closure notice for more details on this closure, as well as information on how to obtain the current IFPL for specific areas on the Tribal Forest. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Colin Beck, Forest Lands Manager
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News
Annual Language Ceremony 2021
GELE
LUUWII
IISHA
HIIS
(THANK YOU)
The Tribe welcomes you to the first annual Tribal language ceremony on Saturday, September 11th at 6:00pm. This will be a virtual event hosted through Zoom. Join by clicking the link below, the link will also be posted to the Educations Facebook group page. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.
- Published in Tribal Event, Tribal News
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics and Resources
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal News
CTCLUSI Receive EPA approval to administer Clean Water Act programs on reservation and trust lands
Contact: Mark MacIntyre/EPA – Seattle 206-553-7302/ Macintyre.mark@epa.gov
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians receive EPA approval to administer Clean Water Act programs on reservation and trust lands
Seattle (May 3, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the request by the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians to assume responsibilities of the Clean Water Act’s water quality standards and certification programs on reservation and trust lands.
With this approval, the CTCLUSI will assume authority over all surface waters within the Reservation and trust Lands. Trust lands include lands located outside of the reservation that are held in trust by the United States for the CTCLUSI. The CTCLUSI reservation and trust lands collectively cover almost 15,000 acres of southwest Oregon.
According to Dan Opalski, Director of EPA’s Water Division in Seattle:
“We are pleased to approve the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians’ request for Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State. We support their efforts to protect water quality and celebrate this enhancement of our partnership in implementing the Clean Water Act. We look forward to our continued work with the tribes to protect vital resources now and for future generations.”
According to the CTCLUSI tribal Council:
“This Treatment in a Similar Manner as State recognition is an important acknowledgment of tribal sovereignty by the EPA. We are very pleased with this determination. Water is Life! Water is and always has been an important resource for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians and we are excited that we can now manage the tribe’s waters more directly.”
The CTCLUSI applied to EPA for “Treatment in a Similar Manner to a State” (TAS) for the Clean Water Act section 303(c) water quality standards and the section 401 water quality certification programs on December 17, 2019, and supplemented the application on June 12, 2020.
Specifically, this approval will enable the CTCLUSI to set water quality goals and standards – the regulatory and scientific foundation for protecting water quality – for all water bodies within the CTCLUSI reservation and trust Lands. EPA’s approval does not alter or modify water quality standards outside of the CTCLUSI reservation and trust Lands.
Today’s approval authorizes the CTCLUSI to develop water quality standards for all surface waters within the CTCLUSI reservation and trust Lands and to ensure that CWA-permitted discharges will meet all applicable water quality standards for reservation waters after those standards are reviewed and approved by EPA. The CTCLUSI have previously been granted TAS status for other Clean Water Act sections: section 106 – Water Pollution Protection and section 319 – Nonpoint Source programs, in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Background
Several federal environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, authorize EPA to treat eligible federally recognized Indian tribes in a similar manner as a state for implementing and managing certain environmental programs. The basic requirements for applying for TAS are that the tribe must be federally recognized; have a governing body to carry out substantial governmental duties and powers; have the appropriate authority; and be capable of administering the functions of the program.
EPA’s approval of the CTCLUSI’s application does not constitute an approval (nor disapproval) of the tribes’ water quality standards. Any water quality standards adopted by a tribe and submitted to EPA for action must satisfy all Clean Water Act and other regulatory requirements, including public participation to ensure an appropriate opportunity for any interested entities to provide input on the proposed water quality standards.
# # #
Mark A. MacIntyre
Senior Public Information Officer
U.S. EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Ave. Suite 155 MS – 12-D-12
Seattle, WA 98101
Desk: 206.553.7302
Mobile: 206.369.7999
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal News
Tribal Scholarship Applications
Deadline to Apply is May 23, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. PST
The Confederated Tribes’ Education Department is doing everything we can to ensure students have an easier time paying for their education, but we are not the only ones who are thinking of you. The Education Committee works very hard to organize and ensure the availability of our tribal scholarships. These scholarship donations come from many different areas in the community and within the tribe.
The Pepsi Scholarship is a privately funded scholarship. Applicants should look into explaining their role of community service in the tribes.
The Mitsis Scholarship is exclusively funded by the Education Committee. Applicants should write about how our tribal history or knowledge has changed their life in some way.
The last scholarship we offer is the Elders Scholarship, funded by private tribal donations as well as our own tribal elders. Applicants should look into writing about their experience with an elder’s teachings and how it has changed their life.
All of these scholarships are annually awarded and funded. Only CTCLUSI Higher Education Students are awarded these scholarships. We encourage you to apply for all of them!
*original post date: April 7, 2021. Reposted May 4, 2021.
- Published in Public Notices, Tribal Event, Tribal News