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Greetings Tribal Citizens. As you know, 2020 will prove to be an exciting year for us. Already, we are setting the stage for our transition from Station Casinos management of our business to self-management. Crucial to that transition is a General Manager, and, as you know, we have found a great General Manager in Lana Rivera, an American Indian woman (Muscogee Creek) who hails to us from her position as General
Manager of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were able to make a deal with Station Casinos that after our contract with them expires on November 4, Lana will be able to stay with us, as will the seven other Station Casinos contracted employees working in the casino now. Last month, I told of many of Lana’s early accomplishments but she has more accomplishments and her earlier successes continue to grow. The Station Casinos’ employees were extremely concerned that after our Station contract expires, they would have to go back to Las Vegas -- they love working here in Sonoma County at Graton Resort and Casino. Lana reassured them of the agreement we made with Station that after Station took our former General Manager Kord Nichols back to Vegas, that they would not take back any of their other employees, not now and not when the contract expires.
No grass grows under Lana’s feet. As mentioned last month, she saw that we needed new carpeting. The carpet is ordered and on its way. She has made sure that wages are fair across the board, implementing a $15.00 per hour minimum wage even for tipped positions, which include bartenders, beverage servers, and card dealers, essentially a large percentage of our work force. We cannot assume that “tipped positions” guarantee our Team Members $15.00 per hour as it happens sometimes that a beverage server or bartender is not placed in a position that guarantees
good tips. As of January 1, 2020, all of our Team Members, tipped and non-tipped (i.e. porters, cooks) receive a minimum starting hourly wage of $15.00 per hour.
Further, Lana is looking for ways to market and grow our business. She will pay special attention to guests from cultures that frequent our business, rewarding them for their loyalty and providing special themed events around holidays such as Cinco de Mayo for our Latino guests and Chinese New Year for our Chinese guests. Already we host monthly “bailas” for our Latino guests, bringing to our Ballroom well-known bands and entertainers from Mexico. But why not have a special bonus day and giveaway (such as free tickets to a “baila”, or cookware as we do on giveaway Sundays) on Cinco de Mayo? We send our Chinese and Vietnamese guests traditional good luck red envelopes with some free play inside on Chinese New Year, but why not have an exciting red envelope give away on the same day, say with a few of those envelopes being the especially lucky envelopes with a major gift inside? Why not have a much larger and robust Dragon Parade in the casino, and in the High Limit room, extensive Chinese New Year’s decorations? Well, the answer is why not? And yes, we are going to do these things to further show all of our guests the extent to which we think about them and genuinely appreciate their patronage.
Oh, and I have saved the most exciting for last -- our Phase III expansion. Phase III, or what I have referred to at our General Council meetings as the hotel expansion, is well in the works. Lana and I have worked with the architects to create a design that does not ruin the look of the hotel as it appears now, but in fact, enhances the look and design. That design is near complete. The Phase III addition includes 225 more rooms, a kitchen where we can cook for our guests and special guest occasions, such as weddings, large dinner parties and so forth, a new adult area pool
(Continued on page 2)
Newsletter of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Volume 17, Number 195 ~ March 2020
From the Tribal Chairman .................................. p. 1 New Staff ............................................................. p. 2 Citizenship .......................................................... p. 3 Education Department ....................................... p. 3 Elder Family Advocate ....................................... p. 4 Housing Services ............................................... p. 5
Tribal Health Benefits ......................................... p. 6 Tribal Land Department...................................... p. 7 Tribal TANF ......................................................... p. 8 Announcements and Flyers ............................... p. 9 Tribal Meetings and Events in 2020 .................. p. 14 Tribal Calendar .................................................... p. 15
Inside this issue:
From the Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris
Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris
From the Tribal Chairman continued from page 1
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which can also be used for separate parties like weddings and private pool parties -- and a beautiful and formal theatre with raised seating and excellent sound that will attract top entertainment to our casino resort. Truly, Graton Resort and Casino will be the destination spot for the North Bay, if not all of Northern California.
Looking after our Team Members, providing fair wages, is not only the ethical thing to do but makes good business sense. The cost of living in Sonoma County is extremely high and with Wilton Casino in Elk Grove opening sometime in early 2022, it only makes sense to be certain that our Team Members can afford to live here and stay with us instead of moving to a locale where the cost of living is much less than in Sonoma County. Providing special cultural events for our guests is not only the appropriate thing to do to reward them for their patronage but it also makes good business sense -- more and more people will want to visit Graton Resort and Casino where they feel comfortable and appreciated. What do I need to say about more hotel rooms, a private pool, a fancy theatre? More and more guests! Joking with Lana, I asked her to hit a new high for revenue, an unrealistic number. Not unrealistic at all, Lana assured me. “No joke,” she said. “We can do it, Greg.”
I’ve talked so much about the business that now I have left little room in my column for all the wonderful things happening at home -- with the Tribe in our office. Let me just start by saying (I will say more in future columns) that Vice Chair Lorelle Ross along with Council Member Emeritus Gene Buvelot and Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer Buffy McQuillen have been doing an exemplary job on all of our environmental projects, particularly with those partnerships such as Tolay Lake Regional Park that I also mentioned in my last column, advocating our concerns for protecting and restoring the local open space habitats in our aboriginal territory, which includes southern Sonoma County and all of Marin County. Just recently, they partook in lengthy discussions with representatives from Sonoma State University
regarding the construction of a larger parking lot at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, suggesting how the parking lot can be built without chopping down Oak and Bay Laurel trees. They regularly consult with local, state, and federal agencies regarding park lands and will be instrumental in the Tribe’s efforts now and in the future to create formal partnerships with those agencies for co-management of the park lands. Co-management agreements, such as the one we have with Sonoma County with Tolay Lake Regional Park, positions the Tribe to have equal voice in all matters regarding land use and preservation of sacred sites.
Look for an expansion of our very special programs for our youth this summer. Even before summer, youth are writing on climate disaster and American Indian voting rights in a project with the Bay Area Book Festival, wherein the students will read their work in public at the festival and then create an anthology with all of their essays that they can share with family and friends. This summer, students will be able to participate in the third Summer Theatre Program, where the students will again learn all aspects of producing a play for stage. They not only will learn how to act, memorizing lines and performance techniques, but will also study movement and costume making while they actually prepare for -- and ultimately perform -- a play. The Word for Word Summer Program has proven to be one of Graton Rancheria’s most successful, and may I say rewarding, summer programs to date. Also, this summer we will offer again our own Summer Internship Program for college students wishing to do an eight-week in-house internship in either the Tribal Governmental Operations or in our business sector, the Graton Resort and Casino. Please contact Scott Boyle regarding any of our summer programs.
I’m quickly running out of space here, but as you note the first flowers of spring -- acacia, plum blossoms, jonquils -- remember too, that your Tribe, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria is just in its spring also. All harvest and good things ahead. Happy early spring.
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Hello Tribal Citizens, my name is Kyle Rabellino. I am the new Cultural Resource Specialist. I was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California, and grew up near Coffey Park (yes, my parents lost my childhood home in the Tubbs Fire, but they are back in a brand new house now!), attended Piner High School, and then went to the Santa Rosa
Junior College and Sonoma State University for undergraduate and graduate school. I majored in anthropology, with a minor in applied statistics, and received my Master’s degree in cultural resource
management. For my thesis research, I wrote a cultural resource management plan for the Fairfield Osborn Preserve on Sonoma Mountain. I have previously worked as an archaeologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Sierra National Forest, the Anthropological Studies Center, and Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area). Prior to being hired by the Tribe, I worked as a planner for the County of Sonoma’s Permit and Resource Management Department. I am very excited and honored to assist the Tribe with cultural resource protection. I look forward to continuing to meet and work with citizens and staff, as well as continuing to learn about the Tribe, its history and culture.
Kyle Rabellino
Cultural Resource Specialist
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Events Planning
Committee 5:30pm
Housing Committee 5pm
Citizenship Committee 5pm
Sacred Sites Committee 5:30pm
Election Board 6pm
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Per Cap Mailed
GWB Mailed
Tribal Council 5pm
Basketry Class 10am
<<<<<<<<< NAGPRA Training 8am >>>>>>>>>
General Council 10am
Spring Celebration
12pm
Tribal Office Closed
GWB Mailed
Tribal Council 5pm
Per Cap Mailed
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Events Planning Committee
5:30pm
Housing Committee 5pm
Citizenship Committee 5pm
Sacred Sites Committee 5:30pm
Election Board 6pm
Tribal Garden
Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Council 5pm
Basketry Class 10am
Tribal Garden Volunteer Day 9am
Tribal Garden Event 1pm
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 2020 Graton Writing Project >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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The next General Council Meeting will be held on
Saturday, April 11, 2020, 10:00am
Graton Resort & Casino, Ballroom D, 288 Golf Course Drive West, Rohnert Park, CA The proposed General Council Agenda is:
Call to order and verify establishment of quorum
Approve Agenda and Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2020
Tribal Updates for FIGR Programs and Committees
Economic Development Update
Unfinished Business
New Business
GC Resolution ratifying Tribal Council’s recommendation for the suspension of citizenship rights
of Tribal Citizen Mark DeLaHoussaye
GC Resolution authorizing a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for contract with Bergman Walls
Architects for design services for Phase III hotel expansion
Announcements
Adjourn
Citizenship Department Tina Lanzavecchia, Citizen Services Coordinator (707) 566-2288, Ext. 112
Greetings, Tribal Citizens and Happy New Year. As of February 2020, we have 1,447 enrolled Tribal Citizens. Tribal Record Updates All FIGR correspondence, such as newsletters, Per Capita, General Welfare Benefits, and important Tribal updates could be affected if your Tribal Record is
not kept up-to-date with your current mailing address, phone number, and name changes. The Citizenship Department needs your changes by the 10th of every month. All changes must be received in writing, signed, and dated in order to update your Tribal Record. Before submitting an address change request to the Citizenship Department, it is important to change your address with the post office.
Instructions for Logging into the Citizen Portal
If you are accessing the citizen portal on the website for the first time, you will need your Tribal enrollment number and date of birth. The username is the last four digits of your Tribal enrollment number and the password is your date of birth as MMDDYYYY. If you are unable to log into the portal, please select the “Forgot Password” button and go through the steps to have your login information sent to you. A second option is to select the contact tab and a window will appear with a contact form that will enable you to send us a message. Tribal Citizens who have recently turned 18, and are logging into the citizen portal for the first time must send a message using the website contact form. Your Citizenship will be verified through the
Citizenship Department and an activation email will be sent to you. Please contact me, Tina Lanzavecchia, your Citizen Services Coordinator to obtain your login information at (707) 566-2288, ext. 112.
Tribal ID Cards
Please check the expiration date on your FIGR Tribal Identification Card (ID card). All FIGR Tribal ID Cards expire five years after the date of issue and must be renewed. If your FIGR Tribal ID Card is expired, please contact the Citizenship Department to request an appointment to renew your FIGR Tribal ID Card or to have a FIGR Tribal ID request form mailed to you. Please note: Only FIGR Tribal Citizens who are 18 years of age or older can be issued a FIGR Tribal ID Card.
Having a Baby
The parent, guardian, or caretaker of a newborn is responsible for requesting a Newborn Application Packet. The Citizenship Department only issues Newborn Application Packets by written request. All written requests must be made and received by the Citizenship Department within 180 days (six months) from the date of birth. Written requests for Newborn Application Packets must include: the newborns full name, date of birth, legal names of the child's biological mother and father, contact information for the person requesting the application, and the request must be signed and dated before a numbered application will be issued.
Tina Lanzavecchia
Schedule of Tribal Council and General Council Meetings and Tribal Citizen Events—2020
*Please note: dates in bold are out of the normal recurring monthly dates
March Friday, Mar 13: 5:00pm Tribal Council
April Friday, Apr 10: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Apr 11: 10:00am General Council Sat., Apr 11: 12:00pm Spring Celebration Friday, Apr 24: 5:00pm Tribal Council
May Friday, May 8: 5:00pm Tribal Council Friday, May 22: 5:00pm Tribal Council
June Friday, Jun 12: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Jun 13: 10:00am General Council Wed., June 24: 5:00pm Tribal Council
July Friday, Jul 10: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Jul 11: 12:00pm Annual Picnic Friday, Jul 24: 5:00pm Tribal Council
August Friday, Aug 14: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Aug 15: 10:00am General Council Friday, Aug 28: 5:00pm Tribal Council
*September Fri, Sep 11: 5:00pm Tribal Council Wed, Sep 23: 5:00pm Tribal Council
October Friday, Oct 9: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Oct 10: 10:00am General Council Sat., Oct 17: 12:00pm Fall Celebration Friday, Oct 23: 5:00pm Tribal Council
November Friday, Nov 13: 5:00pm Tribal Council
December Friday, Dec 11: 5:00pm Tribal Council Sat., Dec 12: 10:00am General Council Sat., Dec 12: 5:00pm Elders Event Sun., Dec 13: 12:00pm Winter Celebration
Tribal Council meetings: FIGR Tribal Office 6400 Redwood Drive, Suite 300 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707) 566-2288
General Council meetings: Graton Resort and Casino Ballroom D 288 Golf Course Drive West Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707) 584-5466
Meeting Locations:
2020 Distribution Schedule
General Welfare Benefits Per Capita March 20 August 21 March 27 August 28
April 17 September 18 April 24 September 24
May 22 October 23 May 29 October 30
June 19 November 20 June 26 November 25 July 24 December 11 July 31 December 11 3
Greetings Tribal Citizens. We recently hosted a Per Capita Eligibility class (aka 18 year old program) on February 29, 2020. Attending a Per Capita Eligibility class is one of the requirements Tribal Citizens under 18 years old must complete before they are eligible to receive Per Capita payments when they turn 18. If your child was unable to attend
the class on February 29, your child has three more opportunities to attend the Per Capita Eligibility class in 2020. Future dates for the Per Capita Eligibility classes are May 2nd, July 15th, and October 3rd. Please be sure to connect with Shannon Silva in the Education Department to reserve a seat in one of the classes.
FIGR Internship Program
As mentioned in my last article, the Tribe is offering the FIGR Internship Program. The interns will have the opportunity to participate in an eight week paid learning
track that focuses on Tribal Government or the Graton Resort and Casino business. If you are interested and meet the qualifications for this program, please be sure to submit your application by the submission date noted on the application. Contact the Education Department if you have any questions or need assistance in completing the application.
National College Fair
The Education Department will be attending the National College Fair at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Saturday, April 25 from 1:30pm-4:30pm. We invite all interested Tribal Citizens to attend! Registration is free at gotomyncf.com. Attending the National College Fair will be an opportunity for youth to connect with hundreds of colleges and universities in one place. If you are interested in attending and would like assistance registering, please contact the Education Department.
Education Department
Patricia Miraz
Patricia Miraz, Academic and Career Specialist (707) 566-2288, Ext. 628
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Diana Murray, Elder and Family Advocate (707) 566-2288, Ext. 135 [email protected]
Elder Family Advocate
How is Your Vision? Have you noticed how small the print can be on medication bottles and on food labels that list out the calories, sugar content, and other ingredients? For your prescription medication bottles, you can request a print-out of instructions with larger size print from your pharmacist.
When grocery shopping, it may be helpful to take a magnifying glass to read the contents or cooking instructions on the package before you purchase the item.
As we age, it is normal to notice changes in our vision. Vision changes can make it difficult to perform everyday activities, such as reading, walking safely, taking medication, self-care, household tasks, and driving. It is normal to need more light to see well or to have trouble distinguishing colors such as blue from black. It is important to remember that vision loss is not a normal part of getting older. As an individual ages, getting older can increase the risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions that can lead to vision loss or blindness:
Age-related macular degeneration Cataracts Diabetic retinopathy Glaucoma The only way to detect any vision problems before
they cause vision loss or blindness is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your eye care professional will be able to detect other vision problems, such as your ability to focus up close or if you are farsighted, nearsighted, or if you have astigmatism or blurred vision.
Here are some things you can do to protect your vision:
If you smoke, stop smoking Eat a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables and fish Exercise Maintain normal blood pressure Control diabetes (if you have it) Wear sunglasses and a protective hat any time
you are outside in bright sunshine Wear protective eyewear when working around
your house: gardening activities like pruning, raking, or dusting shelves
As an Elder on Medicare, some health insurance plans may include limited coverage for eye exams. It is advisable to ask your doctor if the services you require are covered under your insurance coverage. Remember as a FIGR Elder, you can also utilize your FIGR Tribal Health Benefit card to cover expenses related to vision services. Even if you are not experiencing vision problems, it is still important to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Early detection and treatment can help save your sight.
Source: National Institute on Health.gov “National Eye Institute, Research Today, Vision Tomorrow”. (Age Related Macular Degeneration) Updated: August 2, 2019
Save The Date for Santa Rosa’s Senior Expo
The Santa Rosa Senior Expo event is open for Baby Boomers, seniors, friends and family. Information will be shared at various booths on travel opportunities for seniors and family, recreation and fitness programs, health screenings, Medicare benefit opportunities, as well as local care-giving professional services.
Santa Rosa Senior Expo Event When: Saturday, April 4, 2020 Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm Where: Finley Center – Person Senior Wing, 2060 West College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, Information: (707) 543-3745
Spring Forward on March 8, 2020
Daylight savings time in California will begin at 2:00am on Sunday, March 8, 2020. Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on March 8, 2020 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.
Diana Murray
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Evaluating a Home Loan Application Lenders are in the business of making loans that will be repaid. To ensure that their risks are minimal, lenders focus on creditworthiness. Creditworthiness is based on the idea that if an applicant handled past credit obligations well, they will handle future obligations in a similar
manner. Most lenders use the five C’s of credit to evaluate a borrower’s ability to repay a loan. The five C’s of credit:
Capacity Capital Character Collateral Compensating factors
1. Capacity—Lenders assess your capacity to repay a mortgage loan by measuring the ratio of your income to your debt. This ratio helps the lender establish that you can afford to pay your mortgage payment as well as your other bills. A lender will ask you for income verification or proof of where you work, for how long, and how much you earn. Also included in this evaluation is an examination of your debts and expenses.
2. Capital—This is the amount of money you have saved for a down payment, the closing costs, and any unforeseen expenses that arise soon after you purchase a home. Lenders feel that homebuyers who save and put their money into a home will be more likely to repay their mortgage loan. A lender is also interested in all the items of value that you own, such as a retirement or investment accounts.
3. Character—One way that a lender gets a sense of a borrower’s ability to repay a mortgage loan is by reviewing the applicant’s credit history. Your credit history is contained in your credit report, which details your history of handling credit. Your credit report lists all of the credit that is in your name and records whether you have repaid your bills on time and how much you owe each of your creditors. If
you have missed payments, late payments, or any unpaid debts, it will be more difficult for you to get a mortgage loan. If a person does not have any established credit, lenders will look at a nontraditional credit history.
4. Collateral—Collateral is something of value that guarantees repayment of your loan. Your home and any interest in the land are collateral for the repayment of your mortgage loan. If you are unable to repay your mortgage, the lender will take ownership of your home. This is called foreclosure. Lenders try to avoid foreclosure. If you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments, your lender will first try to work with you and restructure the payments so that they fit within your spending plan before starting the foreclosure process.
5. Compensating Factors—Lenders are also interested in any factors that may compensate for a shortcoming, or deficiency, in one of the four C’s used to evaluate creditworthiness. Some loan products consider compensating factors when evaluating a loan application. For example, if you apply for a mortgage loan requiring higher payments than the lender thinks that you would be able to pay with your income, that is a deficiency in capacity. But if you have been paying as much or more for rent, your demonstrated ability to handle the higher payments is a compensating factor that could help to get your loan approved.
Maintaining a savings account serves as another example of a compensating factor because it demonstrates your ability to save money. If you have saved more than the minimum down payment and any reserve requirements, a lender may view this as a positive which counters a deficiency. Also, your work history may be a compensating factor if you have been on your job for five years or more.
Source: Pathways Home: A Native Homeownership Guide, Module 4, pages 16-17, developed by the National Congress of American Indians in partnership with the National American Indian Housing Council and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
Brian Lowden
Housing Services Department Brian Lowden, Housing Program Manager (707) 566-2288, Ext. 113
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Maxine Bandner
Tribal Health Benefits
Greetings, Tribal Citizens. Currently, 98.6% of Elders are participating in the Tribal Health Benefit Program. Below are some key points about the program this year which may be helpful: When submitting a prescription with your claim reimbursement form or your
provider payment form, your prescription must be dated on or before the date of purchase, or invoice date. For example, if you purchased a medical device on February 1, 2020, your prescription must be dated on or before February 1, 2020.
I recommend you meet with your healthcare
provider to obtain prescriptions for any over the counter medicines you intend to purchase, so you’re able to fill these items at a pharmacy and use your Tribal Health Benefit Card as payment. If you purchased over the counter medicines out of pocket, you will receive reimbursement only for those items which you have a prescription for.
If you receive health benefits through a current or
previous employer and would like to be reimbursed for your health premium expenses, please speak with your Human Resource Department to determine if your health insurance plan is a Section 125 Plan. Section 125 Plans are deducted from your income on a pre-tax basis, and are not eligible for reimbursement under the Tribal Health Benefit Program. If your health plan is not a Section 125 Plan, please complete and return a Section 125 waiver form when filing your claim or provider payment form.
When providing proof of payment for your claim, if you made a check payment, a cleared check image is required. You can obtain a copy from your bank statement or go to your bank and request proof your check has cleared.
When filing a claim for medical transportation
costs (to and from medical appointments), please make sure to obtain proof of each medical visit, as this is required to reimburse you for your travel. A complete medical transportation claim includes the following documentation: a claim form, a transportation form, and proof of each medical visit.
When using your Health Benefit Card at medical
facilities, please make sure to press “credit” if you are given the option of running the card as a debit or credit. Although the card says “debit” on the front, it can only be used as a credit card; running it as a debit will automatically cause a declined transaction.
If you need assistance filling out and submitting
program forms, please give me a call, stop by the Tribal Office, or send an email to [email protected]. Program forms such as claim and provider payment forms can be printed off the FSA website at fsatpa.com, click the red button that says “forms”. For additional support, you may also call FSA TPA at (844) 969-8777.
Maxine Bandner, Tribal Health Benefits Coordinator (707) 566-2288, Ext. 121 [email protected]
Citizenship Committee is accepting applications for one open position. The Citizenship Committee meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:00pm at the Tribal Office.
Election Board is accepting applications for two open positions. The Election Board meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm at the Tribal Office.
Events Planning Committee is accepting applications for one open position. The Events Planning Committee meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at 5:30pm at the Tribal Office
Sacred Sites Protection Committee is accepting applications for one open position. The Sacred Sites Protection Committee meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 5:30pm at the Tribal Office.
Committee applications are available at the first floor reception desk, or can be sent by email upon request. Completed committee applications can be sent by postal mail or hand-delivered to: 6400 Redwood Drive, Ste. 300 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 or emailed to [email protected]. For any questions or for further information, please call (707) 566-2288 or email questions to [email protected].
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Dear Tribal Citizens, happy spring! With March comes the springtime, and the garden waking up from winter’s quiet time really accelerates. On the exact day of the Spring Equinox, March 19th, we will experience the same amount of sunlight as darkness, hence the word “equinox,” which means equal amounts of night and day. What do these earlier sunrises and later
sunsets mean for the garden? The increasing daylight hours bring about big transitions in the garden. We are cutting back our lush cover crop and planting new crops that provide food in the spring and even long into the summertime. Over the winter, our cover crop has been giving back to the soil, replenishing nitrogen and essential nutrients for the food crops that follow to be successful and productive.
Along with all this lovely nutrient rich soil prepared in the garden beds, our little greenhouse is packed to the gills with healthy little plant starts itching to get outside. We have tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squashes, cucumbers, beans, herbs, flowers, and
more! We are preparing to have a very abundant season!
As the sun shines brighter, birds sing louder, and the garden becomes more comfortable for everyone, we want to extend a heartfelt invitation for you all to visit and participate in the garden. There are many ways to be part of the garden… help harvest for Elders, tend the crops, wander the pathways, sit and be still, make art and music, or attend a garden event.
This month, join us any Wednesday 9am–12pm, as well as on Saturday, March 7, 1pm–4pm, for Crafting Allergy Tinctures. At this special crafting event in the garden, we will learn about various herbal allies to help relieve spring allergies. Together we will make an allergy tincture for each participant to take home. Please see flyer on page 9 for details.
If you are a FIGR Elder or know of one who lives near the garden and would like to receive a weekly box of seasonal produce, please get in touch! We encourage pick up and also offer delivery if necessary, depending on location. For more info about garden events, Elder produce boxes, or to receive garden email updates, please contact [email protected] or (707) 303-6210.
Jenna Brager, Tribal Land Manager (707) 566-2288, Ext. 117 [email protected]
Tribal Land Department
Jenna Brager
Soup Luncheon and Recipe Swap in January Mike shows off delicious butter lettuce
Spring daffodils Borage feeds our pollinators and is an edible flower
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For the past two years, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria have built a collaboration between the Tribe and the Bay Area Book Festival to create an opportunity for Native middle and high school students to gain experience in creative writing and public speaking. This partnership is called The Graton Writing Project and we are fortunate to be
participating again in 2020. The Graton Writing Project gives Native youth a
platform to share their thoughts and opinions on community problems through writing. This year, the focus is on environmental issues, specifically the climate crisis. Along with trained writing tutors, our students will create a collection of essays that focus on current environmental issues to be published in a youth anthology. Participants will then be invited to read their work at the Bay Area Book Festival in front of hundreds of onlookers.
The essay development of the 2020 Graton Writing Project will run March 16 through March 20 from 9am–1pm at the Graton Resort and Casino as part of a creative writing day camp. For students who are unable to attend the day camp, there will be other opportunities to contribute to the anthology. We do not want geographical location to interfere with a student’s ability to participate in the Graton Writing Project.
On May 2nd and 3rd, in Berkeley, California, our youth will have the opportunity to read their finished work in front of a live audience at the Bay Area Book Festival. Tickets and transportation to the Bay Area Book Festival will be provided to interested individuals and families.
If you are interested in participating in the 2020 Graton Writing Project or if you know a youth that might be, please email Emilia Garcia at [email protected] or Lena Garcia at [email protected].
Tribal TANF of Sonoma and Marin Emilia Garcia, TANF Youth Case Coordinator (707) 566-6100, Ext. 634
Emilia Garcia
