mo ben dic hosIntamblek "Again we live in good health"

The Klamath Tribes are serious about achieving economic self- sufficiency which means controlling our own destinies.  With characteristic energy, determination and vision, and a commitment to the larger community, the Tribes have created a modern corporate identity and an efficient Tribal organization.  At present, with current enrolled membership around 3,500, the Klamath Tribes contribute about $25 million per annum to Klamath County's economy in the form of payroll, direct expenses and goods and services. The Klamath Tribes Mission Statement gives clear direction to tribal government and its organization: "The mission of the Klamath Tribes is to protect, preserve, and enhance the spiritual, cultural, and physical values and resources of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Peoples, by maintaining the customs and heritage of our ancestors. To establish a comprehensive unity by fostering the enhancement of spiritual and cultural values through a government whose function is to protect the human and cultural resources, treaty rights, and to provide for the development and delivery of social and economic opportunities for our People through effective leadership." Tribal Government Tribal government starts with the General Council, which meets quarterly, and includes every enrolled member 18 years or older. Ten members make up the Tribal Council and are elected every four years. These elected positions are Tribal Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and six Tribal Council members. The Tribal Council attends to the day-to-day business of protecting and enhancing Tribal interests.   Former Chairman Foreman and Governor Kulongoski Klamath Tribal Administration: Tribal Administration implements Tribal policy through departments. The Klamath Tribal Administration is headed by a General Manager who is responsible for management of a $5 million budget and the basic functions of Tribal organization. Direction to departmental programs is focused upon creation of opportunities rather than creating dependency. Tribal Administration also provides support services to conduct tribal business which includes accounting and budgetary information for tribal government, internal communications and publication of The Klamath News, property, facilities, personnel management and grant writing for tribal program development. In the future, although Administrative personnel will stay near its present level, Tribal Administration will have greater responsibility for record keeping, vital statistics, public information, and a program coordination and integration role. Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services: Tribal health and wellness is a high priority for the General Council. The Tribal Health and Family Services Department provides dental, contract health, mental health, drug and alcohol, third party billing, public health nursing and health education services to Tribal members. Tribal Health also provides a full-time health care clinic and full service pharmacy, all of which provide comprehensive health care to our Members and the Community. Social Services: The mission of the Counseling and Family Services Department is to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the families and children of the Klamath Tribes. Indian Child Welfare Act issues, family violence issues, the Tribal Work Assistance program, TEAM, NAFA (Native American Family Assistance) and the Family Support Center are the programs this department manages. They are also planning to develop a protective services program, to assume the case management of children who have been abused or neglected, and to assume responsibility for temporary assistance to needy Tribal families in Klamath County from the Oregon State Adult and Family Services Department. The Counseling and Family Services Department is also developing a Tribal court system, so the Tribes can assume jurisdiction over Tribal children. Community Services: The Community Services Department's regular programs include Commodities Food Distribution, Outreach services to members as well as Transportation services. Special projects developed to date include providing firewood to Tribal Elders and Tribal members with disabilities; facilitating energy assistance moneys to help defray heating costs in the winter months for eligible Tribal members; a Seniors Nutrition Project that serves meals two times a week both in Chiloquin and in Beatty, which also gives seniors the opportunity to socialize; and a Child Care Program that improves early childhood development. Natural Resources Department: Protection of the natural-resource related rights guaranteed to the tribes in the treaty of 1864 is largely the responsibility of the Natural Resources Department. This department aids the Klamath Tribes mission by protecting, preserving and enhancing natural resources. The Game Management Program patrols, investigates and reports within the parameters defined by the Klamath Tribes Management Plan. The Aquatic Ecologist and the research Biologist collect data and perform research toward the goal of protecting and managing fisheries, aquatic resources and wildlife. The Natural Resource Specialist in timber assures the protection, and promotes the enhancement, of entire ecosystems and the wildlife habitat contained within them. Geographic Information Systems provide graphic analytical capabilities for natural resource applications. This departments future plans are focused on ecosystem restoration and efforts towards the administration, protection and enhancement of Klamath Treaty hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering rights. Culture & Heritage Department: Past and Present Tribal Elders, such as Irwin Weiser, Celia Langel, Neva Eggsman, Reid David, and many more, have helped the Tribes Culture and Heritage Department throughout the years. Their guidance and teachings are invaluable to our people. We respect our Elders and value their wisdom today and forever. The Culture and Heritage Departments programs are designed to protect, preserve and enhance Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin traditional cultural values. Programs and projects are developed to meet the social, spiritual and cultural needs of the Tribes, and includes language instruction, Tribal ceremonies, Culture Camp for Tribal youth and gathering excursions for all Tribal members. The site protection program component provides protection to ancestral and sacred sites and landscapes in cooperation with federal, state and local land management agencies, private developers and land owners. The Culture and Heritage Department is assisting in designing a Tribal Museum and Interpretive Center that will one day ensure that the richness of Tribal culture will sustain Tribal identity for all future generations. Education & Employment: The Education and Employment department offers five programs. The College Assistance Program funds Tribal member studies at either two year or four year institutions of higher education in any chosen field. The Adult Vocational Training Program funds training for Tribal members within the service area in any vocation or profession leading to a license or certification. The Adult Basic Education Program provides Tribal members within the service area with short term, self improvement funding for classes of interest, including the GED. The Johnson-O'Malley Act Program provides supplemental education for any self-identified Native American attending public schools, in grades pre-kindergarden to the 12th grade. The Direct Employment Assistance Program is geared to help those Tribal members within the service area who are unemployed or underemployed by providing equipment, accessories, or relocation assistance. The Education and Employment Department's goals are full employment in the highest paying jobs attainable for Tribal members, and to offer educational opportunities for all Tribal members. Tribal Housing Department: Tribal Housing Department administers three NAHASDA (Native American Housing Assistance and Self-determination Act) programs designed to provide low and very low-income Tribal families with the opportunities for safe and decent housing. These three programs provide Acquisition (Home ownership), Section 8 Rental Assistance and Low-Rent Assistance to eligible Tribal families residing in Klamath County. In the future, this department will provide a broader scope of assistance that will address each Tribal families' needs, so that every Tribal member has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. KADA: Klamath Alcohol and Drug Abuse (KADA) provides drug and alcohol counseling, both outpatient and residential treatment with a focus on Tribal members and services to all of Klamath County. KADA was created over 20 years ago to offer culturally - appropriate services and has successfully expanded their services to all who need them. Their most critical future plans focus on prevention of alcohol and drug abuse among youth. Planning Department: The Tribes Planning Department's mission is to provide assistance to Tribal and individual small business development. They also provide assistance to the Tribes Economic Development Corporation. A business resource library and computers with programs are available to help write business plans. Their computers are linked with the Small Business Administration and the Oregon Native American Entrepreneurial Network. They are integral in planning Tribal land acquisition, and they have successfully aided in establishing over 40 Tribal-member owned businesses. Since restoration in 1986, the Tribes have undergone a considerable amount of change. Our focus is to - Respect the Past... Live the Present... and work hard to build a better Future.