Worden starts new job with lighter load MISSION — Aaron Worden's life has dramatically changed in the past seven months and it's only the beginning. For the past eight years Worden, a Coeur d'Alene tribal member, has struggled with losing weight. He said that when he'd lose weight he would put it back on, and has had a tough time maintaining a healthy diet. "I would work-out, but it was my diet that I couldn' t change for the longest time," said Worden. "It was getting to the point that my pants wouldn't fit." Worden says that the key was not giving up. He decided to try once more at changing his diet and set himself a goal of losing 20 pounds a month. "Then in February I w en t back to t r y in g to l o se weight. I don't know why this time was different, but I cut out everything and stuck with salads and water," said Worden. Worden admitted that it was rough eating salads for every meal but he is proud of his results, a 95-pound weight loss in seven months. Although it didn't meet his goal of twenty pounds a month, he said he is happy
Aaron Worden started his newjob as Program Manager at CayUma-Wa Head Start. Over the last seven months Worden has lost almost 95 pounds,
with the results. "I hope the weight doesn't come back, but now I have room to splurge a little ... and eat a piece of cake." Worden had good reason to eat a piece of cake that day; he was celebrating the beginning of a new career. On Sept. 23, he received a phone call offering the posi-
tion as the new Program Manager for Cay-Uma-Wa Head Start in Mission. "I had almost given up on hearing back from them so it was a pleasant surprise," said Worden. "The students at Cay-Uma-Wa need someone to be thereand work hard for them ... I want to see the positive outcomes for the Tribal youth." Prior to his new position, Worden had worked for sixand-a-half years for the Department of Child and Family Services at the Confederated Tribes for the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Now he is eager to begin working with his team and help get the program back on track. He admits to being nervous, but says he is mostly excited. Worden said that he wants to give the program a clearer direction and that he will use his experience and his Bachelor's Degree to help along the way. "I don't want to be a dictator, but I don't w ant to try and be the cool guy either," said Worden. "The program has been hurting for someone with the determination to stick with it and I' ve done that with my weight loss ... where I was unsuccessful in the past but I kept with it."
Sunshine will reduce shrinking carbon footprint at TCI MISSION — Installing solar panels at Tamastslikt isn't just about saving money on the electric bill at the cultural institute. After all, installation of the 18-space 123-kilowowat t solar carport likely won' t generate much more than 511,100 in annual savings. "It's more than saving money," said Bobbie Conner, director at Tamastslikt. "It's really about living the way our ancestors taught us, to take care of the land and water and this place we call home. It is to demonstrate to the public that we mean business in protecting our habitat and all species." The project, which follows the Comprehensive Plan for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), is being funded by a 567,000 grant from Energy Trust, a S350,000 award from Blue Sky, and just last month a 550,000 cash match of 550,000 authorized by the CTUIR Board of Trustees. The project, with the total cost of 5467,000, is expected to be complete by the end of this year. A north and south wing, each with nine parking spaces, will be built. Starting in 2003, Tamastslikt began to reduce its carbon footprint. Over the next 10 years, the museum reduced its electricity consumption by 67 percent and its natural gas consumption by 76 percent. A wind turbine erected in 2013, depending on the wind, has created a net reduction of 50-95 kw per day. TCI is hoping to reduce the power consumption by another 123-150kw, depending on the sunshine, which regularly shines 300 days out of the year. "Our goal is net zero," Conner said. "Our next project is the building envelope — increasing insulation, minim izing leakage and heat loss." Conner said it is natural for the Tribes to use technology to fix age-old problems. "Our people have always been adoptive like coyote and we' re trying to use the cleanest, safest technology to power the institute," she said. "We' re enormously grateful that Pacific Power
Artist renderings show how two sets of solar panel car ports will fit at Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
and Energy Trust partners on a number of projects.We' re not as good a customer as we used to be, but we are creating good news." She said Tamastslikt also is fortunate to have the support of Gary George, CEO at Wildhorse; Dave Tovey, CTUIR Executive Director; and the CTUIR Board of Trustees.
October 2015
Confederated Umatilla Journal
13