Nation implements Emergency Operations Plan
Tribal offices closed, government services available by phone

Download Public Notice_Temp Business Hours_3-25-20

Smith River, CA – The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is working creatively to ensure Tribal citizens continue to have access to government services during the global COVID-19 crisis.

The Tribal Council issued a state of emergency declaration on Thursday, March 19. All Tribal buildings have been closed to the public for the next two weeks as a precautionary measure. During this time period, Tribal government services will only be available by phone from Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm. Services providers can be reached at (707) 487-9255. The two-week timeframe will be reevaluated next week to determine the most prudent course of action.

The Nation is providing regular updates to Tribal citizens and the general public via social media, the website and a phone service called One Call Now.

For additional information about Tribal services, please call (707) 487-9255

KEY INFORMATION

WHO Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

WHAT Tribal services available by phone

WHEN 8 am to 5 pm – Mon. thru Thurs.

WHERE Offices closed to public

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: March 24, 2020
Contact: Briannon Fraley, (707) 487-9255 x 1125
Download Press Release_closed to public_COVID19_.3.24.20_revised

THE TOLOWA DEE-NI’ NATION IMPLEMENTS PLAN TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

Smith River, CA – The Tolowa Dee-ni Nation is working creatively to ensure Tribal citizens continue to have access to government services during the global COVID-19 crisis.

“We are modifying our procedures to keep our community and staff safe, while ensuring the continuity of our operations.” Said Denise Richards-Padgette, the Chairperson of the Tolowa Dee- ni’ Nation Tribal Council.

For the next two weeks, temporary business hours have been established. All Tribal buildings will be closed to the public. Services will be accessible Monday through Thursday 8-5 by calling (707) 487- 9255. Crisis services for domestic violence through the Shu’-‘aa-xuu-dvn Program will remain a
24/7 service. Tribal service providers can also be reached by email. All contacts can be found at tolowa-nsn.gov. This time frame is based on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay-in-place order to prevent the spread of the virus. Service recipients are asked to follow the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to maintain a six-feet of personal space.

To mobilize Tribal staff and resources toward addressing the predicted near and far term impacts of the global pandemic, the Tribal Council issued a state of emergency declaration on Thursday, March 19. The following day all Tribal offices were closed to the public to protect the health of Tribal
citizens and staff. Tribal personnel are practicing social distancing and taking advantage of digital communication tools, such as teleconferencing, to maintain a healthy and productive work environment. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Tribal Government is functioning
near its full capacity and is working under an Emergency Operations Plan. The plan serves as the foundation of the Nation’s multi-pronged effort to anticipate and overcome any adverse, local issues that may arise as a result of the worldwide crisis.

At present, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the local area. The Nation has postponed all large social events, including the Annual Tribal Membership Meeting. For the purpose of preventing a large number of people from gathering in close proximity, a scaled down version of
the yearly meeting is happening on Saturday, April 4. Additionally, the in-classroom component of the Howonquet Head Start is suspended until April 10. Head Start staff are still providing homework packets and meals to all students.

The Tribal Council and Tribal Government personnel are working day and night to make certain the Nation remains strong during and after this unparalleled pandemic.

The Incident Command team that will deploy regular notices to Tribal Citizens, and the general public during this time of crisis via social media, the website, and a phone service called One Call Now. For additional information about Tribal services, please call (707) 487-9255.

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NOTICE
Date: March 23, 2020
RE: Communication Tool

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is establishing a mass
communication system to inform Tribal citizens about
the Tribal Government’s response to the COVID-10 crisis.

The emergency communication tool is called One Call
Now. We will be using this service to broadcast
information via text and voice messages. If the
Enrollment Department has your current phone number,
you will be automatically signed up for the service. If
your number is not current and you would like to sign up,
please call the Enrollment Department at (707) 487-
9255. You may opt out by calling the same phone
number.

The emergency communications system is only one of
the ways the Nation is informing its citizens. We are also
using our  Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tolowadeeni
news media and the website to keep everyone up to date.

Download 3.23.20_Public Notice_Communication Tool .pdf

Effective Monday, March 23, 2020 All Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Tribal Offcies will be closed to the public until further notice due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

We will contine to provide updates on the status of public closures via
social media https://www.facebook.com/tolowadeeni
and our website https://www.tolowa-nsn.gov/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Date: March 19, 2020
Contact: Briannon Fraley, (707) 487-9255 x 1125

Download .pdf Press_Release_COVID-19_Tolowa

Download .pdf Resolution 2020-19 Declaration of a  State Of Emergency Due to Global COVID-19 Pandemic.

THE TOLOWA DEE-NI’ NATION ISSUES EMERGENCY DECLARATION, ACTIVATES RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Smith River, CA – Today, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Tribal Council declared a state of emergency as part of a coordinated effort to proactively address the predicted local impacts of the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We are working diligently to protect the safety of our citizens, our staff and the greater community,” said Denise Richards-Padgette, the Chairperson of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation. “We are taking every precaution to limit the spread of the pathogen when it arrives in our corner of the world. It is critical to err on the side of caution as we live in a rural area with very limited resources.”

The declaration enables the Nation to expeditiously mobilize staff and resources toward ensuring the Tribal government functions effectively during this unprecedented human health emergency. In addition to issuing the emergency proclamation, the Tribal Council approved a plan to continuously provide Tribal citizens with essential services, such social welfare and housing services, during the crisis.

Declaring a state of emergency is required to activate the Nation’s Emergency Operations Plan, which contains a roadmap for navigating the complexities of large-scale crises, such as the coronavirus outbreak. The Tribal Council is regularly meeting with the Nation’s emergency manager and executive team to preemptively identify and develop solutions for any short and long-term challenges that may arise as a consequence of the pandemic. Tribal leaders are also coordinating with the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services as well as state and federal agencies involved in the response effort. All Tribal departments are working together with a collective goal of successfully minimizing the impact of the virus to the community. Additionally, Tribal staff are already employing a suite of digital tools, including web and teleconferencing, to adhere to social distancing recommendations and to be ready for the implementation of more rigorous mandates to reduce disease transmission rates.

To date, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in proximity to where the Nation is headquartered in Del Norte County. Last week, the Tribal government postponed all large meetings and social events, based on recommendations from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the Nation temporarily suspended the in-classroom component of the Howonquet Head Start and Early Learning Center from March 16 to April 10, 2020. However, the Tribally operated Head Start is offering meals for students Monday through Friday. All Head Start students are also receiving individualized homework packets so that they may continue their educational development for the duration of the crisis.

“We are doing everything we can to maintain the high level of service our community deserves,” Chairperson Richards-Padgette said.

COVID-19 is an infectious, respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. First observed in Wuhan City, China, at the end of 2019, the coronavirus quickly spread to 159 countries and caused 7,529 fatalities as of March 17, 2020, according to the World Health Organization. The pathogen is primarily transmitted between people in close contact. It can also be contracted by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching the nose or mouth. People with compromised immune systems, including the elderly and individuals with underlying health conditions, are particularly susceptible to the virus.

In addition to taking actions to limit person-to-person interactions, the Nation is implementing the following measures to lessen the possibility of a calamitous COVID-19 outbreak in Del Norte County:

• Work travel is prohibited for all Tribal employees
• All social gatherings are postponed until further notice
• Increased cleaning and disinfection is occurring at all Tribal facilities
• All Tribal Committee meetings are postponed until further notice

To curtail the spread of the virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking the community to take the following precautions:

• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home if you are sick
• Disinfect commonly used surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops and light switches
• Avoid contact with people who appear ill
• Limit in-person contact with particularly vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly or those with immune system issues.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Date: March 20, 2020
Contact: Briannon Fraley, (707) 487-9255 x 1125
Download .pdf  Press_Release_L7 _Casino_COVID19_closure

Smith River, CA –

Today, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Tribal Council temporarily closed the Lucky 7 Casino to the general public. The temporary closure aims to protect to the health and wellbeing of patrons and staff at the Lucky 7 Casino, House of Howonquet and the Club 7 Sports Bar during the global COVID-19 crisis. The Howonquet Lodge and Fuel Mart will remain open at this time as they are deemed essential services. 

While there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases anywhere near any of the Nation’s enterprises, the Tribal Council is taking every precaution in terms of preventing the transmission of the disease. The Nation is coordinating with the Governor’s Office, the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services as well as the state and federal agencies engaged in mitigating the transmission of the disease and will continue to do so throughout the duration of the crisis. 

“We are going to great lengths to protect the health and wellbeing of our patrons, personnel and the greater community,” said John Scott, the Lucky 7 Casino’s General Manager. 

The Lucky 7 Casino will implement a two week temporary closure of the gaming operations, restaurant and bar. This closure went into effect at 10 AM this morning, and will consider re-opening Saturday, April 4th at 8AM. 

“We will continue to monitor the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and adjust our operational needs as the crisis progresses,” said Denise Richards-Padgette Chairperson of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation. 

The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is a sovereign, federally recognized, self-governing Indian Nation governed by the Tribal Council, which is comprised of seven (7) elected members. The Mission of the Nation is, [t]o exert and protect the inherent sovereignty endowed upon the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation to promote our tribal identity, and the wellbeing of our people, community, and environment by building a strong foundation, managing resources, and perpetuating our cultural lifeways and legacy. 

The Nation’s businesses employ 290 local residents and contribute much to the regional economy. Nearly half of the employees are involved in work that directly supports the community, such as providing social services and running the drinking water system in the Smith River area. These services benefit many Tribal and non-Tribal families in Del Norte and Curry Counties. 

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NOTICE
All Tribal offices closed today, March 20, 2020
California Governor Newsom issued a statewide stay at home order effective the evening of March 19, 2020.
All Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation offices will be closed today, Friday, March 20, 2020 as we begin to implement the Tribe’s emergency operations plan. We will continue to share updated information here on our official Facebook page.
To read the Governor’s Order please click on the link: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/Executive-Order-N-33-20.pdf

Administration Office

• General Membership Meeting – Postponed to April 4th

• All Regular Session Tribal Council meetings – Cancelled until

further notice

• All Committee and Board meetings – Cancelled until further

notice

Community and Family Services Department

• Youth Spring Activities March 24th to 26th – Cancelled

• Youth Spring Activities April 14th to 16th – Cancelled

• Spring Children’s Party (Easter Party) April 4th – Cancelled

Howonquet Early Learning Program Center (head start and day care)

• HELP Center will be closed March 16th through April 17th

• All field trips and site visits after April 17th – Cancelled until

further notice

Natural Resources Department

• Scotch Broom Bash March 28th – Pending cancellation

Records and Enrollment Office

• Census Day April 1st – Postponed, date not identified

Howonquet Hall Community Center and Senior Nutrition Site

• Howonquet Hall Community Center will not be open to public use

until further notice

• Senior Nutrition Site will be operating for food delivery only

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: March 13, 2020
Contact: Briannon Fraley, (707) 487-9255 x 1125

THE TOLOWA DEE-NI’ NATION IS TAKING STEPS TO PREVENT COVID-19 TRANSMISSION IN THE REGION

Smith River, CA — In response to the global COVID-19 (Corona) pandemic, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (Nation) is proactively taking precautionary steps to protect its employees and the community it serves.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are implementing several measures to ensure the safety of our staff and the community,” said Denise Richards-Padgette, the Chairperson of the Tolowa Dee-nil Nation. “Even though there have been no confirmed, COVID-19 cases in our area, this coordinated effort will continue until the public health risk is resolved.”

While the Tribal government will remain open during normal business hours, all large meetings and social events have been rescheduled. Most notably, the Nation moved its Annual General Membership Meeting from Saturday, March 21, 2020 to Saturday, April 4, 2020.

In addition to delaying large gatherings, the Nation is implementing the following actions to minimize the potential for a COVID-19 outbreak in Del Norte and Curry Counties:
• Work travel is prohibited for all Tribal employees
• All social gatherings are postponed until further notice
• Increased cleaning and disinfection is occurring at all tribal facilities
• All Tribal Committee meetings are postponed until further notice
• All employees are required to practice relevant precautionary protocols

The measures the Nation is implementing are consistent with recommendations from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Del Norte County, the location of the Nation’s headquarters. To prevent the virus from becoming established in the region, public health officials are asking the community to take specific precautions limiting the possibility of individuals’ contracting the disease.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following precautionary measures:
• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home if you are sick
• Disinfect commonly used surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops and light switches
• Avoid contact with people who are sick

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