CHILOQUIN, Ore. Oct.1, 2026 — In the 28 days since the Klamath Tribal Council declared a financial state of emergency, our finance team reports bringing in more than $11 million from existing grant awards that support services to our people. Work is also underway to prepare overdue reports and modernize the systems used to manage that funding.
In this week’s video update posted to Facebook, Chairman William E. Ray Jr. and the finance team explain what has been accomplished and what still needs attention.
The funding comes from grants already awarded to the Klamath Tribes. Drawing down those funds brings available grant money into tribal accounts for eligible costs. The team reported drawdowns across 69 grant awards during the 28-day period.
Behind those dollars is work shared across our departments. Directors, managers and staff are helping identify outstanding drawdowns and overdue reports, while finance staff organize records and bring accounting work up to date.
Monique Staton, grant technician, said progress is being made as staff catch up on financial records and move toward better practices. With support from REDW, the finance department is training staff, updating software and procedures, and working to fill vacancies. These changes are happening alongside the effort to catch up on outstanding work.
“Our finance department is committed to helping and supporting the Klamath people,” said Damaris Anderson, interim chief financial officer. Anderson said the goal is a finance department with the capacity to serve our people reliably, well and with integrity.
Aryel Harrington, budget analyst and interim grant compliance officer, described the effort as building on previous staff’s knowledge and improving processes that future staff can carry forward. She credited the collective effort of finance staff, administration, Tribal Council, department directors and their staff with making that progress possible.
Our Tribal Council declared a 120-day financial state of emergency for Administration on Sept. 3. As this work continues, members need information they can use to follow the progress and understand the remaining challenges. These updates help keep tribal citizens informed about our government’s work.
The next update will be next week. Updates will likely be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with upcoming reports from CEO Duane Sherman Sr. and Tribal Treasurer Brandi Hatcher.
