The tribal membership will elect the Twenty-Fifth Tribal Council on Wednesday, March 31. Thirty-nine candidates are running for the eight open Tribal Council positions.
Twenty candidates are running for the three positions representing the Agency District. Eleven candidates are running for the three positions representing the Simnasho District. Eight candidates are running for two positions representing the Seekseequa District.
On election day, the polling place in the community center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Board "runners" will also be delivering and returning ballots for people who are homebound or otherwise cannot make it to the polling place.
Off-reservation voters cast their ballots through the mail.
There are 1,936 tribal members on the reservation who are eligible to vote. There are 845 tribal members who live off-reservation who are eligible to vote, according to Vital Statistics records. Total number of eligible voters in the election is 2,781.
The Agency District has 1,604 voting members. Of this number, 1,096 live on the reservation and 508 live off of it.
Simnasho has 945 voting members. Of this number, 670 live on the reservation and 275 off of it.
Seekseequa has 232 voting members. Of this number, 170 live on the reservation and 62 off of it.
Statements from candidates can be heard through the KWSO radio station website, kwso.org. The radio station, 91.9 FM, will also broadcast live from the candidates’ forum this Wednesday evening, March 24. This edition of the Spilyay has candidate coverage starting on page 6.
Candidates forum
An all-district Tribal Council Candidate Night Out has been scheduled for this Wednesday evening, March 24, at the Agency Longhouse. Activities will start at 6 p.m. with a potluck meal, followed by an organized campaign speech time by each candidate.
Each candidate will be allowed 15 minutes to present their information to the people. All candidates by district will give their presentation before any questions will be taken.
The candidates
The candidates are as follows:
Agency District: Redine Billy, Garland Brunoe, Luther Clements, Eugene Austin Greene Jr., Leona Ike, Kahseuss Jackson-Williams, Catherine Katchia, Agnes Lumpmouth, Richard Macy (write-in candidate), Daniel Martinez, Bernice Mitchell, Suzanne Moody, Lyle Rhoan Sr., Alex Smith, Mona Smith (Cochran), Randolph Smith, Stanley "Buck" Smith Jr., Lola Sohappy, Roy Spino, Rita Squiemphen.
Seekseequa: Reuben Henry, Jolene Hintsala, Wendell Jim , Vesta Johnson, Fran Moses-Ahern, Scott Moses, Wilson Wewa Jr., Brigette Whipple.
Simnasho: Leslie Bill, Frank Charley, Ellison David, Priscilla Frank, Francelia Miller, Olney "JP" Patt Jr., Rafael Queahpama, Sylvester Sahme Sr., Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham, Ronald Suppah, Raymond Tsumpti.
From March 10, 2010
Council election set for March 31
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Nearly 40 people – 38 nominees and one known write-in candidate — are running for the eight open seats on the Tribal Council this term.
The final election will be on Wednesday, March 31. Tribal officials are still determining where voters living on the reservation can cast ballots that day and expect to announce that location soon.
They expect the polling location to be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Absentee ballots were sent out late last week, and a small number already have been returned, according to Olivia Wallulatum, Vital Statistics supervisor.
It is too late for voters to change districts for this election, she emphasized.
The next edition of the Spilyay Tymoo will focus heavily on the election. The newspaper will publish candidate-provided statements and other available information on March 24. Our sister radio station KWSO is running three-minute statements voiced by the candidates.
The Spilyay’s deadline for taking these written statements is March 17. Also come prepared for a head-and-shoulders photograph.
The radio station is recording the candidates’ statements on a first-come, first-served basis and will run them as broadcast time allows.
The tribes hold overall Tribal Council elections every three years. There are 1,936 tribal members total who are eligible to vote and call the reservation home. There are 845 tribal members who live elsewhere and can vote for council members, according to Vital Statistics records.
That’s 2,781 voters total.
Agency has 1,604 voting members. Of this number, 1,096 live on the reservation and 508 live off of it.
Simnasho has 945 voting members. Of this number, 670 live on the reservation and 275 off of it.
Seekseequa has 232 voting members. Of this number, 170 live on the reservation and 62 off of it.
"We’re hoping for a good turnout," Wallulatum said.
All eight incumbents were nominated for reelection.
The tribe is represented by the eight elected Council members and the confederation’s three leaders: Chief Delvis Heath, Warm Springs; Chief Nelson Wallulatum, Wasco; and, Chief Joseph Moses, Paiute.
Candidates
Agency (three seats open): Luther Clements, Leona Ike, Garland Brunoe, Stanley (Buck) Smith Jr. (inc.), Bernice Mitchell (inc.), Eugene Austin Greene Jr. (inc.), Alex Smith, Redine Billy, Suzanne Moody, Rita Squiemphen, Lyle Rhoan Sr., Daniel Martinez, Mona Smith (Cochran), Lola Sohappy, Randolph Smith, Agnes Lumpmouth, Catherine Katchia, Roy Spino, Kahseuss Jackson-Williams. Richard Macy publicly declared his interest in being a write-in candidate for Agency members.
Seekseequa (two seats open): Fran Moses-Ahern, Scott Moses, Reuben Henry, Vesta Johnson, Jolene Hintsala, Wendell Jim (inc.), Bridgette Whipple, Wilson Wewa Jr. (inc.).
Simnasho (three seats open): Raymond Tsumpti, Sylvester Sahme Sr., Priscilla Frank, Frank Charley, Francelia Miller, Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham (inc.), Rafael Queahpama (inc.), Ronald Suppah (inc.), Olney Patt Jr., Ellison David, Leslie Bill.
* (Inc.) stands for incumbent. This is the Spilyay’s addition to the list. Macy also was added to the list by the newspaper.
AGENCY DISTRICT
AGNES LUMPMOUTH
My name is Agnes Lumpmouth (onte) to most people. My maiden name is Greene.
It was (and is) and honor to be nominated for Tribal Council.
My background: Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma; was employed by Indian Health Service for 24 years with twenty-two years in supervisory management positions; the last 14 years here at Warm Springs I.H.S.
I retired in 2003, then worked for OHSU one year collecting research data.
My last year of employment was at High Lookee Lodge.
My past experience as a supervisor/manager gave me the opportunity to work both in positive as well as negative situations. Disagreement and change is often difficult for all involved, yet an integral part of life.
I see and hear the needs of many of our people. Some are basic to everyday life, e.g. home repair (plumbing, heating), unemployment and access to health care to mention a few.
Tribal Councils, past and present, have led our people for generations and should be applauded.
I feel that we continue to build upon the strengths of that foundation; assess, plan and implement the areas in need to promote a healthy home, a healthy environment for our people and future generations.
Last but not least I am a born-again Christian and truly believe that our Lord Jesus Christ saves and changes lives!
God bless!
DANIEL MARTINEZ
My name is Dan Martinez and I am running for Tribal Council for the Agency District. I have been employed with Fire and Safety since 1981. My wife is Heather Crow-Martinez. My mother was the late "Etta" Kalama Johnson, my grandmother was Rose Kuckup, and my grandfather was Henry Kalama Sr.
I served with the Marines during the Viet-Nam era from 1971-75. As your Fire Chief for the last 14 years, I have proven leadership for our community.
Why should you vote for me? Commitment to my community: I love my community and I have proudly served and worked here for the last 29 years.
I would like to be placed in a position to be a contributor of creating positive change and attempting to solve the problems our community faces, such as:
Public Safety:
We all deserve a safe place to live without fear for our safety. I believe there is a need to develop strong local policies to guide our community to become safe. There is a need to support current laws and policies equally and in a timely manner.
Addictions:
Our number one problem continues to be alcohol, followed by substance abuse. There is a need to focus on prevention, treatment and aftercare, from pre-natal through our adult years.
Housing shortages:
Everyone deserves their own home. We need to seek all possible funding to make this possible and affordable.
Unemployment: 65 percent unemployment rate is unacceptable. We need to seek out opportunities for our people to be gainfully employed with livable wages.
Budgetary shortfalls:
It is time for us to stop and evaluate what is working, what is not, what are our gaps and a plan to live within our means.
Health and Wellness:
We need to understand that we are responsible for our health and wellness.
The community needs to make health and wellness a priority. We can make the changes and we can support each other.
So, I ask you people, give me an opportunity to serve you by voting for me to serve in the 25th Tribal Council. I am willing to face the hard work in creating the change that is needed for my community.
ALEX SMITH
My Dear People of Warm Springs,
My name is Alex Leon Smith. I am running for Tribal Council. I am Wasco/Warm Springs/Hawaiian. My parents are the late Woodrow and Iris Smith. The reason I am running for Council is I will work for my people. There are several issues that need to be addressed.
Wages and salaries: With the way the economy is today, I believe that we can restructure the salaries and wages. We can lower the overhead salaries to benefit and help the people as a whole.
Employment: We need to look into the tribal work force to honor the tribal preference hire policy and to promote from within the tribal organization instead of bringing in from the outside. We need to take a long hard look at how tribal members who are now employed are being treated (lower paid, overlooked for promotion, etc) insurance, medical, workmans comp benefits: the tribal work force has these benefits withheld from their pay. Why is it so difficult, especially workmen’s comp, to get help for on the job injuries?
Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino: The people need to know as owners how much money is brought in and what is paid out. I strongly believe that we need quarterly reports (every 90 days). I would bring in federal auditors to make sure that we the people as owners are not getting ripped off. When and if we get our other casino up and going I will require the same. The people as owners have the right to know.
Youth (children): I would work towards programs to keep hopefully on the straight and narrow.
Senior citizens: I would work with programs to make it as comfortable as possible, for it is their work what we have now (today).
Veterans: I would work with programs that would help the men and women who have served to protect and preserve our freedom.
Natural Resources: I would work with Natural Resources to work on our hunting and fishing rights, especially on our ceded areas. We need improvement on reservation game enforcements. We also need to keep up on water rights. We need to work on timber harvesting on reservation, range and ag, livestock, open range. With wildland fires, work with the BIA on getting two shifts for major fires (night shift/day shift).
Public Safety: Police department supervisors need to improve on training the rookie crew (patrolmen) on how to work with compassion, feeling and respect with the community people, not like cold robots. Our police need to work more with the surrounding agencies, to work more efficiently on our outer boundaries.
Judiciary: I would work with the system on improving and finding a way to help the juvenile issues, jurisdiction issues tribal federal/state etc.
Overall: There will be no raises without permission of Tribal Council or the peoples’ ok. Again I would have federal auditors check anyone with the tribal organization if there is any financial disruption.
RICHARD MACY (Write-in)
My immediate concern for the Confederated Tribes is to reduce spending and increase revenues.
Secondly, to vigorously work to eliminate crime and to combat alcohol and drug abuse in our community, and to follow with more effort through our programs to reduce unemployment and upgrade the skills and education of our people.
And to utilize proven methods and incorporate new and innovative approaches to gain the maximum financial return from our natural resources and at the same time protect and preserve these resources for the future.
And, also of great importance, to continue to protect our Treaty rights and our sovereign status as an Indian Nation.
LEONA IKE
I ask the voters to vote with their hearts and conscience while selecting their respective Tribal Council candidates. Candidates should display team work and have compassion for all the people and recognize the daily stresses of the families that struggle day to day. Most importantly, they have knowledge of our culture and our history.
Travel is a great concern for our membership and this matter should not be ignored, especially when we have a high rate of poverty and unemployment. In the past, our elder Councils would only travel by delegations and that policy needs to be reinstated. Our Chiefs should be the first considerations along with our chair and vice-chair, since they have seniority within our Council. Organizational travel should be limited.
Leaders and any employees that have sensitive jobs and responsibilities should be alcohol and drug free. We have no right as a tribe to correct anybody, if we do not live a good life ourselves. Our membership should have access to our Council whenever Council is in session. I do not think this access should be limited to once a month.
I am a granddaughter, daughter, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. I have six sons – Jon, Mario, Julius, JoJo, Kanim and Jermaine – along with one daughter Autwai Angela who passed away in 2009.
My grandchildren are Keshawn, Julius, Tyrell, Kanim, Brandon, Latasha, and Ashley. All bring joy to my soul.
My mom is Daisy Ike and my dad was Autwai Fred Ike Sr., who died of cancer in 2003. I have brothers Fred, Lucas and Tyrone and two deceased brothers Autwai Ivan who died of pneumonia in 1957 and Autwai Tom who died from cancer in 2005. I have sisters Lena and Lovie and one deceased sister Autwai Dena who died from SIDS in 1958.
I have a college degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement and General Studies. I am state certified in Parole and Probation and have been a department supervisor for 17 years in the Public Safety Branch.
I sit on state, county and tribal committees. I believe education is to enhance a persons’ service to the tribes – I don’t believe education is a free ticket to earn outrageous salaries or guarantee to employment – salaries, jobs and respect need to be earned over time.
In the Creator’s eyes we are all equal – education does not place any person above anybody within our community.
My traditional inherited responsibility is that my mom, sisters and I make regalia for those who have passed on, assisting my mom with medicine singing, cooking, beadwork and teaching culture and traditional practices to my children and grandchildren.
LOLA SOHAPPY
My name is Lola May Thompson Sohappy. My Indian name is Kis si thih.
I am honored to be nominated for Tribal Council for the Agency District.
I have lived and worked in Warm Springs all my life.
My work for the Warm Springs Tribes has been as a janitor, police matron for seven years, PATH Home Parent for one year, Family and Children’s Services for 8 years, and Tribal Court Judge for 20 years.
During these years I have obtained an AA Degree in Mental Health/Social Work plus numerous Certifications of Completion of Training and Seminars in law and Social Work.
In all these positions I have learned to observe people and things closely, to listen carefully, to ask questions, and to weigh all information before making decisions.
I believe a Tribal Council member has these same obligations in matters facing our tribes.
My concerns include protection of tribal sovereignty, housing, economic issues and how they impact all our people; more stringent oversight of our resources and our enterprises to ensure benefits to all of our people.
To listen to our own people’s ideas and use of their experiences that might benefit our tribes. Most of all we need to all work together for we face obstacles all the time from outsiders.
I am a founding member of the National Indian Child Welfare Association and continue as an elder council member for the association.
I have served as a board member for the National Indian Justice Center, member of the Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association, National American Indian Court Judges Association; and still occasionally assist in state/tribal Indian Child Welfare meetings as a speaker. I’m also on the Governor’s task force regarding the disparity and disproportional placement of Native American and Black Children in the child welfare system.
LYLE AMIAL RHOAN SR.
Agency District Candidate
• I am enrolled Tribal Member #773 of the Warm Springs Tribe
• Lived all my life on Warm Springs Reservation
• Have knowledge of and lived our laws and policies of our reservation all my youth and adult life.
• Married 54 years — six children, 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren.
• Employed with Warm Springs Tribe for 33 years in the recreation department. Now retired.
Coached Little League baseball 30 years (minor, major and senior leagues).
Other community activity: Bible study in the W.S. Jail on Sundays, On-Reservation Fish and Wildlife Committee. Volunteer and giver to requests in the community. (transportation, food, diapers, gas, mentoring and counseling).
All eligible voters come out and exercise your rights by coming into the voting place and vote for one of us nominees of your district.
I am asking for your support to vote for me on election time.
I am willing to represent the Agency District for this 3-year term. I would like to go on board as a Councilman sitting as a representative for all our tribal young or old people of our reservation. I am willing to go in with my integrity, honesty, trustworthy, accountability, high ethics and moral values to serve and work with listening ears.
If you vote me in I would like you to feel welcome to come and speak to me with concerns, needs or strategies for your complaints.
I enjoy collaborating and getting in order about our tribal affairs.
Thank you.
RITA SQUIEMPHEN
Good day to everyone. My name is Rita Squiemphen. I am a Tribal Council candidate for the Agency District (Sidwalter Flat rep.)
Our challenges today are many and of varying levels. I believe that things can get better for the reservation and when this happens, things for our people will be better. During the three years that I have been off Council, the phone calls and visits to my home have not stopped.
My primary focus areas include:
1. The people’s concern about lack of effective operating enterprises who are not making the money they are supposed to and no new or different enterprises being created. Our people are not being hired which has resulted in a very high 68 percent unemployment rate. Managers and supervisors are not being held accountable to make 8363A work. Without jobs, our people cannot get housing.
I will advocate and support methods that bring about GM accountability in all the enterprises and branches in tribal government. Further, I will advocate and support enforcement of 8363A to the fullest extent possible right away. I will support affordable housing and housing department accountability. Inside this, we need more senior citizen housing for our growing elder population.
2. Tribal members are very concerned about all the college graduates completing their schooling and still not being able to come home and get a job. Even a Master’s Degree means nothing to hiring authorities. There are not enough jobs on the reservation.
Also the young people feel they have no voice and uppers won’t listen to what they have to say.
I will advocate for college internships and successor program implementation so we begin involving our graduates into matching jobs with their degrees.
I will support using part of the $32 million toward immediate jobs.
As far as some areas not having enough operating funds to do an effective job, I am willing to see that a thorough budget line item review be done to seek out usable funds already in the system that has not been reported to the Tribal Council.
I want to be part of creating the young people’s voice to be heard and really considered, because they are the future and the future is here now.
3. Tribal members are angry and concerned about all the money being spent on travel throughout the tribe, especially within the Tribal Council.
I will commit to and prefer tribal travel by delegation by Council action only policy and require reports back to the people.
4. Tribal members have concerns about the Treaty and tribal Constitution not being followed.
My actions will be to support decision that do no adversely affect the Treaty and Constitution.
In closing, I am committed to focusing on being home on reservation issues and working for Warm Springs.
I put a lot of energy in the Tribal Council chamber where it counts.
I will do my best for the people of Warm Springs. Please vote.
Your vote counts. I wish all the candidates good luck.
RANDOLPH SMITH
I am glad to be one of the many nominees for the Agency District. The large number of nominees indicates that tribal members are looking for change. I look forward to serving the tribal membership, defending our Treaty Rights both nationally and locally. Every day we hear of challenges to our unique sovereign status, these challenges, if left unanswered, only weaken the "Supreme Law of the Land" legal status of Native American treaties.
Our treaties have had their legal stature undermined by the public’s misconception of our Treaty rights as "special rights", when in fact they are Reserved Rights. Webster’s defines "reserved" as: "Kept, retained, set aside for future use or need." Contrary to reserved rights, "special rights" is derived from what I refer to as political prostitution, (lobbying), two very distinct and different origins.
These are the national concerns that we must address and defend against, the constant undermining of our Reserved Rights.
Locally we must not be afraid to exercise and assert our treaty rights as the leadership of the fifties and sixties did. These leaders were well versed in the extent of our treaty rights and exercised or asserted them almost without challenge.
The success of their leadership is unquestionable. It thrust Warm Springs into the international and national limelight as the most progressive Native American community in America. It is critical that we established similar long term achievement objectives to meet the expectations of our children returning home from college, the military or vocational training. The only real thing that is missing is the complete support from our Tribal Council, tribal enterprises, boards and committees.
I’ve heard many concerns regarding the Warm Springs Police Department. We must be very careful of exaggerating our inability to police ourselves, otherwise we provide the door of opportunity for public law 280 to be enforced in our community. That is something our elders strongly warned us not to allow.
Housing is another concern that has been mentioned. I agree that changes have to be made without interference from the Warm Springs Tribal Council or the tribal administration.
Past undermining of the Housing Board’s oversight authority only served a few people. The purpose and intent of the Housing Board members is well intended, but they have seen there plans undermined from outside interference.
To emphasize my point: How is it that some tribes in the Northwest can annually build 30 homes a year and we are lucky if we get ten homes in five years.
This indicates to me that employees, although having attended training, are not implementing what the federal government allows tribes to do with NAHASDA money.
Our lack of providing a prudent plan of operations to meet the housing demand of our people is why other tribes receive the revenue that we could be utilizing to meet our housing projections.
Economic development is another topic that has seen very limited results.
If economic development is to actually materialize in our community plans to develop the necessary infrastructure must be developed.
Economic development requires some planning, which shouldn’t be too difficult since we are not "reinventing the wheel." We just have to follow the format any municipality utilizes to secure the power, water, schools and waste water facilities.
This too takes time. The process of constructing adequate infrastructure is long overdue.
These are only a few of the critical areas that I would prioritize. I would meet with the people of the Agency District every month to update them on issues facing our community. One other strength that earlier leadership demonstrated was maintaining a clear precise employer-employee relationship.
Tribal objectives and intent of tribal policy was clearly understood by employees. There was no need for severance packages.
It is important for our elected representatives, regardless of who is voted in, to work together for the betterment of the people.
Growing up as a child I had a world of opportunity at my finger tips, all because of the strong leadership of our Tribal Council, a Tribal Council that never let their personal differences interfere with serving all of the tribal members.
That is the leadership style I would emulate.Thank you.
Nominee Randy "Skewaucks" Smith
ROY SPINO
My people, I hear the people call for change, yet election after election we vote the same people into office and think that things will change. Our time of change is now. We need to elect people who will hear your concerns and address them and "not let them fall on deaf ears."
We as tribal members need to quit voting by, that’s my uncle, cousin, gramps; and get to voting by what we think will be the best for our tribe in the upcoming election.
We need to hold our leaders accountable to the membership. Our upper management needs to be more accountable to the people. Not let upper management dictate who gets to speak to Council. It is our right as tribal members to be able to address our leaders and request answers from them.
In the tough financial times that we are in we need solid leadership now. There are many tribal members struggling to survive. Jobs are hard to find and we don’t seem to be working to get our tribal members employed.
Why as tribal members can we not have a say on how the ADR settlement dollars are used? Why can’t we create jobs for tribal members with these monies? Why does the CFO have the final say on what we can do as a tribal government? Is the CFO not just supposed to be our bean counter and not tell our CEO/ST and our COO how to conduct business on behalf of the tribal day to day operations?
We also hear from our leaders, "I have an open door policy," yet are they readily accessible?
If I am elected to Council, I don’t promise to change the world overnight but work to improve communication between Council and the people.
I look to promote accountability of our leader ship and management. I will also try to make tribal member preference the "norm" in hiring of employees. I will work at creating jobs for our tribal members and youth as well as promoting the tribal member successorship program within our tribe and our enterprises.
I have been employed with the tribal Utilities Department for 17 years, starting out as the waste water treatment plant operator and working my way up to the water and wastewater engineer.
I have been a member of the water control board since 1997. I was involved in the water rights settlement agreement, the FERC dam relicensing, establishing water quality standards for the tribe, and getting treatment as a state 401 authority delegated to the tribe for water quality.
I have been active in our community youth activities for a number of years, coaching football and baseball and volunteering when help is needed.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
In closing, I would like to urge the tribal membership to get out and vote.
Make your voice heard or be subject to what is dictated to you.
SUZANNE C. MOODY
My name is Suzanne C. Moody. I have been employed with the tribes since becoming of working age at 14. My parents were the late Claude and Victoria Smith Sr. I decided to return home to gain employment through the tribes and continued to stay employed. I attended college at Haskell Indian Jr. College. I received various awards from Haskell and the following achievements were: making the Dean’s Honor Roll List and making the Ladies Varsity Basketball Teams starting five.I continue to carry the competitive spirit, by guiding my children through school sports programs, track and field, basketball and cross country.
I will always continue to support the local young people of my community with all of their endeavors in all sporting events. I was told by my late father Claude Smith Sr. that when you give 90 percent towards the game you are playing, the winners give 110 percent of themselves to become the winners.
Sports keep children going, but they also need their parents and extended families’ support. Education and sports go hand and hand because students have to keep up their grades in order to stay in sports. All our children need their family support for their education, sports, assigned projects, youth employment, acknowledging their elders, traditional practices, family values etc.
Indian gaming is also a strength that I have achieved. I am presently employed as a gaming commissioner for the tribe. The main focus for each gaming commissioner is to protect the assets. We go through monthly audits and other audits throughout the year and we are mandated to stay in compliance with each audit (Oregon State Police, National Indian Gaming Commission compliance report from Isler & Co. due to National Indian Gaming Commission twice a year).
All paperwork must be in place, amount of gaming machines, installing new machines, vendors, the new install of Player Tracking System, etc… We work very closely with the surveillance staff that or reporting incidences that occur on the gaming floor or observe suspicious activity.
Working with the Housing Department gave me the knowledge of infrastructure, and with the architects the design of homes for our people. This was an opportunity to meet with our local people to ask what would the people like built into their homes. More storage space was requested, a second heating source for their homes, larger built homes etc… The low income people asked that I never forget them should I leave Housing. This statement will stay with me forever.
Remember what our ancestry leadership established during good and difficult times. They made difficult decisions for us to live the way we do today.
Today we must remember what our ancestry accomplished to make this Nation the Nation it is today.
STANLEY 'BUCK' SMITH
Hello Warm Springs. I am Stanley Buck Smith; my Wasco name is Ti-Ah-Kole; which means Horseman. Stanley and Dorothy Smith are my parents and my grandparents are Wesley and Annie (Jackson) Smith. I am married to Susie; our son is Jason Smith. I am seeking another term as an Agency District representative.
My focus is business economics on the reservation; jobs that will employ our people. I know you get tired of hearing jobs for tribal members; however, one must look forward to our policies being held to accountability. We, as policymakers, will step in and coach our people to become employed. We will require starting with our present enterprises.
Business economics has to happen here, on our land. Along with strategic importance and the goal to be accomplished by leading efforts that cultivate work ethics, continuous improvements, and non-stop forwardness.
The main focal point is generating increased revenue which will create family wage jobs and services created for individuals, some of which include part time jobs for the stay-at-home Moms, self-reliance jobs for the baby boomers, daily labor opportunities and on-the-job training. Our sovereignity will provide what we want to zone, what we want to allow on our lands, what we can do with our water rights and where we can add additional revenue in our established enterprises.
We all know that Highway 26 is the gateway to the north and south. This area can be extensively developed, our money maker. A truck stop was suggested, a small cabin hotel, added with hiking and biking trails and introduce an RV park with overnight camping or fishing; a water park would attract business. We could develop KNT Village to benefit out customers and add KNT’s discount coupons in our visited establishments.
We have a few options for Bear Springs. We passed on the home sites and Mt. Hood followed through on lodging sites; but we could still build a few extravagant homes to rent year round or even compete by creating a competitive, less expensive lodge. Bear Springs could make revenue by construction of an alcoholic and drug facility. It can add tribal employment. We could also work with BPA on some technology needs.
We denied the billion-dollar business of bottling water! The use for this is only 1/5 of what we have a right to, we would not be selling our water rights as some people misinterpret. Our water and natural resources are our sovereignity to gain competitive business advantage.
A processing, render plant is in the works. It will have other uses. Marketing for organic beef, buffalo and elk meat would be processed, thus marketing it out to the world.
We have enough wooded land to pursue tree farms, wildflower farms, wild rose bushes, and eccentric rocks. All this can be used to market to our nearby large cities and even begin a landscaping crew for the homes in our community. People come here for nature, the freshness, and we should be building off of that.
A landfill operation has been brought to our attention and it isn’t on the same scale as the ones we already have. It would be a business into the millions of dollars; it would lead to energy income and not just for ridding garbage and recycling.
We have:
•$32 million plus interest for tribal operations;
•$29 million plus interest for Natural Resource plan;
•$6 million plus interest for the Natural Resources assessment;
And the $17.5 million from BPA Right-of-Way.
Investing this money intelligently will bring us out of hardship. Survival of our membership is number one, and together we are the heart of what we want to become.
I have faith that you will elect the truthful leadership you desire. It is up to us to save ourselves – so I leave you with these words: How can we triumph over what we will not confront?
Let’s change together! God bless you!
REDINE BILLY
Many of the concerns I have are the same as many tribal members. We are worried about our weakened economy, tribal member hiring preference, high unemployment rate, our diminishing natural resources, our limited medical health care, education and our social service programs that are so very important.
Our weakened economy has caused annual budget cuts for many years. These budget cuts have caused loss of programs that gave some tribal members full-time, permanent employment. Our weakened economy has reduced funds for some of our most important programs that assisted with curbing such things as alcohol and drug addiction, domestic violence, gang violence and child abuse.
Many of our tribal member college graduates face uncertain futures. Even with their college degrees, it is hard for them to find employment here at home.
We need to place greater focus on tribal member preference and bring down the high unemployment rate.
These are only a few of the many issues tribal members have voiced concerns about. We have a long way to go in attaining a better future for all tribal members. We need to start working together as a community and strengthen our community and family ties.
It is important to have more than just a few General Council meetings each year. Tribal members have asked for more meetings to allow time to discuss concerns. More meetings would cut down on the gripe sessions and resolve some of the important issues at hand.
I have asked tribal member voters to consider the idea of a Code of Ethics board. A Code of Ethics board should have been appointed at the same time our Constitution and By-laws were created. We need to establish guidelines and penalties for such allegations as misuse of tribal funds, abuse of authority and actions unbecoming of a tribal leader or manager.
On March 31, I ask for your vote. Thank you to my family and relatives for all your support and confidence in me. -- Redine Billy, Agency District
KAHSEUSS JACKSON-WILLIAMS
It’ukdi Wigwa, My name is Kahseuss Jackson-Williams and I would like your support as I seek to represent the Agency District on the Tribal Council.
I would bring to the Council an extensive business background including a Masters Degree in Business, and many years of experience working in tribal business affairs. I represent a new way of thinking, a younger perspective and change.
I also recognize and respect how our leaders of the past conducted their affairs and I embrace their values that included the protection of our Natural Resources, our sovereignty and our treaty rights. My great-grandfather was Charlie Jackson and great-grandmother Georgiana Jackson (Miller - Switzler).
My great aunts were Annie Smith (Jackson) and Ruth Estabrook (Jackson). My grandfather was Vernon Jackson and my grandmother is Louise Jackson.
I was raised to believe that an education and forward thinking would only serve to protect our most precious resources and standing as a sovereign nation.
Throughout our history our leaders have helped us to survive and prosper as we’ve faced many challenges in adapting to the world we live in.
In the 1800’s we were driven from many of our traditional homelands and forced to re-locate to our reservation. In 1956 our way of life was shaken as Celilo Falls was covered, and for decades we survived the boarding school.
We are again at a critical time in our history as we face staggering unemployment, have nearly exhausted the rainy day fund that our past leaders so smartly put away for future generations, and are confronted by many pressing social problems, such as lack of housing and substance abuse.
Today’s leaders must confront these challenges head on and work to lay a foundation for our young people and future generations to prosper.
I believe in and would focus on:
•Creating jobs to ease unemployment;
•Developing enterprises and businesses to provide jobs and revenues to support the tribes’ budget;
•Keeping our dollars on the reservation by creating an economy where every basic product and service available in Madras is offered here at home;
•Capturing the casino opportunity now;
•Building a school that raises the bar in educating our young people;
•Integrity within our Tribal Council;
•Reasonable and sensible Tribal Council travel;
•Tribal Council Representatives taking a leave of absence from any employment position and only being compensated for their Tribal Council position.
· Protecting our fish, water, huckleberries, roots, forests and other natural resources
· Transparency in Tribal affairs
· Working to create more housing
· Protecting our sovereignty and treaty rights
· Creating a vision for the future of our people
It is time to act people of Warm Springs. We can no longer wait to confront our difficult challenges. We must elect strong leaders who are business minded, and that have integrity and vision. Our future depends on it.
Sincerely, Kahseuss Jackson-Williams kahseussj@celilobiz.com
MONA SMITH COCHRAN
Vote for Mona Smith Cochran
Warm Springs Tribal Council
Agency District Representative
Leadership that remembers values.
I am asking you for your support and your vote on March 31st to represent the Agency District during the term of the 25th Tribal Council. Our reservation needs leadership that is truly responsive to our members.My parents are atwai Alvis Smith Sr. and the late Ramona R. Whiz-Smith. My paternal grandparents are Wesley Smith and Annie Jackson-Smith and my maternal grandparents were William Whiz and Marie Kamin-Whiz. I have a daughter, Wynter Smith-Erickson, who blessed me with three grandchildren. I am married to William D. Cochran.
My experience:
I have been fortunate to have earned four college degrees. In addition to education, we need to honor our culture and traditions. I have learned that we must have a strong respect for keeping and participating in our ceremonial and spiritual practices. I have lived an alcohol-free lifestyle for 29 years.
My employment back-ground includes being: a mental health therapist, alcohol and drug counselor, family court counselor for school-aged youth and their families, and a cultural counselor.If I am elected to serve my people, my mission will be:
• To focus on economic development to increase jobs and revenue;
• Enhance tribal member employment and training;
• Truly enforce tribal member preference for jobs and contracting;
• Provide positive support and services for tribal members seeking higher education so they can return to our Reservation, and
• Implement an improved health and human services system to have better health and quality of life for our people and our families.My leadership:
The tribal organization needs to invest in much needed infrastructure to support more tribal member housing, businesses and community development projects such as the new school that was approved by tribal referendum, and we need a new Community Center for our youth.
Overall, we need to protect and restore our natural resources, the way our ancestors did for our benefit, as we must do for the generations to come. My commitment will be to implement services to meet the needs of all our people, most importantly, the elderly and our young people by being proactive instead of the crisis-oriented approach we have seen.
We need to maintain a balance with culture, traditions, spirituality and today’s society. With all due respect, your support will be greatly appreciated in the upcoming Tribal Council elections. God Bless You and Yours.
E. AUSTIN GREENE
E. Austin Greene: Agency Candidate for the 25th Tribal Council
Good Day My People:
I am Mus-ta-lik, English name Eugene ‘Austin’ Greene Jr. A descendent of the Queahpama and Stacona family, my parents are Norene Queahpama Greene and the late Eugene Greene Sr. I have one son, Eugene Aaron Greene III, and Laritta MaeAnn Greene. My family heritage and strength have helped me become a strong yet humble individual who cares deeply about the future of our people.
I sustain strong integrity, accountability and strong ethics, having maintained sobriety for 21 years, which is important to me as an individual and as a role model for future generations.
I have worked in the Recreation Department for the tribe for almost 30 years, the past 13 as the Recreation Director. And our youth, as our future, are ever so important to us.
While serving on the Council for the past three years I have served as the Head Start Liaison for the Council, as well as keeping a keen interest in all areas of the tribe that serves our youth. Although a single voice, I continue to speak intensely on critical issues that will affect our tribe today and into the future. Youth and Senior Citizens are key and I have always supported their needs.
While on the Twenty-Fourth Tribal Council I have been heavily involved in the Oregon 9 Tribes Meth Task Force, which has been recreated due to its importance to not only Oregon tribes, but tribes across the nation. I have also been involved in the Intertribal Timber Council, Intertribal Agriculture Council, and volunteer ambassador for the Gorge casino, where I maintain a strong voice and support on this project.
Much of the work by the Tribal Council is guided by the organic and major documents that guide us as a nation. Many important issues are on the table and many decisions are made through these important documents.
The overall economic situation for our Tribe has been on rocky waters, as it has been for the nation this past couple years.
We have been working with declining revenues from enterprises, but are seeking alternatives that will create an upswing in those revenues.
We have been looking at the importance of small business opportunities and jobs creation; and any other business economic possibilities that may be viable for our tribe. We have encouraged job creation from the Phase II settlement dollars.
Other important projects I have been working on include the Sidwalter fire hall, the "lawlessness of our natural resources," i.e. protection of our Natural Resources; continued emphasis on fish and game and range rider enforcement for improved protection of forest/range lands and our livestock on the reservation. And health care has been on my radar also, a highly important issue that continues to beget continued attention.
I have strong confidence in our executive committees and they should be delegated for travel on behalf of Council. Although some Council travel is important to critical key areas, that should be as a delegate or alternate, reporting back to the constituents.
If elected, I will continue to serve in a confident manner, with strong integrity and accountability. I am an excellent listener, and will continue my open-door policy for not only district constituents, but all members of our tribe. I maintain an open mind, and keep my ears open to the knowledge that our Elders pass on as well as that which the Chiefs bring to the table.
It is important that we each cast our vote, no matter who you vote for, let your voice be heard. Vote for who you feel will best serve the people. With that, I wish all other candidates luck, as the 25th Tribal Council will come together and work for the people!
GARLAND BRUHOE
Dear Tribal Member,
On February 24, 2010 I (Garland Bruhoe) was nominated as a candidate to run for Tribal Council representing the Wascoe Tribe and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. I would like you to consider voting for me.
I served two and half terms on Tribal Council. My first term I served as vice-chair and my second term as vice-chair and then chairman after the elected chairman resigned from Tribal Council.
I served half of my third term as a Tribal Council member and then stepped down to help the Kah-Nee-Ta board of directors in the management of Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino.
As your elected Tribal Council member I will focus on the following areas:
Economy – In the next three years the tribe must invest in business operations that will increase revenues and provide wages that support family needs.
Bridge of the Gods Casino – The elected Tribal Council should be brought up-to-date on the Cascade Locks Casino and come to a consensus on current and future plans.
Education – We need to reduce the number of dropout students. Coordinate future jobs with the Higher Education graduates so they will have an incentive to make Warm Springs their community.
Law and Order – With a facility that is designed for short term sentences we need to find ways to handle long term sentences.
We also need to improve the way we help inmates to become positive role models in the community.
Health and Welfare – I am concerned about the national health debate and how any decision(s) may negatively affect the healthcare funds we receive from Indian Health Services, Medicaid and Medicare and the CTWS Self Insured Health Insurance benefits.
We need to assist the tribes’ various enterprises to assure their health insurance benefits are not negatively impacted.
Housing – Housing continues to be a problem for the tribes. We have a lack of family homes, and to add to the problem older homes that are in need of repair and maintenance. The street people victims are increasing in numbers and must be addressed by the Tribal government.
Vision – We need to revisit our current vision statement and determine where we are in achieving this vision.
I believe in my heart that I have been prepared for such a time as now. Our people are facing some difficult times ahead which require experienced leaders at the helm. I am prepared to work with the other Tribal Council members, the secretary-treasurer and the people to move the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs into a brighter future
It’ukdi Wigwa Naika Ilksuxdilks (Good day to my relatives). Sto-wy.
LUTHER CLEMENTS
To the people of the Agency District:
My name is Luther Clements. I am running for one of the seats on the Tribal Council for the Agency District.
I have worked for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in the Fire Management Department for 25 years.
I worked on the Inter-Agency Hotshot Crew from 1984 to 2004.
I moved into the Assistant Fire Management Officer position in 2005 and currently hold that position.
While I was on the Hotshot Crew I was elected the National Chairman for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) National Hotshot Group, which consists of 11 Inter-Agency Hotshot crews from around the United States (Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada).
I also have served as the vice chair in the BIA National Hotshot Program.
I served as the BIA Hotshot crew representative on the National Inter-Agency Steering Committee. The National Inter-Agency Hotshot Crew Organization had at the time 72 nationally recognized Hotshot Crews from all agencies: Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
My duties as the BIA representative were to take BIA issues or concerns to the group and also collaborate with this group on all national hotshot issues whether it be training or policy changes that would effect the BIA hotshot group.
I’m currently chairman for the East Slope Training Group of Oregon which consists of all federal wild land fire programs, the Oregon Department of Forestry, some structure Departments and the COCC. These programs are on the East Side of the Cascades from K-Falls to Warm Springs.
As a tribal member and a tribal employee I feel at times we are not being heard or informed on what direction our tribe is going or what decisions have been made for the tribe or if the people are being allowed input.
When was the last time we had a referendum vote by the people?
We as tribal members may enjoy without hinderance, freedom of worship, speech, press and assembly. When elected or placed into leadership roles we need to be aware that we are not going to please everyone and that our decisions or actions may be scrutinized by tribal members. We cannot take these situations as personal attacks. As leaders we need to prepare ourselves to react in a civil and professional manner without hindrance.
As leaders our people need to come first. We are representatives and voices for our people. We should not use these positions for our personal and family benefits.
Once the Twenty-Fifth Tribal Council is selected, the three districts need to come together as a team and work for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and not just the district they represent.
In closing, the new Council needs to make good decisions on the needs for the confederated tribes as a whole. There are things districts want, if we don’t have the revenue to support them, we need to focus on the needs for the 3000-plus tribal members.
SIMNASHO DISTRICT
RAYMOND TSUMPTI
I had been a district representative for five terms, and I can say it was a privilege and honor to do so. My thinking was that my work was done.
However, in the last 18 months, I’ve been asked to consider being a representative again by several district members. I’ve responded by saying "OK, but it’ll be the will of the district to choose the representatives they have the trust and confidence in."
I’ve also been encouraged to "campaign." I’ve said, "No, I’ve yet to campaign and I’m not going to start now."
What I do is listen and hear people no matter where I’m at or what I’m doing. I believe that is expected by the membership, and also to speak on their behalf. No magic in that, really. Besides, we pretty much know each other, no need to campaign. The district members will do that among themselves in a respectful way.
One is expected to be conscious of our treaty, understand the people’s Constitution and by-laws, and not lose sight of our agreements such as the Water Rights Settlement, Joint Venture with IHS, IMRP to name a few.
We must remember what we do today in addressing present issues also effects the unborn of tomorrow.
This is our challenge no matter who the district elects. Good luck to all candidates and remember to vote.
RAFAEL QUEAHPAMA
Hello, my name is Rafael Queahpama, In Chow Wapanthla. I want to say to you today that I accept the nomination to again serve the Simnasho District of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. During the past three years, I have served in that capacity and I would like to continue to work towards making the lives of the people better.
During these three years, I have witnessed the anguish of tribal members who bear the burden of problems that have been laid upon them.
By circumstance, I have witnessed the problems faced by the tribal government. Our people have to contend with roadblocks and hurdles when they or their family members get caught up in the justice system.
There may be hope for a more fair justice system with recent actions by management in the area of legal aide. Our people have always wanted good quality health care as promised in the Treaty of 1855. There have been positive moves towards that goal with the formation of the Joint Heath Commission.
Our members desire to live in safety and comfort in their own homeland. Our people need the opportunity to have jobs, to pursue an education. The parents and grandparents would like to be given a chance to provide for and care for the welfare of the children and the elders.
The Twenty-Fourth Tribal Council has made decisions that will improve the lives of the people of their reservation.
I would be honored to serve on the 25th Tribal council to continue on that path.
AUROLYN STWYER-PINKHAM
Niix pachwai, Good day from Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham, Na-k’ishayat, Tribal Council candidate for the Simnasho District, incumbent Vice Chairwoman.
I’ve been blessed to be raised with our longhouse spirituality as well as the Christian values of the Presbyterian church. My educational background includes a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Master’s degree and Ph.D studies in human and organizational systems, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
My work experience includes serving as General Manager of our casino, business owner of Mistletoe Logging at White Swan, Wash., professor at Heritage University, member of the Kah-Nee-Ta and the Warm Springs Power and Water enterprise boards of directors, co-founder of the Potlatch Fund, and co-author of a book Indianpreneurship. At Kah-Nee-Ta, I successfully implemented an internship program for tribal members. Yes, we have a growing need for successor plans and internships for our tribal members, both on and off the reservation.
My platform in 2007 was communications, accountability, and change. This involved hosting more District and General Council meetings, articles in the Spilyay Tymoo newspaper, and announcements on KWSO Radio.
I have served as Chairwoman for 90 percent of the Tribal Council meetings. It was a humbling opportunity as an elected officer, to share travel reports, as well as information via emails, telephone calls, and meetings with tribal members from all three districts. We provided an Annual Report for the first time in seven years. We provided time on our agenda to listen to tribal member concerns.
The tribes have set aside a day for the employee picnic.
We attempted to catch up with the minutes, which were seven years behind. It is now two years behind, due to staff turnover.
The first directive for accountability was a requirement for all committees to have advanced approval for all travel and to provide annual reports. We have addressed outdated policies such as the Law and Order Code, we hired general managers for three branches of the organization, we also implemented major changes to the Appeals Court, Gaming, W.S. Forest Products Industry, and Housing. My personal accountability was voluntary treatment for 28 days last year, grief counseling, and AA meetings.
Leadership is about building relationships, in which I recruited the Sacred Road Ministry, who brought volunteers to do repair work at the Kids Club, Community Center, Senior Center, and other facilities.
This year, I have engaged four major conferences for Kah-Nee-Ta, including the NW Basketweavers. The Creator calls on us to serve others whenever possible.
I have volunteered with the Community Garden, Museum Cultural Trust Wakanaksha, N.W. Indian Youth Conference, Canoe Journey, Human Resources Grievance board of review, the Beautification project at the Trailer Park, Census 2010 and telecommunications development .
I have testified at the state capitol, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs, multiple federal agencies, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, National Congress of American Indians, and National Indian Gaming Association on a variety of important matters for our tribes. I was elected as a state delegate for the Democratic party. Please keep in mind that these relationships have opened the door to many opportunities for our tribes.
My top priorities for the next three years are job creation and economic development, health care, and I can’t imagine anything more important than playing a major role in conserving our natural resources and progress for human resources—our people. These are issues that I care about deeply. Naii!
"Politics is about improving people’s lives" — late Senator Paul Wellstone, of Minnesota.
SYLVESTER SAHME SR.
En’ – Me’ Nye-Moo-Ma’; My name is Wa’-ticks-na-kaet’. I am named after my grandmother’s father who was Chief of the Tygh Valley Tygh-pum. My grandfather’s father was Queahpama, the religious leader and Chief of the John Day River Tygh-pum. I bring this out for the purpose of educating my children, grandchildren and young relatives.
I believe those elected to Tribal Council should be in the service to our people. I believe our Tribal Council is guided by our tribal values. These values are what helps us through tough economic times and prepare us for the future. Our values define acceptable and unacceptable behavior where we live, worship and govern. This clarity brings effective and responsive tribal government to guide our programs and work force.
I believe we must use prevention with community education as our key to change for our people. I have found improvement in economic conditions by creating jobs brings improvement in people’s health.
When we built our people’s Health and Wellness Clinic in 1993 we created the community group called Community Health Action Mobilization Planners (CHAMPS). We defined what health means to our people. Unlike white people who focus treatment on physical health we defined all parts of our health. This included spiritual, mental, social, cultural and physical. We used these to define our long-term vision (twenty year picture) of health in our community. I believe the CHAMPS Statement of Philosophy speaks to what our people want:
"We, the people of Warm Springs, believe the community can and should be healthy. We believe that all individuals are capable of making decisions when informed and provided with factual information, and that all individuals have a right to and a responsibility for their own health decisions.
"We subscribe to the preservation and protection of our traditional beliefs and values for multiple generations. We believe that by putting the needs of the people first we will regain trust, respect and compassion for each other. Through the community working together, taking ownership for its health, and striving to improve the quality of all our lives, we will become a healthy community, enhance our self-esteem and preserve our ways of life."
I believe those who govern the affairs of our people must serve all of our people. As young men, my friend Aut’-wai Larry Calica and me often talked about why we went to college. The message we received was, "come home and help your people." This was our opportunity to help our community. However, we also recognized the unwritten rule in our community of not expecting praise from our people for the good we do. Our elders knew the gift for service to the people is how much one learns from this service. They knew "the person served by service is the server" (Sean Penn, March 2010).
I have been fortunate to have worked over 30 years for our tribal government. I am the most proud of my opportunity to write and tell our story to the nation’s Congressmen and Senators and return with resources. This meant coming home with dollars to treat alcoholism and build our Health Clinic.
I hope I helped enrich our people’s life.
Now that I’m retired I would like to give back to our people as a member of our governing body. Neegh Pacwai.
FRANK P. LAHOM CHARLEY
Frank P. Lahom Charley —Candidate for the 25th Tribal Council
I. Stewardship: Uphold the Treaty of 1855 as our most important reference document. Live those hunting, fishing and food gathering ways of life long held sacred.
Preserve and protect our land base for generations yet unborn; that is, our reservation and all of the collective resources both on the reservation and the ceded area.
Honor the Tribal Constitution and By-laws and incorporate the tribal corporate charter into everyday decision making as an elected official.
Restore honesty, integrity and trust regarding leadership to Tribal Council by including the tribal membership in their government that is transparent.
II. Leadership: Offer a realistic doable domestic agenda that focuses on the needs of all our people, that honors our people as the most important resource we have.
Jobs: There is currently 63 percent unemployment rate on the reservation.
• Recruitment and retention of tribal members for employment.
• Embrace educated tribal members to stop the brain drain.
• Expand summer youth work programs to year round and after school employment.
Education:
• Career development and recruitment of tribal members into their field of choice
• Expand access to higher education to include distance learning.
Housing:
• Tribal housing, manage and repair of current housing base and build more units to meet current demand.
• Encourage tribal members to se their credit union to build homes.
Health:
• Advocate for HIS resources to meet our health care needs as an entitlement cited in the Treaty of 1855.
• Protect our most vulnerable – the very young and the aged – from domestic violence, abuse and neglect that is directly related to alcohol and drug abuse.
Economic and Community Development:
Tribal enterprises to maximize profit margin by diversifying and marketing.
Offset current tribal operations funding base by seeking grants and expanding current contracts base to meet growing needs of our tribal membership.
Expand current HUD grant to include funds for our community development
III. Personal: parents the late Russell V. Charley and Margaret P. Charley.
Education: all formative years in 509-J schools;, graduated with the class of 1979.
Higher education: 1979-1981, attended Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham.
Currently serve on the Tribal Health and Welfare Committee.
Spirituality: Active member of 1910 Indian Shaker Church, serve as Missionary for my church.
Hobbies: Avid hunter, fisherman, love to swim, weight training, and hiking.
RONALD SUPPAH
Dear Tribal Members,
There are certain people who have come into your life to mold the very person you are today.
These individuals are selfless, honest, and very passionate about what they believe in the most. We are very fortunate to have such a positive and caring figure in our lives and in the lives of the community. We would greatly appreciate if you would consider supporting Ronald Suppah Sr., as he establishes his nomination for another Tribal Council term.
We are asking voters of all ages to exercise their right to vote. Your voice is vastly needed and your vote does make a difference in each community. It is your choice to choose individuals who will make the right decisions for the betterment of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Ronald Suppah Sr., would like to thank all of his previous supporters who gave him the opportunity to serve the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. While serving these terms, Ronald has been the frontline spokesperson for most of tribal litigations and negotiations. He has helped acquire $220 million through these tribal business operations.
He strongly supports and believes that any money acquired be distributed back into the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
If elected, Ronald would continue the advancement of the Columbia Gorge Casino. He believes that the casino would produce revenue that would help financially stabilize the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Also, it would aid in the beginning stages of building a new school for the reservation.
We ask you to please consider voting for Ronald Suppah Sr., on March 31, 2010. Again, we encourage voters of all ages to make a difference for our communities.
Best Regards,
Suppah Sisters
PRISCILLA FRANK
Candidate statement — Priscilla Frank, Simnasho District
Warm Springs is at a point and time of important decisions for the tribes.
It is an extremely important time to maintain unity, focus and continuity.
Warm Springs has been blessed with the strength of resilience by strong leaderships and elder consultants.
Warm Springs has experienced dignity and integrity with successful results by previous tribal councils who were visionaries, of traditional practices and tremendous wisdom.
Warm Springs people have firm heritages and maintain traditional practices and languages today.
Quality standards begin in the people, the key element of foundation which supports Tribal Council toward successful outcome and result (teamwork).
Each district has tribal members of tremendous wisdom, knowledge, experience and skill, the core of success.
I wish all candidates an exceptional experience in the election process.
ELLISON DAVID
Ellison Calby David Sr. – Simnasho District candidate
My concerns are:
One: Communications with the tribal people.
They need to be informed on what is happening on our reservation.
Two: Education—Are the children getting the teachings they need to get ahead in the world?
Three: Employment—We need the education and training to do various jobs, be it here on the reservation or elsewhere.
Keep our children in schools, so they may learn all they can.
OLNEY PATT JR.
Friends and Relatives,
My name is Olney Patt Jr. and I am a candidate for Tribal Council from the Simnasho District. Over the past weeks we have heard candidates state the problems and challenges facing the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs: Sagging revenues, economic development, unemployment, education, public safety, housing, and health care.
The list goes on, and even includes safe drinking water in the Simnasho District. Some of these issues are the ongoing responsibilities of the Tribal Council. Other issues have arisen more recently. Here is my summary of the issues and some possible approaches to remedy them:
•Lack of Revenue: Warm Springs has become a one-trick pony. We have developed tunnel vision concerning Cascade Locks gaming. We planted the seeds for that enterprise a long time ago and here we sit, waiting for rain.
Even if Cascade Locks went forward unopposed, it is the responsibility of the Tribal Council and the tribal staff and boards to be looking forward to the next possibility, the next winner, the next home run. We can blame our outside detractors for some of our problems, but we are guilty of complacency and lack of vision here at home. While we should continue to pursue the Cascade Locks casino project, we need to look beyond gaming and create an atmosphere that will attract businesses and encourage our entrepreneurs to develop locally.
Ventures, Warm Springs’ development corporation, was created to develop business partnerships, attract businesses to the reservation, and to start new pursuits. The idea behind Ventures was to take business development off of the Tribal Council table until it was ready for a policy/business decision. The idea was that such a corporation would examine business possibilities free of political and process entanglements that the tribal organization can place on any well-meaning idea. That is the way it was designed, but it is functioning much differently in its current configuration. We need to return to the original model. We are in need of clear thinking, good ideas, and action.
•Unemployment: This is a problem that has both long-term and short-term components to it. In the short term, we need to develop a jobs program. There are many unmet needs in this community that don’t match up to existing budgets. Look around you; the possibilities are endless. The funding can come from drug prevention grants or other pots of money.
For long term fixes we have to attract businesses that create jobs. To do that, we must bolster our infrastructure to satisfy the needs of whatever business considers locating here. Such things as high-speed communications and reliable cell phone service are sorely lacking on the reservation. Perhaps it is time we take a hard look something like TERO.
•Education: It has been stated that we must provide jobs for tribal members who earn degrees. While that would be an ideal situation, I don’t see having a degree and being unable to work in Warm Springs as a problem. Earning a degree—partially funded by the tribes—enables students to write their own ticket and seek employment wherever it is offered.
Employment experience gained outside the reservation will be valuable to the tribe when and if an individual returns and joins the tribal work force. A variation of that problem is the employee who cannot take leave from his or her work duties to seek more training because they have a family to support. I think that is much more prevalent in our work force and results in many of our workers becoming stuck under a "glass ceiling."
The larger educational challenge will be to locate a K-12 school here on the reservation.
Several years ago, tribal member voters approved a referendum authorizing the expenditure of $8 Million to construct a K-5 school on the reservation. That has not happened. Meanwhile our students are subjected to a bussing program that requires some students to endure a 12-hour day. We need to start work on a K-12 school and study the possibility of establishing a school district on the reservation.
Public Safety: Our police force, fire department, and ambulance service should be fully funded as they are critical to everyday life on the reservation. In my previous terms on Tribal Council public safety was on top of my "essential services" list.
•Housing: We must reduce the number of multi-family dwellings on the reservation. To do this we need to make affordable housing available to young families and first time homeowners. The tribally designated housing entity (TDHE) should be given a deadline to deal with audit findings that may threaten millions in HUD dollars needed to alleviate our housing shortage.
•Health Care: The root of the health care problem on the reservation is a budget shortfall at the Indian Health Service. There is a large segment of the tribal membership who lack medical, dental and vision insurance. The tribe should explore the possibility of a group health plan—payable by individuals and families—to offset costs to limited managed care, dental and vision budgets in IHS.
These are very abbreviated approaches to large, complex problems. Three years is enough time to address each, possibly even solve some, but crafting lasting solutions will require focused discussion and bold decision-making. Tribal members should expect no less from their representatives.
SEEKSEEQUA DISTRICT
VESTA JOHNSON
My name is Vesta Johnson. I am running for Tribal Council – Seekseekqua district. My parents are Delford Johnson and Ginger Smith. I am a direct descendant from the lineage of our time honored Paiute Chief Oitz. I have four sisters, Shana, Heather, Jodel and Una, and one brother Cody Oitz. I have dedicated this time I have here on earth to serving people through volunteering and supporting people one at a time toward positive social change.
I am a firm supporter in preserving the gifts mother earth has given to us such as the land, water, trees, huckleberries, roots, salmon, deer and elk, as I believe we Native Americans have a duty to mother earth to protect and preserve. Included is our culture; referring to first kill, feasts of season change, rite of passage, Indian names, and most important, our elders – we have all been richly blessed by our creator.
I also believe today in the 21st century we have to balance the culture alongside the modern world. When I say the modern world, I am referring to education, computers, high school diplomas, and college education. I support and encourage all those who have not completed a high school education to do so. I have faith in you, and you can do it by obtaining an education. Education at all levels opens doors of possibilities!
We have a high unemployment rate. I would like to see younger people consider going to the military. Where else can one gain unquestionable confidence, job skills, and a foundation of stability? The military takes good care of soldiers. I am a disabled veteran who served my country from 1987-1989.
One of my dreams that can be a reality for all tribal members is to provide enough housing for all the different age groups we have in Warm Springs. When I say age groups I am referring to the single people, married with no children, families, and elders as well as off reservation tribal members. One day soon each will have their own safe and affordable home and perhaps look at solar energy as one of the means to provide electricity to these homes, in other words – you would have a home with no monthly light bill! This is possible and I would like to see this initiated and completed within the next few years.
I have served on the Housing Board in the past for about four years. I would like to give a pat on the back of the fellow team members who during our time planned, implemented, acquired and built a total of 49 homes in our 48 months on the Housing board. How many jobs did that 49 homes create? How many more jobs and lifetime skills would be created if we built 300-400 more homes with solar energy power?
I also served on the Credit Enterprise board where we, the board, planned, supported, implemented and built the new tribal Credit building and forthcoming bank – where the ATM is now in place.
I started out in college just wanting to get a two year associates degree. I am grateful I had mentors who supported and empowered me to go on and get my Bachelors degree, my Masters Degree in Business administration, and now nearing the completion of a PhD in Clinical Psychology – when I will be a Doctor. I have already begun taking part-time law school classes through UCLA. I will also be obtaining a Law degree and will be an attorney. My formal education is a gift which I have had to work really hard for, but it is a gift that anyone can obtain.
My mentality: "We, not me" and "Less politics/Get things done" – Homes, education, culture, jobs, ethics, teamwork are important! My name is Vesta Johnson, please consider all of this, vote for me at the polls or absentee. It would be an honor to represent you, the Seekseekqua District!
FRAN MOSES-AHERN
My name is Fran Moses Ahern. I am the daughter of Oscar Moses and Kathleen (Kalama) Moses. I’m honored to be nominated to run for Tribal Council as a representative of the Seekseekqua District.
I was raised on the reservation and attended Warm Springs Elementary School before graduating from Madras High School. I obtained my degree from Washington State University. Immediately after college I returned home.
My work history in Warm Springs has always involved interacting with and serving the public. As a teenager I worked at Macy’s. When I returned from college I worked at the Community Center. I held a number of jobs there before eventually becoming the Community Health Director. For the last several years I’ve been employed as the Recreation Manager for Kah-Nee-Ta.
Each of these jobs has brought me into daily contact with tribal members. I believe my work history demonstrates to my district that I will be a very approachable representative.
I have always enjoyed working with tribal youth. At the Community Center we ran an active year-round program for kids and at Kah-Nee-Ta we have a number of activities targeted to youth.
If elected to Tribal Council I will focus on the opportunities tribal youth have on our reservation.
I’m very impressed with the dedicated workers who serve our youth at the Warm Springs Grade School, Boys and Girls Club, and the Community Center. Unfortunately, the facilities these programs are operating in are outdated and too small to meet the current demand. I will be a strong advocate for improving these facilities if elected to serve on Tribal Council.
Improved employment opportunities for tribal members must be a priority of Tribal Council, if we are going to have healthy families and a strong reservation. I strongly support the tribal hiring preference, and I have hired hundreds of tribal members while working at the Community Center and Kah-Nee-Ta. The vast majority of my hires involved giving someone their first work experience. By giving a tribal member a chance I often had the pleasure of watching them gain confidence and advance in my department or go to other jobs on the reservation.
Tribal Council needs to prioritize job training and job programs to improve tribal employment.
I’m aware of the many challenges that face our reservation now and in the future. I will work hard to learn as much as possible about all the issues that come before Tribal Council. I promise to respect the decisions and work of all previous Tribal Councils. Whenever I make a decision, if elected as your representative, I will always ask, "Does it benefit our youth, and does it help maintain and/or expand employment opportunities for tribal members."
I have been employed by the tribe for almost 30 years.
I feel honored to have the chance to pay back to the tribe for the opportunities I have been given by serving as a Tribal Council member. If elected, I promise to represent my district well on Tribal Council and represent the entire tribe well when representing Tribal Council at events on and off the reservation.
REUBEN HENRY
(Transcribed from KWSO speech)
Hello. I’m Reuben Henry running for the Seekseequa District.
I’m here to talk about Council. I have served before on Tribal Council. And I happen to notice the good and bad.
Right now, I want to talk about the bad. When it was time to vote, some Council people would walk out. I won’t be doing that. I’m going to be there to vote. Right or wrong, or abstain, but I’m going to be voting for the people, for the membership and for the people who aren’t even here yet. For the future people.
And I want to talk about the plants, the deer, the animals, the salmon.
I’m going to protect those, too. I always think about that. That’s our future.
Our language. I don’t really know the language but I’m trying to learn from KWSO.
I’ve been serving on the WY-AM board for about six years.
I served on Range and Ag. And I do donate time with the community, with the Village, with whoever I talk to or see— maybe at the post office or at the store—with their concerns.
Some of my concerns, today are homelessness, and jobs—finding jobs for the young people. I am thinking about the Treaty rights. It seems we have lost a lot – we can’t lose any more Treaty rights.
Education: It is very important to know your ABCs.
Somehow, some way we have to get the pride back into the membership. To get them out to work. To get them rolling on the right path with the right goals.
Don’t give up, people! There is always somebody that needs help. It might be your grandpa or grandma. Somebody, an uncle, auntie. Or maybe a young baby sister or a young nephew or niece. Somebody you don’t even know maybe. Just help out. We do live in a small community and I do want to help out on the Tribal Council for the people. March 31 is the day we vote. So all the community off the rez, on the rez, get out and vote. And I want to wish everyone running for Council good luck.
BRIGETTE M. WHIPPLE
My name is Brigette M. Whipple. My Indian name is Youdl and I’m running for Tribal Council in the Seekseequa District. My parents are atwai Gordon Scott Sr. and Brenda Kalama-Scott. My paternal grandparents are Elmer Scott Sr. and Lela Puyette-Scott; and my maternal grandparents are the late Nick Kalama and Viola Wallulatum Kalama. I am a direct descendent of Chief Oitz and my maternal grandfather atwai Nick Kalama was the Paiute Chief.
I grew up in Seekseequa and currently reside there.
I received my Bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and have been working within the Cultural Resources Program as the tribes Anthropologist for the last 12 and one-half years. This position entails conducting project-based ethnographic research projects with our tribal elders as well as writing the summaries and reports, reviewing projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers within our tribes’ Ceded Lands and Usual and Accustomed Areas and also review of Small Project Assessments on reservation as well as serving on the Project Interdisciplinary Team, which provides technical assistance and writing for Project Assessments on reservation – timber sales, etc.
I am a member of the Farm Services Agency (Jefferson, Deschutes, Crook) County Committee, which is an elected position, for the past five years. I am the vice chair for the Washanaksha Cultural Committee – a tribal grant committee formed from the Oregon Cultural Trust. I also had the opportunity to serve on the Culture and Heritage Committee for six years.
Following our traditional foods has always been part of my life. I have been a traditional gatherer for the Agency longhouse since I was eight. My children follow in these traditional ways as well. It is not a trend but a way of life. We need to protect all of our traditional foods for our future. We must remember where we have come from, what we are doing now and create positive change for the future.
I believe every decision we decide to make is a seed, and every one of these seeds bears the fruit of our decisions.
Our tribes’ needs are many – in order for our timber mill to continue, the commercial forest base needs to be analyzed closely for its feasibility. We need to seek out funds for employment opportunities for all people who want to work.
My first job was with the CETA program when I was 14 years old. I was assigned to the rock picking crew. These first jobs we get create the foundation for positive and honest work ethics necessary to continue to do a good job through life.
Again, my name is Brigette M. Whipple and I’m asking for your support and vote for Tribal Council.
SCOTT MOSES
Greetings tribal members.
My name is Scott Moses and I am proud to be nominated and running for Warm Springs Twenty-Fifth Tribal Council.
I was born and raised on this reservation by my mother and grandmother. Both of them instilled into me their old fashioned morals and values each and every single day. Being a product of this reservation and its rich history, I feel in my heart that I can and will provide a positive and successful direction in which we must strive so that not only this generation but generations to come have a reservation of which they can be proud.
The reservation has an unemployment rate of well over 60 percent. When compared with the national unemployment rate of less that 12 percent, this should never be tolerated by any tribal members. This clearly shows that we are in dire need of change from the trails we have been following.
We desperately need economic development which fills the needs of the membership. We have to provide policies that help provide for business and economic development on the reservation.
The tribal organization will need to focus on utilizing and empowering our own people. The tribal organization exists to support the tribal membership and not the other way round.
Having focused goals and objectives that help us reach our dreams is the only way we will improve the future of the reservation and our people. We need to provide support for our youth to help them strive for new aspirations above and beyond what we can see in this current economy. We can and should tap these young minds to help the tribes reach for a brighter future. Settling for a 60 percent unemployment rate is not acceptable and I will fight to get policies in place and work with my fellow tribal members to set direction that will make our dreams reachable.
All of the successful enterprises on the reservation utilize the natural resources in one way or another. The power enterprise uses the waters that flow, the mill uses the trees that grow in our forests, and livestock use the grasses of the range. It is imperative that we manage our use of these resources in way that is balanced. Balanced in a way that provides for a stable economy for the tribal membership and still meets the needs of the water, fish, wildlife and cultural resources we all value so much.
We need to set policy that allows for future growth of the tribes but also supports activities that provide our future generations with clean water, plentiful fish, wildlife and cultural resources.
Financially, the reservation has unlimited needs but we only have very limited resources. We need to work together to develop the possibility of moving in a unified fiscal direction. When we continue subsidizing our budgets each and every year with money we saved for rainy days, we are definitely utilizing our future generation’s resources.
We need to invest what few dollars we have in ways that will provide for the needs of all our members now and more importantly for the future.
We simply cannot keep spending all our hard earned money in ways that do not provide for a better future for our children and our children’s children.
This is where our Tribal Council leadership plays a huge role. I hope and pray we will choose candidates for Tribal Council who will be strong positive thinkers and willing to put into action plans that will get us through these difficult times, people who care about what the community thinks and their needs even after being elected.
With the teachings of my mother and grandmother, and having worked in enterprise management for 13 years, I feel that I posses the attributes needed for the job along with uncompromising fairness, honestly, integrity and accountability. When elected to the Tribal Council, I will be happy to listen to any and all concerns of our community and work with my fellow Council members to meet the challenges for today and the future. I look forward to discussing any and all questions, concerns and comments.
JOLENE HINTSALA
(Transcribed from a KWSO statement.)
My name is Jolene Hintsala.
I would like to be part of the government that cares for women, children and family.
Our children are our future. The children of the reservation are our future leaders, and it is important to base decisions wisely on their behalf.
It is critical to ensure our resources are protected.
Healthy families ensure healthy decision-making.
My focus will be on children, women’s rights, I’ve worked for the tribes since March 1995, starting in Credit and transferring through the Finance Branch.
I am very much aware of our need to protect our financial assets.
We as a community need to work together to build and sustain our assets, protect our natural resources, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and ensure that our future generations will have what we enjoy today.
Thank you.
WENDELL JIM
Good day!
This is Wendell Jim. I am current Seekseequa Tribal Council representative.
My family, relatives and friends endorse me for re-election to Tribal Council.
I am a proven leader. I bring productive solutions to the people and the tribal government, and protect of our political and spiritual sovereignity. I work for quality in tribal government.
I have worked 26 years for our tribes: the past three years as your Tribal Council representative; 15 years as Education General Manager; 12 years in Culture and Heritage, Planning and Tribal Prosecutor’s offices.
I will focus on the lack of respect and dysfunction in tribal government, which, in turn, impacts "you," tribal members.
Tribal Council and government leaders are "contributing to the disorder" by not following our Constitution and By-laws (which define the relationship between the people and its governing body), the corporate charter (which defines the relationship with other entities within the private sector to the tribal corporation identity) and tribal laws, regulations and operating manuals.
These documents give power to the governing body to act on behalf of membership—changes only occur if Tribal Council has a majority vote. The people, organization and leaders are concerned—left to imagine "what the future is" while hoping for a healthier tomorrow.
I will work to make constructive change: formulate policies, comply with existing policies, bring our organic documents up-to-date and abide by our tribal values and beliefs.
I emphasize the value of communication at all levels, with respect and honor—in consideration of the work, experience, education, coupled with the wisdom and intelligence and the Indian elders and our traditional laws.
I am campaigning for "Quality in Tribal Government": accountability, efficient government and to empower the people and the tribes.
As your Tribal Council representative, I work for the best interests of all the tribal members to provide quality services, restore our tribal government, profitable investments that will increase revenues, generate jobs, improve the infrastructure and promote prosperity for all tribal members and our community.
In closing, my vision is to provide quality leadership through honesty, respect, trust, and equality; to create a powerful government recognized in Indian Country; to be accountable to the people, compliant with our Constitution and By-Laws, Corporate Charter and tribal policies.
As we face fiscal woes and a decaying government infrastructure, we need a leader who will restore accountability and help rebuild our tribes. I Wendell Jim, am that leader. I’m prepared to work and serve with dignity. I ask for your vote.
Please Vote Wendall J. Jim, Seekseequa District.
Officials explain election procedures
By the Tribal Elections and Counting Boards
The following is the referendum procedure for the March 31 election:
1. The Election and Counting Boards report to the polls prior to 8 a.m. to set up tables with all election material––ballots, sign-in binders, ballot boxes, pencils. These are provided by the Vital Statistics Department staff. 2. Tables are set up for the voters with pencils and copies of the Spilyay with photos and statements of all nominees.3. The counting room is located away from the voting area where tally sheets are ready with the names of nominees listed for each district. Each district has their own tally sheet.
There are four counters: Three will be the talliers, or ones who mark the votes on the tally sheets, and one calls out the names from the ballot. All three districts are counted by all three counters. Callers can be rotated amongst the group if they so choose. 4. The counters begin counting the absentee ballots that have been received prior to election day. Ballots are separated into the three districts, each a different color, then counted one district at a time. The counters have no knowledge of who voted on these ballots. 5. When the counters are finished with the absentee ballots, a box with the local ballots is delivered for counting. This procedure continues throughout the day until all ballots are counted.6. The registration table is located near the door to assist voters to sign in and given a ballot to the district they are registered in.
One or two members are called "runners." They deliver and return sealed ballots to the hospitals in Bend, Redmond, Madras if there are tribal members as patients, to the jails in Madras and Warm Springs, home-bound elders, voters with disabilities, or those that don’t have transportation to the voting polls.
Areas covered are from Simnasho to Seekseequa to Miller Flat/Sidwalter. The judge oversees the registration and the counting areas to answer any questions or concerns. 7. Locally, after voters mark their ballots, they are folded and placed in the slot of the ballot box which is located next to or on the registration table. 8. After the polls are closed at 8 p.m. and the counters are finished counting the ballots, results are listed on forms provided for each district, and counters and the judge sign the result forms.9. All material are locked inside the ballot boxes and delivered to the Superintendent.10. The next morning, the Election Board Judge and a staff from Vital Statistics presents the results to Tribal Council for certification. The results are then posted in public areas of the community.
It is guaranteed that the election board performs their job in an honest, confidential, and fair manner.
In Warm Springs, everyone is related in one way or another and the election board members respect everyone’s decisions and privacy. Results are never disclosed by the election board members until they are certified by the Tribal Council the next morning.
At every Tribal Council referendum, we receive ballots that have to be eliminated or voided due it being marred in someway: voting for too many, changing a vote by marking it out, writings or comments on the ballot, illegible markings, to name a few. If you accidentally make a mistake, take the ballot back to the registration desk and trade for another. That way your vote will count. If you want to make a comment, do it on a separate piece of paper and not on the ballot. Do not change or add on to a name that’s already on the ballot. Another concern is of a fictitious character listed as a write-in candidate. According to Ordinance 44, #28, these also can be determined as invalid and be eliminated.
For the Tribal Council referendum on March 31, the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., including the noon hour. If anyone needs to have a ballot delivered to them or anyone, please call the Vital Statistics Department at 541-553-3252 and they will be placed on the list. Or, let one of the runners know, Neda Wesley or Floyd Calica.
If anyone has relatives that live off the reservation, please confirm with them that they have received their ballot. For questions, concerns or more information, call the Vital Stats office.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Golf instructor Austin Maki watches Rabe Clements take a swing.
Golf season gearing up at Kah-Nee-Ta
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Warmer weather means the busy golf season at Kah-Nee-Ta is getting started.
In recent months some young tribal members have been improving their golf games with lessons from Kah-Nee-Ta Director of Golf Instruction, Austin Maki.
Some junior golfers have taken 20 to 30 strokes off their games after one year of lessons, said Maki.
Two of his students last year received the "most improved" award at their schools.
Older youth have taken 10 strokes off their games, said Maki.
Rabe Clements is a good example. Clements is a senior at Madras High School. He’s taken a lesson a month for a year, and has taken several strokes off his game.
The Madras High School golf season begins this month, and Clements looks to be one of better players on the team, said Maki.
Clements has a love for the game, and plans to pursue a golf career after he graduates. He’ll be taking a PGA of America course that is similar to going to college, said Maki.
The course includes working with the golf pro, and studying subjects such as golf club repair, fundamentals of teaching, the business of golf, golf course maintenance and design, and so forth. "It’s a full golf career study course," said Maki.
Annual pass, lessons
The Kah-Nee-Ta resort golf course offers a special rate for tribal members: $300 for an annual pass. The pass includes the green fees and cart fees.
For non-tribal members the annual pass costs $375, and cart fees are $8.
If you are interested in improving your golf game, or learning the game, call Maki for a lesson. His number is 541-460-0729.
For tribal members, the cost of a 90-minute lesson is $40. Employees of the tribes get the same deal.
For non-members the cost is $70 for a 90-minute lesson. The rate for a 45-minute lesson is $40.
You can also take four lessons for the price of three. Instruction is available seven days a week through Nov. 31.
Lessons are done individually or in groups.
Club repair is also available at the Kah-Nee-Ta pro shop. Club repair is $20 a shaft, and $2 per grip.
Green fees are at winter rates through April 19 at Kah-Nee-Ta: $40 for 18 holes, which includes the cart; or $20 for nine holes with a cart.
Spreading awareness about the Minor’s Trust
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The tribes and the US Bank held a meeting last week to help tribal members better understand the Minor’s Trust.
The fund was established by Tribal Council Resolution No. 1352 in 1957. The Minor’s Trust Fund, MTF, held Celilo Settlement Agreement per capita payments for minor tribal members in trust until they became adults.
According to information given to attendees at the meeting, a resolution amended the MTF document between the tribes and US Bank to clarify its "…purpose of providing funds to assist in payment of continuing education costs of tribal members" and to authorize the deposit of future per capita payments into the MTF.
The accounts are initially invested for growth, but are gradually converted into safer investments by the time an individual first becomes eligible for distribution.
"Some people might think that the safest place [for your money] is the shoebox under the bed," said Louie Pitt, head of tribal government affairs, at the opening of the meeting. "But it’s not – inflation will eat it up there, too. At the end of the year, your dollar will be worth four cents less, so you’re losing money."
"We have upwards of 2,000 minors all over the U.S.," Matt Rast, portfolio manager with US Bank said. "It’s quite a job to keep records in place and have everybody accounted for."
US Bank was contacted by the tribal staff in 2005 to see if they could find a solution so that when the distributions went out they might be closer in value, Rast said.
"We realize that there’s a difference," Rast said. "Some people get a lot. Some people get less. A lot of that has to do with stock and bond markets."
"Having stocks and bonds," Councilman Wilson Wewa said, "you have an x-amount of big dollars to invest in order to make that work."
Ninety percent of the minor’s fund will be invested in stocks from birth to age 10. The remaining 10 percent will be invested in bonds. From age 11, the percentage invested in stocks will decrease and the percentage invested in bonds will increase by 10 percent. From ages 18 to 21, 10 percent of the fund will be invested in stocks, and 90 percent will be invested in bonds.
"Stocks tend to produce more return over a longer period of time," Rast said. "Bonds tend to have a little less return – but they tend to be more stable in value. So beginning at age 10, we reduce the amount of stocks and increase the amount of dollars they have invested in bonds. That’s going to provide some safety as [tribal members] approach distribution."
As of the end of 2009, the minor’s trust fund is $7.1 million contained in 22 accounts. Expenses charged by US Bank are less than 1 percent a year.
Bob Depew, Charitable Trust Services for the bank, said that they meet with tribal council to go over all of the investments regularly. "It could be as often as they need us to come out. We do meet quarterly."
To be eligible for distribution, an 18-year-old must have graduated from high school with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.0 or higher. Youths who don’t graduate or whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 must wait until the next regular cycle before they may reapply for a distribution. The default distribution age is 21.
"The bank sends lists to Vital Stats," Charles Jackson, fiduciary trust officer, said, "and those lists go to the Education Committee. They determine eligibility. The lists also go to tribal court to determine whether or not a minor might have unpaid fines or fees. When that clears, the information goes back to the bank. The bank then calculates how much the distribution should be. That information comes back to the tribe. We then send out letters to the individuals."
"Let’s say that you’re 18 and you’re going to get a distribution," Jackson said. "You have an opportunity to take that money and buy a car. Or you can take it and get an education. Or invest that amount on your own. You have that opportunity.
"What we should be doing is this: starting at age 16 or 17, educating young people so that they have an idea. They’re going to have to start making those decisions for the rest of their lives, when purchasing cars and houses, when sending their own kids to school, making decisions about their health and so on."
One of the main concerns at the Minor’s Trust Fund Meeting was the difference in amounts received during distribution.
"A couple of years ago," Ray Potter, CFO for the tribes said, "kids were getting their distribution at the height of the stock market. Then the stocks went down, so the next set wasn’t so good. That was noticeable in the youth who were one or two years apart. Some people are asking, ‘Why did one get more?’ So we spent a lot of time working with the trustee on this, along with the Investment Advisory Committee."
"I look at it as gambling," Wewa said. "The simple answer is that you’re actually gambling your money, trying to find a place that you’re going to maximize your interest for getting the most money back."
"We will have more of these meetings so the public will be more informed on how the investments are done," said Urbana Ross, tribal planner.
Target distribution dates are March 15 and December 15, 2010.
For details, contact Ross at 541-553-3270 or Jackson at 541-553-2442.
Information about shooting still sought
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Police are still investigating a gang-related shooting that occurred on Highway 26 near The Museum at Warm Springs.
Fred Wallulatum Jr., 28, was struck in the leg after an altercation outside of the Rainbow Market. He was treated for his injury at Mountain View Hospital.
The suspect and victim were in separate vehicles traveling north between the two locations. Occupants in each vehicle are believed to have been shooting at one another, according to police.
Police also say the victim, who wasn’t arrested, didn’t provide them with any information about the incident.
The shooting occurred less than a week after two episodes of firearm discharges happened in West Hills. These incidents aren’t directly linked to the Wallulatum shooting, but also have been classified as gang related, said Police Chief Carmen Smith.
"Everything has been quiet since (the shooting), but we still have extra manpower out during the evenings," Smith said. "We don’t want this situation escalating."
Police are asking for help from residents to keep gang activity under control.
"We want the community to report any shots fired, any incidents that they come across," Smith said.
A hotline has been set up by police to take information that might help solve these types of cases. People can leave messages – anonymously if they choose – by calling 553-2201.
Smith emphasized that people need to call 911 for emergencies.
The department plans to hire two additional officers who would be dedicated to HUD housing on the reservation. Recruitment for this new detail continues, Smith said.
On the reservation, gang activity isn’t exclusive to HUD housing. Extra personnel focused on this community might prove helpful to the department in reducing the number of gang-related crimes by their mere presence and their interaction with residents, however, Smith added.
Those involved in the shooting traveled from Jefferson County into tribal land. This fact coupled with the nature of the crime resulted in other law enforcement agencies being involved with the investigation. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Oregon State Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are also helping with the case.
Photos by Terri Harber/Spilyay Tymoo
An estimated 1,000 people participated in this year's Eagle Watch at Lake Billy Chinook. Shown here are people watching for eagles from Round Butte Overlook Park.
A golden eagle. It lives at Blue Mountain Wildlife in Pendleton, Oregon. Animals that can no longer safely live in the wild are provided care at this place.
Anyone who wants to see more pictures from this year's Eagle Watch can view them by visiting this outside Web site link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17218&id=1815344394&l=27447e59dd
Big crowd at this year's Eagle Watch
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
The bright blue sky and spring-like temperature drew an estimated 1,000 people to this year’s Eagle Watch at Lake Billy Chinook, an annual two-day event that highlights eagles and other raptors.
Bird watchers looked down on sections of the lake through binoculars and telescopes as birds were gliding through the air, resting on rocks and in trees, and sometimes even taunting and pursuing prey.
Late February is the best time to watch these birds because of the normally overcast skies and light winds – conditions eagles favor.
Groups concerned with the welfare of these animals spread awareness about how important eagles and other raptors are, said event organizer Paul Patton, Oregon State Parks.
Most Native Americans believe bald and golden eagles — and their feathers — are sacred, that these majestic birds have a close connection to the Creator. Bald eagles are also the United States’ national bird.
"I come every year to watch," said Sonya Scott of Warm Springs.
Scott looks through the scopes and takes a lot of pictures while there, she said. Scott, Vernon Tias, and daughter Kleiann, 5, went out for Scott’s birthday breakfast before coming to the park.
"There was more here for kids this year," Tias said as Kleiann was perched atop his shoulders. The little girl enjoyed such activities as coloring pictures and seeing eagles up-close.
After spending much of the morning looking through a telescope for birds and chatting with fellow bird watchers, Martin Van Valkenburgh was relaxing in a camp chair.
"I saw some bald eagles, a couple of red tail hawks, some golden eagles, blue heron, falcon," said Van Valkenburgh, a Madras resident.
Wildlife officials determined there are 10 pairs each of bald and golden eagles that live around the lake. Other eagles and raptors are seasonal visitors.
The Quartz Creek Dance and Drum Group of Warm Springs performed after a sunrise eagle tour on the second day.
Some other groups that provided information and demonstrations: Natural Resources, The Museum at Warm Springs, Sunriver Nature Center, and tours by area Audubon Society members. Blue Mountain Wildlife, in Pendleton, brought an array of birds.
The tribe cosponsors the event with Portland General Electric, Oregon State Parks and Crooked River National Grassland.
The tribe and PGE operate the Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. The viewing area, which provides visitors with interpretive displays, was recently refurbished.
Lincoln's Powwow
Photos by Louis Scott
Battle Axe of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, was among the drum groups at the Lincoln's Birthday Powwow in Simnasho.
Eugene Cardinal traveled from Kehewin,
Alberta, Canada for the 33rd annual powwow.
New program:
Cultural approach to court sentencing
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Leona Ike knows the tribal law enforcement system as well as anyone. She is the supervisor of the Parole and Probation Department, where she has worked for 17 years.
During that time, she said, the tribal jail has been either full or very nearly full. Many people, she said, go through court system, serve jail time, and go through treatment.
But they don’t make it to sobriety, and then end up back in court.
Clearly, Ike said, a key element is missing in the way the tribes have been trying reduce crime on the reservation.
"The missing piece," she says, "is the tribal culture."
Ike began discussing the situation with Myra Johnson-Orange, director of the Culture and Heritage Department. The two have developed a new program—an alternative sentencing program—that they believe can address some crime issues on the reservation.
"It’s a way of giving the language and culture back to the people," said Johnson-Orange.
The idea is to give offenders of the tribal criminal code an alternative to community service: The alternative would be participation in a culture and heritage class.
People in class will meet one evening each week for eight weeks. Classes will be offered Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the basement classroom of the Education building. March 1 is orientation.
The classes will teach the history of the tribes, the languages and traditional knowledge, such as how to conduct a giveaway, name-givings, the purpose of the Feasts, Washat, legends, the First Kill and First Catch ceremonies.
History of the tribes would be a topic of discussion: From the Columbia River, to relocation on the reservation, the boarding schools experience, and "what our people have endured to reach this place in life," Ike said.
Teachers will be the Culture and Heritage teachers and other speakers who may be called on to give talks on the Treaty of 1855, the tribal Constitution and By-Laws, the tribal Code, and other topics.
Anyone would be welcome to attend the classes, not just offenders, said Ike.
"But it would be recognized as community service, so people would receive credit at Parole and Probation," she said.
Ike has been considering the alternative sentencing program for some time now, and she is happy to have Culture and Heritage to help her start the new program.
"I always say that Culture and Heritage is the most important department in the tribal organization," she said.
The first class has been set for Monday, March 1. Anyone interested in details can call her at 553-3293. Or call Culture and Heritage at 553-3290.
Ike will monitor the court docket to see if there is a reduction in the number of people who end up back in the court system.
Officials hear opinions on use of Phase II fund
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
Economic development, the gorge casino and tribal member hiring preference were on the minds of many of the participants in last week’s Phase II Council Meeting.
Phase II litigation settlement history includes $32 million in unrestricted funds from the 2009 trust land mismanagement settlement as well as $36 million in restricted funds from the 2010 trust land mismanagement settlement.
"It came up to a sizeable number," secretary-treasurer Jody Calica said at the Phase II meeting. "Many have seen what came out of the Cobell Settlement. What you see in that settlement, in class action, is that they all settle for pennies on the dollar. That’s basically what happened to our trust fund and mismanagement claim… Tribal Council made the claim, this is our homeland. This is the land that our forefathers and our ancestors bargained for. The government owes us to restore it back to the purposes that our people want and need."
The $68 million Phase II settlement breakdown sets aside $1 million which is mostly restricted for compacting costs, $6 million which is restricted for litigation reimbursement and planning and monitoring, $29 million restricted for restoration projects, and $32 million that is unrestricted.
According to the Confederated Tribes’ cash flow chart, the tribes will start to use up their revenue reserve funds in 2010. From there, Calica says, it’s a steep slope.
"We’re going into some tough times," he told those at the General Council meeting last week. "As far as our enterprise revenue, it’s going to be bleak. We have to make some choices. Tribal Council is faced with making these choices quite often, and they recognize that the membership has some needs. Based on revenue projections, we don’t know if we’re going to be able [to provide stimulus payments] again in the future."
Lyle Rhoan raised the issue of tribal spending, particularly with the travel budget. "You would think that you would pull yourself in and say ‘let’s stop this spending,’" Rhoan said. He was also concerned about pay raises within tribal government.
"I don’t want to make my salary the highest priority," Council vice-chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham said in response. Stwyer-Pinkham, who regularly provides travel reports to her district, said that she sometimes has to rely on help for her meals during her travels. "That goes for Bernice, Buck, Delvis and the chiefs. We have caring people who are looking out for our best interests."
Leroy Bobb talked about the constitutions and by-laws. "I’m not an expert...," he said, "but that blue book says you’re obligated to protect the people and resources for future generations."
Anita Jackson spoke about affirmative action. "Our old people put money away for the future," Jackson said, "so that we could go to school and come back and work for the tribe." Jackson said she knows two people with advanced degrees who have been told they’re not qualified for jobs.
"We have to employ our tribal members, especially those that are educated," she said. "If we’re not going to hire our own people, then why go to school?"
Neda Wesley had another suggestion on making improvements on the reservation. "I have a big dream," Wesley said, "to turn High Lookee Lodge into an alcohol treatment facility. When I go there to visit now, there’s hardly anybody around. We have so many empty rooms there today."
Emma Smith agreed that a treatment center would be beneficial to the tribes. "High Lookee is going to roll that money over every month. A treatment center would probably bring in more money. Another suggestion," Smith said, "is that we start developing along [Highway 26]. We’ve been stuck in this hole now for how many years? We need to expand."
"I’m happy to see younger people on Tribal Council," said Eliza Brown-Jim. "We have Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham, who is a financial wizard. We have a gaming expert on our Council. We have an expert in the field of education. We have an elder expert… Today we have more seniors than we’ve ever had, because we’re living longer. I don’t agree [with what was said earlier], ‘out with the old and in with the new.’ We do need our elders, as our consultants."
At the Phase II Meeting, Stwyer-Pinkham announced that the tribes were granted a Tribal Economic Development Bond from the Department of Commerce. "This means $5.1 million for infrastructure and upgrading our tourism," Stwyer-Pinkham said. "It’s good news, because our water storage tanks are maxed out. This has been a high priority."
Canoe team looking for 30 rowers
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The volunteers for the Warm Springs Canoe Voyage have broken up into two groups, each with a specific task in mind. One group will handle the ceremonies and meals objectives. The other group will tackle recruiting rowers and public outreach for the project.
The main goal at this time is to launch the Warm Springs canoe at Pelton Park on Saturday, March 27. In order to reach that goal, there is some planning that needs to be done.
"We’re looking for at least 30 volunteers who would like to row," said Randy Scott. "People who are interested can contact me at 541-553-1516. Particularly, we’re looking for tribal members ages 14 and up."
Rowers for the project will have to familiarize themselves with the code of conduct set forth by the Tribal Journeys web site. The rules, available at tribaljourneys.wordpress.com, prohibit the use of alcohol, weapons, drugs, gang activity and fireworks. The handbook for the 2008 Tribal Journeys also cautioned that "this is not an event intended for the weekend warrior."
Volunteers for the Warm Springs Canoe Voyage are estimating that the initial launch, which will reconnect the three tribes with the heritage of canoes and water, will be attended by as many as 200 to 500 people.
With the help of Eagle Tech, project volunteers are now able to give updates to the community via the Internet. The NW Canoe Journey Blog can be found at eagletech.org.
At last week’s meeting, volunteers talked about possible funding sources for the life jackets which rowers will be required to wear. "The questions come up," Jefferson Greene said, "what sizes do we need?
"Are they all going to be one color? What about silk-screening? Are we going to have an official design for our team?"
Roberta Kirk, a volunteer working on the ceremonies and meals task, said that the group would still need to find a cook for the launch ceremony. "We also need to come up with a budget for a meal that would feed up to 500 people."
The next meeting for recruiting and public outreach is at 10 a.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the tribal administration building. The next meeting for the ceremony and meals will be at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 1 at the museum. And the entire group of volunteers will meet again at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 19 at the museum.
Hanchor suspect in stabbing of Madras man
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
A Warm Springs man was indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury last week in connection to the stabbing of a Madras man.
Kalles Lenso Hanchor, 29, is accused of stabbing Robert Anthony Medina, 32, while they and others got into a fight at Eagle Crest Resort near Redmond early Sunday, Feb. 14.
The jurors decided that a case should be brought against Hanchor, said Mike Dugan, Deschutes County district attorney.
In Deschutes, felony cases are presented to a grand jury for consideration before court proceedings can begin.
Hanchor will be charged with second-degree assault. This could result in a prison term of up to 10 years for the man if he’s found guilty of the offense, Dugan said.
Deputies say the victim, Medina, knocked on a door of a dwelling on Golden Pheasant Road seeking help after being stabbed. He wanted to come inside the residence, but the people there wouldn’t let him in. They called authorities for help, according to sheriff’s deputies.
Emergency personnel arrived and transported Medina to St. Charles Hospital for treatment of what deputies described as "serious injuries from apparent knife wounds."
Medina was treated and released the next day, according to the hospital.
Suspect Hanchor worked part-time for the Warm Springs Police Department from November 2005 to Dec. 31, 2009 as an hourly employee. He was classified as a "limited duration" employee with no benefits, Police Chief Carmen Smith wrote in a statement.
"The Warm Springs Police Department is saddened by this incident and hope the victim has a successful and speedy recovery," the communication noted. "At the time of Mr. Hanchor’s arrest he had no affiliation whatsoever with the Warm Springs Police Department."
Dugan said Hanchor’s court appearance is scheduled on Feb. 23.
No other arrests have been made in relation to the incident. The investigation is continuing.
February 10, 2010 edition
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Joycelynn Spino (front) and Gloria Brown admire the tribes' new canoe.
Tribes launch
Canoe Journeys project
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
This year, the Warm Springs Tribes will be represented in the annual Tribal Journeys Canoe Voyage, thanks to volunteers on the reservation.
"We’re calling it the Warm Springs Canoe Journey," said Tribal Court Chief Judge Anita Jackson, one of the volunteers for the program.
"It involves our tribal youth, the museum, the Culture and Heritage Department and Committee. The language people are involved, as well as some of our tribal elders."
But Jackson says this is a project that is intended for the entire reservation community. "We really want it to be for the whole tribe. It’s not just for any one tribe of the three, it’s not for any one family… this is for everybody to become involved with."
First launched in 1989 as a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ relationship with the ocean, Tribal Journeys is one of the most prominent cultural events associated with the North American Indigenous Games.
As many as 100 traditional ocean-going canoes from a variety of canoe cultures and nations will make the one- to three-week journey to Neah Bay during Tribal Journeys Canoe Voyage 2010, hosted this year by the Makah Tribe.
Neah Bay is located on the most Northwest point of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.
Canoe Landing and Protocol will be on July 19, with other events continuing for several days. The theme for this year’s event is Journey to the Beginning of the World.
"We have been a land-locked tribe for over a hundred years now," Jackson said. "We came really close to losing our traditional knowledge of canoes."
Fortunately, there are tribal elders who are able to help. Adeline Miller and Viola Kalama have been helping the team prepare for the challenge by teaching canoe songs and giving instruction on the Canoe Dance.
"Aurolyn [Stwyer-Pinkham] from Council has been there to see the Tribal Journeys before," Jackson said. "She’s also involved in the Potlatch Fund grant that donates a thousand dollars to each Canoe Family. Our tribes now qualify as a Canoe Family, because she participated in Potlatch Fund meetings."
For now, the Warm Springs Canoe Journey team is looking at funding sources.
"The museum has some funding available," Jackson said, "and hopefully we’ll be able to use our Department of Justice grant. We have other team members exploring various kinds of funding that might be available to us."
During the next few meetings, the Canoe Journey team plans to set up the structure of their program. It’s the goal of the team to launch their maiden voyage near the re-regulating dam during March, right around spring break.
The Canoe Journey team was able to obtain a canoe from a tribe in Canada, with the help of secretary-treasurer Jody Calica. Judge Jackson says that the team is very fortunate that this help came just in time.
The canoe came with enough paddles for 18 people. But any youth who want to become involved will have the chance to learn how to craft their own paddles.
"One thing we need to look at," Jackson said, "is, Will we be ready to participate in Canoe Journey this summer? That’s in July, at Makah. So that would mean canoeing in the ocean. There are a few people here that have been in canoes and have been on the journey. I guess it’s pretty rigorous. Some days they say you’ll go 75 miles… that must be incredible!"
Several tribes are guiding the Canoe Journey team in their quest. Tribal members from Coquille and Grand Ronde have been serving as consultants, volunteering their time to help the Canoe Journey team with their goals.
"And the good thing about it," Jackson said, "is that all of the political issues between tribes just don’t exist on the Canoe Journey. We’re just out there, all of us working together as Native American people."
The team is a positive step forward in helping the reservation’s youth, Jackson said.
"This is really going to help our Indian kids identify more with their own Indian heritage. It gives them another positive reinforcement about who they are. Of course, it’s going to connect them with the water––even more so than we have been with fishing and water rights. I’m just really happy that I can be a part of this."
Those who are interested in becoming a part of the Warm Springs Canoe Journey team may call Anita Jackson at the tribal courthouse, (541) 553-3278; Jody Calica at the Secretary-Treasurer’s office, (541) 553-3232; Carol Leone at the museum, (541) 553-3331; or Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham at the Tribal Council office, (541) 553-3257.
The next Canoe Journey meeting will be held at the Museum at Warm Springs on Feb. 19 at 8:30 a.m.
February 2010
Danielle Gabriel/courtesy photo
Chanea Gabriel (left) shares the Olympic flame with torchbearer Brook Bobb-Reid on Feb. 7 in Seabird Island, near Vancouver, B.C.
Youth carries Olympic torch
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs tribal member Chanea Gabriel was a torchbearer for the Winter Olympics, which begins this week in Vancouver, B.C.
Chanea, 18, has lived much of her life on Seabird Island, in the Seabird Island First Nation, located 75 miles east of Vancouver. Her connection to the tribe is through Ivan Gabriel, her grandfather. She is a senior at Seabird Island Community School.
"I thought it would be a good experience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and really fun," Chanea said of carrying a torch for the Winter Olympics.
Chanea was chosen to bear a torch from among 100 hopefuls. She was one of just two area teens running. The other torchbearer is her longtime friend, Brook Bobb-Reid, who also lives in Seabird.
A tribal elder blessed the flame during that portion of the run on the morning of Feb. 7. Brook ran with it, then passed it to Chanea who, in turn, ran, then passed it to yet another runner so the flame could continue its journey.
The two teens wore specially designed Olympic tracksuits as they each ran with the flame. Chanea also wore a cedar hat she had made especially for the occasion.
Chanea and Brook were among approximately 12,000 people who carried the flame from its native Greece through Canada. The flame will end up in the host city of Vancouver.
This has been one of the warmest winters on record in the Vancouver area and Olympic organizers were hurriedly bringing in snow so all of the athletes can compete.
Chanea hoped it would snow during her run. The lack of snow was only a slight disappointment.
Danielle Gabriel, her mother, reported that while it didn’t snow it was "chilly."
"It was awesome," Danielle said. "I’m so proud of her."
To practice for the run, Chanea ran while holding a brick in place of the torch, which she expected to weigh about five pounds, she said.
"It’s a pretty big flame," she said, adding that she planned to be careful.
While Chanea doesn’t consider herself a runner, she is athletic. She has powwow danced since she was a toddler. She does watch figure skating and curling events during the Olympics. She even tried curling once but thought it was hard because it takes great balance.
She gets to keep the running attire and a replica of the torch as mementos.
Another reason why Chanea wanted to be a torchbearer was that she thought it would help her "be a good role model to the community and the youth," she said.
"If you want to do something in your life … believe in yourself."
Chanea enjoys other Native cultural pursuits as well, such as going to powwows and spending time in sweat lodges, her mother said.
Aboriginal people of Canada partnered with the Vancouver Olympic Committee because many events will be on Native land. Roughly 10 percent of the Olympic contracts have gone to Aboriginal businesses and an Aboriginal artist designed the medals. It’s a deeper partnership than other Aboriginals have had with Olympic hosts for past games, according to the BBC.
The Vancouver Olympic games begin Friday, Feb. 12 and end Feb. 28.
Danielle might be familiar to many readers. She graduated from Madras High School and worked for fire management. Mayann Frank, who worked in the personnel department for the Warm Springs tribe, is Chanea’s grandmother.
Lincoln’s Birthday Powwow this weekend at Simnasho
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The Thirty-third Annual Lincoln’s Birthday Pow-Wow will be held at the Simnasho Longhouse this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 12-14.
This year’s powwow is being held in honor of the Queahpama Sisters: (atwai) Nettie, Matilda, Sylvia, and Fern.
Anna has helped to coordinate the powwow for several years, and is on the Lincoln’s Birthday Powwow Committee
The Queahpama sisters, she said, also loved to dance and enjoy themselves, traveling to various powwows. "They invited their friends and relatives from other tribes. They lodged them and fed them, along with the participants."
At the first powwow, Clements says, it was all social dancing. There were no contests. Later on, it became competition with prizes.
"The sisters whole-heartedly supported the powwow by fund-raising with generous gifts," Clements said.
"They also gave monetary donations, sewing, beading, and whatever they could donate."
Both Matilda and Sylvia served their people as members of the Culture and Heritage Committee.
The Queahpama sisters were ceremonial leaders in the community, and were seldom absent from funerals, memorials, name-givings, etc.
"The sisters were bead workers," Clements says, "and they also tanned their own hides, gathered roots, made tule mats, and passed their knowledge down through legends and story-telling."
"Today," Clements says, "we’re carrying on this tradition for the family, to benefit our future generations."
During the pow-wow there will be a Warbonnet Special in honor of Calvin Queahpama (Kwi-a-pum-a). This event will be for men 45 years and over.
There will also be a women’s (Old Style) Highstep War Dance, short fringe shell dress special, for those 18 and older.
Local drums are being encouraged to bring their own chairs. Candidates for Powwow Queen are selling raffle tickets in an effort to raise funds. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets, the candidates are: Inez Gomez-Queahpama, Lupita Tohet, and Meleah Collins.
The powwow Grand Entries are Friday evening at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. For drum contest information, call Mackie Begay at 541-553-9230. For one-man hand drum information, call Kyle Queahpama at 541-553-6908.
For vendor information, call Sandra Greene-Sampson at 541-553-6619.
This year, look for the Central Oregon Community College Native American Club frybread and chili concession stand.
Duran Bobb photos
Deschutes River below the Round Butte dam and fish passage facility.
Cook Nola Queahpama visits with Power and Water Enterprises board chairman Benson Heath at the dedication ceremony at Overlook Park.
Following dedication, fish facility ready for busy season
Dave McMechan/Jaycelene Frank is Miss Warm Springs 2010.
January 27, 2010 edition
January 27, 2010 edition
Pageant winner named
Jaycelene Frank is the new Miss Warm Springs, having won the close pageant competition last Friday at the Agency Longhouse.
Jaycelene, 20, is daughter of Yahteen Frank and Sheila Spino. She attends Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, where she is studying for her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
The pageant competition on Friday was between Jaycelene and Carina Miller.
Each candidate did a great job, the four judges agreed.
"They were excellent and performed incredibly well," said Jefferson Greene, one of the judges. "It was quite a race from my point of view."
Where Jaycelene may have scored some extra points was during the traditional talent performance, when she played the hand-drum and sang a traditional song.
She was the first runner-up at the Miss Warm Springs Pageant last year.
She had second thoughts about running again this year, but friends and family encouraged her, and she decided to try one more time.
Through this year she will represent the Confederated Tribes at powwows, parades and other tribal events in the Northwest.
Jaycelene’s grandparents are Jacob and Winona Frank, on her father’s side, and Rosealine Moran on her mom’s side. Jaycelene’s Indian name is Lepukt. When not at school she lives in Simnasho.
Rodeo is one of her favorite things. Jaycelene is a two-year member of the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association.
"I love to travel to rodeos not just to barrel race," she said, "but also to watch my little brothers ride."
After getting her degree at Blue Mountain Community College, Jaycelene wants to get a four-year degree in Early Childhood Education, and then return to Warm Springs to work at ECE. She worked at ECE before leaving for college.
"I love working with children," she said. "What you teach them while they are young is what they will use in the future."
Jaycelene is a 2007 graduate of Madras High School, where she was on the junior varsity and then the varsity basketball team.
Basketball is still one of her favorite hobbies, along with rodeo and beadwork.
Sissiley Scott, Miss Warm Springs 2009, presented Jaycelene with the 2010 Miss Warm Springs Crown at the conclusion of the pageant.
"I want to say thank you to my family for helping and supporting me," Jaycelene said.
Tribes, Cascade Locks await release of EIS
The Cascade Locks casino project is moving closer to a final decision by the federal government, as Warm Springs leaders prepare for public release of the BIA’s final environmental impact statement.
The final environmental impact statement (FEIS) will be published in the Federal Register in the "near future," according to a Dec. 17, 2009 letter from Larry Echo Hawk, the assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs.
The FEIS has been in the works for several years and must be finished before the Secretary of Interior can approve the tribes’ request to take the Cascade Locks 25-acre gaming site into trust.
Publication of the FEIS will be followed by a 30-day public comment period, and will set the stage for Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, to issue the final approvals taking the land into trust and making it eligible for gaming.
Last fall, the FEIS was finished in the BIA’s Northwest Regional Office and sent to the BIA Central Office in Washington, D.C. for final review and release to the public.
Since then, the Cascade Locks FEIS and dozens of other proposed tribal gaming decisions have been slowed while the Secretary of Interior undertakes a comprehensive policy review of Indian gaming.
Warm Springs leaders feel strongly that there is no justification for holding up public release of the FEIS.
Support for the project, and urging immediate release of the FEIS, have been conveyed to Interior Secretary Salazar by current and former Oregon political leaders, labor unions, other tribes, local jurisdictions, and in cards and letters from Warm Springs and Cascade Locks residents.
Meanwhile, strong local community support for the project was expressed at a Jan. 14 meeting in Cascade Locks. The meeting included discussion of the new Interstate-84 interchange that will be built as part of the casino development.
The community meeting will lead to development of the Interchange Area Management Plan, which must be completed prior to approval of the new interchange by the Federal Highway Administration. Faced with high unemployment and the recent closure of Cascade Locks High School, Cascade Locks community leaders have been working hard together with Warm Springs tribal leaders to bring the casino project to their town.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Housing mamager Tom Strong presents house keys to Paulette Henry. With Henry are her three daughters.
Celilo project brings 8 new homes
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Paulette Henry had a hard time keeping the news from her three daughters.
But she wanted to surprise the girls, so for weeks she kept the information to herself.
Then after school one day last week, when everything was ready, she finally showed them the surprise: their new home.
"I love this house," said Paulette, who works at the Early Childhood Education Center. "It’s a place I can purchase that can be mine."
She had been renting a much smaller place, but qualified to buy one of the new modular homes going in at the trailer court area, on Oitz Loop and Little Oitz.
This is a project of the Warm Springs Housing Authority, and will bring eight nearly-new homes to the area. Paulette and her daughters were the first family to move in. She had been on the Housing waiting list for a number of years.
Along with the homes themselves, this project has also involved extensive infrastructure work, said Tom Strong, project manager.
The water, sewer and power lines to the homes are all new, he said. The lot sizes were increased in size by 75 percent, so there is plenty of yard for the children to play in.
Housing workers improved the nearby playground, and soon will grass-seed and landscape the whole area around the new residences.
The homes are immaculately clean, with new paint and nearly new kitchen appliances, and washer and dryer.
By looking at them you would think the houses are brand new but they actually were lived in for about a year at Celilo Village.
A few years ago the federal government approved the long-overdue Celilo restoration project.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the old houses at Celilo and built new ones. During this construction, the families needed somewhere to stay, so the Corps of Engineers brought in the modular homes.
When the work was done last year, the families moved into their new houses, and the Warm Springs Housing Authority purchased the nearly-new modular homes.
Housing had the modular homes transported from Celilo to Warm Springs, where they were stored for several months at the industrial park.
Meanwhile, the Housing crews prepared the sites at Oitz and Little Oitz loops. They installed the utility lines, improved the lots and poured the foundations for the eight new houses.
Then they moved the structures from the industrial park to the home sites, and gave them new coats of paint.
Last week the reward for this work was seen in the happy expressions of Paulette Henry and her three young daughters.
Personnel heading to Haiti
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
An employee with the Confederated Tribes is organizing a team of professionals who will help aid Haitians in their recovery from the deadly and destructive earthquake.
Dan Martinez, the tribes’ Fire and Safety director, said he expects the group of Native American-based emergency workers will travel to Haiti in February.
The professionals originate from various tribes in the region and will focus on the massive recovery effort expected in and near Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The city is located close to the epicenter of the 7.0 earthquake that occurred Jan. 12.
Northwestern tribes have sent emergency professionals to help after an array of disasters, including 9/11, hurricane Katrina and various wildfires across the U.S., Martinez said.
"I already have a list of people," he said.
An estimated 200,000 people died or may soon succumb to injuries that resulted from the quake. At least 1 million people have been displaced and are living in the streets. Strong aftershocks continue to strike the region and chaos still reigns as first responders struggle to reach those needing help, according to the Associated Press.
"That country will need a lot of help for a long time," Martinez said.
Additionally, "they’ll need people with different skills at different times."
Rescue efforts are winding down and the long clean up and recovery is just beginning. Volunteers wanting to help the Haitians come back from this disaster are numerous across the United States and Indian Country. Finding people with the right skills at the right time — and places for them to stay — isn’t easy right now, however.
Trackers, paramedics and other emergency professionals from the region are among those planning to travel there soon as aid efforts take shape.
Martinez also plans to arrange for a mental health professional to join the regional team.
"This is for the victims and the people volunteering," Martinez said.
Only after recovery efforts are completed can the rebuilding begin. Martinez won’t be involved with coordinating any subsequent demolition and construction efforts.
Martinez also warned people to choose carefully when giving donations to Haitian relief. He took a call last week from someone saying they were collecting money for the effort. The person probably only wanted to make money for himself, however. The caller couldn’t provide proper details so Martinez figured he had been contacted by a scammer, he said.
"They wouldn’t stop. They wouldn’t get off the phone. I finally told this person, ‘You called a fire and safety office,’" he said. "Then they must have gotten the message. They hung-up."
Only donate to people and groups you know and can truly trust, Martinez emphasized. Among well-known organizations involved in Haiti relief: the Red Cross, UNICEF and Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
Market stays in the family
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Some things about the Warm Springs Market never seem to change. For instance, the store remains a central and busy place in the community. And over the years, the market has stayed in the same family.
For the past decade and a half, Bobby and Maria Macy owned and operated the store. Before them, Bobby’s brother Jimmy and his wife Luana were the owner-operators.
And before them, Bobby and Jimmy’s dad Dan Macy and wife Priscilla owned and ran the place, starting back in 1944.
The tradition continues, as Bobby and Maria are passing the place on to Bobby’s son Terry and his wife Diana.
Bobby and Maria were the store owners since 1994, and it’s time for some free time, said Maria. The store is a lot of work, she said.
Bobby and Maria made a lot of improvements to the market, such as installing air conditioning, replacing the roof, updating the security system and adding the price scanners at the cash registers.
They also greatly increased the inventory of the store.
Terry and Diana plan to make some improvements as well. They plan to fix up the museum area of the store, which includes several fascinating Native American items worthy of any museum.
They plan to add more shelf space, and they are cleaning out the back area and basement of the store. Last week, they had the old laundromat washers and dryers hauled away for recycling.
"We doing this in phases," said Terry. "First we’re getting rid of some of the stuff that’s accumulated over the years."
This would make room the new shelving, he said.
Terry is already familiar with the store operation, as he’s worked there for seven years.
Diana recently quit her job of 15 years at the North Unit Irrigation District, in order to help in their new venture at the Warm Springs Market.
January 13, 2010 edition
New year will see 25th Tribal Council
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal members this spring will elect the Twenty-Fifth Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
Within the next several weeks, the membership of the three districts will nominate their candidates for the Council.
The current Council took office on May 1, 2007; so the new Council will take their oath of office around that same time this year. As stated in the tribal Constitution of 1938, the elected Council members serve terms of three years. The incumbent Council members are:
Simnasho District representatives: Ron Suppah, Council chairman; Aurolyn Stwyer, Council vice-chairwoman; Councilman Rafael Queahpama; and Warm Springs Chief Delvis Heath.
Agency District representatives: Councilmen Stanley "Buck"@Smith and Austin Greene, Councilwoman Bernice Mitchell; and Wasco Chief Nelson Wallulatum.
Seekseekqua District representatives: Councilmen Wendell Jim and Wilson Wewa, and Paiute Chief Joseph Moses.
The Tribal Constitution and By-laws of 1938 established the Council as including one chief from each district (serving for life); three representatives from Agency and Simnasho, and two from Seekseequa.
There are currently 2,844 members who are qualified to vote in the election.
Tribal members 21 and older, or married, have the right to vote in the election. Current voting data from the Vital Statistics Department reflects the youthful makeup of the Confederated Tribes. The data shows the number of qualified voters in each age group.
There are 127 qualified voters who are 21 years of age, the single largest group. Next largest is the 23-year-olds, with 123 qualified voters.
Third largest is the 25-year-olds, with 108 qualified voters; followed by 26-year-olds, and then 24-year-olds.
The elections are "by secret ballot or prevailing custom, as desired by the people of the district," according to the Tribal Constitution. Secret ballots counted by the Election Committee has been the means of election for the at least the past several Council elections.
The Tribal Council is the central governing body of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The Tribal Constitution defines the powers of the Council. Some of these powers are, for example:
To manage the economic affairs of the Confederated Tribes and to appropriate available funds for public purposes; and,
To charter subordinate organizations for economic purposes and to regulate the activities of all cooperative associations of members of the Confederated Tribes, among several other enumerated powers.
Police weigh benefits of
non-lethal weapons
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
The Warm Springs Police Department may add some new weapons to their arsenal, specifically devices that are less deadly than firearms.
The Tribal Council requested information on the viability of having police officers use non-lethal weapons and heard about the subject during a meeting on Jan. 5.
A taser can be "a very effective weapon" because it can reduce resistance to arrest, which, in turn, would reduce injuries to officers and suspects, said Jim Soules, branch general manager of public safety for the tribe.
"I’d imagine we’d want to do P.R. work before we introduce it," said Council Chairman Ron Suppah. "They’d be shocked – pardon the pun!"
"If we do bring it, it won’t be popular with the people who’d get it used on them," Soules replied.
Residents will be made aware of the addition of any new weapons before officers start using them in public, he emphasized.
Using a taser instead of a gun can have drawbacks, however, especially when a suspect continues to fight after being hit once with a 50,000-volt shock. Suspects heavily under the influence of alcohol and drugs often require multiple shocks because they’re more likely to struggle. And the more shocks someone receives, the more likely the weapon will cause physical harm, he said.
Suspects with severe mental problems, specifically psychosis, also try to fight through taser shocks, he said.
No suspect apprehended at departments where he’s worked during his career died from taser shock. And worldwide, death by stun guns is "a rare thing," he said.
"It’s not as lethal as a gunshot."
Other possibilities would be rifles that shoot beanbags and pepper ball guns, Soules told the council.
"The whole purpose is to make people safer," he said of potential additions to officers’ toolkits.
Each weapon has specific purposes and situations where it might work best. Tasers, for instance, are electric guns with probes that produce a shock that would incapacitate most people, but not cause them permanent harm. The weapon is best suited for a shooting length of up to 25 feet, Soules said.
And each type of weapon "has different applications and carries some potential hazards for side effects," he said.
According to news reports, pepper and beanbag projectiles have killed people on occasion, particularly when used improperly or when trying to control crowds. Both types of these arms are sometimes referred to as "riot guns" and are usually designed to work best from a distance.
A traditional firearm might not be appropriate for officers to use when a suspect is highly despondent and armed. The person could be talking about committing suicide while holding a gun or knife and randomly turning it toward himself or herself, at police, or at anyone else nearby, for example, Soules told the council.
An array of armaments would "provide us with more options," he said.
Warm Springs officers currently carry pepper spray, baton, handcuffs and firearms. The department also has a dog that goes out on patrol and tracks suspects, among other duties.
A test of the safety and effectiveness of pepper ball guns was expected this week, Soules added.
No tests or demonstrations of other non-lethal weapons are scheduled.
Buffalo bounce begins
By Dave McMechan/Spilyay Tymoo
The White Buffalo girls varsity basketball team players are: (back row left to right, name followed by grade) Rachel Simmons (11), JoElla Smith (11), Marissa Ahern (12), Abby Scott (10), Klesia Plazola (12), Cheyenne Wahnetah (11), and Karlen Yallup (12); (front left to right, name and grade) Merima Made (12), Krisit Olney (12), Kali Kaltsukis (12), and Mallory Smith (10).
Hoop season under way
The Madras White Buffalo girls basketball season is under way.
The girls had an 8-2 preseason record, but then lost their opener last Friday to Summit. This Friday, Jan. 15, they play Pendleton at Pendleton, and then face Mt. View at home on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
In past years, girls from the tribes have been some of the key players on the White Buffalos, and this year is no exception. There are nine players who are tribal members or closely tied to the tribes.
Police seek help with drug, gang enforcement
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
The Warm Springs Police Department is pursuing designation of a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, according to Police Chief Carmen Smith.
"I believe we’re going to get it," he said. "I think it’ll work for everybody."
Better known as HIDTA, the classification would allow the tribe’s police to better work with other tribes to gather and share information about drug and gang activity.
It would also pave the way for other cooperative law enforcement ventures among area tribes, and help the Warm Springs department boost its chances for obtaining grants to offset operation costs, he said.
This might include, for example, officer training on how to spot and safely avoid booby traps set near illegal marijuana growing sites, Smith said.
Keeping track of suspects and known offenders is crucial because, Smith said, these people tend to move from one tribal area to another "when things get hot."
The recent discoveries of marijuana farms and the increase in gang activity here on the reservation make obtaining this designation important, he said.
Four large pot-growing sites have been found on the Warm Springs Reservation since July 2007. The most recent discovery, in August 2009, was of a location where authorities found more than 1,600 plants, according to previous reports.
Though the focus is primarily on drug and gang activity, Smith believes the designation could also assist Warm Springs and other tribes’ police forces to keep order during large-scale events, such as at multi-tribe pow wows.
Reservations have small law enforcement agencies because they police areas with low populations. Money to pay for borrowing officers as the need arises could be more easily found that it is now, he said.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, an area that qualifies for HIDTA status "must be a major center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation or distribution; have state and local law enforcement agencies already engaged; have a harmful impact on other areas of the U.S.; and, require a significant increase in federal resources."
There have been 31 of these areas designated across the U.S. since the program began in 1990. Warm Springs would be the first HIDTA in Indian Country, Smith emphasized.
Health care reform bill adds coverage
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal members would have an additional health care coverage option under the proposed national health care reform legislation, which the U.S. Senate and House are currently working on.
The Confederated Tribes’ Washington, D.C., lobbyist Mark Phillips last week updated the Tribal Council on the health care reform law.
In the House version of the bill, Phillips said, tribal members, like other citizens, would be required to obtain health insurance, even though tribal members are already served through Indian Health Service (IHS).
People earning $65,000 or less per year would not be required to pay for the health care coverage, he said. "For the majority of tribal members on the reservation the coverage would be free," he said.
So tribal members could have two health care coverage options, with passage of health care reform: IHS and a personal insurance policy. "It’s like a second round of coverage," Phillips said.
HIS could become a better funded entity under this scenario, as there would be another source, other than Medicare and Medicaid, from which the service could seek reimbursement of cost, he said.
"I think this is a wonderful approach for tribal members," he said.
December 31, 2009 edition
Spilyay file photo
Sissiley Scott was reigning Miss Warm Springs of 2009.
Fish passage, IHS, settlement big news of 2009
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Early in 2009, Sissiley Scott began her reign as Miss Warm Springs, and over the course of the year she served as ambassador of tribes at powwows across the Northwest and beyond.
In business news: Early in 2009, the Nathans of Nathans Business Services purchased the former Deschutes Crossing Restaurant, now Eagle Crossing, and began an extensive remodeling.
In 2009 the Confederated Tribes and Oregon State University marked their 50-year anniversary of cooperation and planning, dating back to the time of the loss of Celilo Falls.
The past year saw the realignment of Shitike Creek as it runs through Warm Springs.
The Mid Oregon Credit Union and the tribes in 2009 came to a partnership agreement, with the credit union establishing its presence at the tribal Credit Enterprise building.
In 2009 Celilo Village saw major restoration work and the completion of the Celilo Restoration Project.
And there were many other noteworthy events. The following is a review of top news events of the past year.
Fish passage
Several years ago, the tribes and Portland General Electric began planning the construction of a major fish-passage facility at Round Butte dam on the Deschutes River.
The year 2009 saw a major setback for the project in the summer, and then a major victory in early December, as the first juvenile fish were captured at the facility.
"This is the beginning of a new era," said Jim Manion, manager of Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises.
The new era will see migrating fish spawning above the Round Butte dams for the first time in decades.
Operation of this system reopens 226 upstream miles to salmon and steelhead migration, which has been blocked since 1972.
Cost of the project is $108 million. The tribes are paying a third of the cost, through revenue generated by Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises. The tribes and Portland General Electric are co-owners and managers of the dams, which are partly on the reservation.
Tribes and IHS
The Confederated Tribes and Indian Health Services had been in serious disagreement for a few years about health care on the reservation.
The tribes had filed a lawsuit against the HIS, and the matter ended up in mediation before a federal judge.
In 2009 the sides came to an agreement that is a landmark in the way that health care is provided on the reservation.
The agreement created a seven-member Joint Health Commission that oversees health care services, as provided by the tribes and IHS.
The commission consists of the tribal secretary-treasurer and the health care director, and at-large positions.
"I commend the Tribal Council for getting us here," secretary-treasurer Jody Calica said at the signing ceremony in May.
Trust lawsuit settlement
The tribes and the federal government settled a long-standing breach-of-trust lawsuit.
The lawsuit claimed the government breached its trust duties in regard to management of non-monetary tribal assets, and the settlement was for $68 million. Some of the settlement money is earmarked for restoration projects, while the rest is for use at the discretion of the tribes.
Oregon 150
The Confederated Tribes in May hosted a two-day Oregon 150 festival at Celilo and The Dalles.
The event, marking the state’s 150th anniversary, saw a great turnout of tribal members and guests.
The festival included a canoe arrival and salmon bake at Celilo Park, and a powwow and parade at The Dalles. Nearly 100 tribal members rode and walked in the parade.
For its uniqueness, and because of the success of the gathering, the event was among the most memorable of 2009.
Metolius protection
The tribes gave full support to a proposed state law to declare the Metolius River basin an Area of Critical State Concern.
The designation, also supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, would prohibit large-scale development projects, such as destination resorts in the basin.
Development interests opposed the Critical State Concern designation, but the law passed the Oregon Senate and the House, narrowly, and was signed into law in July.
IIM settlement
At the end of 2009, a proposed $3.4 billion settlement agreement was announced in the long-running class action lawsuit, Cobell V. Salazar, which claims that the federal government mismanaged individual Indians’ trust accounts.
Possibly as many as 2,000 members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs may qualify to participate in the settlement, and may receive some compensation.
(FOR MORE ABOUT 2009 EVENTS, GO TO THE MENU ON THE TOP LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE AND CLICK ON THE "FEATURES" SELECTION)
Terri Harber/Spilyay Tymoo
This poster will be displayed around the Warm Springs reservation during the month of January as part of Stalking Awareness Month.
Stalking isn’t a joke, especially to the victim
Awareness month is January
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
In United States’ popular culture, stalking has devolved from being a crime to being a joke and common entertainment fodder:
Loveable Loser talks about little else than an object of affection. Loser sits outside the person’s house all night, every night. Telephones incessantly. Sends cards, letters and presents. Even dedicates love songs to the object on the local radio station.
The beloved one doesn’t want anything to do with Loser. Or only sees Loser as a friend. Suddenly, Loser does something noble or heroic, becomes a winner, and gets the attention of that person.
The two get together, perhaps even live happily ever after.
The End.
Not in the script
This is not the case in real life—especially for Indian women. Native American women are twice as likely to be stalking victims than women of all other races across the U.S., a rate of nearly 17 percent compared to 8 percent, according to the national Violence Against Women Survey.
Experts can only speculate about why Native American women are more likely to be victimized this way. But what is known: Many stalkers are trying to make a twisted fantasy become a reality and see their persistence as a show of their love, a victim’s advocate said.
Aurel Stinson, victims’ advocate for Victims of Crime Services in Warm Springs, said a contributing factor might be that Indian girls are taught from an early age always to be nice to others.
"In our culture, women aren’t supposed to be assertive," Stinson said. "A stalker is looking for a sign of hope … a smile, a look. Be clear and be firm when you say no."
She’s not saying it’s the victim’s fault; she’s saying immediate directness sometimes shuts down people prone to stalking behavior.
The constant worry and fear that comes from being repeatedly monitored, pestered and pursued can make the victim physically ill. Stinson herself was a stalking victim at one point in her life. The episodes made her feel sick. "He would not take no for an answer, to the point where it was affecting my health," she remembered.
Not all stalking victims are women. Men can be targeted as well, Stinson said.
There are two types of stalkers: Domestic partners and others. It can occur during a relationship or after it ends. It can also happen when there is no relationship – only an unreal connection the stalker wants to believe exists.
Both, however, try to control the victim by stalking. The people doing the stalking are unpredictable and should be considered dangerous. Their behavior must be reported to law enforcement, warned Stinson and others who work with crime victims.
It’s behavior that can graduate to physical violence against the victim. National statistics only add to the importance of this message: 3 out of 4 women who are killed by their intimate partner were stalked at some point before the final crime against the victim occurred, according to the National Center for the Victims of Crime.
Breaking the cycle
Stinson said she’s trying to help young people identify stalking and to know that it’s unacceptable, albeit criminal, behavior. She teaches her children to just say "no" to people. And there are plans to target efforts during this awareness month toward making local teens aware of the damage resulting from stalking.
"It’s as important for youth to feel safe and have power and control as it is for adults," she said.
She also wants to focus on making people aware about the increased use of electronic tools to stalk, such as computer, text messaging and the ever-growing array of cheap and easy-to-use monitoring devices.
"People can use a satellite and zoom into people’s homes … sneak tracking devices into cars or even a child’s toy," she said. "Stalking goes far beyond having someone stand outside your home."
A support meeting this month will highlight stalking, and essential things a victim of this crime should know. It’s from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 18 at the VOC office.
Reporting, prosecution of stalking is key
Look for materials around the reservation during January, such as posters and handouts, and take some time to learn more about stalking by contacting the tribe’s Victim of Crime office at 553-2293. Also contact the Stalking Resource Center, The National Center for the Victims of Crime, www.ncvc.org, or 1-800-FYI-CALL for information.
If you are being stalked and believe there is immediate danger, call 911.
Only one or two stalking cases have wended their way through the tribal justice system since a stalking law was added to Warm Springs’ criminal code at the beginning of the decade. And no stalking cases were filed in Warm Springs Tribal Court during the past year, said Walter Langnese, chief prosecutor.
He couldn’t point to a single reason why the law hasn’t been used but believes that it’s hard for people to determine what constitutes stalking.
Instances where the prosecutor has ample evidence to prosecute someone for the crime have been non-existent, Langnese said.
Some stalking cases likely have been considered harassment cases and pursued in that way, said police Det. Sam Williams.
Langnese and Williams also emphasized the need for victims to save evidence, including contents from texts and computers. Learn how to download it and keep it in a safe place.
Even if it’s material that is crude or embarrassing "it’s still evidence and can help with the investigation," Williams added.
And with electronic stalking, it can’t hurt to notify law enforcement officials in the area where the victim lives, where it’s occurring and other potential locations connected to one or more incidents.
Tribal law states that stalking is punishable by up to a year in jail, up to a $5,000 fine, or both. Convicted defendants can receive up to one year of probation and non-tribal members are banned from the reservation.
There is a state law focused on stalking as well. It is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person convicted has a prior conviction for stalking, violating a stalking court order, for examples, and then the crime is classified as a felony, said Mark Matthews, Victims of Crime director and an attorney.
Tribal officials see the value in stalking laws as a preventive measure, not just to hamper the stalking itself but to keep the situation from escalating, to keep the victim from being physically attacked.
Unfortunately, episodes of stalking and harassment often go unreported "until a more serious crime occurs," Williams said.Tribal stalking code
"Any Indian who shall knowingly alarm or coerce another person or a member of that person’s immediate family or household by engaging in repeated, unwanted contact with the other person where the repeated and unwanted contact causes the victim reasonable apprehension regarding the personal safety of the victim or a member of the victim’s immediate family or household, shall be deemed guilty of stalking."
— by Terri Harber
(SEE THE OPINION SECTION FOR RELATED MATERIAL. CLICK ON THE "OPINION" SELECTION IN THE MENU, TOP LEFT SECTION OF THE PAGE)
Man recognized for heroism
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
A Warm Springs man who died trying to save his young son from a house fire was recognized earlier this month by the Carnegie Hero Fund.
Family members still mourn the man and son – both of whom died in the fire – and are appreciative that the man’s heroism is being acknowledged with a medal of honor, said Dan Martinez, the tribe’s fire and safety director.
"They are a little overwhelmed," Martinez said.
Rolando Campuzano Sr., 26, escaped from a house fire on Jan. 14 in the 1800 block of Kalish Street, along with his wife Edna and all five children in the home.
Or so he thought. Still inside was little Rolando Jr., age 4.
The father resisted police attempts to keep him outside once he realized the boy hadn’t gotten out. So the man broke away from emergency personnel and managed to reenter the burning house to try to save the boy.
It was too unsafe for firefighters to stop the man once he made it back inside. Father and son were found dead of smoke inhalation after the fire was extinguished, Martinez said.
"The flames were too overwhelming," Martinez explained.
The fire was caused accidentally, because of a stove somehow coming open.
Edna and Rolondo had two children together, Rolondo Jr., 4, and Esminda, age 6.
Edna also has a 9-year-old. Two of the children in the home at the time of the blaze were young relatives staying with the Campuzanos after another fatal event.
Hannah Crowe was shot to death by Julian Wallalatum, who then killed himself, on New Year’s Day 2009 in a Madras residence. Crowe was Edna’s cousin.
A boy and girl, ages 8 and 4, respectively, who had been living with Crowe and Wallalatum, were placed with the Campuzanos by Child Protective Services.
A third child, a toddler, was being care for elsewhere, according to previous reports.
The honoree’s widow, Edna, plans to speak at length about the incident when her period of mourning ends.
"The woman had just lost a cousin and then this has to happen," Martinez said of experiences "too miserable" for anyone to contemplate.
"It’s been tragedy after tragedy. Tragedy all around."
Things have somewhat improved for the mother and her two daughters since the darkest days after the fatal fire.
They were moved to a new place to live on the reservation and a few individuals and groups have tried to help them financially cope with the ordeal, but more assistance would improve their lives, he said.
Contact Martinez, 553-1634, to arrange for donations to help the Campuzanos.
Martinez nominated Campuzano to the Carnegie prize commission.
"It’s good to see him identified as a hero," Martinez said.
Steel baron Andrew Carnegie started the fund in 1904 after hearing rescue stories from a deadly mine disaster.
Since then, more than 9,300 people have received Carnegie awards for heroism.
A nominee must be a civilian, not a trained professional lifesaver, who voluntarily risked his or her life to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the life of someone else.
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Theresa Van Pelt, Tribal Council office manager, shows the holiday
greeting card from the president and Mrs. Obama.
Greetings from the
White House
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama recently sent signed holiday greetings to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The tribes supported Pres. Obama during the 2008 election. More recently, in early November, Tribal Council Chairman Ron Suppah and other leaders from Indian Country met with the President and top officials in Washington, D.C. Critical discussion topics included public safety and housing, economic development, natural resources, education, health and labor.
December 17, 2009 edition
Warm Spring Christmas Parade
Duran Bobb/Spilyay
The Warm Springs Christmas Lights parade first-place award in the Community division went to this group, represnting youth in the community.
December 17, 2009 edition
Settlement proposed in IIM mismanagement case
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
A $3.4 billion proposed settlement agreement was announced in the long-running class action lawsuit, Cobell V. Salazar, which claims that the federal government mismanaged individual Indians’ trust accounts.
In the settlement, announced early last week, the federal government agrees to create a $1.4 billion Accounting/Trust Administration Fund and a $2 billion Trust Land Consolidation Fund.
Possibly as many as 2,000 members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs may qualify to participate in the settlement, and may receive some compensation.
A tribal member may qualify to participate if the person has an individual trust account, or had an individual trust account in the past.
Some tribal members may have, or have had an account, and may not be aware of its existence. Some members have multiple accounts.
Currently, there is no official list of eligible settlement class members from the Warm Springs Tribes.
Tribal members who qualify to participate in the settlement, or believe they may qualify, must register to participate.
Those who believe that they are eligible to receive settlement money may register at https://cert.tgcginc.com/iim/register.php.
Specific information about the trust fund settlement, and information and directions on how to register to determine eligibility in each class, are available online at CobellSettlement.com, and from the settlement’s toll-free telephone line, 800-961-6109.
The 13-year legal battle began in June 1996, when Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, filed a class action case that included more than 300,000 tribal members with Individual Indian Money accounts, IIMs, at the time.
"Time takes a toll," Cobell commented last week, "especially on elders living in abject poverty. Many of them died as we continued our struggle to settle this suit. Many more would not survive long to see a financial gain, if we had not settled now. This, more than any other factor, motivated me to work toward an agreement now. If I were the only one affected by the egregious behaviors of the federal government in managing my trust account, I’d fight another 100 years, but I did what was best for the people who so badly needed this money."
The settlement agreement creates two classes of Indians eligible to receive settlement money:· The Historic Accounting Class are Indians alive on September 30, 2009, who had at least one transaction in an open IIM Account between October 25, 1994 and September 30, 2009.· The Trust Administration Class are individual Indian beneficiaries alive on September 30, 2009, who have or had IIM Accounts dating from approximately 1985, as well as individual Indians who as of September 30, 2009, had a recorded or demonstrable interest in land held in trust or restricted status.
The settlement does not include beneficiaries deceased as of September 30, 2009.
Other eligibility conditions and exemptions for each class are detailed in the agreement.
From here, the settlement will go through six steps to finalization.
1. Congress must pass legislation to authorize or confirm specific aspects of the settlement.
2. Parties will ask the court to preliminarily approve the agreement.
3. Notice of the settlement must be given to class members.
4. The court will hold a fairness hearing to decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate.
5. If the court approves the settlement, some people or organizations may wish to appeal the court’s order.
6. When all appeals are resolved and finality has been achieved, final approval will be granted and money will be paid to class members as outlined in the settlement agreement. Or, if a higher court asks the trial judge to review certain aspects of the settlement, then additional hearings will be held by the court to try to finalize the settlement. This could take a long time and may result in the settlement not going forward.
Also outlined in the settlement is the creation of an Indian Education Scholarship fund of up to $60 million to improve access to higher education for Indians.
This settlement is believed to be the largest ever against the federal government and dwarfs the combined value of all judgments and settlements of all Indian cases since the founding of the United States.
"This is an historic, positive development for Indian Country and a major step on the road to reconciliation following years of acrimonious litigation between trust beneficiaries and the United States," Secretary Ken Salazar said. "Resolving this issue has been a top priority of President Obama, and this administration has worked in good faith to reach a settlement that is both honorable and responsible. This historic step will allow Interior to move forward and address the educational, law enforcement, and economic development challenges we face in Indian Country."
On a similar note, President Barack Obama said he had heard from many in Indian Country that the Cobell suit remained a stain on the nation-to-nation relationship, which he values so much.
"I pledge my commitment to resolving this issue, and I am proud that my administration has taken this step today," the president said.
Under the settlement, litigation will end regarding the Department of the Interior’s performance of an historical accounting for trust accounts maintained by the U.S. on behalf of more than 300,000 individuals.
Class members are able to exclude themselves from the Trust Administration Class only and keep their rights to file a lawsuit on their own for the same claims, if they wish.
Those who remain in the Trust Administration Class can object to or comment on any aspect of the settlement and have the right to be heard in court.
If class members do not exclude themselves they will no longer be able to sue the U.S. government for the claims settled in this litigation.
The Interior currently manages about 56 million acres of Indian trust land, administering more than 100,000 leases and approximately $3.5 billion in trust funds.
For fiscal year 2009, funds from leases, use permits, land sales and income from financial assets, totaling about $298 million were collected for more than 384,000 open IIM accounts and $566 million was collected for about 2,700 tribal accounts for more than 250 tribes.
Since 1996, the U.S. government has collected over $10.4 billion from individual and tribal trust assets and disbursed more than $9.5 billion to individual account holders and tribal governments.
Clinic has H1N1 shots
Limits lifted on who can get Swine flu vaccine
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal health officials have removed restrictions on who can receive vaccinations against the H1N1 virus, also known as the Swine flu.
Their decision follows suit with the state of Oregon and other government health departments because the number of cases across the United States has decreased while the number of vaccine doses available increased.
The Warm Springs clinic is still providing H1N1 flu immunization to specific segments of the local population who could suffer dangerous health complications if they contract H1N1.
"We really want people in the target groups to come in and get immunized," said Juanita Majel, a tribal health department public information officer. "But everyone is welcome."
Traditionally, the number of flu cases spikes as the holidays approach and continues to rise through February.
U.S. health officials say American Indians and Alaska Natives have died from H1N1 at a rate four times greater than other Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study of flu-related deaths in 12 states, one of which is Oregon.
Forty-two Native Americans in the 12 states died of H1N1 or its complications—almost four out of every 100,000 people.
American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher rates of diabetes, asthma and other conditions that make them more vulnerable to H1N1. Poverty and delayed access to care are other reasons highlighted.
People who are urged to obtain a flu shot:
A child at least six months old; pregnant women; people who live with a child younger than 6 months old; young people between the ages of 5 and 24; and people ages 25-64 with an underlying medical condition, such as disorders involving the lungs, heart, kidneys, blood, or liver, or diabetes, asthma or arthritis.
In Warm Springs, Community Health RNs are immunizing people in Pod A, Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. and 1-3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.
People also can make an appointment at the clinic for a different time or go to the Pharmacy.
Courtesy Michael Gauvin
The first two fish, spring chinook, captured at the new water intake system at Round Butte dam.
The beginning of a new era
The first fish were captured on Dec. 1 at the new water intake system at the Round Butte dam on the Deschutes River.
"This is the beginning of a new era," said Jim Manion, manager of Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises.
The new era will see migrating fish spawning above the Round Butte dams for the first time in decades.
The Round Butte dam in the 1960s created Lake Billy Chinook, which until very recently had no downstream surface current for juvenile fish to follow.
The new water intake system creates a surface current, guiding the fish downstream, where they can be captured and then released below the dams.
Some of the fish eventually will make it to the ocean, and will then return again to the Deschutes in a few years for spawning.
The intake system, featuring a 273-foot tall underwater tower and fish collection system, took a few years to build, and was completed earlier this fall.
Operation of this system reopens 226 upstream miles to salmon and steelhead migration, which has been blocked since 1972.
Total cost of the fish passage project is $108 million. The tribes are paying a third of the cost, through revenue generated by Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises. The tribes and Portland General Electric are co-owners and managers of the dams, which are partly on the reservation. The fish passage facility is part of the 50-year Pelton-Round Butte relicensing agreement, approved a few years ago by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Courtesy Greg Leo/The Leo Co.
Tribal members enjoy ski day at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area on Dec. 12.
Lots of snow for ski day at Mt. Hood Meadows
By Greg Leo
For the Spilyay Tymoo
Mt. Hood Meadow’s ski bus rolled out the Warm Springs Community Center parking lot with 45 kids and parents, headed up for an action-packed day on the mountain on Dec. 12. In total, there were 65 tribal members there this first ski day of the season.
For most kids, Saturday is a great day to sleep in, but for these kids, waking up early enough to get on a bus at 7:30 a.m. was worth it. With a 50-inch base and about 2 inches of fresh snow falling throughout the day, conditions were excellent for first-timers and experienced skiers alike.
It was very cold, but coming in for hot cocoa breaks warmed and motivated members to go back out for more instruction by Mt. Hood Meadows’ ski instructors.
"These ski days are a very positive activity for the young tribal members who participate, and also the adults who are able to come along as chaperones," said Sue Matters, KWSO station manager, who has helped coordinate the ski days since the program began 6 years ago.
The tribal ski day builds good will between the tribes and Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area, which has been a good steward of the Mt. Hood National Forest, part of the tribes’ ceded lands.
Matthew Drake, who has been CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows since 2005, says he "grew up on the mountain," skiing with his family on Mt. Hood since he was 3. Drake was there to welcome tribal members at lunch that day, and tell them how much he appreciates the opportunity to have tribal members up to ski and snowboard at Meadows.
"We have a great partnership between Mt. Hood Meadows and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We look forward to our continued cooperation on the Tribal Ski Days in the winter and the Huckleberry Picking event in the summer," Drake said.
"We love to see the enthusiasm of kids, especially those who have never been up here before," says Heidi Logosz, sustainability coordinator of Mt. Hood Meadows. "It is such a great opportunity for them, and really, for everyone involved. I know our instructors look forward to these events every year to get to know the Warm Springs kids."
Logosz also explained to tribal members how Meadows is working hard to be sustainable, and have a lighter footprint on the environment. Besides recycling and reducing waste, "Meadows is working on several initiatives to maintain water quality for fish-bearing streams and other important aspects of the fragile alpine environment," she said.
Will "The Wilman" Robbins, KWSO news director, was on the scene to capture comments and also make a few turns on the mountain himself.
"Things ran really smoothly, and I had a great time at the mountain except for my trip to the clinic with a twisted ankle," he said. "It was an awesome day on the mountain. I look forward to helping out with future ski days."
Robbins also commented that it was great to see some new kids on this trip who had never skied before, as well as many of the regulars who have come up to ski and snowboard at every opportunity during the past few years.
In addition to lift tickets, ski and snowboard equipment, and lessons from professional ski and snowboard instructors, kids enjoyed a pizza lunch.
Visit the KWSO Web site or Sue’s Face Book page to see photos of past ski days.
With the promise of more powder snow this coming week, the forecast looks good for plenty of snow between now and February, when the next Tribal Ski Day is tentatively planned. Stay tuned to KWSO for details once the date has been set.
This year marks the sixth season of partnership between Warm Springs and Mt. Hood Meadows.
Greg Leo is a member of the Bridge of the Gods Resort Team and coordinator of the Warm Springs Ski days. He and wife Rachel also run the Leo Company.
December 3, 2009 edition
Duran Bobb/Spilyay
Don Howtopat is a frequent passenger of the Warm Springs Transit bus.
Warm Springs
Transit to
expand services
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs Transit, which has been in operation now for the past four years, will soon undergo major changes, according to Dave Conroy, acting director of tribal Social Services.
"We’re looking at a major expansion of services, both in terms of hours of operation and areas which the transit will cover," said Conroy. "We’ve been working diligently with the Planning Department, our driver Evans Spino, and with the Vocational Rehab Program to make these changes happen."
Funded primarily through the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC), the Warm Springs Transit makes one trip to Madras every Tuesday. However, Conroy has been working with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Cascade East Transit to incorporate a schedule that would make a run from Warm Springs to Madras up to three times daily.
"This would be especially helpful to people here on the reservation who don’t have access to safe and reliable transportation," Conroy said. "They’ll have access to transportation when they need to get to medical appointments, do their shopping, or just to use laundry services."
According to Conroy, Madras has become the transportation hub of Central Oregon. "Right now," he said, "we’re very close to expanding our services so that people will be able to not only access employment opportunities, but other opportunities as well throughout the region."
The expansion of services could be available by as soon as the end of December.
About 45 passengers per day take advantage of the current services offered by the Warm Springs Transit.
Passengers who are on business are able to pick up transit tokens at Warm Springs Market, Community Counseling, and Vocational Rehab. The transit fare is fifty-cents; however the elderly and those people with disabilities are typically not charged on the reservation.
As yet, the fare for the Warm Springs-Madras run has not yet been determined.
The route would begin from the Madras DMV parking lot and would end up back on the reservation, Conroy said. Stops on the reservation would include Warm Springs Market, Vocational Rehab, and Kah-Nee-Ta Resort.
This proposed run would begin at 6 a.m., with the last run at 7 p.m.
Typically, the present transit route through Warm Springs takes about an hour. But that schedule is flexible. The transit does make special door pick-ups for the elderly and those who are physically unable to get to the bus stops.
Individuals who require a door pick-up are asked to call Lori Switzler at 553-4952.
"But again," Conroy said, "we want to stress that door pick-up service is only available for the elderly and those who are physically unable to get from the door of their house to the bus stops."
Conroy is also involved with the addition of the new Accessibility Technology Lab, which will have its grand opening within the next two to three months.
The lab, located at Voc Rehab, will be helpful to elders and people who have special needs.
"For example, one of our work stations can be raised or lowered, if a person can’t sit and work for long periods of time," Conroy said. "We also have what’s known as JAWS software, which can blow up job notices for elders who aren’t able to see very well."
Voc Rehab will also be software available for people with mobility issues. This software, called Dragon Naturally Speaking, will type whatever is dictated into the computer.
The Accessibility Technology Center will be mostly funded by Vocational Rehab. The Social Services delivery area is about 65 aerial miles from the reservation boundaries, Conroy says.
The rate of disabilities is about three times what it is in the off-reservation population. Social Services has a current caseload of 170 individuals, compared to 20 a little over two years ago.
"We try to be responsive to areas of concern," Conroy said, "particularly if we are looking at program expansion or route expansion for the transit. We welcome public comments and we’re here to serve the people."
He added, "Especially when we do something right, we like to hear about that, so we can keep doing things right. I know the bus system hasn’t always been perfect but the system as a whole, I think, is beginning to move forward. We are here to serve the people first and foremost, particularly with such a high rate of unemployment on the reservation. We want to assist people in any way we can."
Approximate bus stop times, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
TRANSIT SCHEDULE
Top of the hour: Warm Springs Market
5 minutes past the hour: Dry Creek
9 minutes past the hour: Warm Springs Market
15 minutes past the hour: Foster and Bray Streets
17 minutes past the hour: Foster and Bray (south end)
20 minutes past the hour: Poosh and West Hills25 minutes past the hour: Administration building30 minutes past the hour: IHS building35 minutes past the hour: Oitz and Kuthup streets38 minutes past the hour: Senior Center44 minutes past the hour: Jefferson St. and Quail Trail.48 minutes past the hour: Deschutes Crossing. 52 minutes past the hour: Warm Springs Plaza.55 miniutes past the hour: Social Services. 58 minutes past the hour: Counseling Center.
December 3, 2009
Terri Harber/Spilyay
Tribal member students painted these murals with
assistance from students at Oregon College of Art
and Craft, Portland State University and Clackamas Community College.
Murals are enduring
legacy of
Native American
Heritage Month
Warm Springs transit route New accessibility lab
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Though National Native American Heritage Month is over, Warm Springs will benefit from remnants of the celebration.
The Culture and Heritage Center basement is awash in colorful interpretations of Native American culture. Local teens and a group of students from the Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland State University and Clackamas Community College created several murals during last month’s Splish Splash Art Bash.
"Each mural represents the three tribes — our languages, our cultures," said Myra Johnson-Orange, director of the tribe’s Culture and Heritage Department.
The Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Committee and the Confederated Tribes’ Education Branch sponsored the mural project. It has several panels and runs across a long wall.
Many are nature-centered, with depictions of animals — and their places — in Native American values and philosophy. Even water pipes running along the wall were painted to blend in with the designs. Virtually all of the work was done on a Saturday, except for some planning.
A couple of the murals need minor finishing touches, but all came out very professional for such a tight work schedule, the college students and tribal officials have remarked.
"The idea is to get our kids who are interested in art enthused so they’ll continue," Johnson-Orange said. "We hope they’ll look at art as a skill to be developed."
To reciprocate, the teens will work on an art project with the Oregon art students in Portland.
People are welcome to come to the center and take a look at the murals during operating hours.
Plans are also in the works to continue the movie screenings that were held once a week during the heritage month. It won’t be as frequent, just once a month, but Johnson-Orange expects it to be an offering that catches on.
"It’s been really popular," she said of the movies, shown in the basement of the center. "People really enjoy it."
What is Native American Heritage Month?
A month of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States. Events are held throughout the U.S. It is held each November.
The Congress of the American Indian Association formally approved a plan concerning the celebration of an American Indian Day, in 1915. A proclamation declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
Various states set aside a day to celebrate the contributions of Native Americans. The earliest was New York state, 1916. Many states still hold day-long celebrations, often on Columbus Day.
The first official month-long celebration across the U.S. was declared in 1990.
The theme for this year’s heritage month was "Pride in Our Heritage. Honor to Our Ancestors."
(From the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs.)
December 3, 2009
Members discuss Impact Aid with school board
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The Jefferson County 509-J school district board held the Impact Aid hearing and review in Warm Springs last week.
During the meeting, Louise Katchia, of the Warm Springs Education Committee, presented recommendations on how to use the Impact Aid funds. These included:
Continuation of an activity bus, creating an Indian Club at the middle school and high school, having a Native American advisor available at the high school, middle school tutoring, workshops to aid sixth grade students in the transition to the Madras schools, assistance for tribal members who do not qualify for sports waivers, and an annual report presented to Warm Springs accounting for the use of Impact Aid funds.
In 1950, the U.S. Department of Education designed the Impact Aid funding program to assist local school districts that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property, or areas that have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected children.
In the 509-J school district, students who fall into this category include children living on the reservation.
The 2010 Application for Impact Aid lists 740 eligible students from Warm Springs (K-12). Another eight eligible students live in the North Unit Irrigation District main canal right-of-way, also tax-exempt.
Currently, Warm Springs students make up about one-third of the student body in the 509-J School District.
In 2008, the school district received just over $1.4 million for Impact Aid. In 2009, the school district received about $2.3 million.
As the school district prepares to submit its application for Impact Aid for fiscal year 2010, the school board has expressed a desire to work with the Warm Springs community in coming to an understanding what Impact Aid is, what it does, and what the school district will do with the funds.
"I think the way the district looked at Impact Aid was different from the way Warm Springs looked at Impact Aid," said Lyle Rehwinkel, 509-J School Board Member.
"I think as we move through that, we’re going to have to define what it is and what we’re going to do with it. We have to do more communication. We need to come together and figure it out, so that our district can benefit."
The district as a whole should be financially healthy, he said. "If the Warm Springs Community part of that isn’t healthy, then the district isn’t going to be healthy," he said.
Education Committee member Katchia also said she was concerned that the community service requirement for students transcripts are limited to being performed in Madras only.
The Education Committee strongly insists that students should be allowed to fulfill this requirement in Warm Springs as well, she said.
"One tribal member honor student who was graduating in 2008 was not allowed to perform this requirement in Warm Springs," Katchia said. "That prevented him from being admitted to the National Honor Society."
December 3, 2009
Fish facility progress
The Confederated Tribes have joined the other three Columbia River Treaty tribes in forming a corporation that will oversee operation of a fish processing facility at the Columbia.
The $4.5 million facility, located at White Swan, was constructed by the Corps of Engineers, with operation authority at the BIA.
The BIA needs an agreement with a corporation for the future operation of the facility, and the four Columbia treaty tribes have all taken steps toward forming the company, said J.P. Patt, of tribal Natural Resources.
Patt and Bruce Jim, of the Off-Reservation Fish and Wildlife Committee, last month presented the proposal to Tribal Council, which approved the idea.
The hope is to have the fish facility, which includes a flash freezer, cold storage and icemaker, in operation sometime next year, said Patt. Operation details, such as the number of employees and exactly what services will be provided, will be worked out in the coming months, said Patt.
IN PICTURES: Early Childhood Powwow
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Click on the Features button in the menu running down the left side of this page to see these photos.
WEB EXTRA: A one-of-a-kind event
Marg Sohappy photo
These and other pieces were on display at the Warm Springs Museum on Nov. 28 during a special annual event for museum members. On view were some special and rarely shown items. These items were displayed by Eileen Spino.
$2.3 million in 2009 A healthy district Service requirement, taxes Warm Springs-Madras route
November 19, 2009 edition
Photo by Duran Bobb/Spilyay Tymoo
Officials from the Bonneville Power Administration and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs sign a right of way agreement on November 16, 2009 (from left): BPA Administrator Steve Wright, Council Chairman Ron Suppah and BIA Northwest Regional Office Director Stanley Speaks.
Tribes, BPA meet for historic corridor agreement signing
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Bonneville Power Administration signed an historic $17 million right of way agreement on Monday. The agreement extends the BPA right of way of a transmission corridor within the reservation.
The terms of the agreement are beneficial to the BPA and to the tribes, said Jody Calica, secretary-treasurer of the Confederated Tribes.
A benefit to the tribes, for example, is an ownership interest in a section of the transmission line. This provides the possibility of patching into the power grid if and when the tribes develop new energy producing ventures.
Through the agreement, the tribes will also secure $100,000 in funding for the First Foods project, which explores restoration and preservation of traditional foods.
The tribal-BPA agreement of 1978 gave certain rights to the BPA, allowing for transmission lines in two different corridors on the reservation, one in the north and one in the south.
It also gave the tribes the potential to ask Bonneville to move one of the transmission lines from the south corridor to the north corridor.
"Since that time the tribes realized the importance of having certain types of infrastructure available," said Ken Johnston, BPA transmission services account executive.
"And so they decided that it was more important to keep the transmission line on the southern corridor rather than having it moved, because it provided certain capabilities not only for the tribes but for tribal partners."
The tribes conducted an analysis to determine what would be the best use for the land on the southern corridor. It was determined that the existing transmission line had value, and that expanding that corridor at some time to provide for another transmission line would be an excellent use for that land.
The task for the tribes at that time was to extinguish the old transmission line arrangement while putting together a new agreement.
"This is a good and exciting day," said Tribal Council Chairman Ron Suppah. "Today, we’re in hard times. But good things like this that should lift our spirits."
Future benefit
The undertaking of the last few years, said Johnston, has been to expand the southern corridor with another transmission line, while at the same time diminishing the northern corridor rights.
"So we’ve basically taken one possibility of right of way from the northern corridor and put it on the southern," he said. "And in so doing, the tribe is obviously an active participant in the electric utility industry."
The agreement has benefits for both the present and the future, secretary-treasurer Calica said.
For example, he said, one possibility that has opened up is the building of a tower to improve cell phone coverage on the reservation.
The tribes and BPA signed the new agreement on Monday at the BPA offices in Portland.
At the signing Steve Wright, BPA administrator, said, "We’re going to celebrate this day. But we’re also going to celebrate this relationship that has evolved between the tribes and the agency.
"Four years ago, we sat down with members of the Tribal Council to find a way to solve problems with this transmission agreement. We’ve shown that a group of people can work together to change the course of history."
Kennel sought for loose dogs
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Dr. Ben Brown was walking around the reservation, between the dental clinic where he works and the market, when he saw someone walking with a pitbull about 18 months ago. The owner and dog were about 40 feet apart and the dog wasn’t on a leash.
"I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to look at dogs," said Brown, a commissioned officer with the public health service. He has worked at Warm Springs for about three years. "The dog took offense."
He discovered a little too late that dogs could interpret direct eye contact with a human as a challenge, not just curiosity.
"I kept looking to see what he would do; he took a bite out of my wrist," he said. "It was just a scrape, he bit mostly into the metal of my watch."
Though Brown’s injury wasn’t serious, it was "frightening nonetheless."
Kennel project
Nancy Collins, Warm Springs’ sanitarian, wants to see a place established to house the numerous loose dogs running around the reservation.
"It’s a big problem," Collins said. "We see a lot of bites for the size of our population."
Dogs wildly running into the street and in front of vehicles, rummaging through trash, attacking other animals, and biting people are just some of the problems that come with large numbers of free-roaming canines that sometimes travel in packs, tribal officials say.
Collins said she and the tribe intend to obtain grant money by garnering non-profit status for a kennel operation, or partnering with an area agency already considered a non-profit. Either would allow access to grant money from a wider variety of sources. A larger number of available grants would make financing more likely.
In the past, Collins has housed dogs picked up by police and other tribal authorities at her home, up to 19 of them at one point, but the problem has become too big and the cost too prohibitive for her to continue, she said.
Tribal police and Environmental Health have picked up several dogs recently. Officials are routinely hard-pressed to find enough time for the task. Other animal service providers either won’t come to the reservation or often don’t have time to pick up dogs here. Sometimes the other agencies don’t have space to hold them.
15 bites this year
People on the reservation had been suffering fewer dog bites in recent years, but the problem has been again worsening. Dogs have bitten 15 people so far this year, some of them children. Officials estimate the number might reach 20 by year’s end.
Spaying and neutering of dogs has been encouraged on the reservation since the 1980s, but the challenge is "getting people to do it," Collins said.
Sometimes puppies are taken home, but then allowed to run loose around the community. And once they are fully grown, the animals are ignored. Other people see these dogs, feel pity, and feed them but take no other responsibility for the animals.
"If you feed a dog, it’s yours," Collins emphasized.
That means keeping an eye on it, making sure it has been vaccinated and all the other responsibilities that come with owning a pet.
"This is the tip of the iceberg," Collins said.
Tribal code
Some of the dogs running around the area are further away from their domestic roots than others, and have become wild and predatory. Chief Prosecutor Walter Langnese made note of a pack of dogs attacking a cow this year, and a dog fight.
Authorities used to shoot aggressive dogs on the reservation, he remembered.
"We can’t prosecute the dog," he said. "But if we have a police report, and we’re able to ID them and their owner, then we can prosecute the owner."
Identifying a dog and its owner isn’t easy, especially when dogs don’t have tags, he said.
A kennel would help because it would allow the tribe to hold the dogs and help authorities better enforce the current code, Langnese said.
The tribal codes are currently under review regarding dogs.
"A kennel would be great," he said. "And we really need a dog catcher."
Budget constraints, however, make a dog catcher impossible at this time, he said.
Langnese suggested a lower-cost alternative in the meantime: providing training in dog ownership, especially to children, so they don’t let dogs run loose or tie it up. Neither is an appropriate way to treat dogs, he said.
Langnese and his wife used to breed dogs.
Honoring Our Veterans
Photo By Terri Harber/Spilyay Tymoo
Prosanna Katchia rode in the Veterans Day Parade. Click on the Features button in the menu running down the left side of this page to see other Veterans Day photos.
A variety of events commemorated veterans
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Residents of Warm Springs commemorated Veterans Day on Nov. 11 with a variety of Native American warrior and United States military traditions.
It has been nearly 150 years since the Snake and Modoc wars, earlier events where Native Americans fought bravely, to the current Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Dozens of local Native Americans have lost their lives protecting the United States and the liberty enjoyed by all who live within its borders. Pictures of many of these men and women hung on an Agency Longhouse wall as at least 200 residents paid tribute.
After a ceremony in front of the courthouse, a parade began there and ended at the Longhouse, where the commemoration was completed. There were events earlier in the morning as well.
"Thank you for sacrificing your life so we can have our freedom," said Eliza Brown Jim.
State may revoke Rainbow liquor license
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
The owner of Rainbow Market has requested an independent administrative hearing to determine whether her liquor license should be revoked.
The hearing isn’t expected to occur until early next year, possibly January or February, according to the state and the attorney representing Roxanne McInturff, owner of Rainbow Market.
An inspector with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission ticketed the market last month for a "history of serious and persistent problems."
Jefferson County deputies responded to 80 calls at or near the establishment within the past 18 months ending in September.
According to a letter sent by the commission to McInturff and her attorney, Tim Gassner, there have been "50 serious incidents" and "30 less serious incidents" at Rainbow Market since February 2, 2008.
"Incidents have included public drunkenness, fights, altercations, harassment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and unlawful activity. ...Numerous incidents included one or more patrons who were intoxicated. Forty incidents have involved harm or the threat of harm, with feet and fists frequently being used as weapons. Multiple incidents involved guns. Several minors were involved in incidents," the letter stated.
"Many incidents involve people who previously caused problems at the premises, were trespassed from the premises, and were then allowed to return."
Gassner disagrees with the assertion that the market is the site of origin for all of the events. He said incidents aren’t always related to the market itself, just near it.
"It’s the most identifiable location there from the base of the hill to the bridge, even though you have a trailer park, a state park, Riffle," Gassner said. "Anything that goes on there is characterized as in the vicinity of the Rainbow Market."
His client has already implemented a variety of security improvements, Gassner also said. "My client would consider any suggestion that is reasonable," he said.
The business is near the reservation but not within it. It’s in the far north section of Jefferson County. Tourists shop there because it’s on the highway and near the Deschutes River. And transients hang around because the old fixtures of a long-gone gas station provide places to sit, rest, congregate and consume alcohol.
McInturff sold the gas station property next to the market to the tribe several years ago.
Warm Springs residents also frequent the store, which sells groceries and stays open until 10 or 11 p.m. — longer than virtually every other business in or near Warm Springs.
There are some exceptions. Kah-Nee-Ta closes at 2 a.m. during the week and 4 a.m. on weekends. And the Shell gasoline station runs its pumps around the clock.
Rainbow is the only retailer legally selling take-away alcohol near the reservation, however. The only other business licensed by the state to sell liquor is the Kah-Nee-Ta, in Warm Springs but several miles away from most of the homes on the reservation.
If this judge finds McInturff should be stripped of her license, she can continue appealing the decision until it reaches the state appellate court.
Tribal and area law enforcement officials are concerned that people wanting alcohol will be driving to Madras to buy it, which will make Highway 26 more dangerous at night and in the early morning hours for all drivers because of additional traffic and more drunken drivers.
McInturff has owned the business on her own since 1984. She owned it jointly with her then-husband before that.
Rainbow’s license was suspended last year for about three weeks.
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The tribes held general council meetings this month in Warm Springs and Simnasho to gather input from tribal members before the 2010 budget is finalized.
The general fund tribal budget for 2010 was posted in September. That budget is based on the 2009 approved tribal budget.
The proposed budget has a projected increase for operations of $195,000, and a corresponding reduction in capital projects and transfer to the senior pension fund to maintain a no-change total expenditure level.
The proposed budget includes a projected use of the "rainy day" fund of $3,612,297, resulting in a balanced posted budget.
Tribal government will continue to try to balance the essential community needs with the current and forecasted revenue base. The proposed 2010 budget will not be finalized until meetings with the tribal membership are completed, according to officials.
Tribal members in attendance spoke about the local economy, adoptions, suicide prevention, and possible ways to remedy the homeless situation on the reservation.
"We used to have a treatment facility in Warm Springs," Neda Wesley said. "That was in atwai Prunie’s days. We fought for our people… carried that to the fullest. It was very respectful."
The issue of trust funds was also raised. In some cases, Dorthea Smith said, people received half of what they were expecting. Smith asked about the minutes to previous general council meetings. She also asked about affirmative action, training for non-tribal members, employment for the summer youth workers, and the attendance of various departments at budget meetings.
"Everyone keeps asking for that every year," Smith said. "It is our money, we’re here concerned about it… [some departments] are not here."
"Rather than have resolution [to affirmative action]," Council vice-chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham said, "we want to upgrade to ordinance––the law."
Other tribal members were concerned about the conduct of tribal police officers.
Gerald Smith, chief operations officer, said that anybody concerned over the conduct of tribal police officers should meet with him. The tribes meanwhile are in the process of hiring a general manager of the Public Safety branch, Smith said.
There have been tribal members recently hired in Public Safety, Smtih said, with an addition of two people in the Fish and Game Department.
Selected archive for Nov.-Dec. 2009
December 17, 2009 edition
Warm Spring Christmas Parade
Duran Bobb/Spilyay
The Warm Springs Christmas Lights parade first-place award in the Community division went to this group, represnting youth in the community.
December 17, 2009 edition
Settlement proposed in IIM mismanagement case
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
A $3.4 billion proposed settlement agreement was announced in the long-running class action lawsuit, Cobell V. Salazar, which claims that the federal government mismanaged individual Indians’ trust accounts.
In the settlement, announced early last week, the federal government agrees to create a $1.4 billion Accounting/Trust Administration Fund and a $2 billion Trust Land Consolidation Fund.
Possibly as many as 2,000 members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs may qualify to participate in the settlement, and may receive some compensation.
A tribal member may qualify to participate if the person has an individual trust account, or had an individual trust account in the past.
Some tribal members may have, or have had an account, and may not be aware of its existence. Some members have multiple accounts.
Currently, there is no official list of eligible settlement class members from the Warm Springs Tribes.
Tribal members who qualify to participate in the settlement, or believe they may qualify, must register to participate.
Those who believe that they are eligible to receive settlement money may register at https://cert.tgcginc.com/iim/register.php.
Specific information about the trust fund settlement, and information and directions on how to register to determine eligibility in each class, are available online at CobellSettlement.com, and from the settlement’s toll-free telephone line, 800-961-6109.
The 13-year legal battle began in June 1996, when Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, filed a class action case that included more than 300,000 tribal members with Individual Indian Money accounts, IIMs, at the time.
"Time takes a toll," Cobell commented last week, "especially on elders living in abject poverty. Many of them died as we continued our struggle to settle this suit. Many more would not survive long to see a financial gain, if we had not settled now. This, more than any other factor, motivated me to work toward an agreement now. If I were the only one affected by the egregious behaviors of the federal government in managing my trust account, I’d fight another 100 years, but I did what was best for the people who so badly needed this money."
The settlement agreement creates two classes of Indians eligible to receive settlement money:· The Historic Accounting Class are Indians alive on September 30, 2009, who had at least one transaction in an open IIM Account between October 25, 1994 and September 30, 2009.· The Trust Administration Class are individual Indian beneficiaries alive on September 30, 2009, who have or had IIM Accounts dating from approximately 1985, as well as individual Indians who as of September 30, 2009, had a recorded or demonstrable interest in land held in trust or restricted status.
The settlement does not include beneficiaries deceased as of September 30, 2009.
Other eligibility conditions and exemptions for each class are detailed in the agreement.
From here, the settlement will go through six steps to finalization.
1. Congress must pass legislation to authorize or confirm specific aspects of the settlement.
2. Parties will ask the court to preliminarily approve the agreement.
3. Notice of the settlement must be given to class members.
4. The court will hold a fairness hearing to decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate.
5. If the court approves the settlement, some people or organizations may wish to appeal the court’s order.
6. When all appeals are resolved and finality has been achieved, final approval will be granted and money will be paid to class members as outlined in the settlement agreement. Or, if a higher court asks the trial judge to review certain aspects of the settlement, then additional hearings will be held by the court to try to finalize the settlement. This could take a long time and may result in the settlement not going forward.
Also outlined in the settlement is the creation of an Indian Education Scholarship fund of up to $60 million to improve access to higher education for Indians.
This settlement is believed to be the largest ever against the federal government and dwarfs the combined value of all judgments and settlements of all Indian cases since the founding of the United States.
"This is an historic, positive development for Indian Country and a major step on the road to reconciliation following years of acrimonious litigation between trust beneficiaries and the United States," Secretary Ken Salazar said. "Resolving this issue has been a top priority of President Obama, and this administration has worked in good faith to reach a settlement that is both honorable and responsible. This historic step will allow Interior to move forward and address the educational, law enforcement, and economic development challenges we face in Indian Country."
On a similar note, President Barack Obama said he had heard from many in Indian Country that the Cobell suit remained a stain on the nation-to-nation relationship, which he values so much.
"I pledge my commitment to resolving this issue, and I am proud that my administration has taken this step today," the president said.
Under the settlement, litigation will end regarding the Department of the Interior’s performance of an historical accounting for trust accounts maintained by the U.S. on behalf of more than 300,000 individuals.
Class members are able to exclude themselves from the Trust Administration Class only and keep their rights to file a lawsuit on their own for the same claims, if they wish.
Those who remain in the Trust Administration Class can object to or comment on any aspect of the settlement and have the right to be heard in court.
If class members do not exclude themselves they will no longer be able to sue the U.S. government for the claims settled in this litigation.
The Interior currently manages about 56 million acres of Indian trust land, administering more than 100,000 leases and approximately $3.5 billion in trust funds.
For fiscal year 2009, funds from leases, use permits, land sales and income from financial assets, totaling about $298 million were collected for more than 384,000 open IIM accounts and $566 million was collected for about 2,700 tribal accounts for more than 250 tribes.
Since 1996, the U.S. government has collected over $10.4 billion from individual and tribal trust assets and disbursed more than $9.5 billion to individual account holders and tribal governments.
Clinic has H1N1 shots
Limits lifted on who can get Swine flu vaccine
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal health officials have removed restrictions on who can receive vaccinations against the H1N1 virus, also known as the Swine flu.
Their decision follows suit with the state of Oregon and other government health departments because the number of cases across the United States has decreased while the number of vaccine doses available increased.
The Warm Springs clinic is still providing H1N1 flu immunization to specific segments of the local population who could suffer dangerous health complications if they contract H1N1.
"We really want people in the target groups to come in and get immunized," said Juanita Majel, a tribal health department public information officer. "But everyone is welcome."
Traditionally, the number of flu cases spikes as the holidays approach and continues to rise through February.
U.S. health officials say American Indians and Alaska Natives have died from H1N1 at a rate four times greater than other Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study of flu-related deaths in 12 states, one of which is Oregon.
Forty-two Native Americans in the 12 states died of H1N1 or its complications—almost four out of every 100,000 people.
American Indians and Alaska Natives have higher rates of diabetes, asthma and other conditions that make them more vulnerable to H1N1. Poverty and delayed access to care are other reasons highlighted.
People who are urged to obtain a flu shot:
A child at least six months old; pregnant women; people who live with a child younger than 6 months old; young people between the ages of 5 and 24; and people ages 25-64 with an underlying medical condition, such as disorders involving the lungs, heart, kidneys, blood, or liver, or diabetes, asthma or arthritis.
In Warm Springs, Community Health RNs are immunizing people in Pod A, Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. and 1-3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.
People also can make an appointment at the clinic for a different time or go to the Pharmacy.
Courtesy Michael Gauvin
The first two fish, spring chinook, captured at the new water intake system at Round Butte dam.
The beginning of a new era
The first fish were captured on Dec. 1 at the new water intake system at the Round Butte dam on the Deschutes River.
"This is the beginning of a new era," said Jim Manion, manager of Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises.
The new era will see migrating fish spawning above the Round Butte dams for the first time in decades.
The Round Butte dam in the 1960s created Lake Billy Chinook, which until very recently had no downstream surface current for juvenile fish to follow.
The new water intake system creates a surface current, guiding the fish downstream, where they can be captured and then released below the dams.
Some of the fish eventually will make it to the ocean, and will then return again to the Deschutes in a few years for spawning.
The intake system, featuring a 273-foot tall underwater tower and fish collection system, took a few years to build, and was completed earlier this fall.
Operation of this system reopens 226 upstream miles to salmon and steelhead migration, which has been blocked since 1972.
Total cost of the fish passage project is $108 million. The tribes are paying a third of the cost, through revenue generated by Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises. The tribes and Portland General Electric are co-owners and managers of the dams, which are partly on the reservation. The fish passage facility is part of the 50-year Pelton-Round Butte relicensing agreement, approved a few years ago by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Courtesy Greg Leo/The Leo Co.
Tribal members enjoy ski day at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area on Dec. 12.
Lots of snow for ski day at Mt. Hood Meadows
By Greg Leo
For the Spilyay Tymoo
Mt. Hood Meadow’s ski bus rolled out the Warm Springs Community Center parking lot with 45 kids and parents, headed up for an action-packed day on the mountain on Dec. 12. In total, there were 65 tribal members there this first ski day of the season.
For most kids, Saturday is a great day to sleep in, but for these kids, waking up early enough to get on a bus at 7:30 a.m. was worth it. With a 50-inch base and about 2 inches of fresh snow falling throughout the day, conditions were excellent for first-timers and experienced skiers alike.
It was very cold, but coming in for hot cocoa breaks warmed and motivated members to go back out for more instruction by Mt. Hood Meadows’ ski instructors.
"These ski days are a very positive activity for the young tribal members who participate, and also the adults who are able to come along as chaperones," said Sue Matters, KWSO station manager, who has helped coordinate the ski days since the program began 6 years ago.
The tribal ski day builds good will between the tribes and Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area, which has been a good steward of the Mt. Hood National Forest, part of the tribes’ ceded lands.
Matthew Drake, who has been CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows since 2005, says he "grew up on the mountain," skiing with his family on Mt. Hood since he was 3. Drake was there to welcome tribal members at lunch that day, and tell them how much he appreciates the opportunity to have tribal members up to ski and snowboard at Meadows.
"We have a great partnership between Mt. Hood Meadows and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We look forward to our continued cooperation on the Tribal Ski Days in the winter and the Huckleberry Picking event in the summer," Drake said.
"We love to see the enthusiasm of kids, especially those who have never been up here before," says Heidi Logosz, sustainability coordinator of Mt. Hood Meadows. "It is such a great opportunity for them, and really, for everyone involved. I know our instructors look forward to these events every year to get to know the Warm Springs kids."
Logosz also explained to tribal members how Meadows is working hard to be sustainable, and have a lighter footprint on the environment. Besides recycling and reducing waste, "Meadows is working on several initiatives to maintain water quality for fish-bearing streams and other important aspects of the fragile alpine environment," she said.
Will "The Wilman" Robbins, KWSO news director, was on the scene to capture comments and also make a few turns on the mountain himself.
"Things ran really smoothly, and I had a great time at the mountain except for my trip to the clinic with a twisted ankle," he said. "It was an awesome day on the mountain. I look forward to helping out with future ski days."
Robbins also commented that it was great to see some new kids on this trip who had never skied before, as well as many of the regulars who have come up to ski and snowboard at every opportunity during the past few years.
In addition to lift tickets, ski and snowboard equipment, and lessons from professional ski and snowboard instructors, kids enjoyed a pizza lunch.
Visit the KWSO Web site or Sue’s Face Book page to see photos of past ski days.
With the promise of more powder snow this coming week, the forecast looks good for plenty of snow between now and February, when the next Tribal Ski Day is tentatively planned. Stay tuned to KWSO for details once the date has been set.
This year marks the sixth season of partnership between Warm Springs and Mt. Hood Meadows.
Greg Leo is a member of the Bridge of the Gods Resort Team and coordinator of the Warm Springs Ski days. He and wife Rachel also run the Leo Company.
December 3, 2009 edition
Duran Bobb/Spilyay
Don Howtopat is a frequent passenger of the Warm Springs Transit bus.
Warm Springs
Transit to
expand services
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs Transit, which has been in operation now for the past four years, will soon undergo major changes, according to Dave Conroy, acting director of tribal Social Services.
"We’re looking at a major expansion of services, both in terms of hours of operation and areas which the transit will cover," said Conroy. "We’ve been working diligently with the Planning Department, our driver Evans Spino, and with the Vocational Rehab Program to make these changes happen."
Funded primarily through the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC), the Warm Springs Transit makes one trip to Madras every Tuesday. However, Conroy has been working with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Cascade East Transit to incorporate a schedule that would make a run from Warm Springs to Madras up to three times daily.
"This would be especially helpful to people here on the reservation who don’t have access to safe and reliable transportation," Conroy said. "They’ll have access to transportation when they need to get to medical appointments, do their shopping, or just to use laundry services."
According to Conroy, Madras has become the transportation hub of Central Oregon. "Right now," he said, "we’re very close to expanding our services so that people will be able to not only access employment opportunities, but other opportunities as well throughout the region."
The expansion of services could be available by as soon as the end of December.
Warm Springs-Madras route
About 45 passengers per day take advantage of the current services offered by the Warm Springs Transit.
Passengers who are on business are able to pick up transit tokens at Warm Springs Market, Community Counseling, and Vocational Rehab. The transit fare is fifty-cents; however the elderly and those people with disabilities are typically not charged on the reservation.
As yet, the fare for the Warm Springs-Madras run has not yet been determined.
The route would begin from the Madras DMV parking lot and would end up back on the reservation, Conroy said. Stops on the reservation would include Warm Springs Market, Vocational Rehab, and Kah-Nee-Ta Resort.
This proposed run would begin at 6 a.m., with the last run at 7 p.m.
Typically, the present transit route through Warm Springs takes about an hour. But that schedule is flexible. The transit does make special door pick-ups for the elderly and those who are physically unable to get to the bus stops.
Individuals who require a door pick-up are asked to call Lori Switzler at 553-4952.
"But again," Conroy said, "we want to stress that door pick-up service is only available for the elderly and those who are physically unable to get from the door of their house to the bus stops."
Conroy is also involved with the addition of the new Accessibility Technology Lab, which will have its grand opening within the next two to three months.
The lab, located at Voc Rehab, will be helpful to elders and people who have special needs.
"For example, one of our work stations can be raised or lowered, if a person can’t sit and work for long periods of time," Conroy said. "We also have what’s known as JAWS software, which can blow up job notices for elders who aren’t able to see very well."
Voc Rehab will also be software available for people with mobility issues. This software, called Dragon Naturally Speaking, will type whatever is dictated into the computer.
The Accessibility Technology Center will be mostly funded by Vocational Rehab. The Social Services delivery area is about 65 aerial miles from the reservation boundaries, Conroy says.
The rate of disabilities is about three times what it is in the off-reservation population. Social Services has a current caseload of 170 individuals, compared to 20 a little over two years ago.
"We try to be responsive to areas of concern," Conroy said, "particularly if we are looking at program expansion or route expansion for the transit. We welcome public comments and we’re here to serve the people."
He added, "Especially when we do something right, we like to hear about that, so we can keep doing things right. I know the bus system hasn’t always been perfect but the system as a whole, I think, is beginning to move forward. We are here to serve the people first and foremost, particularly with such a high rate of unemployment on the reservation. We want to assist people in any way we can."
Warm Springs transit route New accessibility lab
Approximate bus stop times, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
TRANSIT SCHEDULE
Top of the hour: Warm Springs Market
5 minutes past the hour: Dry Creek
9 minutes past the hour: Warm Springs Market
15 minutes past the hour: Foster and Bray Streets
17 minutes past the hour: Foster and Bray (south end)
20 minutes past the hour: Poosh and West Hills25 minutes past the hour: Administration building30 minutes past the hour: IHS building35 minutes past the hour: Oitz and Kuthup streets38 minutes past the hour: Senior Center44 minutes past the hour: Jefferson St. and Quail Trail.48 minutes past the hour: Deschutes Crossing. 52 minutes past the hour: Warm Springs Plaza.55 miniutes past the hour: Social Services. 58 minutes past the hour: Counseling Center.
December 3, 2009
Terri Harber/Spilyay
Tribal member students painted these murals with
assistance from students at Oregon College of Art
and Craft, Portland State University and Clackamas Community College.
Murals are enduring
legacy of
Native American
Heritage Month
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
Though National Native American Heritage Month is over, Warm Springs will benefit from remnants of the celebration.
The Culture and Heritage Center basement is awash in colorful interpretations of Native American culture. Local teens and a group of students from the Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland State University and Clackamas Community College created several murals during last month’s Splish Splash Art Bash.
"Each mural represents the three tribes — our languages, our cultures," said Myra Johnson-Orange, director of the tribe’s Culture and Heritage Department.
The Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Committee and the Confederated Tribes’ Education Branch sponsored the mural project. It has several panels and runs across a long wall.
Many are nature-centered, with depictions of animals — and their places — in Native American values and philosophy. Even water pipes running along the wall were painted to blend in with the designs. Virtually all of the work was done on a Saturday, except for some planning.
A couple of the murals need minor finishing touches, but all came out very professional for such a tight work schedule, the college students and tribal officials have remarked.
"The idea is to get our kids who are interested in art enthused so they’ll continue," Johnson-Orange said. "We hope they’ll look at art as a skill to be developed."
To reciprocate, the teens will work on an art project with the Oregon art students in Portland.
People are welcome to come to the center and take a look at the murals during operating hours.
Plans are also in the works to continue the movie screenings that were held once a week during the heritage month. It won’t be as frequent, just once a month, but Johnson-Orange expects it to be an offering that catches on.
"It’s been really popular," she said of the movies, shown in the basement of the center. "People really enjoy it."
What is Native American Heritage Month?
A month of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States. Events are held throughout the U.S. It is held each November.
The Congress of the American Indian Association formally approved a plan concerning the celebration of an American Indian Day, in 1915. A proclamation declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.
Various states set aside a day to celebrate the contributions of Native Americans. The earliest was New York state, 1916. Many states still hold day-long celebrations, often on Columbus Day.
The first official month-long celebration across the U.S. was declared in 1990.
The theme for this year’s heritage month was "Pride in Our Heritage. Honor to Our Ancestors."
(From the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs.)
December 3, 2009
Members discuss Impact Aid with school board
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The Jefferson County 509-J school district board held the Impact Aid hearing and review in Warm Springs last week.
During the meeting, Louise Katchia, of the Warm Springs Education Committee, presented recommendations on how to use the Impact Aid funds. These included:
Continuation of an activity bus, creating an Indian Club at the middle school and high school, having a Native American advisor available at the high school, middle school tutoring, workshops to aid sixth grade students in the transition to the Madras schools, assistance for tribal members who do not qualify for sports waivers, and an annual report presented to Warm Springs accounting for the use of Impact Aid funds.
In 1950, the U.S. Department of Education designed the Impact Aid funding program to assist local school districts that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property, or areas that have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected children.
In the 509-J school district, students who fall into this category include children living on the reservation.
The 2010 Application for Impact Aid lists 740 eligible students from Warm Springs (K-12). Another eight eligible students live in the North Unit Irrigation District main canal right-of-way, also tax-exempt.
Currently, Warm Springs students make up about one-third of the student body in the 509-J School District.
In 2008, the school district received just over $1.4 million for Impact Aid. In 2009, the school district received about $2.3 million.
As the school district prepares to submit its application for Impact Aid for fiscal year 2010, the school board has expressed a desire to work with the Warm Springs community in coming to an understanding what Impact Aid is, what it does, and what the school district will do with the funds.
"I think the way the district looked at Impact Aid was different from the way Warm Springs looked at Impact Aid," said Lyle Rehwinkel, 509-J School Board Member.
"I think as we move through that, we’re going to have to define what it is and what we’re going to do with it. We have to do more communication. We need to come together and figure it out, so that our district can benefit."
The district as a whole should be financially healthy, he said. "If the Warm Springs Community part of that isn’t healthy, then the district isn’t going to be healthy," he said.
Education Committee member Katchia also said she was concerned that the community service requirement for students transcripts are limited to being performed in Madras only.
The Education Committee strongly insists that students should be allowed to fulfill this requirement in Warm Springs as well, she said.
"One tribal member honor student who was graduating in 2008 was not allowed to perform this requirement in Warm Springs," Katchia said. "That prevented him from being admitted to the National Honor Society."
December 3, 2009
Fish facility progress
The Confederated Tribes have joined the other three Columbia River Treaty tribes in forming a corporation that will oversee operation of a fish processing facility at the Columbia.
The $4.5 million facility, located at White Swan, was constructed by the Corps of Engineers, with operation authority at the BIA.
The BIA needs an agreement with a corporation for the future operation of the facility, and the four Columbia treaty tribes have all taken steps toward forming the company, said J.P. Patt, of tribal Natural Resources.
Patt and Bruce Jim, of the Off-Reservation Fish and Wildlife Committee, last month presented the proposal to Tribal Council, which approved the idea.
The hope is to have the fish facility, which includes a flash freezer, cold storage and icemaker, in operation sometime next year, said Patt. Operation details, such as the number of employees and exactly what services will be provided, will be worked out in the coming months, said Patt.
IN PICTURES: Early Childhood Powwow
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Click on the Features button in the menu running down the left side of this page to see these photos.
WEB EXTRA: A one-of-a-kind event
Marg Sohappy photo
These and other pieces were on display at the Warm Springs Museum on Nov. 28 during a special annual event for museum members. On view were some special and rarely shown items. These items were displayed by Eileen Spino.
$2.3 million in 2009 A healthy district Service requirement, taxes
November 19, 2009 edition
Photo by Duran Bobb/Spilyay Tymoo
Officials from the Bonneville Power Administration and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs sign a right of way agreement on November 16, 2009 (from left): BPA Administrator Steve Wright, Council Chairman Ron Suppah and BIA Northwest Regional Office Director Stanley Speaks.
Tribes, BPA meet for historic corridor agreement signing
By Duran Bobb
Spilyay Tymoo
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Bonneville Power Administration signed an historic $17 million right of way agreement on Monday. The agreement extends the BPA right of way of a transmission corridor within the reservation.
The terms of the agreement are beneficial to the BPA and to the tribes, said Jody Calica, secretary-treasurer of the Confederated Tribes.
A benefit to the tribes, for example, is an ownership interest in a section of the transmission line. This provides the possibility of patching into the power grid if and when the tribes develop new energy producing ventures.
Through the agreement, the tribes will also secure $100,000 in funding for the First Foods project, which explores restoration and preservation of traditional foods.
The tribal-BPA agreement of 1978 gave certain rights to the BPA, allowing for transmission lines in two different corridors on the reservation, one in the north and one in the south.
It also gave the tribes the potential to ask Bonneville to move one of the transmission lines from the south corridor to the north corridor.
"Since that time the tribes realized the importance of having certain types of infrastructure available," said Ken Johnston, BPA transmission services account executive.
"And so they decided that it was more important to keep the transmission line on the southern corridor rather than having it moved, because it provided certain capabilities not only for the tribes but for tribal partners."
The tribes conducted an analysis to determine what would be the best use for the land on the southern corridor. It was determined that the existing transmission line had value, and that expanding that corridor at some time to provide for another transmission line would be an excellent use for that land.
The task for the tribes at that time was to extinguish the old transmission line arrangement while putting together a new agreement.
"This is a good and exciting day," said Tribal Council Chairman Ron Suppah. "Today, we’re in hard times. But good things like this that should lift our spirits."
Future benefit
The undertaking of the last few years, said Johnston, has been to expand the southern corridor with another transmission line, while at the same time diminishing the northern corridor rights.
"So we’ve basically taken one possibility of right of way from the northern corridor and put it on the southern," he said. "And in so doing, the tribe is obviously an active participant in the electric utility industry."
The agreement has benefits for both the present and the future, secretary-treasurer Calica said.
For example, he said, one possibility that has opened up is the building of a tower to improve cell phone coverage on the reservation.
The tribes and BPA signed the new agreement on Monday at the BPA offices in Portland.
At the signing Steve Wright, BPA administrator, said, "We’re going to celebrate this day. But we’re also going to celebrate this relationship that has evolved between the tribes and the agency.
"Four years ago, we sat down with members of the Tribal Council to find a way to solve problems with this transmission agreement. We’ve shown that a group of people can work together to change the course of history."
General councils address 2010 budget
Tribal members in attendance spoke about the local economy, adoptions, suicide prevention, and possible ways to remedy the homeless situation on the reservation.
"We used to have a treatment facility in Warm Springs," Neda Wesley said. "That was in atwai Prunie’s days. We fought for our people… carried that to the fullest. It was very respectful."
The issue of trust funds was also raised. In some cases, Dorthea Smith said, people received half of what they were expecting. Smith asked about the minutes to previous general council meetings. She also asked about affirmative action, training for non-tribal members, employment for the summer youth workers, and the attendance of various departments at budget meetings.
"Everyone keeps asking for that every year," Smith said. "It is our money, we’re here concerned about it… [some departments] are not here."
"Rather than have resolution [to affirmative action]," Council vice-chairwoman Aurolyn Stwyer-Pinkham said, "we want to upgrade to ordinance––the law."
Other tribal members were concerned about the conduct of tribal police officers.
Gerald Smith, chief operations officer, said that anybody concerned over the conduct of tribal police officers should meet with him. The tribes meanwhile are in the process of hiring a general manager of the Public Safety branch, Smith said.
There have been tribal members recently hired in Public Safety, Smtih said, with an addition of two people in the Fish and Game Department.
Health care reform bill adds coverage
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
Tribal members would have an additional health care coverage option under the proposed national health care reform legislation, which the U.S. Senate and House are currently working on.
The Confederated Tribes’ Washington, D.C., lobbyist Mark Phillips last week updated the Tribal Council on the health care reform law.
In the House version of the bill, Phillips said, tribal members, like other citizens, would be required to obtain health insurance, even though tribal members are already served through Indian Health Service (IHS).
People earning $65,000 or less per year would not be required to pay for the health care coverage, he said. "For the majority of tribal members on the reservation the coverage would be free," he said.
So tribal members could have two health care coverage options, with passage of health care reform: IHS and a personal insurance policy. "It’s like a second round of coverage," Phillips said.
HIS could become a better funded entity under this scenario, as there would be another source, other than Medicare and Medicaid, from which the service could seek reimbursement of cost, he said.
"I think this is a wonderful approach for tribal members," he said.
Return to HOMEPAGE
By Dave McMechan
Spilyay Tymoo
The fish collection tower at the Round Butte dam on the Deschutes River should see greatly increased smolt activity in the coming weeks.
From later this month into June, the tower is expected to see the annual peak salmon and steelhead smolt downstream migration, said Greg Concannon, environmental services manager for Portland General Electric.
PGE and the tribes own and operate the fish passage facility, called the selective water withdrawal tower.
The facility has been in operation since early December 2009. Since that time, workers at the tower have collected hundreds of early salmon and steelhead smolt, as they migrated down Lake Billy Chinook.
The fish were captured at the tower, transported past the dam and then released back into the Deschutes.
During the peak migration time, from later this month into June, the tower could capture several thousand smolt each day, said Concannon. "We’re excited to see how the facility will work," he said.
Last week, PGE and tribes hosted a dedication of the fish tower at the Round Butte Overlook Park. Representing the tribes were councilmen Stanley Buck Smith, Wendell Jim and Austin Greene Jr., Chief Delvis Heath, and Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises manager Jim Manion.
Power and Water Enterprises board member Don Goddard and board chairman Benson Heath were also on hand for the event.
The selective water withdrawal tower project at Round Butte, said Heath, will benefit the fish and fishermen.
"Naturally, with Warm Springs being fish people, we’ve always encouraged the propagation and continuation of the species," said Heath. "If you look back over time, we’ve always preferred to the continuation of the species, even if it meant higher power rates."
The fish species, he said, must continue no matter what man-made obstacles, such as dams, are put in their way.
"Hydro-projects are made by man, and the problems that hydro-projects cause can be solved by man," Heath said.
The Round Butte dam has been around for about 60 years. For most of that time the project was owned solely by PGE. During relicensing 10 years ago, the tribes became part owners, and the two parties agreed to construct the fish passage project, which cost over $100 million.
PGE had been more profit-oriented, said Heath, because the company answered to its shareholders. The tribes have been more interested in restoring the fish, he said.
"It took co-licensing to get us on the same page," said Heath. "And the end product will be very beneficial."
Tribes complete snapshot survey of elk and deer
By Terri Harber
Spilyay Tymoo
The tribes completed an annual wildlife count of elk and deer—males, females and young—on the Warm Springs Reservation, and found percentages of males to females are down.
The Natural Resources Branch completed a survey of these animals that focused on the eastern portion of the reservation. This is where they feed when the weather is cold.
Knowing how many of the animals are around can help officials determine length and rules for the next hunting season. It helps determine how many offspring will be possible.
Extremely low numbers might even require officials help ensure the animals survive by changing one or more characteristics of their habitat to make it more hospitable, said Jamie Hurd, wildlife biologist with the Natural Resources Branch.
This survey is done from above by helicopter. The animals’ antlers help experts determine the sex of the adults and can be easily spotted from the air.
This is why the count needs to be completed in late fall or early winter, before the animals shed their antlers and it becomes too difficult to tell males and females apart.
After the mating season, the males no longer require the appendages, she said.
The percentages of deer: There were 15 bucks for every 100 does. The goal is 20 bucks for every 100 does.
And the percentages of elk: Six bulls per 100 cows. In 2008 there were 14 bulls per 100 cows. The goal is 15 bulls per 100 cows.
Stated goals are the amounts experts say ensure enough offspring are born to sustain the population.
Another number that gives officials cause for concern: Only 1,200 deer total were sighted. The reservation should be able to support 15,000 because of its size and overall characteristics, Hurd said.
Hampering population increases here on the reservation are a number of events, natural and manmade, Hurd explained.
Land around Mount Jefferson still is recovering from being scorched in a wildfire. This is why summer grazing food the animals require to survive won’t be as plentiful during the foreseeable future, she said.
Wild horses also need to eat and there seems to be more of them around the reservation. They are competing with the elk and deer for food. And a rising number of dogs are seeking out elk and deer as prey along with more common predators, she said.
Problems with or sightings of predatory animals should be reported. Call the Department of Natural Resources at 541-553-2001.
The current poor economic picture has brought with it an upswing in the amount of illegal hunting. It has also brought the need to sustain jobs by logging in areas critical to big game habitat. And a growing tribal membership increases the number of hunters vying for the available game.
One bright spot is that recent testing for Chronic Wasting Disease has come back negative. Officials need to be diligent about monitoring for it because it can be devastating to the animals in a region where it occurs and "is always fatal to the animal that catches it," Hurd said.
Hurd emphasized that hunters and others interested in the area surveyed — and the animals that inhabit it — can help shape policy by adding their opinions to the Integrated Resources Management Plan. It is being updated now.
The next scoping meeting for the Integrated Resources Management Plan will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Agency Longhouse
