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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

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.

Issues of concern

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.

Casino, settlement

Emma Smith asked about the status of the proposed Gorge casino, and the wording of the compact. "Since you’re promising all of these non-Indians 20 cents out of every dollar, shouldn’t you be able to promise us, the tribal members, 20 percent?"

Smith suggested that more consideration be given to economic expansion on highway 26, going to Portland.

"Baby-boomers are concerned about their health," Smith said. "A lot of people in that age category travel the highway on the reservation. We could be targeting that group."

Other issued that were raised by tribal members during the general council meetings included: the December dividend, tribal veterans, the cost of maintaining operations at High Lookee Lodge, issues at Early Childhood Education, and settlement moneys.

Regarding the settlement, tribal secretary-treasurer Jody Calica said, "We’re going through 1401 process. The package has already gone back, and it will sit there for 60 Congressional days... The money won’t be available to us until late January or early February."

Evalnie Patt asked whether or not that would affect the budget.

"It will," Calica said. Council has to make some decisions based on the fact that projected revenue has increased, he said.

Water quality

Keith Moody raised the question about water quality on the reservation.

Don Courtney, Public Utilities general manager, said, "My philosophy is that we know what the problem is, and we need to fix it. We could put in a new treatment facility here. That’s the expensive fix. Option two is to look for another water source."

Public Utilities is looking for funding sources to help solve the problem, he said. Examples of such sources, Courtney said, are the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Rural Development, and IHS.

Courntey said he will bring ideas to the community to help decide which option to go with.

At the Simnasho gathering, Councilwoman Stwyer-Pinkham, district representative, distributed a 36-page travel report for January through June, 2009. This report gave dates of travel, the purpose, and a summary of what took place at each meeting.

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.

November 19, 2009 edition

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.

March 10, 2010 edition

February 24, 2010 edition

Schimmel among top players in the U.S.

Shoni Schimmel is one of the top 20 high school girls basketball players in the United States.

She was chosen this month by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, WBCA, to play in the High School All-America Game in April. She is one of only 20 players in the nation chosen to play in the game.

Shoni, originally from the Hermiston area, attends Franklin High School in Portland. She is the daughter of Cece Moses and Rick Schimmel. Her grandfather is Bobby Eagleheart of Warm Springs, and she has several other relatives among the tribal membership.

Shoni is of Wasco, Lower Scagett and Elwey heritage. Her great-grandparents are atwai Alvis Smith Sr., and Ramona Rosetta Whiz Smith; and great-great-grandparents Wesley and Annie Smith; and William Austin Whiz Sr., and Marie Kanim Whiz George.

Dazzling style of play

ESPN and Scouts Inc. have described Shoni, and her younger sister Jude, as dazzling players "who bring applause from even the opposition’s fans."

"Shoni is a dynamic player with NBA range and unprecedented passing skills. What is most impressive about this 5-foot-10-inch combo guard is her ability to create her own shot. She can take her defender one-on-one at any time and create open shots for her teammates.

"Those who play with her may have learned the hard way to be alert at all times for her sniper rifle passes, but one person who is used to catching her bullets is her younger sister, Jude."

The April 2010 edition of Slam magazine also includes a feature on Shoni.

"Her story is easily unrivaled," the article says. "It’s where the vintage AND 1 Mixtape Tour meets Sherman Alexi and produces a passion for the game and love of her Native American heritage."

Game day April 3

The WBCA’s top 20 high school girls basketball players will make up two 10-player teams. They will compete in the Nineteenth Annual WBCA High School All-America Game.

The WBCA High School All-America Game is a college-style regulation game, scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 3. The game will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, as part of the WBCA National Convention.

February 10, 2010 edition

Tribal Youth Art Exhibit

The 17th annual Warm Springs Tribal Youth Art Exhibit is at The Museum at Warm Springs through March 28. Below are some of the works on display:

Call 541-553-3331 for details. The address of the museum is 2189 Highway 26, Warm Springs, Ore.

Photos by Duran Bobb.

February 10, 2010 edition

Local students win spelling bee

By Duran Bobb

Spilyay Tymoo

Two local students won a local spelling bee at Jefferson County Middle School.

One of the students, eighth-grader Sierra Patt, went on to represent the middle school at the Scripps-Howard regional contest in Bend, said Courtney Lupton, Talented and Gifted (TAG) specialist at the school.

Sixth-grader Sonya Mendez, 11, also won the local spelling bee with the word "infatuation." However, says Lupton, only seventh- and eighth-grade level students are permitted to compete in Scripps-Howard spelling bees.

Mendez is the current Junior Miss Warm Springs Princess. She’s a dancer (fancy and jingle), and she enjoys making wapas baskets. "She loves softball," Lupton says, "and she plays Kiwanis basketball and is also active in the Warm Springs language program."

Mendez’ mother is Joy Ramirez, who works at the clinic in medical records. Her father is Jose, an employee of Brightwood.

"My advice to any other student that might want to win this spelling bee in the future is––go for it!" Mendez says.

Sierra Patt, 12, represented JCMS in Bend at the regional bee. Lupton had her fingers crossed for Sierra. "Her birthday was Saturday, the same day as the spelling bee."

Sierra’s favorite subject is language arts. "I love to read and write," she says. Her activities include basketball and softball. "I also have horses, dogs and cats."

Patt says that the most difficult word for her to spell was the word she missed in Bend, where she won 6th place. But she tells students that if they want to win any spelling bee, the secret is: "Don’t be nervous."

Sierra’s mother is Karla Patt, and her father is William "Hobo" Patt.

Sierra Patt hopes to one day be a photojournalist. "Maybe I can do a photo story at the national contest––if I get to go."

The Scripps-Howard spelling bee began in 1925 by the Courier-Journal in Louisville. It’s open to students who have not yet completed the eighth grade, reached their 15

The Scripps-Howard bee was first broadcast on network TV in 1946. It has inspired novels and films such as "Akeelah and the Bee."

Last year’s winning word was "Laodicean," spelled correctly by Kavya Shivashankar.

Jobs, economic discussion at ATNI winter conference

By Dave McMechan

Spilyay Tymoo

By Terri Harber

Spilyay Tymoo

Representatives of various agencies that focus on roads, highways and related issues met last week in Warm Springs to talk about one another’s responsibilities and ways to increase cooperation among them.

Who controls what can be a tricky question when it comes to roads and highways that run through the Warm Springs Reservation because jurisdictions frequently bump one another. But it sometimes can become a life-or-death issue when bad weather or simple hazards arise.

One example: When a recent freezing fog blanketed the region, all agencies that deal with road safety were scrambling. Traffic accidents were occurring all over the place, including on Highway 26 and State Route 216.

Tribal officials opted to stop traffic because conditions there were extremely dangerous. Allowing more vehicles would have caused more problems and possibly even caused someone to be killed.

"We closed the road because lives were at risk," said Dan Martinez, the tribes’ Fire and Safety director.

This frustrated Oregon Department of Transportation employees. Not because traffic was stopped; because they believed the tribe closed the road.

ODOT has a special set of protocols for closing down thoroughfares. But simply stopping traffic because of dangerous conditions is a different matter.

It turned out to be a simple question of semantics because the wrong term was used to describe the action. In the heat of the situation some wrong and, occasionally, other thoughtless words were thrown around, however.

"We’re not here to point fingers," Martinez said. But "how could we work better as a team?"

This opened the door to other, more commonplace, examples. Why do trucks that drop traction materials on icy roads stop just feet away from highly traveled spots?

Why are vehicles involved in accidents left by the side of the road and not removed immediately?

How come outside agencies need permission to do routine maintenance?

"Tribal members don’t know the boundaries or criteria. It’s up to us to educate our members," Martinez said.

People drive past sites and wonder why they see work trucks and emergency vehicles parked haphazardly, said Don Courtney, the tribes’ utilities director.

They might see one worker operating a piece of equipment, such as the Jaws of Life. Another might be taking measurements. Yet another might be interviewing people who might have seen what happened.

"The public doesn’t understand why they see one person working while the others are standing around talking to each other," he said, adding that all serve important tasks.

BIA, ODOT and others have budgetary issues of their own. ODOT alone had to cut out deicing of straightaways because its budget for the practice was low. It had to focus on treating the most treacherous driving spots.

Removing vehicles left on the side of the road immediately after an accident can cause additional traffic problems. It’s better to wait until traffic dies down to tow away these autos and trucks unless they pose a safety or environmental hazard.

To avoid future confusion, the group plans to meet before each season to discuss issues that might come up and find ways to solve these problems. This is expected to make emergencies easier for everyone to handle, Martinez added.

Hearing loss often can be prevented

By Terri Harber

Spilyay Tymoo

Chainsaws. iPods. Loud car engines.

Young people "have no idea of the long-term consequences on their hearing" that these noises can cause, said Billy Martin, a hearing specialist with the group.

A group that focuses on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, NIHL for short, plans to help educate children on the Warm Springs Reservation about how to avoid this sort of hearing loss.

Dangerous Decibels will train teenagers and adults about the issue. The locals will, in turn, educate youth here about it in a way they can easily understand.

Once a person’s hearing system is damaged "it doesn’t come back," Martin said during a presentation to the Tribal Council last week. "It’s life changing."

Warm Springs youth will receive the information and be a part of the research being done by the group related to hearing loss. The group already has been working with Native Americans in Washington state.

Native Americans are two times more likely than whites and four times more likely than other races to suffer moderate to severe hearing loss. An answer as to why these it’s more prevalent doesn’t exist, however, Martin told the Council.

This is why the group is conducting the research.

NIHL is hearing loss because of exposure to either a sudden, loud noise or exposure to loud noises for a period of time. Other causes include illness or disease, but the noise-related source is the group’s focus, he said.

"It’s the one type of hearing loss we can prevent," Martin said.

Approximately 25 percent of people in the United States suffering from hearing loss can point directly to NIHL as the cause. That’s roughly 10 million hearing-impaired or deaf people.

The group’s main advice is to turn down the volume whenever possible, walk away from the noise source or use earplugs to reduce the impact. They also have an informational program about how the damage occurs so people know why it happens.

The group’s partners are the Oregon Hearing Research Center at the Oregon Health and Science University and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, in affiliation with the Portland VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, and the American Tinnitus Association.

For details on the Dangerous Decibels program, visit www.dangerousdecibels.org.