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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2007)
Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon September 13, 2007 Signs convey serious message By Leslie M itts Spilyay Tymoo Three new signs are sure to garner a reaction in Warm Springs— especially since they pame back several square feet larger than ordered. « The signs designate a desire for a zero-tolerance, drug-free community and are all three in memory o f people who have lost heir lives to drugs or alco hol | Meth Prevention Coordina tor Wayne Miller said the idea for the signs came from several elders who attended a meth task force meeting. Though they were originally supposed to be two feet by three feet in size, Miller said, they ar rived as four feet by four feet Instead. I Before they placed the signs in the community on August 24, Milter said, a blessing ceremony jvasheld. I It Was there that som eone Suggested that perhaps the mis take in sizes was a sign in itself, Milter said. ! “One o f the people that was doing the blessings of the sign |a id ,’‘W ell maybe this is a sign;».maybe die Creator or die Lord has made the sign so big to get the m essage across/” . Müler Said. “I thought that was kind of fascinating. I never re- aly thought about it that way.” It wasn’t the only positive sign people noticed that day— the morning rain suggested a type o f cleansing as w el, Müler said. Overall, he added, the bless ing was an extremely emotional event. • W ashut singers attended alongside representatives from the Shaker Church, whüe PäSr Neh V- Dave McMacharVSpilyay One of three new road signs conveying the drug-free message. tor Rick R ibeiro offered a prayer. “To be there and to feel that type o f emotion was pretty in tense” Müler said. “The fami lies were stül hurtful about the fact that they have lost a loved one to drugs or alcohol. You just had to be there torealy feel the intensity o f it.” ... Though they originally in tended to put up eight signs, it was difficult to gtef families to commit to putting the name of a loved one. on assign, Müler said. But for the families that did come forward, Müler said, “The meth task force honored them and their famÜy for coming for-. ward and being able to put their famüy name on ,this drug-free community sign, zero-tolerance sign.” After the blessing was done, M iller said, they offered the families a chance to speak. According to Miller, “They said it hurt, and it was still hurt ful, but hopefully the message can get across to the commu nity that we cannot lose more of our younger generation/’ “For them to come forward like that, and listen to them speak, and really grasp on the message that we’re trying to get across to the public, it was re ally intense,” Miller said. “It was not only emotional but you could feel the warmth.” It’s all part of a greater ef fort on the part of the commu nity to end 'methamphetamine abuse. “ The meth task force is ac tually involved with a lot o f ' community members who want change,” Miller said. “Every aspect o f the com munity was involved in this,” j Miller added. “It wasn’t just one person or two people saying this is what we need to put on them, this was the whole community that wanted them to be.” A group of elders came up with the idea,,, Miller said, but many different people were in volved in the creation of the signs— including those from the mteth task force working in con junction with the Community Health Education Team ,and| CPS. eat fresh al% Automotive Service Honest, Friendly Auto Repair & Service! 475-2412 g s w 3rd Street (Located in the oldPahnain “I want to thank the meth task force and those that took part in die planning of these signs,” Miller said. For families that would like to feature the name o f a loved one on a sign, Miller said, “We ' are actually keeping that open to the public to come forward if they too want their family toy be out there and voic.e their opinion about how they think drugs are bad.” Families seeking information, should call CHETat 553^3462. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The art show opening at the lodge wül be on Saturday, Oct.6 from 5-6 p.m., and the artist panel discussion to foUow. More special events, includ ing traditioal arts demonsrtations, are scheduled through October 29." ÿ; For more information caU the. Columbia Center for the-Arts at (541) 387-8877; or visit the wtebsite at: w w w .colu m b iaarts.org/ n’chiwana. Dolled-Up Sally, woven basket by Pat Courtney Gold. bia Center for the Arts. Artist reception is from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with artist panel discussion to follow The follow ing day at Skamania Lodge will be the “She Who Watches” petroglyph tour, M aster ASE Certified Technician Steve, D atila & Henry ihe dogf ‘Your Local Paint & Glass Experts99 W arn celebrates Native art o f the Columbia ' The Nch’i-Wana. art show and events are scheduled for early petober at Columbia Center for the Arts at Hood River, and at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, $0ash. * ' Featured artists include Pat Courtney G old, Lillian Pitt, Roxanne C hinook, Bernyce ! Courtney, Tony Stevens, arid atwai Apolonia Susana Santos, along with artists from other jribes o f the Columbia. i Nch’i-Wana is dedicated to Apolonia Susana Santos, Tygh Yakama, who providted vision jand guidance during the early planning phases for this show. ' The art show and events cel ebrate the Native American arts o f Nch’i-Wana, Wasco for “the feig River.” |. The celebration is set for Oct. 5 -2 |y \ The art show opening will be bn Friday, O ct 5 at the Colum- Over 26 Years Experience MADRAS PAINT & GLASS RLS expressions ■ Madras Paint & Glass 1076 SW Hwy 97 in Madras, ph. 475-2166 OPEN 8-5:30 M-F; 9-4 Sat FENDERS by ENDRES New Enercy Fitness Center a n d Full Service Sna hairstylist Cheryl Taylor Workinfi Mondays, specializing In perms, colors, cuts, etc. We use Eedken products. Phone 47(5-9369. 123 SW first St. In M adras Fast, Courteous 24-Hour Service. Accident Recovery. Roll Back for damage-free Towing. Statewide coverage, approved. Insurance 475-6491 office, or 480-9685 cell