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Wednesday, January 27, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Warm Springs hopeful after Haaland tapped to head Interior
By Michael Kohn
The Bulletin
BEND (AP) 4 Since
the historic appointment
of Deb Haaland to head
the U.S. Department of the
Interior, hopes have been
high among members of the
Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs that better times are
ahead.
Next month the congress-
woman from New Mexico
will become the first Native
American appointed to the
position of cabinet secretary
when she takes over at the
Department of the Interior,
which also oversees the
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Haaland is a member of
the Laguna Pueblo, a tribe
located near Albuquerque.
Warm Springs tribal
members see the appoint-
ment as a beacon of light fol-
lowing a tough year of wild-
fire, high rates of COVID-
19, and infrastructure fail-
ures that left parts of the
reservation without potable
water, The Bulletin reported.
<Considering our large
number of COVID-19 cases,
everyone seems happy and
excited for the potential of
what Deb Haaland could do,=
said Dustin Seyler, a Warm
Springs tribal member.
The tribes have been
hit hard by COVID. As of
Monday, the tribes had 664
total positive cases since the
start of the pandemic and
14 deaths, a relatively high
case rate for an area with just
5,000 people.
<Since she will be in
charge of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, there could
be a lot of change that hap-
pens in that office, which
has so much influence over
all the tribes in the U.S.,=
said Seyler, who works as a
small business program man-
ager for the Warm Springs
Community Action Team, a
nonprofit organization.
Seyler says the bureau
neglected to fulfill its
responsibilities when it
came to working with Warm
Springs on infrastructure
improvements in its central
area, also called the campus.
Most of the buildings on the
Warm Springs Campus are
filled with lead paint, asbes-
tos, and other dangerous
contaminants, he said.
<It9s been a 20-year fight
to get them to pay for the
repairs,= said Seyler. <That
is just one example of the
many issues the BIA caused
and left for the tribes to
clean up. These are things
we don9t have the money or
skilled workforce to
Carina Miller, an
deal with.=
economic
research
Since she will be in charge of the
The
Wa r m
analyst with the com-
Bureau of Indian Affairs, there could munity action team,
Springs tribal gov-
ernment has also
said the addition of
be a lot of change that happens in that a Native American to
tangled with the
Bureau of Indian
cabinet will give
office, which has so much influence the
Affairs over respon-
the U.S. government
sibility for the res-
per-
over all the tribes in the U.S. long-overlooked
ervation9s water
spectives on critical
delivery system.
— Dustin Seyler issues such as social
The system has
injustice and climate
broken down on
change.
multiple occasions in recent <Her appointment marks a
<The Indigenous knowl-
years, forcing residents to monumental achievement for edge that has long been dis-
boil water or collect water Native Americans.=
respected will be utilized,=
jugs from an emergency dis-
Wyden anticipates that said Miller.
tribution center. The bureau working with Haaland and
Miller said it9s not clear
installed the system more the incoming Biden admin- yet what direct impact
than 40 years ago, but there9s istration will smooth the Haaland9s appointment will
been debate over who should approval and implementa- have at Warm Springs, but
foot the bill for maintenance tion process of the Western she takes a broader view that
and upkeep.
Tribal Water Infrastructure the appointment will be good
Seyler said one outcome Act, which if greenlighted for tribes across the country.
of having Haaland at the would provide millions of
For the first time, Miller
helm could be improvements dollars to improve water said, tribes will not have to
and modifications at what infrastructure at Warm spend valuable resources and
he described as <outdated= Springs.
time educating a cabinet sec-
rules at the Bureau of Indian
Haaland, who describes retary on tribal politics and
Affairs.
herself as a 35th generation policy.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., New Mexican, has not yet
<Less money and time
also sees the nomination of set out policy goals but in her will be spent educating peo-
Haaland as a chance to hit acceptance speech described ple within the Department
the reset button between early life challenges includ- of the Interior, and on play-
Washington and tribes.
ing being homeless and reli- ing defense against environ-
Haaland9s <knowledge ance on food stamps.
mental attacks,= Miller said.
of the urgent need to right
<These struggles gave me <Deb Haaland9s appointment
historic injustices will help perspectives though, so I can to head the department is
generate long-overdue help help people to succeed,= she going to be a turning point
for tribes,= said Wyden. said.
for this nation.=
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
Sisters Library
Children’s Activities
Free Weekly Grab-N-Go
Lunches For Seniors
Weekly Food Pantry
Wellhouse Church has a weekly
food pantry on Th ursdays. Food
is currently being distributed
drive-through style from 12:30
until all food is distributed at
the Wellhouse Market building,
222 N. Trinity Way. People in
need of food may drive through
the parking lot and pick up a
bag of food for their household.
Other Sisters-area churches are
joining with Wellhouse Church
to contribute both fi nancially
and with volunteers to help
sustain the program. For more
information, please call 541-
549-4184.
Antiques & Jewelry
Donations Needed
Th e Council on Aging of Central
Deschutes Public Library is
Sisters Kiwanis takes donations
Oregon is serving seniors (60+)
off ering virtual events and take-
of antiques,
ques, collectibles and
free Grab-N-Go lunches on
jewelry y throughout the yearr
home activities for children.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
for its a annual
On Tuesdays at 10 a.m. join
nnual Antiques,
Th ursdays each week. Th e
Collections
community librarians and
t ions & Jewelry
lunches are distributed on a fi rst-
Sale, held
other preschoolers for songs,
e ld on Saturday
come, fi rst-served basis drive-
rhymes, stories and fun. Online
every Memorial
M e morial
through style from 12 to 12:30
story time is live at 10 a.m. on
Day weekend.
e ekend. Your
p.m. at the Sisters Community
Th ursdays and at 10:30 a.m.
donation
on is tax-
Church, 1300 W. Mckenzie Hwy.
children ages 3-5 can join in
deductible!
tible! For
music and movement to develop Seniors may drive through the
more information
nformation
parking lot and pick up a meal
literacy skills. Parents, don’t miss
and to
o arrange for
each day of service. Come on by,
the opportunity to pick up a
pickup
p of large or
no need to make a reservation.
story time activity kit for your
small items,
t ems, please
For more information call 541-
preschooler at Sisters Library
call Pam
m at 541-
678-5483.
on Th ursdays starting at noon.
719-1049.
49.
Available while supplies last. Go
to www.deschuteslibrary.org/
Please call the church before attending to verify current status of services as restrictions
estrictions are adjusted.
kids/programs or call 541-312-
1032 for more info.
Career Funds Available
Applications are available for
the Sisters Kiwanis Career
Opportunity Fund to help adult
residents of Sisters establish an
occupational path. Pick up forms
at the Kiwanis House, corner of
Oak and Main, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Th ursdays, and during regular
hours from the Sisters Habitat
for Humanity offi ce. For more
information, call 541-719-1254.
Furry Friends Has Moved!
Th e Furry Friends offi ce is now
located at 412. E. Main Ave., Ste.
4 behind Th e Nugget offi ce.
Th ough the offi ce is closed to
the public, the pet food bank is
still open for no contact porch
pick ups. Call to order your pet
food for pick up during our
regular weekly pickup time on
Th ursdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
or by appointment the rest of
the week. Info: 541-797-4023.
PET OF THE WEEK
Humane
H
umane S Society
ociiety off Central
C entrall O
Oregon
regon
541-382-3537
SISTERS-AREA CHURCHES
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (ELCA)
386 N. Fir Street • 541-549-5831
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
www.shepherdofthehillslutheranchurch.com
Sisters Community Church
(Nondenominational)
1300 W. McKenzie Hwy. • 541-549-1201
10 a.m. Sunday Worship (with signing)
www.sisterschurch.com • info@sisterschurch.com
St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church
123 Trinity Way • 541-549-9391
5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass
9 a.m. Sunday Mass • 8 a.m. Monday-Friday Mass
Calvary Church (NW Baptist Convention)
484 W. Washington St., Ste. C & D • 541-588-6288
10 a.m. Sunday Worship • www.ccsisters.org
Th e Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
452 Trinity Way • Branch President, 541-420-5670;
10 a.m. Sunday Sacrament Meeting
Baha’i Faith Meetings
Devotional gatherings, study classes and
discussion groups. Call for location and times
541-647-9826
Chapel in the Pines
7 1
Camp Sherman • 541-549-9971
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
e ne
Sisters Church of the Nazarene
41-389-8960
67130 Harrington Loop Rd. • 5 541-389-8960
@
il
www.sistersnaz.org • 2sistersnaz@gmail.com
10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship
Wellhouse Church
442 Trinity Way • 541-549-4184
https://wellhousechurch.churchcenter.com
10 a.m. Sunday Worship (Indoor & Outdoor Venues)
Vast Church (Nondenominational)
541-719-0587 • 5 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Worship
at 442 Trinity Way (Wellhouse building).
See www.vastchurch.com for details.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
386 N. Fir St. • 541-595-6770, 541-306-8303
11 a.m. Saturday Worship
Th e Episcopal Church of the Transfi guration
68825 Brooks Camp Rd. • 541-549-7087
8:30 a.m. Ecumenical Sunday Worship (Sunday school,
childcare) 10:15 a.m. Episcopal Sunday Worship
(Sunday school, childcare)
Meet FRANKIE, , an incrediblyy
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