CHEMAWA AMERICAN
Volume 69, Number 1
Chemawa, OR 97306
October 6, 1972
C h e m a w a G a in s
in L a n d T r a d e
The Oregon State Highway Commis
sion will be receiving 72 acres of
land owned by Chemawa. This land
is needed to rebuild Interstate-5, which
is being expanded to six lanes, and
the construction of Interstate-305,
which will be built from 1-5 at Chema
wa into downtown Salem.
The 72 acres that will be given up
are located across the highway from
the school. The Highway Department
will also receive part of the field by
McBride Hall.
In exchange for the 72 acres, Che
mawa will be receiving 24 acres of
property situated behind the academic
buildings. The property Chemawa is
receiving is worth about $50,000 more
than the property given up.
The 24 acres will be used for the
new school, which is now in the plan
ning state. Superintendent Al Ouchi
told the American that through the
efforts of students, staff and tribal
representatives, Chemawa’s friends
in Congress have secured a sum of
$750,000 for the design phase of the
new school.
A letter has also been sent to the
Superintendent stating that a request
for funds for construction will be pre
sented to Congress early in 1973.
“ The apparent success of our efforts
to get a new school for Chemawa is
most gratifying,” said Mr. Ouchi. “ I
call on all students and all friends of
Chemawa to work together to really
plan for the very best school pos
sible.”
He added, “ We must settle for
nothing but the very best for ourselves
and from ourselves.”
S m ith
C hosen
C.A. E.C. project director Mr. Steve LaB uff gives a few pointers to counselor Mrs. Vicki
Belgard, and some student volunteers Ron Morris, Nancy Barnes, Frank Martin, Iris
BigSpring and Moses Edwards. (Photo by Al Francis)
C . A . E . C. G e t s Q u a r t e r s
The Chemawa Alcoholism Education
Center (C.A.E.C.) will operate again
this school year at its new headquart
ers in the white cottage next to the
clinic.
The purpose of the office is to alle
viate drinking on campus by an educa
tion and prevention program. The main
objective of this program is to keep
students from dropping out of school
because of drinking problems.
The C.A.E.C. will be showing films
at the facility and in each of the dorms
when they get permission from the
dormitory heads.
The C.A.E.C. staff is headed by
Project Director Stephen Labuff, Sec
retary Grace Chandler, Counselor Vicki
Belgard, Counselor Stewart Lynn Cas
tro, Counselor Aide Martha Ward, and
12 student volunteers.
On week-end nights, the student
volunteers patrol the campus. If a
matron finds an intoxicated student,
the C.A.E.C. people take him to the
center to sober up or to his room so
he won’t hurt himself or others. The
center is a substitute for jail or J.D.H.
and a referral to other sources for
problems.
The center will be open from 9 a.m.
to 11 p.m. each day. All staff are on
call 24 hours a day.
S o m e th in g
as
This year we have a new principal,
Mr. J.W. “ Choctaw” Smith. He is a
native of Oklahoma, and a Choctaw
Indian.
Mr. Smith graduated from the Univer
sity of Oklahoma. He has his admini
strative certificate from the University
?f Oregon. For the last four years he
has been principal at St. Paul High
School. He was also Vice-Principal
and coach at Drain and Willamina High
N ew
N ew !
P r in c ip a l
Schools in Oregon. He was the foot
ball and wrestling coach at Claremore
Junior College in Oklahoma.
One of Mr. Smith’s comments was,
“ I have always wanted to help my
own people, and this seemed to be
the best way I could find. This seemed
to be the most worthwhile.”
He added, “ My door is always open
to students who have problems to work
out with me.”
Something new hes been added to the
Chemawa American this year. We call it
American L ife .
I t ’ s a picture magazine
designed to give a closer look at some of
the things going on at school.
This week w e’ re looking at football and
politics. Thanks to Capital Journal photo
grapher Gerry Lewin, we have several fine
shots of Senator McGovern’ s v is it to the
campus.
Most of the shots, though, w ill be done
by our own s ta ff photographers. We hope
you enjoy American L ife and give us your
ideas on how to improve it.