FALL HOLIDAY ISSUE 1983
PAGE 2
EDITORIAL
Student Council Notes
By LaVelle Walker
A s a first year Editor o f the
school newspaper I have
become more aware of how
much time, energy, sweat, pres
sure, and problem-solving skills
are needed in putting out a
paper. This first issue has been
difficult and often disappoint
ing because we had so many
problems to deal with. B ut
through it all I have begun to
see that my job as Editor is not
only a person who is there to
make sure that a monthly new
spaper comes out, but I am here
to learn to work with other peo
ple and to help the staff learn to
work with the many different
types of people that are here.
This has meant many set
backs in not only getting infor
mation, developing it into news
stories and meeting deadlines,
but learning how to write in
journalistic style, and working
with time conflicts with printers
and others. I t means choosing
the appropriate photographs to
accent the stories, dealing with
breakdowns in machines, fac
ing our own low energy levels,
and schedule conflicts. I hope
that you will take this into con
sideration as you read this first
issue. We are not apologizing,
but trying to make you aware o f
the major problems we face and
the delay.
We want to cover the entire
Chemawa
scene—everything
from academics and dorm life,
to
special
events,
guest
speakers, and the many activi
ties that students are involved
with on and off campus.
We have many hopes and
dreams for this paper. We need
your help in giving us tips on
whafs happening, your time in
obtaining some of the informa
tion and help in the writing and
laying out of the paper.
We are a school, a communi-
ty that is 104 years old. We are
proud of what it offers and
want to share that with not
only other Indian and non-In
dian schools, but with our own
families and tribes back home.
It takes time to learn to do a
good job, but that doesn’t mean
we ever give up.
I hope we will all try and
make this the best school year
Chemawa has ever had. The
newness has worn away, and
it’s time to get down to some
serious work on our major
oroblems here at Chemawa:
Alcohol and Drug abuse. I
Editor, LaVclle Walker
know the problems won’t disap
pear, but if we care, if we work
hard and participate in the do come true.
On behalf o f the publication’s
programs and activities offered,
we can begin to make ex staff, I welcome all comments,
changes, have fun, and stay out questions, and suggestions you
may have in making this a bet
of trouble.
Not only do we need to get ter student publication.
our problems together but we
I wish each of you a success
need to take care of our school. in the near and far future, and
It is only four years old, but in the happiest holiday ever. Be
some places it looks much older careful during your travels
because too many people don’t back home and on your trip
care. Many people say we have back.
Chemawa needs each and
a model program and building.
Whether you agree or not we every one o f you! I hope you
still must take pride in this have a White Christmas, a nice
place we call home for nine Christmas dinner and fun of all
months out of the year. We your relations and friends.
Merry Christmas and the
must show each other and all
our visitors we do care for each best year ever.
other and our school.
The year has moved into the
autumn where nature changes
and prepares for a quiet time.
Perhaps we too can prepare to
make the same changes in our Editor’s Note:
personal lives as we deal with
alcohol and drug problems in
On behalf of the entire staff
ourselves as friends, preparing we extend our sincere gratitude
for those quiet times to study to two people who put in many
and plan for our futures. A s we extra hours to help us get this
slowly move into the end of one
issue out.
season and into another, I en
First of all, we extend our
courage you to carry good heart-felt thanks to Mrs. Don
thoughts. When you care, they
na Napier, photo teacher, who
was responsible for completing
all photography* to accompany
the stories in this issue. We ap
preciate all the extra hours she
Chemawa is a very special spent on her own time. When
ever requests were made she
school that holds over 450 Indian
mflny different na was more then ready to help us
tions. •Unlike other schools,
out.
these students also come from
We also would like to thank
many different parts of the U.S.
Mr. Ed Hanson for his help in
Students from one state often see
typesetting much of the copy
others from other states as differ and screening all the photo
ent because they are not like
graphs. pespite his busy
those they are used to being
schedule he put in many hoiirs
with. If people are’t like what
you’re used to, do you think of on the issue.
Finally we would like to
them as weird or "Non-Indian"?
I think that we should all, as
thank Mr. Zeke Marques of the
young Indian people, disregard
Statesman-Journal for all his
the differences in each other and
extra typesetting help, tech
take a closer look at the person
nical assistance and supplies.
inside.
There are many others who
worked on this issue and to
High School is something you
each of them we say thank you
will always want to remember,
for believing in. the value of
but, who wants to only remember
student press and our school
who we didn’t like or who we
thought was so odd? This school
newspaper.
is what you make it and you only
get out of it what you put in.
It hurts me to see Indians
fighting each other br putting
each other down for not being
like every one else.
We all came here to meet other
Indians and get an education.
Who comes to be the best
By Corrine ChiefStick and
fighters? Who comes to put
Jeanine Wright
others down? Who comes here
to drink? Who is the true Indian?
Sally Ritchie has been named
the new Student Enterprise ad
Anonymous
viser for Chemawa, a position
created to help students raise
more money and increase pro
fits from their businesses.
As her initial goal Ritchie sta
ted she is working on prepara
tions for the opening of the snack
wnn the cooperation of the bar located in the recreation
English department, initiated bi center, and expanding the school
monthly letters home campaign. store’s line of items.
Students spend two days a month
Recently the student store em
during their English classes writ ployees were hired.
Charles
ing letters to parents and fami Matte was named as the general
lies. This helps keep the parents manager. He will work closely
informed about what their sons/ with Mrs. - Ritchie and Leilani
daughters are doing, how things Paul, Wanda Wells, and Emily
are going, and maintains the Cain who were hired as store em
lines of communication.
ployees. While thefse workers
Mr. John reports that he has earn only $1 an hour, Mrs.
received several positive reports Ritchie said that as profits in
from parents who are always in crease so will their wages.
Sally has been working here at
terested in hearing from theii
Chemawa for ten years. Prior to
sons/daughters.
her position this year she has
Students get a break from the taught music, personal finance,
normal routine of literature, choir, English, worked as a sec
grammar, composition and tests
to put their letter writing skills retary, acted as a Pers^!?®!
into practice.
director, substituted, and fil*etl
in where needed.
Said one student,“ I don’t
Born in Illinois, Ritchie has
write home when I’m in the been somewhat mobile—she has
dorm. I get to spend class time moved 20 times and lived in sev
writing, don’t have to pay for the en states. She attended Brook
stamp, and save my parents ings High School in Oregon ana
money since I don’t call home was graduated from Western
collect as much. My parents like Oregon State College with a de
to hear from me, even when I ask gree in psychology.
them to send money. It’s ok that
Playing instruments in musi
they can’t send me money. I just cals is Sally’s main interest.
like to write and hope they write Over the past seven years she
back.“
has played in eight shows not
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I am very concerned about
' Théré aré"
many problems in our school that
need to be solved. One of them
is alcohol and drug abuse. Many
students may laugh and joke
around but who will laugh in the
end? What the young people
here don’t understand today is
that alcohol and drugs not only
affect students in their school
work and family relations, but
they also are affected socially.
Alcohol and drugs bring people
to a different world, not to the
world of "feeling good", but to
the world of hurt. Aocohol and
drugs are capable of ruining
everything they have.
"Oh, I don’t have anything",
they may say, they have their
life. Soon alcohol and drugs will
be the only thing that matters to
them and they start to overlook
their friends, family, and school.
If they want to Overcome their
problem they can, but if they
don’t they won’t, because no one
can help them except them
selves.
Many students may be looking
forward to the weekend to party
and get high. But think a little:
many abused people started out
that way—looking for a good
time. Now no time is good.
Thank you,
Patty LittleWolf
Write, Don’t Phone Home
By Becky Oldman
As a suggestion from the
School Board last year Mr. John,
Even though students are to
write home, Della Morrison still
enjoys talking with parents, col
lect of course.
CHEMAWA AMERICAN
By Toni Bitner
Senior Monte Munyan was
elected Student Body President
last June. Monte is an Athabas
can Indian from Spokane, Wash
ington. During his three years
here, Monte has held offices
such as Sgt.-at-Arms, treasurer
and vice-president of Student
Council.
Monte became interested in
Student Council to see what he
could do to help change things
and improve the school. He feels
strong about unity. Monte thinks
there should be no fighting or
stealing among the students be
cause "we are all made equal, no
more or no less."
y It seems Munyan would have
little time for anything else, but
he is involved in the drama club,
kayak club and was recently on
the starting line up of the varsity
football team. Another thing he
is involved in is the Thunder
Lodge Storytellers.
Monte’s future plans are to
attend college or go to the ser
vice as a Marine after he gradu
ates from Chemawa. He hopes
for a happy life and to be a
manager for a sales corporation.
MONTE MUNYAN
T re a s u r e r
E le c te d
By Antonio Bitner
and Sheila Smokey
Dean Chingman, a Shoshone-
Arapahoe from Fort Washakie,
Wyoming, and new to Chemawa,
has been elected as the new Stu
dent Council Treasurer. Dean
chose to run for treasurer since
he has had previous experience
in other schools.
Dean is involved in many
school activities such as drama
club, Indian club, cadet program,
Pow-Wow committee, and of
course, Student Council. Dean
seems to be pretty busy these
days, but in his spare time, he
likes to play basketball and just
walk around campus. He espec
ially likes the ' new Drug and
Aocohol program. He replies, "I
feel that it is needed in boarding
and public schools. It will cor
rect misinformation and informa
tion that the students do not
have."
When Dean graduates, he
Ians to attend law school and
opefully someday become a
lawyer for his tribe.
We wish you the best of-luck
in the future.
Student Enterprises
Lead by Richie
only in plays but at restaurants &
dinner theaters.
Reflecting back, Sally recalled
that her most memorable experi
ence here was supervising the
homecoming dance three years
igo. It was a time party, it was
dive, & good honest fun. But,
she added, there’s never a dull
moment here.
She concluded by thanking the
students who have helped in
various activities over the years.
Help & interest is still needed.
By Monte Munyan, Student Council President
Hello Chemawa Students, staff and faculty. On behalf
of the entire executive council we hope that all of you are
having a great year. We also hope that you remember
why Chemawa is here. Since 1880 thousands of Native
American youths have worked for, and received high
school diplomas. We too, are after a diploma and a crack
at the future, as will our children be too. We hope that
Chemawa will be available for our children and our chil
dren’s children forever. But in order to preserve that we
must realize that it is up to us to keep our pride alive, to
give our elders the respect that they deserve, and to re
member and work for the Indian way.
If you are interested in the '’old* Chemawa, we encour
age you to take time to speak with some of the alumni that
will be visiting
They are members
of classes that graduated anywhere from one to fifty yeats
ago. Show them in you efforts and in your words that
Chemawa still has pride because we, the current stu
dents, are proud!
We look forward to working with you to help make this
a great year. We are here to work with you, and to be a
friend. We hope that you will, in turn, be a friend.
WELCOME BACK PICNIC
AND DANCE
By Vesta DeMarrias
School
Pictures
Taken
Students who purchased pic
tures during the all-school pic
ture day December 2 will
receive their packets December
16.
The black/white mug shots
taken of all Students and staff
will be used for the yearbook
and identification.
Retakes and new student pic
tures will be scheduled for late
January.
Seniors who are planning to
have special portraits taken by
local or home studios should
make appointments now and
have the work done during
Christmas break.
Special
portrait
arran
gements for seniors graduating
the end of second quarter
should be made with Ms. La
Croix, yearbook advisor, or Mrs.
Napier, photo advisor.
As a way to welcome new and
returning students, and cele
brate the beginning of the school
year, the kitchen staff and the
Chemawa Alcohol Education
Center’s staff sponsored two
separate events—an afternoon
picnic on September 9, and an
evening dance on September 17.
Chief cook Leonard Demmert
said that the nice "Indian sum
mer" weather coupled by the
of a picnic tends to make stu
dents and staff eat more than
usual. This picnic was no excep
tion. Over $500 was spent in
preparing a feast of steaks,
baked potatoes, corn punch, and
cake. Nothing was wasted as
students and staff enjoyed the
long afternoon of food and get
ting to know each other.
<= On September 17 CAE-C spon
sored its third annual "Welcome
Back Dance" for students and
staff. During the last two years a
live band was hired to entertain
students but due to a last minute
cancellation a DJ was hired.
Scott Tom from Portland’s KGW
radio station helped students
"rock out."
CHEMAWA AMERICAN
The CHEMAWA AMERICAN is published by the Chemawa Indian High
School journalism class.
In
Memorium...
Chemawa community ex
tends their heart-felt sympath
ies to the families & students
who have recently had family
members called home by the
Great Spirit.
Choctaw
Smith,
former
Chemawa principal, who passed
away in September after a long
illness. Hew as a long time re
sident of Salem.
Pat Olney, wife of school
board member Mr. Olney. P at
passed away in November.
LaRita Yallup, mother of
Laoda and Lorna Yallup. LaRi
ta passed away in late
November in Yakima.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF............. ....................................................... taV elle Walker
NEWS EDITOR............................................................................. Brenda Doore
FEATURE EDITOR...................................................................Linda Tillman
COPY EDITOR................... | ................ .. .. . .......................CorrineChief Stick
PHOTO EDITOR............................... Tony Bitner and Shawnie Sammaripa
SPORTS EDITOR.......... ...................... ......... .............................. Audrey Jones
LAYOUT EDITOR............... ......... Jeanine Wright and Kathryn Dammon
CIRCULATION EDITOR.............................. ........................Veronica Viera
REPORTERS...................................... LaVelle Walker, David Bearchild,
Leland Bearcomesout, Tony Bitner, Myron Boneshirt,Sherry
Browning, Corrine Chief Stick, Kathryn Damon, Rojean
Desoto, Glenda Dixey, Brenda Doore, Clayton George,
Tammy Jacobs, Audrey Jones, Adrina Kinlichinie, Patty
LittleWolf, Becky Oldman, Doralee Sanchez, Corrine The
Boy, Linda Tillman, Cheryl WhiteHawk, Jeanine Wright,
Faith Turtle, Lacy Luton, Vickie Atkins, Terry DeMarris,
Hope RunningWolf, Shane Swimptkin, Genevieve Boneshirt,
Vesta DeMarris, Pauline Peasley and Sheila Smokey.
ADVISOR/TEACHER............................................. ;........ M s. Debbie LaCroix
i Napier