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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2002)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom by Walt Klamath By golly how time does fly. Last month, I missed the deadline and dam near this month. Been on vacation this month, so that’s a good excuse, I guess. Well, went to Two Rivers Prison recently and did two sweats. Had maybe 60 Indian peoples kind of crowded in the lodge. Of course, there weren’t 60 at one time, but two sweats. Had one Siletz member and several Grand Ronde members, plus Coquille and Yurok. The weather was a little cool, so the lodge did not get as hot as would be comfortable, but it was great. Two Rivers is really just getting started. It’s been a year now that they have been having sweats. They don’t have a group yet, they don't really have correspondence with each other regarding Native principles and what they would like to accomplish. I have given them a Pendleton blanket that was given to me for their drum, eagle feathers, an eagle fan, and abalone shell. They are really struggling to get a good thing started. I thought that more tribal members were there, but many have been transferred, some to Columbia and OSP. The prison staff is very cooperative as I see it. They do as much as they can and are working on getting volunteers signed up. Chaplain Hodney shared with me that if he can get one more volunteer to commit, the fellows there can have one sweat a month. At this time, it’s hit and miss. Seems that there are three who come there, all from here and south as far as Chiloquin. All of the institutions, though, are having trouble getting dedicated volunteers (hint, hint). Jennifer Flores, Michele Rowan, Darcy Lal, Terry Walker, Valerie Hibdon, Bonnie McAlpine, Linda Kreutzer, Rhonda Attridge, Sunshine Keck, and Patricia Valet all received prizes for participating in the costume contest. Staff and their costumed counterparts on Halloween: Patricia Valet - Old Bat Sunshine Keck - Mold Busters Vai Hibdon - Goofy Rhonda Attridge - Punk Rocker Linda Kreutzer - Frank ‘n’ Bride Bonnie McAlpine - Witch Terry Walker - Witch Smoke Detectors Well, did you do it? Do what, you ask? Did you change the batteries in your smoke detector at the time change, as is recommended? If the smoke detector is 10 years old or more, it’s time to change it. These new ones have 10-year batteries in them, so I guess when you change the batteries, change the detector. I cannot stress enough the importance of smoke detectors that work. They do save lives and they do save property. The biggest problem we have is that statistics say that 50 percent of detectors don’t work. Many are placed wrong, like in the kitchen area or close to the bathroom, where steam from the shower can set them off, or we disconnect the battery and don’t arm it again, making it worthless. Many of us have the illusion that smoke will wake us up. The truth is, smoke will put us into a deeper sleep. It takes noise to wake us and a properly placed detector will do just that. In fact, they are very irritable, but that’s just the way it’s supposed to be. So, if you haven’t done it, do it now, while it’s fresh on your mind. Remember that old cliché, the life you save may be your own. Think about it for a moment. The single most important thing about a fire is to get out alive. On this New Year’s Eve coming up, think about this - fire and alcohol don’t mix well. In fact, they’re very explosive. I did a survey many years ago that said that 62 percent of fatal fires in Oregon were alcohol- or drug-related. One can lay a cigarette down and it may be on a bed, couch, or overstuffed chair. It could just smolder with hardly any smoke for hours. Then after everyone has gone to bed, it can break out into a full-blown fire. So take time on these busy holidays to think about safety. Take care of yourselves. Left photo: Valerie Hibdon, Becky Johns, and Terry Walker Below: Head Start trick-or-treaters Sweat Lodges I would like to start something. I’d like to have the names of people who have sweat lodges, where they are located, and who is welcome to attend. I’d like to have the locations of all the lodges in Oregon so we can refer people to keep up what they have been doing. I am referring to people leaving the Corrections Department. Give me a call at 1-800-600-5599 with any information or ideas. Happy New Year! Dècèfnber2002'-' o’. srièttNeWV- 0-7 ’•
