Roscoe (Rocky) Leroy Baptiste – 1929-2013
Roscoe Leroy Baptiste passed over
to be with his ancestors on Oct. 16. He
was born May 9, 1929, to Joseph Louis
Baptiste and Rose Marvel (Copaugh)
Baptiste in Pawhuska, Okla., on the
Osage Reservation.
He was a proud member of the
Potawatomi Tribe and was the regional
representative for the Tribe for 10 years.
After retiring from being the representa-
tive, he continued to represent his culture
in his participation at local pow-wows. He
enjoyed Gourd Dancing and teaching his
culture to the young ones.
He is a descendant of Louis Pahies
(Pawese?) (Wab Che Qwa) Baptiste and
Chief Joseph (Wam goe see) Laframboise
(his third great-grandfather) and Theresa
E. Peltier of Michigan on his mother’s side.
Roscoe served in the Navy Seabees
during the Korean War. He helped build
an air strip on Guam. He blamed the heat
and the Navy hat for his bald head.
He asked Maxine Reid of Toledo,
Ore., to marry him for the third time and
she said yes. He said, “OK, I’ve got a
10-day leave.” They got married on March
17, 1951. They took their honeymoon on
a motorcycle and lost his wallet out of
his back pocket, which had his military
pass in it. He had to spend time in the
brig for that.
He was a construction millwright for
the union and worked on power plants.
One job was in Page, Ariz., where he
befriended some Navajo co-workers and
learned how to make silver and turquoise
jewelry from them. The girls in the family
sure enjoyed that.
He worked as a golf course super-
intendent for many golf courses around
Oregon, including two in McMinnville, the
Michelbook Country Club and The Bayou.
He picked up on the golfing hobby quickly.
He enjoyed the times his sons and
sons-in-law would get together for fam-
ily golf tournaments on Father’s Day.
And some of the highlights in his life
included spending time golfing with his
nephews, Murriel Jr., Louis Jr., Sam and
Thomas Leroy.
He enjoyed hunting with his sons,
camping in an old wall canvas tent with
a wood-burning stove, like his dad and
mom did. But through the years, as it got
harder to trek through the woods, he took
up bench target shooting and building his
own bench guns. He won many trophies
that were displayed all through his room.
He loved the outdoors, camping and fish-
ing with the family.
Rocky couldn’t pass up a garage
sale, always finding something Mom
“needed” in the kitchen or something for
his children. He told Maxine once that he
always wanted to give her the world, so
he bought her a world globe. Rocky was
always quick with a joke and loved to
tease the grandkids.
He has left a very rich legacy of love
and fond memories not only for his fam-
ily, but also many friends.
Roscoe Leroy Baptiste was placed to
rest Nov. 1 at Willamette National Cem-
etery with full military honors.
U. of Arizona
offers courses
in indigenous
governance
The Native Nations Institute for
Leadership, Management and Policy, in
collaboration with the James E. Rogers
College of Law’s Indigenous Peoples Law
and Policy Program at the University of
Arizona, is pleased to announce the mas-
ters of professional studies and a graduate
certificate in indigenous governance.
Courtesy photo
Roscoe (Rocky Leroy Baptiste
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents and four brothers, Joseph Edward,
John Reginald, Merle Lloyd and Louis
Divonnis.
He is survived by his wife, Maxine
Eileen (Reid) Baptiste; daughter, Regena
Rose Story; son, Joseph Louis Baptiste;
daughter, Ramona and husband, Kevin
Kruger; son, Steven Leroy and wife, Darci
Baptiste; daughter, Rebecca Cecilia and
husband, Bill Davidson; 13 grandchil-
dren; 22½ great-grandchildren; and a
“little bear” (Mko), the dog who barks
too much.
From your friends with the US Forest Service
(Multicultural workforce Strategic Initiatives)
and the BIA’s National Center for
Cooperative education
2. You are a college student majoring in a natural resources field – forestry,
range, civil engineering, soil science, hydrology, archeology, natural
resources management, etc.
3. You represent a college, Tribe or other organization that works with American
Indian college students in natural resources fields.
Hiring season is almost here
1. All hiring for Pathways permanent intern and temporary intern programs is
now done through USAJobs. You should immediately go to usajobs.gov and
establish an account. Once your account is set up and your résumé is posted
online, it will be quick and easy for you to apply for any job announcement.
Check USAJobs often for new job announcements for summer 2014.
2. Announcements for permanent and summer temporary intern positions with
the U.S. Forest Service are posted on USAJobs now. Apply for the jobs
that interest you and are in your field of study. If you are American Indian,
please self-identify on your application. You need to apply for these jobs
immediately – like this week.
3. Announcements for permanent and summer temporary intern positions with
the Bureau of Indian Affairs were posted on USAJobs starting in December.
Remember that the BIA uses “Indian Preference” in its hiring process. If
you are not American Indian, you might consider other government agen-
cies – BIA only hires non-Natives if a qualified American Indian applicant
is not available.
The programs – taught by leading
experts in indigenous law and governance
from the U.S., Canada and Australia – pro-
vide practical guidance on addressing the
challenges and opportunities confronting
indigenous communities and are designed
for anyone working in or with indigenous
communities and organizations.
Students also can enroll in individual
classes without applying for one of the
full programs. Tuition scholarships are
available to eligible students.
To learn more about these two new
programs, visit indigenousgovernance.
net/, call 520-626-6497 or email law-
iplp@email.arizona.edu.
Tuition, con’t from page 1
Please read this if:
1. You want to work for the Forest Service or the Bureau of Indian Affairs
summer 2014 – or you know someone who does.
These two new degrees join the con-
tinuing education certificate in indigenous
governance as new ways to gain skills and
knowledge in indigenous nation building.
Mission Statement
We will utilize resources to prevent
the use of alcohol and other drugs,
delinquency and violence; we will
seek to reduce the barriers to
treatment and support those
who choose abstinance.
Jan. 9
Noon
Siletz Community Health Clinic
200Gwee-ShutRoad,Siletz
The November vote approved only
revisions in 2013-14 tuition rates; 2014-
15 rates will be approved by the State
Board in conjunction with the new cam-
pus institutional boards next spring.
“This is great news for students and
families in Oregon. Between this year’s
reduction and the freeze next year, afford-
ability will increase for Oregonians and
the cost barrier will lower,” said Melody
Rose, interim chancellor of the Oregon
University System. “We are grateful to the
governor and Legislature for providing
resources for our students across the state
who need tuition relief to help them stay
in school and complete their degrees. We
all benefit from the more robust economy
that our graduates help create.”
Siletz Tribal Behavioral Health Programs
Prevention, Outpatient Treatment, and women’s and Men’s Transitional
Siletz: 800-600-5599 or
541-444-8286
Eugene: 541-484-4234
Salem: 503-390-9494
Portland: 503-238-1512
Narcotics Anonymous Toll-Free
Help Line – 877-233-4287
For information on Alcoholics
Anonymous: aa-oregon.org
January 2014
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SiletzNews
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