Winter driving tips
From December 2015 issue of Making
an Impact, at Oregonimpact.com
Winter driving can be hazard-
ous and scary, especially in Oregon
regions that get a lot of snow and ice.
Additional preparations can help make
a trip safer or help motorists deal with
an emergency.
The following safety tips can help
prevent motor vehicle injuries due to
winter storms.
Prepare
•
Maintain your car: Check battery,
tire tread, and windshield wipers;
keep your windows clear; put no-
freeze fluid in the washer reservoir;
and check your antifreeze.
•
•
Have On Hand: Flashlight, jumper
cables, abrasive material (sand,
kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel,
snow brush and ice scraper, warning
devices (like flares) and blankets. For
long trips, add food and water, medi-
cation and cell phone.
Stopped or stalled? Stay in your car;
don’t overexert; put bright markers on
antenna or windows, shine dome light;
and if you run the car, clear exhaust pipe
and run it just enough to stay warm.
•
Plan your route: Allow plenty of time
(check the weather and leave early if
necessary), be familiar with the maps/
directions and let others know your
route and arrival time.
Practice cold weather driving
•
•
•
•
During daylight, rehearse maneuvers
slowly on ice or snow in an empty lot.
Steer into a skid.
Know what your brakes will do –
stomp on antilock brakes, pump on
non-antilock brakes.
Stopping distances are longer on
water-covered ice and ice.
•
Don’t idle for a long time with the
windows up or in an enclosed space.
Snow zones ahead
Are you prepared for inclement
weather? Check your vehicle’s condi-
tion before you go and pack emergency
supplies in case you get stuck.
Make sure you have appropriate
chains or traction tires; slow down
and drive according to conditions of
the road.
Check out road conditions, travel
information and road cameras by visit-
ing TripCheck.com or call 511.
Address, continued from page 1
This history isn’t taught in most schools.
But it should be. Because the relationship
with Tribal governments was central to the
early growth of the United States.
Back then, Tribal nations had a valu-
able resource – land. The United States
declared itself to have territorial author-
ity over our lands and through hundreds
of treaties and other agreements, Tribal
lands were placed in TRUST by the United
States government. That is how the United
States became our trustee.
It promised to protect and uphold our
right to govern ourselves, to support the
right and ability of Tribal governments to
care for their own people and to help us
manage our remaining lands and resources
in our best interests. These are not mere
agreements. These promises are treaties
between nations. Under the Constitution,
they are the supreme law of the land – and
always will be.
That was the beginning of our rela-
tionship. It was based on respect and full
of promise – just as it is today. But our rela-
tionship hasn’t always been so promising.
“The Progress of Civilization”
We have inherited an anguished his-
tory that should not be ignored, but under-
stood so it will never be repeated. Our
history produced generations of trauma,
poverty and abuse that we are still fighting
to undo. Tribes removed from their home-
lands. Families forced across the country.
Lands and resources stolen – despite the
guarantees of treaties, laws, executive
orders and judicial decisions.
Our rights, our needs and our hopes for
the future were denied or ignored. Many
thought Tribes would disappear. They
thought our cultures would vanish. They
believed our people would assimilate.
That way of thinking is carved deeply
into the dominant American psyche. It’s
carved into old, outdated federal policies.
It’s even carved into stone. Over the Sen-
ate entrance of the United States Capitol,
there is a marble frieze. A massive sculp-
ture called “The Progress of Civilization.”
It begins with Indians beside a grave.
In the middle is a pioneer, lady liberty
and a soldier. It ends with waves of grain
representing fertility and an anchor rep-
resenting hope. Here is how the architect
of the Capitol’s official website describes
it: “Indian chief, Indian mother and child
and Indian grave represent the early days
of America.”
10
•
Siletz News
•
That sculptor thought a grave repre-
sented the fate of Tribal nations. It just
goes to show – he knew nothing of the
resilience of Native people!
We have not disappeared and we are
not victims. We have persevered. We are
survivors and we are growing stronger
every day. We are thriving 21 st century
governments built on self-determination.
Yes, our ancestors were central to Ameri-
ca’s early days. But we are also central to
America’s present – and vital to its future.
Progress is not built on the graves of
our people. It is built with our people and
by our people.
Progress made through
self-determination
I would like to take a moment to rec-
ognize those leaders of the past – Ernie
Stevens Sr., Wilma Mankiller, Wendell
Chino, Joe DeLaCruz and so many oth-
ers. They were relentless in promoting
the simple fact that progress in Indian
Country was built with our people and by
our people. Through their efforts, Tribal
self-determination returned to the fore-
front of federal policy.
In 1970, President Nixon addressed
a joint session of Congress and said, “On
virtually every scale of measurement –
employment, income, education, health
– the condition of the Indian people ranks
at the bottom. The time has come to break
decisively with the past and to create the
conditions for a new era in which the
Indian future is determined by Indian acts
and Indian decisions.”
Nixon urged Congress to empower
Tribal governments to do what is best for
Tribal citizens. And 46 years later, we have
proven the wisdom of his conviction.
The Pueblo of Isleta now runs its local
elementary school – for the first time in
over a century – taking it over from the
federal government. In those hallways
and classrooms, Isleta students are now
immersed in their language, their values
and their traditions.
Likewise, the Confederated Tribes of
Umatilla have reshaped their child wel-
fare system to strengthen families. Now,
70 percent more Umatilla children are
thriving with their families in their homes
and communities.
The Confederated Salish and Koote-
nai Tribes developed new skills training,
job placement and professional mentoring
programs. The impact? They cut their
February 2016
unemployment rate in half. As one case-
worker put it, “When adults are productive
in a family, it makes for happy children.”
And the Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa have an assisted liv-
ing residence, where an Elder can lead
an independent life in the comfort of her
or his own community and culture. This
is what we see after 46 years of progress
under Tribal self-determination. Slowly
but surely, America is re-learning who we
are and what we are capable of.
Outside of government, a tide of
respect is building. Leading companies
are engaging with us, partnering with us
and standing with us.
Adidas recently announced it would
offer funding and design talent to help
schools choose new, more respectful mas-
cots for their athletic teams. Already, nearly
100 schools have reached out to Adidas.
Meanwhile, the state of California
banned the R-word – the name of the
Washington football team – in public
schools. The Seattle Times did the same
in its newspaper. I urge other states and
companies to join them as they see us for
who we are.
Today, we are growing our economies,
preparing students to succeed, delivering
high-quality health care and solving the
unique challenges facing Tribal com-
munities. Today, we are proving that our
governments are far more effective than
other governments in meeting the needs
of our people.
That was the promise our Elders
dreamed of and the vision that President
Nixon saw back in 1970.
But if we want to make Tribal self-
determination the prevailing federal policy
in this century, we have much more work
to do.
Progress made through
partnership
We need to modernize the trust rela-
tionship. We need to replace antiquated
laws and regulations with policies that
trust and empower Tribes to govern. We
need a relationship based not on paternal-
ism and control, but on deference and sup-
port, a partnership where Tribes continue
to meet their own challenges and chart
their own path forward.
It’s not enough to have a seat at the
table. It’s not enough to be involved in
decisions. We need policies and processes
that recognize Tribes as true partners in
governing. Because Indian Country is
the source of solutions that work for
Indian Country.
During this administration, we have
worked on a bipartisan basis to fix what was
broken, build on what works and create what
is needed. There are countless examples.
We fought for governmental parity
by passing the Tribal General Welfare
Exclusion Act unanimously so that when
we receive a basic Tribal governmental
service, it’s not taxed as extra income.
We fought for health security by pass-
ing the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act so we could strengthen preventative
care and modernize Tribal care networks.
We fought to restore our jurisdiction
by passing the Tribal Law & Order Act
so Tribes can more effectively investi-
gate crimes, prosecute criminals and
strengthen public safety.
We fought to protect Native women by
strengthening the Violence Against Women
Act, empowering Tribes to prosecute any
lawbreaker – Native or not – who commits
domestic violence on Tribal lands.
We fought to empower Tribal control
over Tribal lands by partnering with the
Department of Interior to amend leasing
and right-of-way regulations.
I could go on and on. While there
are many legal and ethical reasons to
strengthen Tribal self-determination, there
is also a practical reason – it works.
President Obama has cer tainly
embraced this concept as President Nixon
did. We expect the next president and the
next Congress to work with us to build on
this progress.
Progress we can make
In this election year, I invite any candi-
date of any party: Come to Indian Country.
See for yourself: Tribal nations are build-
ing brighter futures for their citizens – and
all Americans. While Indian Country is
still recovering from generations of dam-
aging policies, more than four decades of
Tribal self-determination have launched
our resurgence. Today, Tribal nations are
innovating – and leading the way.
With the 2016 election season well
under way, the national dialogue is taking
shape. I want to touch on four important
areas where Tribes are contributing to that
dialogue – community security; economic
equality; education, health and wellness;
and climate change. These are challenges
that affect every American – Native and