PAGE 2 WARM SPRINGS, OREGON JULY 9, 1976
Dear Abby
Dear Abby: Now that sum
mer, is here, I notice so many
teenagers driving much too
fast and recklessly.
Two years, ago I clipped
the enclosed editorial from our
local newspaper and showed it
to our teenage son and daugh
ter, and after they read it they
became two of the .most sensi
ble drivers alive.
Please print it, Abby. It
may do the same for others.
—Daily Reader
Dear Reader: It’s well
worth an entire column. Who
wrote it? And for which news
paper? I want to credit it.
“Please God I’m Only
Seventeen”
The day I died was an
ordinary school day. How I awfully slow. I heard the deaf
wish I had taken the bus! But ening crash and felt a terrific
I was too cool for the bus. I jolt. Glass and steel flew
remember how I wheedled the everywhere. My whole body
car out of Mom. “Special fa seemed to be turning inside
vor,” I pleaded, “all the kids out. I heard myself scream.
drive.” When the 2:50 bell
Suddenly I awakened; it
rang. I threw all my books in
was very quiet. A police officer
the locker. I was free until •was standing over me. Then I
8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran
saw a doctor. My body was
to the parking lot, excited at mangled; I was saturated with
the thought of driving a car
blood. Pieces of jagged glass
and being my own boss. Free!
were sticking out all over.
Strange that I couldn’t feel
It doesn’t matter how the anything.
accident happened. I was goof
ing off — going too fast. Tak
Hey, don’t pull that sheet
ing crazy chances. But I was over my head. I can’t be dead.
enjoying my freedom and hav I’m only 17; I’ve got a date to
ing fun. The last thing I re night. I am supposed to grow
member was passing an old up and have a wonderful life: I
lady who seemed to be going haven’t lived yet. I can’t be
From “American Home”
LaDonna Harris, President
of Americans for Indian Op
portunity and subject of profile
in American Home magazine’s
July issue, will introduce Cree
Indian painter Allen Sapp at
the opening of his one-man
show at Rowe House Gallery,
1834 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. on.July 1st,
6:30 p.m.
The Exhibition includes 37
acrylic paintings which depict
the Cree Indians’ day-to-day
activities and attempts to cope
with their hard life on the
reservation. Ms. Harris is co
sponsoring Mr. Sapp. His other
patrons include Robert Redford
and Robert Goulet.
According to American
Home’s “Emerging Woman”
column, Ms. Harris, a Coman
che Indian and nationally
known expert on Indian affairs,
“travels throughout the coun
try, often to small towns or
isolated Indian reservations,
bringing a message of hope
and determination to demora
lized tribes.” The article notes
that the American Indian’s
problems “seem almost over
whelming: the lowest standard
of living, highest suicide and
alcoholism rate, greatest un
employment rate in the coun
try.”
Ms. Harris says “one of
the roots of. the problem is that
it’s been the policy of the
federal government, the chur
HEW
dead.
,
Later I was placed in a
drawer. My folks had to iden
tify me. Why did they have to
see me like this? Why did I
have to look at Mom’s eyes
when she faced the most ter
rible ordeal of her life? Dad
suddenly looked like an old
man. He told the man in
charge, “Yes, he is my son.”
The funeral was a weird
experience. I saw all my rela
tives and friends walk toward
the casket. They passed by,
one by one, and looked at me
with the saddest eyes I’ve ever
seen. Some of my buddies
were crying. A few of the girls
touched my hand and sobbed
as they walked away.
Please . . . somebody . . .
wake me up! Get me out of
here. I can’t bear to see my
Mom and Dad so broken up.
My grandparents are so racked
with grief they can barely
walk. My brother and sisters
are like zombies. They move
like robots. In a daze, every
body! No one can believe this.
And I can’t believe it either.
Please don’t bury me! I’m
not dead! I have a lot of living
to do! I want to laugh and run
again. I want to sing and
dance. Please don’t put me in
the ground. I promise if you
give me just one more chanc,e,
God, I’ll be the most careful
driver in the whole world. All I
want is one more chance.
Please, God, I’m only 17!
Social Security Note
ches and of education to bring
People who disagree with a
the Indian community into the
decision on their social secur
mainstream of American so
HEW has announced award ity or supplemental security
ciety, to acculturate Indian
of
$29,115,300
under the Emer (SSI) claim now have 60 days
people so there wouldn’t be
to request a reconsideration,
any tribes left.” Currently gency Medical Services Sys according to John Fullerton,
tems
Act
to
52
recipients
in
34
there are approximately 200
States, the District of Colum social security representative
tribes.
in Central Oregon.
bia, and Puerto Rico.
♦
The time limit was chang
“What was so destructive,”
ed
as a result of a recent
The funds will assist State,
says Ms. Harris in the article,
amendment to the law, Fuller-’
regional,
and
community
or
“was that the government
ton said.
said, “If you’ll give up your ganizations to continue the
Formerly, SSI claimants
tribal culture and identity and operation of emergency medi had only 30 days to request
cal
services
systems,
or
to
accept our larger society’s
reconsideration, while there
ideas, then you will be ac improve and expand systems was a 6-month time limit for
already
established.
cepted.” She notes, however,
asking for a review on a social
that Indians weren’t allowed to
security retirement, disability,
be homogenized in the great
survivors, or Medicare claim.
melting pot “because we were
The announcement marks
A reconsideration is the
dark skinned. Now, because we the third time grants have first step in the appeals' pro
are different, we can share been awarded under the Emer cess available to social secur
something prideful with society. gency Medical Services Sys ity and SSI claimants.
If you feel comfortable with tems Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-154).
“Claimants are notified in
who you are, that’s the most Since then, ya total of $49 writing of any decision that
motivating force that there is.” million has been distributed to affects their application, eligi
She adds,.“it’s the same thing remedy emergency medical bility, or payment amount,”
with the women of course.”
services deficiencies in com Fullerton said. “They will have
Until recently, Ms. Parris munities across the country.
60 days from the time they get
was frequently consulted by
The EMSS Act was passed the initial decision to ask for a
political aides to her husband, to provide financial support reconsideration. The date of
former Oklahoma senator Fred and technical assistance to en receipt is presumed to be 5
R. Harris, on strategy in his courage the improvement of days after the notice is mailed
bid for the democratic presi emergency medical aid based unless you can show that you
dential convention.
on a regional health care de did not get it until later, or not
Each month in the “Emer livery approach. To date, 300 at all.”
ging Woman” column, Ameri emergency medical 'Services
People can file a request
can Home magazine profiles a regions have been designated for reconsideration at any
woman who has done an out by the States with 110 EMS social security office. The
standing job of fulfilling herself systems established, and 125 in nearest office in Central Ore
in all facets of her life.
the planning phase.
gon is at Bend. The request
Funds
must be in writing — in a
letter or on a form available
from the Bend office.
People who disagree with
the reconsideration decision
may ask for a hearing before a
presiding office^ of the Bureau
of Hearings and Appeals of the
Social Security Administration.
“Your request for a hear
ing must be filed within 60
days, after you receive notice
Aof the reconsideration deci
sion,” Fullerton said.
People may be represented
by a qualified person of their
choice at any stage of the
claims of appeals process. “If
you have any questions about
the decision,” Fullerton said,
“get in touch with the office in
Bend. The people there will be
glad to help you in any way
they can.”
Photo by Cynthia Stowell
Timetable Set For Major Movie
“The Young Warrior”, a
major motion picture will be
filmed here on the Warm
Springs Reservation pending
Council approval, Spilyay Ty-
moo learned. Shooting is Sched
uled to begin August 2.
Phone 553-1644
Sites have already been
chosen, and potential stars
STAFF
have been selected. According
Publisher - Editor
Sid Miller
to Mel Lambert, those chosen
for lead roles will not be noti
Olney Patt Jr.
Reporter - Photographer
fied until a few days before
Photography
Cynthia Stowell
shooting begins.
Photographer - Reporter
Sandy Rangila
Lambert explained that the
Trainee movie is about the modern-day
Tammy Kalama
Indian, and in particular, about
The paper will be published semi-monthly.
a young boy’s struggle between
Published by The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs the modern world he grew up
Reservation of Oregon.
in and the traditional world his
WARM SPRINGS, OREGON 97761
grandfather wants him to
know.
(COYOTE NEWS)
Those involved with the
movie will be staying at Kah-
Nee-Ta Lodge where reserva
tions for forty have been made
for 5 weeks. “The filming will
probably take longer, than 5
weeks, though,” said Lambert.
“It always does.”
The movie is being made
by the same people who did
“One Flew Over Ilie Cuckoo’s
Nest”, an Academy- Award,
winner. The director is Keith
Merrill, and the producer is
Sol Zaentz.
The writer is Cy Gomberg,
and the photographer is Bruce
Surtees, the same man who did
the photography for “Towering
Inferno” and “The Last Pic
ture Show”.
Lambert, who is acting
only in an advisory capacity,
stressed that Indians will be
hired to play the part of In
dians. He said that up to 60
extras will be needed every
day during the shooting and
that local people will be chosen
for those parts.
Lambert pointed out that
the movie producers do not
want to take anyone away
from his or her job. They want
to hire unemployed people
when they can and give those
looking for extra summer work
a chance.
Further reports and photos
of the filming here oh the
reservation will be forthcoming
as the movie crews swing into
action.