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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1977)
''i WARM SPRINGS, OREGON MAY 13, 1977 PAGE 3 Icommission Works Toward Improved Indian Services Created for the purpose of improving services to Indians in Oregon, the Commission on Indian Services has just been assured of continued funding for the next fiscal year. Ore gon is unique in that it is the only state to create and fund such a commission. Since its conception in 1975, the commission has been act ing as a clearinghouse for information about the concerns and needs of Indian Communi ties in Oregon and as a cata lyst for bringing those con cerns and needs to the direct attention of state government. “To really serve the legis lature the commission has to be a good ear to Indian com munities and be able to effect- ively communicate—not intimi date,” says Commission Chair- man Warren “Rudy” Clem? ents. “We’re trying not tó use an uptight approach so we don’t have staff who would manifest that kind of attitude,” he stated. The Commission on Indian Services is made up of ten members which includes one member from the Oregon Sen ate, one from the Oregon House of Representatives, and eight Indians from throughout the state. All are appointed jointly by the President of the Oregon Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representa tives. The eight Indian members include representatives from Doris “Teeney Miller New Job Challenging, Fun ib e- 'k u- is ig id d- to 5- “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” said Dor is “Teeney” Miller, referring to the position she accepted last October with the Commis sion on Indian Services. Doris was hired last Octo ber by the commission to fill the position of Administrative Assistant and secretary to the Executive Director, Bruce Bis- hop. This meant a move to Salem and taking a chance on something unknown and unfa- miliar. But now, seven months lat er, Doris says she’s glad she overcame her fears about tak ing the job. “There’s always something new to learn and it’s interesting to work with the senators and representa tives here at the capitol.” She said that at first it was scarey and that she had a lot to learn. “I’m still learning, and it’s still a little scarey— but it’s interesting and really not all that complicated,” not ed Doris. Prior to applying for her present position with the com mission, Doris graduated from the Cleveland Academy of Professional Secretaries then gained some experience in Washington, D.C. working on the national level, with Public Health Service. While working in criminal investigation for the BIA here at Warm Springs last summer she was encouraged to apply for the Salem position. “I never thought I’d even be considered for the job,” she contends. Rudy Clements said that though there were a lot of people who applied he wasn’t very surprised that Doris got the job. “She has a pleasing personality, she’s able to dis pense information, and people aren’t afraid to come back. She’s the first person people see or talk to when they go to that office and since first im pressions are made by the initial contact, she helps us a lot.” Living in an apartment in Salem is a lot, different from living on the reservation, Doris says wistfully. “It gets lonely sometimes.” But she claims enthusiastically that her job is a challenge she’s glad she accepted. each of the following tribal councils or non-reservation areas: 1. Confedereated Tribes of the Warin Springs Reservation. 2. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation. 3. Burns-Paiute Tribe. 4. Klamath Falls-Chiloquin. 5. Portland urban area. 6. North coastal area. 7. South coastal area. 8. Williamette Valley area. Present commission mem bers and staff include Warren “Rudy” Clements (Chairman) from Warm Springs; Arthur Bensell (Vice-Chairman) from Siletz; Senator Victor Atiyeh; Robert ’hojorcas of Eugene; Patrick Borunda of Portland; William Brainard of Coos Bay; John Green from Klamath Falls; Rep. Sam Johnson; James St. Martin of Burns; and a newly appointed member representing the Umatilla Res ervation, William Johnson. Members of the Commission staff based in Salem are Bruce A. Bishop (Executive Director) and Doris “Teeney” Miller, Administrative-executive sec retary. Both Bishop and Clements feel that the commission has had some impact on housing this past year. Bishop ex- plained, for example, that the Veterans Housing program hasn’t been traditionally avail able to those on reservations, but that due to commission efforts there is veterans hous ing currently under construc tion on the Burns Reservation. The commission is also supporting a senate bill which authorizes the state to plow liquor tax monies back into the community for treatment of drinking problems. A lot of work has also been done by the commission in the field of education, especially in the area of the Indian Education Act. Essentially, the Commis sion on Indian Services is an advisory body which can re commend methods for the State of Oregon to improve state services to Indians in Oregon. In order to effectively accomplish this task, the com mission meets with Indian communities or groups to learn what problems they are facing and how those problems can be solved. Clements feels that the group has more political clout as a legislative commission than it would have otherwise. The commission takes an active role in serving Oregon’s Indian citizenry. It chooses not to just sit back and wait for people to come to it but goes out to actively seek input. Often, the commission invites representatives of state and federal agencies to meet with the commission to discuss their programs affecting Indians. The commission monitors legislation affecting Indians, both while it is being consid ered by the legislature and after it has become law. It notifies individuals within the legislature who are involved in activities of interest to Indians, and assists in presenting infor- niation to the Legislature on issues of importance to Indians in Oregon. Among the specific statu tory responsibilities of the Commission are the following: 1. To compile information on services available to Indians in education, employment, hous ing, mental health, and wel fare; 2. To inform Indians of these services; 3. To recom mend improvements or new programs; and 4. To report annually to the Legislature and the Governbr. “Indian people feel they can talk to this commission,” said Clements. “They are en couraged to. People can be sure we will be responsive to their concerns.” Warm Springs Students Spelling Up a S-T-O-R-M A lot of spelling has been for their turn to spell orally. going on in the schools lately. The contest is done entirely on During April, the sixth, paper, which perhaps removes eighth and eleventh grades some of the element of fear, ,held contests in the buildings but also a bit of the drama. throughout the county to select Materials and instruction representatives for the state for the spelling contests come competition in September. from the State Department of Roger Stwyer, son of Har Education and are admini old and Neda Greene, won the stered through the County In county “bee” on April 29, termediate Education Districts beating another junior from (IED). Participation of schools Culver High School. Roger has and individual students is vol the opportunity to spell some untary. more at the State Fair in The Warm Springs Grade Salem September 6. School sent sixth grader Jos Spelling bees apparently eph Winishut to the county aren’t quite what they used to competition. He went in the be. Kids no longer stand self place of building winner Jereen consciously in a line waiting Thomas who became ill and couldn’t go. In other spelling news, the grade school in Warm Springs had its own schoolwide contest for all ages. The winners, who are listed here, will receive certificates at the awards as sembly on the last day of school, June 8. Super spellers in Warm Springs are: First grade: Laurie Dan- zuka. Second grade: June Smith and Minnie Kennedy. Third grade: Robin Chinn. Fourth grade: Becky Dan- zuka. Fifth grade: Anita Bryant. Sixth grade: Jereen Thom as. Stick Games and Crafts At Kalispel An arts and crafts fair and stick game . tournament has been planned by the Kalispel Activities Committee for May 21-22, 1977. The festivities will be held in Usk, Washington on the Kalispel Indian Reserva tion. Top stick game teams and Players will ; be competing for Jack pot: cash prizes. Only genuine Indian-made items will be offered , for sale in the arts and crafts fair. There will be a $100 entry fee for each stick game team, which must consist of a mini mum of four and a maximum of ten people. Arts and crafts exhibitors will be charged $30 for the use of a. table for two days. For régistration informa- mation contact Francis Culloo- yah between 8:00 and 4:00 weekdays at (509) 445-1147. Jereen Thomas and 'Joseph Winishut try to beat the hourglass while making words with lettered cubes. Jereen won the state-sponsored spelling contest at the grade school but Joseph represented Warm Springs at the county contest when she got sick. CDS Photo
