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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 1977)
PAGE 8 JULY 8, 1977 Council 77 n a re n IJ m A u l l u a l a b ua * v v a iiu iu iw m From Seekseequa School Girl to Council Representative (T h is i s th e f o u r th in a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s i n t r o d u c i n g th e f i v e n e w ly e l e c t e d T r ib a l C o u n c il m e m b e r s who t o o k o f f i c e May 2 , 1 9 7 7 . N e a r ly h a l f o f t h e p r e v i o u s c o u n c i l w as r e p l a c e d b y t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s / so m e o f whom a r e s e a s o n e d p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s a n d o t h e r s who a r e n e w t o g o v e r n m e n t . D u r i n g t h e n e x t f o u r y e a r s , e v e n t s o n t h e Warm S p r in g s R e s e r v a tio n w i l l be sh a p ed in p a r t hy th e s e p e o p le . T r u e t o t h e c l i m a t e o f i m p r o v e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h e new c o u n c i l i s a t t e m p t i n g to c r e a t e , h e r e i s o ne o p p o r tu n ity f o r th e p u b l i c to becom e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e v ie w s o f t h e i r new r e p r e s e n t — t i v e s .) COUNCILWOMAN KAREN WALLULATUM thing she could point out as Representing the Seeksee being her b iggest concern. qua District, newly elected Tri There are a number of matters bal Council m em ber Karen she considers important. Wallulatum is facing a new challenge in her custom ary quiet and unruffled manner. Born and raised on the Housing is one of them. Warm Springs R eservation, “ There is a great need for Karen lived with her family in more housing,” she states. “I’d the Seekseequa area until 1943, like to see people being able to when it was time for her to start school. As with all the other child ren at that time, she attended the boarding school in the agency area while staying at the “ old girls dorm ’’ during the school year. “ I couldn’t really say whether I liked it or hated it,” she says. “It was quiet and restricted, but it seemed na tural in those days. I didn’t know anything different.” She re ca lls, though, that they had to line up in groups to go just about everywhere. “ I rem em ber that once a week, on Saturday afternoons, we’d line up with our quarters build and liv e where they to go to Macy’s to buy pop and choose, provided they’re within ice cream,” she says. “I think the limits of tribal ordinances the older kids got to go on and requirements. Wednesdays, too. And a quar ter would buy a lot then,” she reminds. “Also, I would like to see She lived at the girls dorm more of our people in manage for nine years, eight while in ment and supervisory positions grade school and one when she within the tribal organization, attended high school in at Kah-Nee-Ta, and at Warm Madras. Springs F orest Products In Now at the age of 41 and dustries,” she asserts. serving on the council for the first time, Karen has weighty issues to consider and senses a real responsibility to the whole And, as a mother of nine, reservation. the youth of the reservation is “Though I’m a Seekseequa an area clo se to her heart. representative and sit between Says Karen, “ B ecau se the an Agency and a Simnasho children are our future, when representative in council cham talking in terms of the youth, I bers, when the elven of us get want the best p ossible pro together we’re all working for grams available to meet their the good of the total reserva n eed s.” When it com es to tion,” stresses Karen. caring for their needs she At this point, Karen says stre sses, “ L et’s get the best that she doesn’t see any one for them.” Though she thinks there are som e good individuals working with the young people, the new councilwoman wants assurances that those who are involved with the kids as coun selors, policemen, judges, and in social programs care about them and have the needs and interests of all youth at heart. K aren’s in terest in youth undoubtedly stem s from the fact that she has nine children ranging in age from 7 to 23 - six of whom are still at home/ I would like to see more tribal members in management and supervisory positions V She observes and interacts not only with her own, but with all their friends, too. “They’re all different. They’re all indi- • viduals and it’s pretty interest ing,” she notes. Regarding hobbies or per sonal interests, Karen says she doesn’t really do anything for herself. “Being a parent and keeping your children en ter tained is full-time.” "Because the children are our future, I want the best possible programs available to meet their needs. As a Seeseequa District re presentative, the councilwoman sa y s there is som e talk of people wanting to move back there. “Some have land over there, inherited interests and family ties. I dream of moving back th ere,” she says w ist fully. "Serving on the Though busy with fam ily and Tribal Council business, Karen still maintains her part- time job in the credit depart m ent. B ecau se of a possible conflict of in terest, however, she no longer serves on the credit committee. Serving on the Council is an added dimension to Karen’s life. “ It m akes m e realize what an enormous organization we do have,” she says. council makes me realize what an enormous She explains that when she looks at the agenda for the month she knows “pretty much what’s going to be coming up.” Yet each day is a surprise - “each day is different.” organization we have." “The problem is that the school and all the employment is centered in the W a r m Springs area and it’s becoming more and more so.” In addi tion to the fact that there are no TV or telephone lines in the Seekseequa area it makes her wonder if rural development is ever going to happen. The workload has gotten to the point where, though council is scheduled to meet for just two days a week, they’re run ning more, according to Karen. T h e r e is quite a b i t of reading involved which she usually does during the day and sometimes in the evening. She fee ls that everything that, comes to the attention of the Tribal Council is important and deserves adequate discus sion and consideration. There are nine fam ilies And she thinks that more living there now, and Karen has a home there though she com m unication with tribal lives in Miller Heights. All the members is needed. Says Kar resid en ces are on w ells and en, “ Council has spoken of springs, and though the domes having more General Council tic water situation is still ac m eetings to le t people know ceptable, the water levels are how and why w e’re doing these le ss than norm al because of things. I think one answer the drought, according to Kar might be to have more district meetings.” en.
