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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1978)
PACE 6 JANUARY 27, 1978 JANUARY 27, lÿ7$ PAÛE 7 Harry Miller Training in Burns—------------ — Silversmithing Comes To Tbrthwest Silversmithing in Burns, Oregon? A crowded garage on the Burns Paiute Reservation is the unlikely headquarters for a new silversmith training program funded by CETA. Here you can find northwestern Indians learn ing the southwestern art of silver and turquoise jewelry making and discovering ready markets for their work. Home away from home for a handful of students, the garage can barely accommodate three industrious jewelry-makers and the workbenches, grinders, tor ches, and saws that are tools of the trade. Amid the smell of burnt silver and the sad sight of splintered turquoise there is not a discouraging word, because after a week of training the new students are putting out rings that are suitable for sale. Harry Miller, 36, of Warm Springs has been with the pro gram since it was launched .last June, a “guinea pig” whose success may point a future-for himself and the program. Harry’s contract has been ex tended to April as the six-month pilot project has matured to an established nine-month pro gram. By then Harry will be con sidered a qualified silversmith and he will be heading out on the powwow circuit - a field day for jewelry salesmen. Harry and two ne.w students, both Burns Paiute tribal mem bers, are learning not only the craft of silversmithing but the techniques of marketing and handling finances. Their teacher is a successful and accomplish ed silversmith, Delmar Adams, whose reputation is well-estab lished in silver and stone circles. Adams himself is a member of the Burns Paiute Tribe and is a largely self-taught jewelry maker whose brief four-year career in silver and turquoise began in California. He recently returned to the new Burns Paiute Reservation (established in 1972) and decided to share his skills with other tribal members. Teamed with his cousin Jim St. Martin, the tribal manager, Adams opened his garage with CETA training funds and has attracted a great deal of interest from students and wholesalers. The answer to “Why Burns?” lies not only in coinci dences of persons and places but also in the wise planning of tribal leaders who recognize their reservation’s lack of nat ural resources. Said St. Martin, “We’ve had to start looking at the Tribe as a resource.” The silversmithing program was promoted as one means of de veloping the talents and produc tivity of tribal members. Off in the future, St. Martin sees a loose cooperative of sil versmiths who will create their own styles identifiable to the Burns Reservation and establish a network, of markets. Although not a member of the Burns Paiute Tribe, Harry Miller is helping to show that people with little or no prior exposure can become skilled silver craftsmen in a matter of months. Text and Photos By Cynthia Stowell The strengths of the Madras Senior High School program, its weaknesses, and possible changes in scheduling, school procedures, extra curricular activities, and curriculum are being discussed by a high school study committee. The school staff, students, parents and community represen tatives comprising the committee would like to know how other students, teachers and district residents view the school program. The questionnaire below has been prepared for community resi dents to express ideas and opinions about the high school. (Student and faculty questionnaires will be distributed and collected at the school.) Your thoughtful response to these questions will help the committee develop-a better understanding of what the community expects of the school. The completed questionnaire, which is anonymous may be mailed or taken to Madras High School, 650 Tenth, or dropped in a "High School Questionnaire" box at Safeway, Ericksons, Aherns or Macys. Please return the questionnaire by February 8. Please indicate your feelings about the following statements. Harry Miller’s massive hands turn out delicate jewelry with no problem. Filing a ring, he noted that his fingernails had received a rather odd filing job that silversmiths take for granted - the result of getting too close to stone grinders. Miller was attracted to the program, which is open to all Oregon Indians, because of his experience selling jewelry for others. He figured “What the heck -1 don’t have to do that. I’ll just make my own stuff.” Securing local CETA funds, which provide for a stipend of $2.65 an hour, plus instruction and starting materials, Harry moved his wife Pat and their four kids to Burns. To Adams and St. Martin; he finishes up the hours needed this self-motivation is a mark of to get his pilot’s license. Silver lop, Harry Miller displayed his collection of stones a successful craftsman. Adams smithing on the side will help 1 himself. His taste goes beyond the traditional does not lead his students by the finance his way. Although he for or buys such unusual materials as “ilot” from hand; he is available to them as Jiopes one day to fly for the tree seeds which he enjoys incorporating into his a resource and if they want to Tribes, his jewelry-making will always be a skill he can depend learn they will seek him out. smiths reinforce their skills, ex irtin spoke As Harry learns the finer on. change ideas and venture confi ce for the points of jewelry-making, he will dently into the business world. Harry is even teaching his he lines of also be encouraged to increase On a reservation where op his speed. Rapid production is wife whatever he learns “so if re.” portunities are few, a small necessary to make the craft pay something happens to me, she titering the program is making a big point. for itself. The creation of quality can support herself.” ionth trial By taking on a craft new to work is not enough to assure a The future of the silver- those who themselves and the region, stu successful career as a silver dents like Harry Miller are smith. Knowing where to buy smithing program is no less o-year ap- demonstrating that they, as in materials, what to charge for ambitious. Working space for ms will be dividuals, can be a valuable and finished pieces, where the mar 15-20 will be available when a months of adaptable resource. kets are, and how to handle new arts building is constructed jw silver income are also crucial tools. Harry has since mastered the basics of cutting and polish ing turquoise and heating and shaping silver, combining the two materials into original jewelry designs. Instructor Adams hopes by April to have Students are encouraged to his student doing advanced- sell their work, the profits from bracelet work that is “clean” which go into their own special and creative, like the master’s. account, giving, them funds for the purchase of more materials. Harry is already displaying St. Martin noted that Harry and cultivating his own style. He is fond of “unusual stones - is ahead of the game in that he different from what you usually has established numerous busi see,” and boasts a collection ness contacts through the years. ranging from Mexican turquoise Retailers on the coast, pow to Israeli “ilot.” Harry is also wows, arts & crafts fairs and the striving for a northwestern Warm Springs visitors center touch, evidenced now by a dis gift shop are all potential mar tinctive notching on the edges of kets that Harry will depend on. his rings which he feels repre Harry observed happily but a bit sents the mountainous land wearily that he already has scape. He signs his work with a more orders than he can handle. tepee design. Silversmithing is a “very Having filled his livingroom with a private workshop, Harry literally works day and night practicing and perfecting the techniques he has learned. He enjoys experimenting and has attempted inlay stone work without any prodding from the instructor. silversmith students with his array of masterful work which he gladly pulls out for examination. The Burns Paiute Indian has taken on a southwestern art and personalized it with his innovations. What Is Your Opinion? 1. The current high school policy is that all 9th and 10th grade students must stay on campus during school hours. Do you: Strongly agree Agree _Disagree.__ ^Strongly disagree No Opinion Should this policy apply to all students ? 2. What is your opinion of the high school rules (discipline)? ’ Too strict___Not strict enough_____ About right No opinion__ Enforced consistently Enforced inconsistently 3. Do Madras High School students consume drugs (including alcohol) other than those prescribed by a physcian? Very little Yes, but not enough to damage health or cause social problems No opinion__ 4. How do you feel about talking with teachers and school administrators? Very reluctant Reluctant Comfortable Somewhat comfortable No opinion 5. What do you feel are the students' attitudes, in general, of their classes? Very challenged Somewhat challenged Somewhat bored Very bored No opinion 6. What do you think of th« academic standards at' the high school? High enough Adequate Too low No opinion 7. Are graduates of Madras High School prepared to: A. Function in the community? Very well prepared Adequately prepared_ Somewhat prepared Poorly prepared_ No opinion ~ i B. Continue their education? Very well prepared Adequately prepared__ Somewhat prepared Poorly prepared , Nd- opinion C. Meet the requirements of job entry? Very well prepared Adequately prepared__Somewhat prepared Poorly prepared,No opinion__ 8. Do you feel there is enough home work assigned at the..high school? Too much About the right amount Not enough No opinion -- -- 9. What do you think of the Madras High Schodl extra-curricular activity program? Too many activities Too few activities About the right number No opinion ----- From the following list of educational goals please select the five most important. Please place them in order of how important you feel they are. Most important Second Third____ Fourth Fifth 1. Learn how to respect and get along with people who think, dress and act differently than the student does. 2. Learn about and try'to understand the changes that take place in the world around the student. 3. Develop basic skills in reading, writing, speaking, math and listening. 4. Learn to cooperate effectively with others and with those with whom we work and live. 5. Learn how to be good managers of money and other resources 6. Develop personal creativity and appreciation of art, music' and drama. 7. Gain infoi mation needed to be aware of different occupational fields. 8. Develop personal values, self respect and a feeling of self worth 9. Gain a general education in science, social studies, literature as well as learning to examine and use information and think logically. From the above list which do you feel Madras High School is doing the best job. 1 2 3 4 5 From the same list which do you feel needs greater emphasis at the high school. 1 2 3 4 5 If you have^anyopinions or comments about the high school, good or bad, please aptach them when you return this survey. The following information is not essential, but would be helpful personal thing”, said St. Martin, and the career options available are unlimited. Harry has some very specific ideas about his future. A tireless traveler, Harry plans to set up a shop in his camper and work the powwow circuit this summer. His travel ing will then turn to the skies as Age_____ Mal e____ F ema 1 e______ How long in district Children in pre-high school Children in high school Children in high school during last five years Either pre-school children or no children of school age Instructor and student talk*®^® ®n an inlaid stone and silver ring that Harry created. Adams is always avails^his students should not be led by the hand. What is last year of education? No high school High school__________________ Some college__________________ College degree Graduate ¡study.
