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.