PAGE 4 JANUARY 19, 1979
Editorial
E COOSH EEWA:
(The way it is)
Editor's Notes
Letters to the ^rom The High
Signing Letters - 1|
We received a letter in response to our note in the last edition
entitled “Please Sign Letters.” Unfortunately it was not signed or we
would have printed it.
The author disagreed with our policy, saying that if required to
sign letters that are critical of local departments or programs, people
would have to suffer unfair consequences from their superiors or
potential employers.
Our response is this. First, perhaps more credit should be given to
supervisors and their ability to judge impersonally. Second, if
someone wants to register a gripe about a particular department he
should probably communicate directly with whoever is involved
rather than indirectly through the newspaper.
We would like the newspaper to be a forum for ideas and opinions,
but problems are more apt to be solved outside the newspaper pages
through direct confrontation.
Our other suggestion is that if you would like to register an opinion
anonymously, write to us anyway and we’ll keep your letter on file. If
enough people write on the same subject we then have material for an
article, editorial or investigation.
Sounds fair, doesn’t it?
Before Another
Child Stumbles
If you think of childhood as a slowly building crescendo, gathering
momentum with the passing years, leading logically and lyrically to
the quiet fulfillment of old age, it is heartbreaking when the finale
comes too soon.
It is even more perplexing when a child lets the rhythm of her
young life falter; when she falls out of time with the natural beat of
growing and becoming. It is a denial of all that went before and
everything that is to come.
A young girl spent fourteen years affirming her life. She rode her
horse, dribbled her basketball and danced with moccasined feet
toward maturity, loving her childishness, curious about adulthood.
At some point she risked all that by inviting .danger to be her
friend. But her new friend distracted her, made her miss a beat, then
made the ultimate demand: in exchange for her life, it offered her
death.
She did not choose death. But she placed herself within its grasp
and became deaf to the rhythm her life had established.
It is not for us to name villains when a life is wasted. But it is left to
us to make life look a little more attractive so that the dangers are not
so fascinating. So other lives can reach their climaxes. Too many have
fallen short of their proper finale.
Do the young people of Warm Springs value life so little that they
are willing to throw their futures over for the thrill of the moment? We
may serve them everything on a silver platter, never letting them see
the price tag.
Or maybe we don’t give them enough of what they really need. Do
we give them enough love and respect so that they will proudly guard
their lives against death? Do we offer them so little knowledge that
they innocently chart life-threatening courses? If we gave them more
of our time and attention, would we be quicker to notice a stumble?
Before another child forgets what his life is building to, let’s go
with him. Schools, give him supervision. Drug program, inform him.
Merchants, make the highs harder to get. Parents, help him care.
To Our Office Telephone Callers:
We have been experiencing
difficulties with our phone ser
vice lately. We would like to
appologize for any inconvenience
this may be causing but the
problem is with the telephone
company.
Our phones are always an
swered but sometimes we cannot
hear what is being said on the
Editor
young Indian faces within the
by Ron Pinkham
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY Indian community when lacking
TO THE’RESPECTABLE
of the semester. Hopefully, all the knowledge of his culture.
COMMUNITY OF
the students’ grades will be the Cultural identity is needed for
WARM SPRINGS!
best that can be earned. It is the young for it gives spiritual
Ever since I was about difficult for the students to rea strength and character.
All elders are invited to
thirteen years old, I never knew lize the impact that their grades
...lat type of human being I was. and attendance will have when share themselves with the Indian
Could you imagine my over they seek employment. Every students and become involved
whelming surprise to know that effort by all persons concerned with the cultural education of our
Mom said I was an “Indian” !? should encourage and praise the youth. There will be a working
agenda and a supper for those
Being the innocent soul that I students for a job well done.
was, I innocently asked Mom,
THIS SEMESTER the high who attend. Please pome to the
“Mom, what’s an Indian?” Mom school has initiated a first period meeting on January 30, from 5:30
just looked at me and said, “You class for students who need new to 9:00 p.m.
THERE IS A CONCERN
really wanna’ know?” I replied, alternatives. The intent of the
(innocently) “Yeah!”
class is to give the student a about students visiting me at my
And to this day, I can foundation of hope, encourage office. Many of the students are
honestly say, I understarid why ment, and skills which will be placing themselves in jeopardy
Mom said, “An Indian is some designed to respond to their because the teacher feels a stu
thing to be proud o f ...” Of course unique needs. This class will not dent is visiting the counselor just
she said more, but to me, that’s conform to usual class structure to be out of class. Certainly, the
history.
but will use a team teaching concerns of students are very
important, so in order for the
It certainly was a test of my approach.
strength, to learn how to be an
THE INDIAN CLUB stu student and teacher to feel com
Indian. What with all the elbow dents would like to meet with the fortable about visitation, a pro
pains of learning how to “tip it elders of their tribes. It is felt our cedure must be initiated for ef
up!” and the embarrassment of cultural heritage is being lost fective use of the counselor.
BEST OF LUCK to those
bouncing the wrong way while due to unique circumstances.
learning the simple straight Many have voiced a strong con students who will be completing
step!
cern about the situation the the first semester and beginning
anew.
Even learning the close
family ties that were knitted
together was a task in itself!
All the unjust prejudice that
before I never even noticed!
JANUARY
God! it’s hard being an Indian, I
-4-H Beadwork club for kids 9-18 4:00 p.m. each Wednes
feel sorry for the Bustions!
day afternoon.
I enjoyed it!
20 - 4-H Skating Party in Bend (meet at Extension office
It’s an experience I doubt
12:00 noon. Bring $2.00 for rink and skate rental - dinner
I ’ll ever forget!
will be provided.)
(Even if I wanted to!!)
21 - Fund Raising Auction at Simnasho Longhouse, 4:00p.m.
Sincerely, A Person,
Proceeds going to Lincoln Birthday Powwow.
Jackie Estimo
23 - W.S. Homemakers Club at JoAnn Smith’s home 11:30
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Evening session at Presbyterian
Church beginning at 7 p.m. Programs will be on main
dish soups and using a crock pot.
I would like to thank the
30 - Marcelle Straatman, OSU Extension Human Develop
many thoughtful people who
ment Specialist will give a workshop on positive
gave their gifts to us after our
parenting 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Community Center. This
house burned in November. The
event is approved by the Warm Springs Parenting Com
money came in very handy when
mittee.
I went to Portland to stay with
FEBRUARY
my grandsons.
1 - Joint Education Meeting 7:30 p.m. at Longhouse
My words can’t express the
sponsored by 509-J School district.
deep appreciation I feel towards
2, 3, & 4 Jr. High Student Weekend here with kids from Yamhill
all of you.
County. Sign up at the Extension office by January 26.
HazelSuppah
You need not be a 4-H member to attend.
5 - Beginning tonight and continuing until March 12, the
Sixth Level Club will be meeting 6:30 to 8:30 each Mon
day evening. It’s for 6th grade boys and girls who attend
W.S. grade school. Topics to be discussed will be nutri
tion, health, exercise, dress, etc. This is a good way for
you to look and feel better.as well as have fun, too!
9, 10, & 11 - Lincoln’s Birthday Powwow at Simnasho Longhouse.
See page 3 for further information.
Community Calendar
Thank You
Council Agenda
other end. We report the problem
to telephone repair each time
this happens, but it still con
tinues to happen. Perhaps the
bad weather has something to do
with it.
, Thanks for being patient.
Maxine Clements
Switchboard Supervisor
interested persons should
contact John Trujillo, Federal
Programs Coordinator, Jeferson
County School District 509-J, 1355
Buff Street, Madras, Ore., 97741,
or telephone (503) 475-6192.
Closing date is February 19,
1979.
Indian Club Inviting Elders
Being an Indian
School Vacancy
Title I Reading Teacher at
Madras Senior High School.
Starting date will be March 1,
1979. Applicant must hold a valid
Oregon Teaching Credential with
an endorsement in Reading pre
ferred.
Salary range is $10,700 -
$18,725-
School Counselor
Hazel Suppah counting donated
money.
Jan. 19 - Kah-Nee-Ta Board of Directors Meeting
Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge
Jan. 22 - WSFPI Board Meeting -
,,
Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge
Jan. 23 - Tribal Council Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
1. 10:00 a.m. - 509-J Report
2. 2:00 p.m. - General Manager-Branch Managers
Merit Increases
Jan. 24 - Tribal Council Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
1. Budget Items held in Abeyance
Jan. 26 - Tribal Energy Task Force Meeting
Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge
Jan. 29- Tribal Council Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
1. 10:00 a.m. - Irrigation Project, Rereg Powerhouse
Jerry Dibble
2. 2:00 p.m. - Management Reports
Jan. 30 - Tribal Council Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
1. Unfinished Business
2. 2:00 p.m. - Cigarette Agreement-State of Oregon