Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1979)
MARCH 30, 1979 PAGE 3 Long-Awaited Story Reaches National Geographic Pages by Cynthia Stowell The few local subscribers to National Geographic already have well-worn copies of the April 1979 edition. It is in this issue that the Warm Springs Reservation is featured with twelve pages of photographs and narrative entitled “Warm Springs Indians Carve out a Future.” It has been a long wait since author-photographer David Boy er packed up his cam eras in the fall of 1976 after several months of .investigating every nook and cranny on the reservation. Near ly three years later, readers look up from the closing photos of Jimmy Macy and Ken Smith and comment with a touch of disap pointment, “Is that all?.” That, in the view of general manager Ken Smith, is a lot. “Anytime we get a positive article in a national magazine, that’s good public relations for the Tribes,” he remarked. NATIONAL EXPOSURE - WARTS AND ALL About ten million American and foreign subscribers will be learning something about a little known Indian reservation “in the middle of nowhere,” as Boyer describes it. Even if they only look at the pictures, they will see an industrious group of people - Jay Switzler cutting a Douglas fir, Jacob Frank, Sr. rounding up horses, Ada Sooksoit cooking salmon and’ Vicki Still target- shooting. A dramatic aerial view of Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge hints at the Tribes’ prosperity, and the lead photo of babies in cradle boards perched in the back 'of a station wagon portrays the everyday reservation world. In a few short pages of text, Boyer draws a surprisingly com plete profile of the reservation and its people — from “Indian time” to timber profits and per capita. Boyer’s starting point' is the irony of the white man ripping off the Indian only to wind up paying the Tribes for luxury accommodations at the remote Kah-Nee-Ta resort. From Tribal Council meeting on Indian time,” he said, “that’s not quite a fair statem ent.” Greene also felt that the Tribes’ smaller enterprises and the housing boom should have received some ink. Most tribal members have not yet had a chance to examine the story. But they will have plenty of opportunity when the two thousand or so magazines special-ordered by the Tribes arrive and are distributed to members 18 years and older. Some will be preserved in the Tribal archives and others will be made available at Kah-Nee- Ta and the Gift Shop, although they cannot be sold. BURIED — Many locals can be seen with their noses stuck in the April edition of National Geographic, which features a story about Warm Springs. Twelve pages of photos and narrative present a positive picture of life on a “progressive" reservation. Magazines will be distributed soon to all tribal members over 18. Spilyay Tymoo Photo by CDS lems. It’s important for people to realize that the- reservation has the same ones.” Tribal Council Chairman Gene Greene is one of a handful of councilmen who have read the final version. While he agreed with the article’s theme - that Warm Springs is a “progressive tribe working for its future generations” - he questioned a few of the details. “As for the there he sings the praises of a people who have overcome his torical and economic odds to develop “one of Amerifca’s most progressive reservations.” Along the way, Boyer does not hesitate to address the dif ficulties — turned-off youth and alcohol problems among them. Smith sees no danger in this airing of laundry. “Every com munity has those types of prob- Going to the World's Fair? Contact Eight-ball A number of families are undoubtedly planning to attend the first All-Indian World’s Fair in Phoenix April 23-29. Why don’t we help each other out by pooling our resources? Contact the Cultural Heri tage office in the community — center (553-1161 ext. 290) and let us know your plans. Maybe we can make it easier and more fun for everyone. (Eight-ball denied rumors that his family wouldn’t let him ride with them and that he is looking for a way down there).. You're in Business Your forest products indus try is healthy. It ranks with the best. As a stockholder-owner, it is your responsibility to help keep it that way. Come to the General Council meeting at the Longhouse 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 23rd, 1979 to find out more about your own forest industry. WHERE WE’VE BEEN For the past 12 years, operat ing a Tribal enterprise to main tain a competitive position with the rest of the industry while creating jobs and harvesting what the Tribal forest grows each year. WHERE WE ARE At a point where much need ed moderniztion is necessary to continue to maintain a compett*- tive position. WHERE WE’RE GOING As a self-made corporation renewing our mills, moving our plywood plant home to Warm Springs and stepping up to the competitive future to secure jobs and dividends indefinitely. You need this business. It is successful. It needs you to stay that way! See you Monday, April 23rd at the Longhouse! DELAYS EXPLAINED The delay between his “wrap-up” and the publication of the story has been misunder stood as the dragging feet of either Tribal Council or the magazine. According to issue editor Jeff Colin, the Warm Springs story was put on ice while hotter stories made it to press. “ It has been a year of Picture editor Robert Patton explained that Boyer had to whittle his hundreds of rolls of film down to 50-100 “prime select” slides. From there edi tors chose the most appropriate illustrations for the story, in consultation with the author - photographer. The result was ten photos. The remaining thou sands of slides are filed away for National Geographic’s exclusive use, said Patton. Editor Colin admitted that the Warm Springs story “could be one of the first current Indian pieces in quite some tim e.” The Menominees, another timber- rich tribe in Wisconsin, were featured in 1974, and the bicen tennial edition carried an essay by N. Scott Momaday. Colin said he felt the Warm Springs story would be “eye-opening” for most people, calling it a “fair and objective and sobering picture of a successful Indian tribe.” Local reaction to the story has been limited by the scarcity of magazines. Spilyay Tymoo intends to take an opinion poll once the magazines are distri buted. Anyone wishing to order extra copies may send a check or money order for $1.25 to: National Geographic Society Washington, D.C. 20036 or call 800-202-638-4077. Be sure to specify the April 1979 edition. Kah-Nee-Ta Powwow for Community, Public All Indian powwow-ers, in cluding drummers, dancers or just plain enthusiasts, are invit ed to Kah-Nee-Ta’s Confederated Room for a night of dancing, exhibitions, and craft displays. Jointly sponsored and co hosted by Kah-Nee-Ta Lincoln’s Birthday Powwow Committee and Simnasho Long House, the From The Board-— ■ Warm Springs Forest Products Industries THROUGH WHOSE EYES? Despite Boyer’s high visi bility on the reservation, many people never met him or knew of his work. Boyer’s association with the Tribes began in 1973 when he was doing a story on the Columbia River. He met Wasco chief Nelson Wallulatum in that context and his curiosity was aroused. Boyer, then a 25-year veteran of National Geographic, tracked down Nelson and pro posed a story about Warm Springs. From April to September 1976, Boyer could be seen in a variety of settings, from the Tygh Valley Rodeo to private homes, Often the source of amusement and at times irrita tion, the east coast city slicker bounced along on a cattle ride, owl-danced at Pi-Ume-Sha, and occasionally stepped on toes, figuring it was all in a day’s work. incredible breaking news stor ies,” said Colin, and Boyer’s was the kind of timeless feature story that could be held. It wasn’t so timeless that Boyer didn’t have to come back in late 1978 to do a bit of up dating. Some of his subjects had changed jobs or left the reser vation, and figures had to be re vised. A story’s journey to the pages of National Geographic usually involves a great deal of trimming, since competition for space is keen. Stories about nu clear power, dolphins and an cient footprints squeezed Warm Springs down to twelve pages. powwow is scheduled for Friday, April 13, 8:00-10:00 p.m. This event is for cultural enrichment, education and en joyment. Nobody will be paid but everybody should gain some thing. Kah-Nee-Ta and Simnasho are pleased to present the pow wow free of charge for the benefit of our community and our Kah-Nee-Ta guests. Any individual or group wishing to present special danc es exhibitions is most welcome. Contact Rudy or Anna Clements for further information. Several of these events are being planned for the coming year. Everyone is welcome! Fishermen — Identify Nets Columbia River Fishermen are warned that due to a recent court case the Oregon State Police will be stringently enforc ing net identification. The follow ing is the Oregon State Law concerning commercial fishing gear. It is unlawful to: (1) Take salmon for com mercial purposes by any means other than set nets, gill nets, dip nets, bag nets, hoop nets, or any gear expressly authorized for subsistence fishing by OAR 635- 35-025. (2) Fish a set net or gill net which is more than 300 feet in length. (3) Fish more than one set net at any one location. (4) Fish more than five set nets at any one time. (5) Use or operate any gill net, set net, or hoop net which does not have the tribal affilia tion and tribal enrollment num ber of the owner of the net placed upon or adjacent to each end cork or float of the gill net or set net and upon the upper side of the hoop net. (6) Have spoiled salmon or other spoiled fish in a set net or hoop net. If you do not have metal tags be sure to put your enroll ment number on the inside and outside corks. Toastmasters Dinner Tonight The local Toastmasters Club 2293 is planning a dinner meeting tonight (March 30) at Kah-Nee- Ta. The buffet dinner will begin at 7:30. All members are urged to attend. Those interested in learn ing more about Toastmasters are also invited, at their own expense.
