Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1979)
APRIL 13,’ 1979 PAGE 3 F ir e C laim s M y rtle F r a n k ’s H em e Myrtle Frank brushed away tears as she watched her Simna sho home of 40 years go up in flames Monday, April 2. The home in which thirteen children and some of their friends had been raised burned in about 15 minutes. Myrtle’s daughter, Lydia Murphy, had been cleaning the house Monday after a Spring Vacation visit by some of the grandchildren. She lit the stove, then went outside where: she saw smoke billowing out from be tween the ceiling and the roof. The two women then began hastily removing some things from the house with the help of a non-Indian couple who were passing by. The alarm was called in at 3:16 p.m. by Simnasho grade' school teacher Rich Little. But by that time the home was already involved in flames. With 12 firemen responding, the Warm Springs fire engine arrived at the scene at 3:45, 30 minutes after the siren blew. The second fire truck got there 20 minutes later. Firemen learned, however, that the house was gone before they were halfway there. An overheated woodstove is believed to be the cause of the fire. The house had only a stove pipe instead of a regular chim ney, according to the fire report. Myrtle and her daughter are staying temporarily in a two- bedroom tribal house in Siinna- sho next to Matilda Mitchell and Sylvia Wallulatum. But Char lotte Herkshan says her grand mother is depressed and un ---- - HOUSE HOLDS MEMORIES IN SHOCK — Myrtle Frank sat in stunned disbelief Monday, April 2, as firemen mopped up the aftermath of a fire that destroyed her Simnasho home of 40 years. The cause of the fire is believed to have been an overheated woodstove. Myrtle says she wants a new home rebuilt at the same site just like the old one. Spilyay Photo by Rangila happy there. “ It’s not her own. She wants another house built on the same site. She doesn’t want a large house»just what was there — a small, two-room house,” Charlotte explains. The tribal fire fund and relatives have helped in replac ing some of the furniture and household items lost in the fire. But what the elderly woman was most upset about the loss of irreplaceable photos. The day after the fire, Charlotte and other family members went over to the charred house and were able to retrieve some of the photos. They found pictures of Myrtle’s late husband Charley and some of other family, now gone. Her cupun (root-digging stick) was also saved. “What she really needs now is moral support,” said Char lotte. “I’d hope that somehow her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren could get together to support her morally, materially and financially. She h as,a lot of relatives that are willing to help her — it just somehow needs to be organized.” Charlotte stressed that her grandmother is very depressed and would like some of her grandchildren to come visit her. The home was an old two- room CCC house which was moved down the hill next to the the old Longhouse about 40 years ago. Shortly after it was relocated, Myrtle moved into the house following the death of her late husband Charley Frank. Her youngest son Elvis was just a baby a t the time. From then on, the small "'home became the hub of activi ties for relatives and friends. “I don’t think there was any young people from the North End who didn’t live there at one time or another,” Charlotte mused. An assortment of animal life includ ing chickens, fawns, wildcats, and an old dog which acted as a babysitter all vied for attention from those in the household. People would always stop and eat there too. “People would wonder why she bought so much food,” said Charlotte. “But she always had food there for her grandchildren, family, and pass ing horse riders. The first thing she’d ask when you came in the door was, ‘Have you eaten?” Myrtle also had her own little root garden out back which she planted years ago. “She had all types of roots out there and every year she can tell when the roots are ready by her own little garden,” Charlotte explained. “Some people laugh about it, but she knows what she’s doing.” “It was almost like a death in the family to see that house burn,” Charlotte said sadly. “It’s what I think of when I think of home — there are so many memories there.” All-Indian World’s Fair Offers Non-Stop Fun When leafing through the 20- page agenda for the All-Indian World’s Fair in Phoenix, it be comes obvious that, those attend ing will need plenty of stamina. The fair is programmed for seven days of 24-hour, non-stop activity beginning April 23. By the looks of things, a growing number of people from the Warm Springs Reservation are planning to attend the fair. Inquiries should be directed to the Culture and Heritage office at the Community Center where Nathan “Éightball” Jim has a copy of thè huge agenda on hand. Warm Springs is the “Host Tribe” on Thursday, April 26, from 1:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. Those planning to join in on the Inter- Tribal War Dance that morning 1:30 a.m. — 1:45) had better rest up sometime during the day — that is if you don’t mind missing the rodeo, all-Indian sports competition, or the Indian Hand Game tournament. If you decide to make a night of it, it might be worthwhile to check in with the Mission Indian Medicine Man specializing in headaches. He is on the agenda later that same day at 10 a.m. In keeping with the theme “Our Heritage is America’s Heritage” , each day is dedicated to a famous Indian individual or group in American history. The opening day is “Ira Hays Day” . Opening day ceremonies in clude appearances by §uch digni taries as Forrest Gerard (Assis tant Secretary of the Interior), the Secretary of State, the Gover nor of Arizona, and the Mayor or Phoenix. A parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. that day, and it will enter the Arizona State Fairgrounds (site of the fair) at about 11:45 a.m. Sprinkled throughout the seven days are powwows hosted by a variety of tribes, Indian hand game tournaments, dance contests, sports competitions, bow and arrow target shooting, and Indian name-giving cere monies by Chief Watchtaker. At 6 a.m. each morning P o lic e R e p o r t sacred and rare practices (reser vation and village dances) will take place around a dim bonfire. These are legendary and tradi tional, according to the agenda, and no photographs or tape re cordings will be allowed. No lights or modern equipment will be used. On Saturday, April 28, the finals of the Battle of the Bands will take place at 5 p.m., the crowning of Miss Indian U.S.A. will begin at 8:30 p.m., and all-night ceremonies will start at 10 p.m. Sunday, the final day of the fair has been designated “Chief Watchtaker Day” . Watchtaker is a famous Commanche Indian Rainmaker and many-times world champion Indian war dancer, according to the agenda. The closing prayer for the first All-Indian World’s Fair and lowering of the flag will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday night. The SOME THINGS SAVED — Myrtle Frank was most upset about losing closing ceremonies follow a- old photos of family in the fire that destroyed her home. She and her wards to all-Indian world cham son, Delbert Frank, Sr., shared a light moment as they went through a pions and the inter-tribal pow box containing some photos and a bracelet. Other photos were retrieved from the house the next day by family members. wow grand finale. Spilyay Photo by Rangila Four Car Accident Injures Two On Wednesday, April 4, at 6:22 p.m., a four-car accident occurred when Mona Smith, 20, Warm Springs, driving a 1979 Chevrolet pick-up, failed to stop at a stop sign at the Kah-Nee-Ta junction on Highway 26. Her car was struck broadside by a ’77 Ford pickup driven by Robert W. Appleby, 55, Redmond. After being hit by Appleby’s vehicle, Smith accelerated across the highway and struck a 1978 Pontiac driven by Kennedy Smith, 21, Warm Springs. The impact caused him to strike a fourth vehicle, a motorcycle operated by Glenn Max Whiz, 19, Warm Springs. Mona Smith and Celestine Supah, a passenger in her vehi cle, were transported to Mt. View Hospital in Madras, Smith, for leg and neck injuries and Suppah for abdominal injuries. On March 30, a 1965 Volks wagon bus driven by Carrie Johnson. 21. Warm Springs, rolled three times near the Agency Longhouse. Johnson ap parently lost control of the Volkswagon on a turn. Johnson and Geraldine Suppah, a passen ger in the vehicle were treated at Mt. View Hospital for cuts. No citations were issued. The theft of stereo equip ment is under investigation after it was stolen from the back of a pickup on April 7 at the Kah- Nee-Ta Hamlet. The stereo equipment was valued at $800. Secretaries Week Proclaimed April 23-28 On March 30, 1979, General Manager Ken Smith signed a proclamation declaring the week of April 22-28 as Secretaries Week. This action, in compliance with National Secretaries Week, also features Wednesday, April 25, as Secretaries Day. Also to be held that week will be the fourth annual Boss-Office Worker Workshop at Kah-Nee- Ta. Two sessions each, lasting two days, will cover topics ranging from organizational structure, department functions and communications, how to cope with stress, letter-writing, filing and general office proce dures. All topics will be present ed by local resource people, helping to localize the workshop.
