OREGON H IS T O R IC A L SOCIETY
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U.S. Postage
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W«un. Springs_OR
OREGON HISTORICAL
-SO CIETY
Voi 5 No 6
Warm Springs, Oregon 97761
j
March 21, 1980
WSFPI annual meeting attended by few
The Warm Springs Forest
Products Industries annual
general council meeting was
held March 17 at the Agency
L o n g h o u s e . V e ry few
interested trib al members
attended the meeting. Those
who were at the meeting were
given colorful and informative
16-page reports.
Five of the W SFPI board
members were present along
with Tribal Council members
and W SFPI staff. Board
c h a irm a n P a u l S a n d e rs
explained that even though the
mill went through extensive
re n o v a tio n la st y ear, it
continued to operate “when
other companies might have
shut down. We maintained
employment.” Total employ
ment was down ■ 16 percent.
Sanders further explained
that in order for the mill to
remain competitive in years to
come, the mill had to improve
its equipment and operations.
Capital improvements made in
1979 were financed out of
profits and a loan from the
Confederated Tribes. The $5.5
miJion investment is expected
to pay out in less than two
years. The renovation is aimed
at a 20-year growth period.
“ E arn in g s in 1979 were
$ 1 ,1 3 7 ,1 2 4 on sa le s o f
$27,403,201 ” sta te s the
colorful annual report. It
continued by saying that “while
earnings were 27.6 percent of
1978’s record, sales were 86.6
percent. Stumpage payments
amounted to $11,500,165, an
increase of $1,257,778 over
1978.”
W SFPI general manager
Ralph DeMoisy stated that
they are “into one of the
toughest years we’v.e ever been
in to. We expect to make some
m oney th is y e a r .” T h e
projected $1,492,000 profit for
1980 is getting “tougher and
tougher” to meet because the
interest rates keep jumping.
DeM oisey said the most
immediate goal is to get out of
the Bank and Tribe before
logging season opens. The mill
has already paid $500,000 on
loans with the Tribe and has
completely paid off F irst
National Bank with a final
payment of $1.5 million. The
loans were used to finance the
renovation.
Former owner of Madras
Plywood and present board
member Sam Johnson praised
the tribe for their success. “It is
a memorable accomplishment.
Utilization of the forest waste is
being cut back considerably,”
he stated. “I’m delighted to see
such an increase in employ
ment of tribal members,” he
concluded. Ten of the 22
management positions are
filled by tribal members, 30%
of mill employees are tribal
members and affiliates and
40% of the woods workers are
tribal members and affiliates.
Board member Sal Sahme
stated that his biggest concern
was employment. “It was also
im p o r t a n t to g e n e r a te
benefits,” he added. “We are
looking toward diversifica
tion,” he said, continuing to say
that nearly all raw materials in
the forest will be used in the
future. •
Q u e s tio n s c o n c e r n in g
employment, advancement and
reforestation were presented to
th e b o a rd an d fo re stry
personnel. Rosella Phillips
questioned the $4,834,249
decrease in capital. “What
effect will this have in 1980?
What about our bonus?” It was
explained that the bonus is
based on 25% of tribal net
profit, not mill net profit.
Tribal members expressed
concern about non-Indians
taking wood from the mill area.
Confrontations have arisen
among tribal members, non-
Indians and tribal police
concerning the removal of
unusable wood at the mill. As
of March 19, the wood removal
permit system was cancelled
¡and the wood will be used w o o d h o m e a n y m o r e ,
^within the mill as chip material. including tribal members.
'No one will be allowed to take
Tribal members and other
people on the tribal mailing list
will soon be receiving copies of
the annual report.
Minnie Yahtin chosen Miss Warm Springs
Over one hundred Warm Association. In case Minnie is
Springs people gathered at the unable to attend such events,
Agency Longhouse to see the the first runner up, Martina
crowning of 1980-‘81 Miss Heath, will be required to
Warm Springs, 18 year old attend.
Minnie Yahtin. Minnie was
one of four contestants vying
for the title at the fifth annual
Miss Warm Springs pageant.
R unners-up were M artina
Heath, Tammy Kalama and
Jolene Estimo.
Spectators watched as the
four girls performed traditional
and modern talent and gave
brief speeches about their
families, tribe, customs and
traditions. The girls also did
traditional dancing.
Some of the girls were not
completely familiar with tribal
e c o n o m ic s, a n d it was
explained by the Miss Warm
Springs nominating committee
chairman, Sam Colwash, that
the girls selected would be
required to attend Council
meetings and receive training
and information concerning
People were invited to join in
d a n c in g a n d d ru m m in g
throughout the evening. A light
supper was served as well as a
midnight snack.
tribal affairs.
Minnie is the daughter of
Chesley and Amelia Yahtin
and is a senior at Madras High
school. She has eight brothers
and sisters. Minnie is planning
to attend Brigham Young
University to major in business
or sociology.
Minnie received a shawl,
beaded crown and a $200
scholarship as well as other
gifts. The runners-up also
received gifts from the
committee and VFW.
Minnie will be representing
the Confederated Tribes at
national events such as the
N a tio n a l C o n g re ss of
A m e r ic a n I n d ia n s a n d
National Indian Cattlemen’s
Miss Warm Springs-Minnie Yahtin