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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1981)
006171 U.S. Portage Balk Rate Permit No. 2 Warm Springe, OR BC OREGON H IS T O R IC A L SO CIETY 1230 SW PARK AVE PORTLAND s — OR 9 7 2 u 5 VOL. 6 NO. 2 - — — \ February 6,1981 WARM SPRINGS. OREGON 97761 E.l.A. strikes area by Marsha Shewczyk The Warm Springs reserva- has been struck by a contagious disease affecting 20% of the ^equine animals tested so far. The total extent of the disease known as Equine Infectious Anemia (E.l.A.)is not yet known. Out of 184 horses that have been tested 35 have proven positive by means of a blood sampling called the Coggins test. Eleven wild horses were tested with three showing positive results. The disease was discovered by a tribal member selling a horse that had been in pasture. One of the conditions of sale was that the horse prove negative to a Coggins test. It proved positive. Other horses were tested after the single positive result was obtained some of those Winter’s Touch also proving positive making it necessary for concern.. The percentage rate of 20% “is a high r a te ” ac c o rd in g to epidemiologist Dr. Mike Daly of the Oregon State Animal Health Division in Salem. E.I.Â. is spread by biting insects and needles and can affect ponies, mules and donkeys as well as horses. It is incurable. The only way to prevent spreading the disease is to put to death all carriers or to confine the affected horses to absolute quarantine. None of the horses examined have shown acute symptoms of the disease. The most serious form of E.l. A. would terminate in death. The sym ptom s include high fever, depression, rapid loss of health and profound weakness. The sub- Continued on page 3 Smith may be heading for D.C. job by Donna Behrend W arm Springs Genera? M an ag er Ken S m ith is anxiously waiting by the phone for a call from the White House telling him that President Reagan has appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. Smith received word from Secretary of the Interior James Watt last week that Watt had chosen him to serve as Assistant Secretary. Needless to say. Smith is looking forward to the challenge of the new job in D.C., hoping to “clear up bureaucratic red tape” and help “make self- determination a realty.” . Also, during the interview. Smith said he was assured authority in policy making decisions. “I asked him what role I would play in policy decisions. He said ‘You would be the policy-maker.’ So I suppose I would advise the secretary and have a directing role.” Having been reponsible for tribal business operations in Warm Springs for the last 11 years, Smith has no fear that the responsibilities in his new job will be less. “I think I’ll have enough authority to get the job done. Of course. I’ll have all those reservations out there, too, yakking at me and so While in Washington earlier forth. this month for the presidential Op the other hand, I think I inauguration, Smith had an would be involved in some interview with Mr. Watt. Smith other decisons that would come was pleased with the interview out of the Interior, too. But it and feels that the interview may be premature for me to say went “real well. I felt he was a too much about that operation very responsive guy. I went in at this point until all the facts trying to see what type of guy are in.” he was, first of all. And Smith feels the experience naturally he was doing the gained as general manager-will same thing. aid him sufficiently in the D.C. “But as I told him, I don’t job. “I think my experience need the Assistant Secretary’s being here on the reservation job but, if the atmosphere is dealing with the things we have right, I would like to take a stab to deal with, running an a t it . A n d a f t e r my operation, supervising. . .the conversation with Mr. Watt, I management here is going to think he would give the lititude equip me to deal with all the to run the d e p a rtm e n t,” problems I’ll run into.” he said. Continuing, Smith Smith also feels that lack of stated that he felt Mr. Watt experience has been part of the “would not try to dictate to me problem with the people who because I would never go to D. have been chosen for the C. if that was all I would do is A ssista n t S e c re ta ry and c a r r y out som eone else’s -Commissioner’s positions in decisions.” the past. “I think very few, if any, have any managerial experience.” Pressure, pace and low pay also add to high turnover in these top jobs, said Smith. Smith feels he can handle the problems of pressure. “I feel I’m mature enough. Ten years ago, it would have bothered me. But now I think I can handle the pressures pretty well, just being ardund here.” The 45-year old Wasco Indian hopes tq clear up bureaucratic red tape. He feels the Reagan adm inistration wants to minimize red tape and streamline procedures. “I think th is is^ w here th e new a d m in is tra tio n has th e ir strength. They want to push d o w n w a rd an d s o r t of streamline the bureaucracy and the hurdles there are to get things done.” S m ith feels th e new administration wants local and tribal governments to make their own decisions and implement self-determination. “I think they’re going to be very strong about that.” says Smith. Implementing the 1974 Self- determination Act is the major g o a l S m ith w a n ts to accomplish if he is nominated. “I guess we have to work on the self-determination and make it a reality. Tribal governments must be strengthened in Indian Country. W e i help them make their own decisions, strengthen fiscal management and get reservations away from being so d e p e n d e n t o n th e government and try to get them independent.” As an appointee ot the Reagan administration. Smith is not guaranteed a term longer than four years. “ 1 would only commit myself for four years. I wouldn’t want to stay back there longer than that. I would go back there and see if I could accomplish something. I think now is a good time to do that. President Reagan has good thoughts, good ideas and he has a good philosophy with the bureaucracy.. .1 wouldn’t mind going to Washington, because I think this is a good time.” S m ith a n tic ip a te s ’ th e President will want him in Washington almost immedi ately. “I did tell them that it would take me awhile to clear up some of my personal affairs here and some of the things I’ve been working on with the tribe. I can’t pull out and leave them dry. “I would probably need 45 to 60 days to do all this. But that’s not saying that I couldn’t fly to Washington, get that thing started and then fly back here for a few days and may make two or three trips back and forth during this period,” says Smith. Smith will have to resign his general manager’s position with the Tribes and not take a Ken Smith Continued on page 12
