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
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OR 9 7 2 u 5
VOL. 6 NO. 2
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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