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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1981)
006171 ,B C ,. , > . . U.S. Postage Bulk Rate Permit No. 2 W arm Springs, O R »boto hv Ifr OREGON H IS T O R IC A L SOCIETY 12 3 0 SW PARK AVE OR 9 7 2 0 5 PORTLAND VOL 6 NO. 7 WARM SPRINGS, OREGON 97761 MAY 1’ 1981 Smith sails through Senate Confirmation Hearing by Sandy Rangila In what was termed a most positive atmosphere, Kenneth L. Smith of Warm Springs told members of the Senate Select Indian Affairs Committee his “beliefs and philosophy” on I n d ia n m a tte r s a t h is confirmation hearing Tuesday, April 28. Smith, who has been General Manager here since 1971, was nominated earlier this year by President Reagan to be the D e p a rtm e n t of I n te r io r ’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. “It was a piece of cake,” said Vince Lovett, of the BI A Office of Information, in a phone interview th a t afternoon. “There was no opposition, no negative comments at all.” He said that is a bit unusual. With Warm Springs Tribal Council members there in full regalia, Smith expressed his belief “in the strengths of Indian people which have enabled them to endure and survive as a people through adversities and oppressions unparalled in history.” He told members of the com m ittee, S en ator M ark Hatfield (Ore.), Senator Cohen ( M a in e ), S e n a to r S la d e G o r d o n ( W a s h .) , a n d Arizona’s Senator Goldwater that he believes “Indian people Indian burial site discovered by Sandy Rangila When a farmer near the Prineville area was plowing up his field earlier this month he uncovered a human skull. After investigating, he discovered several b u ria l sites and i m m e d ia te ly c o n t a c t e d a n th ro p o lo g is t S u zan n e Crowley. She then notified the Warm Springs Tribal Council of the finding and they authorized her to begin work at the site. So far, two undisturbed g ra v e s ite s h a v e b e e n discovered and the remains of four individuals have already been uncovered. Crowley said all appear to be young males and she estimates their time of death to have been in the early 1800’s. Nelson Wallulatum, who went out to the site with Viola Kalama and Felix Wallulatum, said there are some confusing aspects about this burial site a n d th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s surrounding the deaths of those there. The individuals may have been Paiutes who were root digging in the area, but Wallulatum said some of the personal items appear to have come from around The Dalles. Also, for some reason, the remains have stayed unusually well-preserved, said Wallula tum. Some of the bones have been sent to the University of Oregon to be carbon dated (to see how old they really are). Crowley said the scientific work will take about a month. When the job is finished, Wallulatum said the remains will probably be brought here to the reservation for re-burial. The exact location of the burial site is being kept confidential to avoid curiosity- seekers from disturbing the site or tromping around on the farm er’s private property. When the. work is completed and the findings are released, Spilyay Tymoo will publish the whole story. “During the time that Ken dence as Assistant Secretary Of have the will and the ability to self-govern and exercise wisely has worked for us, we have seen Interior,” he concluded. Frank Lawrence, chairman their rem aining sovereign him grow into what we believe to be the finest manager in of the Standing Rock Sioux powers...” Besides the com m ittee, Indian Country today. He has Tribe, N orth Dakota, spoke for witnesses present at the hearing been instrum ental in the the National Congress of included Delbert Frank, Sr., progress and development of American Indians and the 16 Tribal Council chairman, and o u r re s e rv a tio n ,” F ra n k tribes of the Aberdeen, South Dakota area. He said, “We like other members of the Warm continued. “We know that Ken will h is b a c k g ro u n d . He is S p rin g s C o u n c il. O th e r w itn e s s e s w ere: F r a n k bring these same management especially strong in economic L a w r e n c e , N C A I v ic e - skills and judgement to the development. This is greatly president and chairman of the Bureau of Indian Affairs so needed.” “It gives me great pleasure to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; that it may more effeciently and Silas Whitman of the Nez Perce effectively carry out the United be part of the confirmation Tribal Council; and Louis R. States’ trust responsibility to hearing for my good friend, Bruce of Native American Indian people. Ken under Ken Sm ith, as A ssistant Consultants in Washington, stands and has practiced Indian Interior Secretary,” Senator ‘self-determination’ at -Warm Packwood’s statement said. He D C .. S e n a to r H a tfie ld who Springs and is uniquely well- said his acquaintance with Ken in tr o d u c e d him to the qualified to assist all Indian h a s d e v e lo p e d i n t o a relationship of trust and great committee said, “As General tribes in this direction. “Ken Smith has our whole Manager for the past ten years, Continued on page 12 Mr. Smith has utilized his hearted su p p o rt. and confi managerial and organization skills to make the reservation a model of economic success with more that 1,000 persons employed and an annual payroll of more than $10 million.” Silas Whitman said that Warm Springs has been a model for the Northwest tribes “as we prepare to go on a path of independence and self- determination.” He said that Smith had provided valuable aid to neighboring tribes, especially helping the Nez Perce in the area of timber development. Delbert Frank, Sr. said, “While we are sorry to have Ken leave our organization, we believe that he is the best possible person to serve this country and the Indian people in this important position. Ken has built a strong management Kenneth L. Smith, General Manager of the Confederated Tribes team at Warm Springs which o f Warm Springs, sailed through ids senate confirmation hearing will allow our tribes to continue Tuesday, A pril 28. The swearing in ceremony is anticipated in to progress during the time for about 10 days. Spilyay Tymoo photo by Behrend which we ‘loan’ him to you.”
