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U.S. Postage
Bulk Rate Permit No. 2
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OREGON H IS T O R IC A L SOCIETY
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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.”