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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1981)
0061 ? f . • • 4 e S 0 C I7 u ' 1UHNy » Jn L u ft 9 ^ 1 0 6 ! U.S. Pottage Bulk Rate Penult No. 2 W ann Springs, O R S p ily a y T y m o » Coyote News VOL. 6 NO. 9 WARM SPRINGS. OREGON 97761 JUNE 10,1981 Steelhead Protection Act Council takes stand on proposed act Notice from Tribal Council These are critical times and every tribe has their own way of m aintaining their credibility. M any things are happening, both in state and national legislation that may appear detrim ental to us. But please be assured that your T ribal C ouncil is aw are of each and every situation. T herefore, we ask th at no tribal m em ber be associated with, participate in or contribute to any dem onstrations, walks, or any other activity dealing with treaty rights. You could endanger or undo all the good w ork th a t has been done for the C onfederated Tribes of W arm Springs by involving yourself as an individual or as a m em ber. If you wish additional assurance, please d ro p by the C ouncil office to talk with us. In the m eantim e, we thank you for your cooperation. Delbert Frank, Sr. Chairman, Tribal Council by Pat Leno JUNIOR JACUZZI The jacuzzi at the Kah-Nee-Ta Village p o o l was out o f working order over Memorial Day weekend but the kids stiU seemed to enjoy the water—even without the bubbles. Spilyay Tymoo photo by Behrend . General Council Meeting co n c e rn in g re c re a tio n and facilities June 15, 1981 7:00 pm at the Community Center Pl-Ume-Sha coming up The annual Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days celebration the weekend of June 26,27 and 28 will provide plenty of activity to keep even the most energetic people hopping. The powwow, featuring emcee Nathan “8-Ball” Jim, begins Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the recreation area behind the Community Center. A total of $4,900 in cash prizes is being offered for contest dancing which will be held all three days. Finals are on Sunday. Teepee poles and rations will be available, but bring your own stoves, say the organizers. Indian Stick Games start F r i d a y , w ith th e b ig tou rn am en t scheduled for Saturday night. No alcoholic beverages, dice or card games will be allowed. For early risers who are in shape, there will be an 8-mile run and a 1.8 mile fun run at 8 a.m. Saturday the 27th. The 8- mile course consists of hilly terrain, black-top and trails. Entry fee is $7. All entrants will receive a T-Shirt. For more excitement, a Jackpot Rodeo will be held Saturday and Sunday (June 27- 28) at the Warm Springs rodeo arena. The action begins at 1:30 p.m. both days. Everyone is welcome. The Warm Springs Tribal Council has taken a clear and open stand against a recent bill, TTie Steelhead Trout Protec tion Act, introduced by W ashington Senator Slade Gorton and a House Bill dealing with the same issue sponsored by W ashington Representative Don Bonkers. In a written statement to all tribal members. Council has asked the members to be assured that tribal government is aware of the bills. Recent events and rum ors have brought to the attention of Council the need for an official statement on where the Tribe stands. The Tribe has taken steps to have their voice and concerns heard at an upcoming hearing on both the bills. Council has requested tribal members to not become involved in any w alks or d e m o n stra tio n s concerning treaty rights. They warn that involvement could e n d a n g e r a ll th e good accomplished up to this date. Tribal members have placed their council members in office by popular vote and in doing so h ave giv en c o u n c il th e responsibility of voicing and caring for all issues of importance to the tribes. “Treaty rights are an important issue and at present the tribal attorneys and numerous other experts assist in helping Council keep on top of issues,” sta te d co u n c il c h a irm a n Delbert Frank Sr. TTie Council has taken the position that it will continue to do business for the Tribes in the normal manner. Delbert Frank said, “It is important that all tribal members know their council is aware of all issues concerning the Tribes and they prefer a business approach in handling such matters. This approach has worked for the tribes throughout the years and has proven effective.” Frank said this procedure came ab o u t through the teachings of the elders and the sound advice of good legal minds. He feels the people only have to look around the reservation to see all the rewards produced by this method of doing business. ‘Working with our neighbors and friends, meeting with them to discuss issues, and taking the time to do our homework so we do not rush into matters has provided' Warm Springs a better way of accomplishing great strides,” Frank stated. T h e S te e lh e a d T r o u t Protection Act has been called The Steelhead Trout Decom mercialization Bill. On May 23 and 24 of this year a group of more than 70 Indian treaty fishermen met at Celilo Falls State Park to discuss and organize in opposition to the proposed federal legislature. A “peaceful spiritual walk” was then planned. The walk is scheduled to begin June 20 at Celilo Falls, going to Portland, then to Salem, back up to Vancouver, Olympia, and to Seattle on the 29th. The d e m o n s tra tio n has been planned by The United Indian Fish Committee, Inc. of The Dalles. The proposed bills which the Tribes are against would regulate all fishing of steelhead under state enforcement and laws. It would identify the steelhead as a national game fish and ban the commercial sale or transportation of steelhead. The bills offer the treaty tribes compensation for the loss of their right to fish commercially for the steelhead. T he r ig h t to h a rv e s t steelhead commercially was preserved for the treaty tribes in 1968 when U.S. District Judge Robert Belloni, in the case of United States vs. Oregon, affirmed the treaty fishing rights. .At a later date the U.S. Suprem e C ourt upheld the treaty right for Indians to fish at all usual and accustomed places. This ruling includes the right to harvest and sell steelhead. The introduction of Gorton’s bill has produced fear among some treaty fishermen. At the recent National Congress of American Indians mid-year conference a resolution was presented during the open session. The resolution asks for the support of the “peaceful demonstration” to oppose this legislation. It asks also for NCAI support and encouragement for this “peaceful demonstra tion.” The resolution asks NCAI to urge its individual and tribal members to oppose the enactment of. Gorton’s bill. The Warm Springs delega tion raised the question as to the validity of the resolution being passed at the NCAI session. At the time it was presented to the floor there was not a quorum. As of press time, NCAI has not given an answer to the Warm Springs tribal r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s . So the question remains, “ Is this resolution valid?” Earlier it was reported the Yakima N ation, * U m atilla Nation and the Nez Perce Nation were supporting the re so lu tio n . In te le p h o n e in te rv ie w s w ith re lia b le spokesmen from these tribes, only the Nez Perce Nation had a c t u a l l y p r e s e n te d th e resolution to their council and adopted the entire resolution. The Umatillas will present the resolution to their council on June 17, but it is for certain a statement will be coming out a g a in s t th e p r o p o s e d le g isla tu re . The Y akim a Nation, at the time of this article, is still in session, but Continued on page 2
