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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