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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1981)
Spilyay Tymoo September 29, 1981 Page 3 W.S. students experience life in Japan by Marsha Shewczyk “It was a chance in a lifetime,” says student Travis Wells as he told of his experiences following his trip with ten other Warm Springs youth to Japan. For one month these students lived with Japanese families and became a part of their world, unfamiliar to us. The eleven Warm Springs youth and one Madras youth spent their month with host families in M ito, Jap an . Arrangements for the trip and the host families were made through the New York based Council on In tern atio n al Educational Exchanges. The students who were able to participate in the program include; Eydie Switzler, Allie Smith, Anita Bryant, Rowena Begay, Melissa Johnson, Sonja Bryant, Travis Wells, Jamie Smith, Bridgett Macy, Minnie Yahtin, Kristin Englebretson and Madras student Bruce Courtain. Mike and Pat Darcy acted as chaperones for the group. Upon arriving in Japan students were introduced to the Japanese way of living before actually going into the homes o f t h e i r h o s t p a r e n ts . According to chaperone Pat Darcy they were shown such things as how to sleep on tatami mats. She says, “After a long while it got easier.” They were also introduced at this time to a full Japanese supper called Hoo-no-ma. Chopsticks were the eating utensils. Pat Darcy says, “The kids had problems but they learned to use them after a while and use them well.” A fte r o r ie n ta tio n th e Tw o W arm Springs students show their expertise in using chopsticks white on a recent exchange trip to Japan. students boarded a train to Travis goes onto say, “I liked problem with obesity like there Mito where they were met by where I stayed. There were no is here.” their host parents and their chairs, they sat on mats...We Pat Darcy mentioned that, Japanese advisor, Katsutoshi ate with chopsticks. because of his size, many Kogure, who was wearing a “The high school students Japanese people would stop western hat. The reason for the hat he explained to Pat Darcy, dressed like the 50’s. Their and look at Travis. He did not wear a uniform shirt to school “I understand to Americans we favorite star is James Dean. like the other boys because they all look alike.” “They are a very clean were unable to fit him for one. people. When taking a bath “ O ur kids were really Travis Wells was able to give they wash themselves off first pampered,” says Pat Darcy. an overview of the city and the and then soak in a hot tub.” home in which he stayed. He There was one unexpected says, “Most houses are two Travis says, “The people I and unfortunate occurence stories because of space.” He met were always happy. They which caused anxiety for many says also that the streets are express disappointment if you people, especially for the host very narrow and people drive don’t like the food.” He also parents and chaperones. After small cars or motorcycles. commented, “There is not a being in Japan only three days Eydie Switzler became ill and had to* have her appendix removed. Mrs. Darcy says, “ She was hom esick and scared,” but “she was treated royally there.” Her doctor would take her to his home a few hours a day and his wife would visit her at the hospital. Eydie was able to join in activities only a part of the last week the students were there. The students were welcomed to their Japanese school with an assembly in their honor during which the band played America The Beautiful and the Madras High School loyalty song. It was an emotional experience for everyone, Pat Darcy commented. During their stay in Japan the Warm Springs students were given the opportunity to a tte n d a J a p a n e s e te a ceremony, a wedding and a fu n e ra l. T hey visited a B u d d h is t s h r in e , w en t swimming in the warm ocean and were given a birthday party. Throughout their stay they received many gifts. In turn, the Warm Springs youth gave a demonstration of Indian cooking and Indian dancing. By the end' of their stay several students were able to give speeches in Japanese. After spending so much time together both the students and host families had grown very fond of one another. Pat Darcy explains, “Parting was a tear- jerking situation.” By means of this cultural exchange students were able to be a part of a different way of living. As chaperone Mike and Pat Darcy say, it was a successful experience. And Travis Wells sums it up by saying, “I know a lot more about the world, now.” “W ounded K nee” to Shaker Church vandalized by bikers become TV mini-*series A person or persons gained damaged. at the Shaker Church. Production of the television mini-series “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee” is one major step closer to reality. E v e rg re e n F o u n d a tio n Films, Inc., (EFFI), based in Seattle, Washington, has won a f a v o r a b le c o u r t ru lin g , upholding the company’s claim to the television rights to the literary work Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, written by Dee Brown. The book, which the author describes as a “history of the American West from the viewpoint of the American Indian,” was a best seller in 1971. The first order of business within the next week or so, will be a treatment of “bible,” according to Jim Thebaut, president of EFFI and project producer, who is relieved the year-long delay on the project is over. Thebaut is now looking forward to lots of hard work that will ultimately result in a rew arding m ini-series for television viewers around the world. “For the first time, the true history of the American West will be presented in a very h o n e s t, c o m p re h e n s iv e manner,” Thebaut said. “I th in k one o f th e m ost significant reasons that this project can do so much good is that until a country deals with the past, it can’t really come to grips with its future.” The point is not to make entrance to the Shaker Church The vandals opened the door The damage was estimated people feel guilty, according to September 17 by ripping off a and rode motorcycles inside. It to be around $ 1,000 which the ten-foot screen to the rear Author Dee Brown. But, the was believed the same people Tribe will have to pay for. The real reason for telling the porch of the dining room and b ro k e in to th e A gency Shaker Church, just recently story to a mass television breaking a window pane to get Longhouse and also rode remodeled to the tune of into the church. Several audience is “so we don’t do it motorcycles around on the will cost the tribes window panes were broken and floor there. However damage $76,900, again,” he said. even more to repair the damage The sensitive, im portant fixtures inside the church were was not so bad there as it was the vandals created. nature of the subject matter of “Wounded Knee” has attracted interest in the project among some of the biggest names in Hollywood. For the first time in their acting careers, the Fonda family — Henry, Jane and Peter—will participate in the same film production. And Thebaut has also recieved commitments from many other top actors including Burt Reynolds, Marlon Brando and Will Sampson. Most major roles, in what is planned to be a five-part mini series, will be filled by American Indians. In fact, Thebaut said, “only American Indians will play American Indians.” “Wounded Knee” is the first of several projects planned by the company which is currently being reorganized into a larger multi-faceted motion picture production company, Ever green Internation, Ltd., (EIL). The goal of EIL is to become the first major motion picture company to be situated within SENSELESS— M otorcycle-riding vandals entered the Shaker C h urch September 17 through the window after tearing o ff the heavy screens. Wooden crosses were strewn on the floor, several the Seattle-Vancouver, B.C. above other windows were broken and fixtures damaged. R a ja h costs to the tribes ere market place. 51,000. Nearly 577,000 had Just been spent to renovate the church
