Spilyay Tymoo
December 11, 1981 Tage 3
Information center more than a gift shop
by Marsha Shewczyk
Gift ideas of the finest
abound upon entering the
Warm Springs Information
Center. From beaded wallets
made of cut glass beads, to
dolls in Indian attire, there’s a
gift for everyone.
But the Information Center
did not originate with the idea
of just selling gifts to passing
motorists. Construction of the
Information Center four years
ago was intended to provide a
place for tourists to learn about
the Warm Springs Reserva
tion, its people and the
surrounding area.
Information Center manager
Faye Waheneka has worked at
the shop for the four years it
has been in existence. She
commented that the shop
s t a r t e d m e r e ly a s a n
information center. Then, at
th e s u g g e s tio n o f th e n
e n t e r p r i s e m a n a g e r Ed
M anion, the shop began
carrying a few inexpensive
items. And little by little more
items were added to the shop.
Faye says, “I noticed our
in v e n to ry b u ild in g u p .”
With local artisans looking
for an outlet for their work, and
with encouragem ent from
M anion, the Inform ation
Center staff began selling some
of the local craftwork. The
shelves began to fill up, and
with Faye’s displaying abilities
the crafts of the Warm Springs
people became enough reason
for many people to stop at the
Information Center time-and-
time again.
One customer, Caroline
A nderson from W inston,
O re g o n , e n th u s ia s tic a lly
commented,” 1 go bananas
when I come in here.’’She went
on to say, “This is a lovely
place. Last year I spent $500 in
one-half hour.”
M r s / A n d e r s o n a ls o
remarked during her Christmas
shopping stop, “Everyone that
has been in this shop has been
so helpful and courteous.”
Being helpful seems to come
naturally for those at the
Information Center. The entire
staff likes dealing with people.
M anager Faye W aheneka
worked at the Kah-Nee-Ta gift
shop before coming to the
Information Center. She says
she enjoys that kind of work.
Often tourists entering the
(doors of the Inform ation
C enter have some m ajor
m isconceptions about the
Warm Springs Reservation.
Faye explained, “Many people
think we’re so isolated. Some
people wonder if we live in
te e p e e s.” She c o n tin u e d ,
“ People ask some strange
questions.”
Helping people realize the
nature of the reservation is the
primary function of the staff at
the Information Center. Much
of the job is P.R. work. “We do
a lot of advertizing for Kah-
Nee-Ta. We have done a lot of
research on this whole state,”
Faye mentioned. Such research
is necessary because she says,
“People from all over the
world come here.”
In the fo u r years the
Information Center has been in
operation thousands of people
have passed through the doors.
In just the first ten months of
this year 27,693 have stopped.
That’s up 2,247 from the entire
year of 1980.
Many changes have been
made since the Information
C e n te r’s b eg inning. The
Deschutes Crossing restaurant
has been built which helped
increase business, Faye says.
The new sign recently erected
indicating to motorists that
they are entering the Warm
Springs Reservation has helped
to draw customers. Cigarette
sales have also drawn many
people to the Information
Center.
Even with a large inventory,
sh o p w o rk e rs lo o k fo r
additions to their display
cases. Faye says she looks at
bazaars for interesting items
and artisans who might wish to
place some of the handcrafted
items in the store. She says,
“We’re trying to get local
Madras people to bring things
in.” She also makes a point of
buying items from other
reservations.
Not only do local people
bring their wares in for sale, but
they also spend their money at
the Information Center. Many
gifts are purchased by the tribe
fo r r e tir in g e m p lo y e e s.
Accoutrements for dancing
regalia are also popular.
Having a lay-away plan helps
local people to make these
purchases.
“People seem to be watching
how they spend their money,”
Faye observed. She hopes the
JUST LOOKING—Local residents fin d a variety ofbeadwork fo r personal use and gift-giving at the
Warm Springs Information Center.
state of the economy will not
cause the shop to eventually
close its doors since the
Information Center appears to
have value beyond sales. It
provides inforiqption and an
initial exposure for many to the
Warm Springs Reservation
and its people.
Plans for the future include a
display of old Klickitat baskets
and old corn husk bags. Other
handmade articles on display,
but not so old, include an elk-
skin wedding dress, paintings
by local artists, bead work of
intricate design, hand-tanned
m o c c a sin s a n d o r ig in a l
sculptures of Indians in full
regalia. If a shopper doesn’t see
what he wants he merely has to
ask. Faye may be able to locate
the desired item.
A visit to the Information
Center can stimulate interest in
the Warm Springs culture.
Visitors are awed at the fact
that people still take the time to
put so much effort into their
work. There is no indication
that technology has taken over commented while talking to Information Center manager Faye
here.
Waheneka that she goes bananas when she shops at the center.
P r o v i d i n g a f a c t u a l Information Center. It has look at the Warm Springs
exposure for the Warm Springs been doing this since its people and their lives as
Reservation, its people ana its beginning, with many people
exhibited and explained at thé
artisans is the function of the returning for just one more
Information Center.
C h ris tm a s tre e New post office due for W.S.
c o m m o n se n se
Common sense must be used
when it comes to Christmas
trees. Acting fire chief at the
Warm Springs Fire and Safety
department Jerry Huff gives
some advice.
Tree should be cut only a
co u p le o f weeks b efore
Christmas and kept in water. A
sugar and water mixture is
suggested for keeping the tree
fresh longer.
Placement of the tree is
important. It should not be
places near convected heat
sources. If it is too close to
baseboard heaters, fireplaces
or others heating sources it will
be more combustible.
Strings of lights on the tree
should be checked regularly.
Excessively hot light bulbs
should be replaced. “Faulty
The U.S. Postal Service is
developing plans to build a new
post office in Warm Springs,
O r e g o n , S a le m P o s ta l
Sectional Center Manager,
E.D. Spencer, said Oct. 15.
In a letter to the Warm
bulbs will burn hotter,” Huff
says. And if bulbs have to be
replaced don’t turn the light
back on with any of the sockets
open. Leve the burned out bulb
in until another can replace it.
T here are som e fire-
retardant sprays on the market
to spray on trees, according to
Huff. There is only one,
h ow ever, th a t has been
The voice of Warm Springs’
approved by the state fire
marshall. It is a product called own Tom Estimo is heard once
a week every Thrusday on
Flamout.
When it is time for trees and radio station KRCO (690) as he
greens to be discarded take r e p o r t s o n th e e v e n ts
them to the dump. With so happening in the W arm
much pitch in the trees it is Springs community.
The report heard at 8:00
dangerous for them to be
burned in a wood stove or a.m., 12:00 noon; and 3:45 p.m.
concerns anything from baby
fireplace.
Have a safe and happy showers, special visitors to the
area and community activities.
holiday.
W.S.
S p rin g s T rib a l C o u n cil,
which Council ap p arently
never received, Spencer asked
for community suggestions and
offered to meet with local
officials or attn d public
news aired
No a n n o u n c e m e n ts w ith
p o l i t i c a l o v e r to n e s a re
permitted.
The tape for broadcast is
made on Monday’of each week.
Any announcements to be
included must be submitted
before the taping session.
Contact Tom Estimo or Judy
King at the Community Center
for further information. That
telephone number is 553-1161,
ext. 243.
discussions to review plans for
the project.
Preferred location for the
new facility is within the
b u s i n e s s a r e a o f th e
community.
The present post office is
deficient because of lack of
operating space, Spencer said,
adding, “a new, larger building
and site are neded to eliminate
the deficiencies and provide
better security for the mails.”
S p en cer said th e new
b u ild in g sh o u ld c o n ta in
approximately 2000 sq. ft. of
interior space and be situated
on a site of about 17,000 sq. ft.
It will provide workspace for
four employees and a larger
lobby for customer services,
including 908 lock boxes.
Fourteen spaces for off-street
parking are planned for
custom ers in ad d itio n to
a d e q u a te p a rk in g fo r
employees and postal vehicles.