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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1981)
Spilyay Tymoo December 11,1981 Page 5 Youngdeer attends symposium— Countries share native concerns in New Zealand by Donna Behrend Most of us have not been fortunate enough to visit a foreign country thousands of miles away, but during the latter part of October and early November, W arm Springs s u p e r i n t e n d e n t M e r r itt Youngdeer was invited to a tte n d an I n te r n a tio n a l Symposium in New Zealand. He said the trip at times “almost seems unreal and possibly only a dream.” He discovered that the native Maori’s value their culture and traditions and that, as strange as their ways are to us, there are also similarities. The BIA selected one em ployee from the three different levels of the Bureau (the central office, the area office and the agency levels) to represent the, BIA and the Department 'of the Interior. Youngdeer was selected out of 82 superintendents to attend. D irector of OTAT John A rtichoker and C hief of Resources Development and Protection Barry Welch also made the trip. The symposium, which ws hosted by the Department of Maori Affairs, ws attended by representatives from Australia, Canada, the continental United S tates, H aw aii and New Zealand- (M aoris are the aboriginal, native people of Australia and New Zealand.) T h e p u r p o s e o f th e VISITING A MARAI— Warm Springs superintendent Merritt symposium, said Youngdeer, Youngdeer (on right) traveled to New Zealand to attend an was to invite senior “public” International Symposium. He and two others, Barry Welch and John A rtichoker (left to right), represented the BI A at the 11 -day meeting. officials of English-speaking countries who have a common client (native people) and who are involved in setting or carrying out policy as it relates to those people, to reflect on the state of their respective a d m in is tr a tio n s a n d to generate an exchange of ideas about policies, programs andd administrative designs as it relates to native people. Youngdeer commented that “there are many similarities among the client peoples of these countries as well as differences. However, there were enough similarities to warrant such a meeting.” He compared this symposium to NCAI, saying that resolutions were presented to the full group an d th a t each c o u n try , including native Hawaiians, spoke of self-determination. The first day of the 11-day t r i p w as d e d ic a te d to e x c h a n g i n g id e a s a n d information on subjects such as political origins and develop m e n t of a d m in is tr a tiv e services, cultural identity and relationships with indigenous communities and the rest of society. Following were two days of various workshops dealing w ith M aori A ffairs and financial support for the upcoming fiscal year. Once the workshops were completed, said Youngdeer, their findings were presented to the Secretary of Maori Affairs who, in turn, will present the items to the next parliament. After the workshops, the delegates traveled back to the le a d e r s ’ d is tr ic ts . T hey attended various district land m e e tin g s , c o r p o r a tio n meetings and toured many of the Economic development types of activities the districts were involved in. Visiting the different districts was quite an experience, a c c o rd in g to Y ou n g d eer. Before entering their “M arai”, which is sim ilar to our longhouses, visitors must gc through . over an hour o introductions, welcomes, songs and prayers. Then, before actually going in the marai, each visitor presses noses and shakes hands with each of the natives welcoming them. “This means you both breathe the same air, making you one person.” He noted that the Maori’s are rich in tradition and culture. “They love to sing and dance.” Y o u n g d eer feels o th e r symposiums of this type should be continued in the future, stating that a tribal member “who has made significant contributions to his or her p e o p le th r o u g h s tr o n g leadership (might) attend.” He concluded, saying, “If ever the United States could host such an occasion and return the hospitality, it would certainly continue the warm feelings that we were able to share in ur short visit to New Zealand.” Phone cable being added Pacific Northwest Bell began work this week on a telephone cable construction project to meet growth in Warm Springs and eliminate about one mile of aerial cable. PN B M a n a g e r G len n Kennedy says the company will bury nearly one and one-half miles of cable from the downtown area to a suburban area south of the town where the Tribal Council has slated a five-year housing program. Additional telephone service will be made available to the T e n in o T o w n h o u se an d Duplex Housing project, the Warm Springs Mobile Home P a r k , G re e le y H e ig h ts S u b d iv isio n , W est H ills Subdivision and the Warm S p rin g s S e n io r C itiz e n Housing project. The tribal administration building and other tribal departmental buildings also are served by the route. The a e ria l. cable to be replaced by the buried cable is attached to an existing power role line through the downtown area of Warm Springs. Cost of the telephone company project is $82,300. The new cable will be in service in Jaunuary, according to Kennedy. M ountains in N ew Zealand TOE NESS *1 wouldn’t worry too much if your son makes mud pies,"advised the doctor, “or even if he eats them. Sometimes that’s quite- normal.” “Well, I don’t think so,” replied the womah, “and neither does his wife.” YIKES SS SS SS CONFUCIUS SAY: “Beautiful but dumb chorus girl often much smarter than ‘wise guy’!” YIKES SUBSCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO SEND SUBCRIPTION TO SPILYAY TYMOO P.O. Box 735 WARM SPRINGS, OR 97761 NAME____________________________ SS SS SS What would you most like to have along with you to read if you wee shipwrecked on a desert island?” The coed was asked in her English-lit class. “My first choice,” smiled the girl “would be an intricately tattood sailor.” YIKES ADDRESS______ I____________ ________________________ CITY____________________ STATE_______ ZJP_________; SS SS SS Wife “My husband won’t be able to attend your garden party Saturday because he says he will be studying the survival capabilities of feathered airfowls in an environment of extreme hostility.” Friend: “Going duck hunting, huh?” YIKES SS SS SS SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ONE YEAR $6.00 All Warm Springs tribal members will receive the Spilyay Tymoo at no cost. Spilyay Tymoo is published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.,