OREGON H IS T O R IC A L SOCIETY
123 0 SW PARK AVE
PORTLAND, OR 9 7 2 0 5
U .S . Postage
Bulk Rate Permit N
W arm Springs, 01
S p ilyay Tymoo
Coyote News
■ U m U i .
JULY 21,1982
WARM SPRINGS, OREGON 97761
Hundreds gather for hydro dedication
Under a warm summmer
sun, h u n d red s of tr ib a l
m e m b e r s ,’’ f r i e n d s a n d
d ig n ita rie s a tte n d e d the
dedication of the Tribes’newest
and most complex venture last
Friday. The hydroelectric
p r o je c t a t th e P e lto n
R e r e g u la tin g d a m w as
dedicated with flare and style,
with the ceremonious dropping
of the tarp that covered the
three-tepee logo imbedded in
the concrete of the powerhouse
and the flip of the switch that
rechanneled the swift-flowing
waters into the powerhouse.
In his opening remarks,
Warm Springs Secretary/Trea
surer Ralph Minnick reviewed
the Tribe’s progress of the past
200 years or so and referred to
the Lewis and Clark journals.
“The significance of the Lewis
and Clark journals is they point
out the Indians living along the
Columbia River were very
adept at bartering.”
. Minnick also referred to the
various economic ventures the
Tribes have been involved in
since becoming self-governed
in 1938. All ventures, Minnck
said, “were either totally tribal
or joint ventures between the
Tribe and the U.S. government
or a relationship between the
Tribe and the state of Oregon.”
Minnick explained that the
hydroelectic project was not
the first effort at generating
electricity. In the 1970’s, the
Tribes purchased three boiler
an d g e n e r a to r s fro m a
company in Alaska and in
1979, th a t p la n t, a f te r
Weather
July
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HI
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LOW
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______________________
essence, Reagan’s message was
congratulatory and praised the
Tribes for taking initiative and
completing the project with
very little help from the federal
government. “The new hydro
roject will bring long-term
merits to the state, region and
the entire nation.” said the
telegram.
Smith said,. “I believe the
Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs are blessed with good
people who want to make
progress and who want to
prove that self-determination is
not just an expression.” Smith
also commended the engineers
and builders of the project.
“Neither dreams or money can
be a substitute for technical
know-how that makes this dam
a reality.”
Smith continued, “what you
have done in planning this
project, working out the unique
financing for it, contracting for
th e sale of th e pow er,
completing the construction
and beginning the operation of
this generating plant, can be,
and will be, an inspiration to
other tribes.”
At the conclusion of his
speech, Smith pushed the
handle that rechanneled the
water from the river into the
generator and turbine—leaving
a comparative trickle running
oyer the spillway.
PP&L senior vice president
Robert Moench presented to
the Tribal Council a check in
excess of $161,000 for the
purchase of 13 day’s power
production.
Following the ceremonies, a
lunch was served near the
1 project site. Over 1,700 people
Were served roast beef, salmon,
eels, fry bread, salads and
various other items. Each guest
was given a therm ometer
commemorating the dedication
and all children received
frizbees. Senior citizens were
given cushions; all gifts were
embossed with the three-tepee
logo and date of the dedication.
S
Tribal Council Chairman Delbert Frank lowered the tarp covering the Tribe’s logo on the
powerhouse wall during the hydro dedication ceremonies. Over 1,700 people attended the
ceremonies.
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Behrend
reassembly in Warm Springs, appearance on his way to our non-renewable energy
began generating electricity. southern Oregon. Atiyeh resources and helps assure
Pacific Power and Light commended the Tribes for their adequate supplies of reliable
purchases the excess electricity tremendous accomplishment and affordable energy for the
produced by the plant. “Now and referred to the project as a future.”
these mill and regulation dam 'bootstraps operation.' “The
W a sc o c h i e f N e ls o n
electrical generating projects visions of tribal leaders— Wallulatum made a special
will save some 200,000 barrels beginning with the decision to presentation to consulting
of oil a year to ease the energy subordinate, not sell, tribal electrical engineer Jerry Dibble
problems of the United States.” rights to Celilo Falls and that made Dibble a “blood
In conclusion, Minnick said, investing that money wisely— b ro th e r.” Soon in to the
“In summary/ the Confed was the keystone in what has ceremony, Wallulatum realized
era ted T rib es, fro m the become the most remarkable there was no knife available to
beginning of time have been bootstraps operation anywhere do the traditional wrist cutting
i n v o lv e d in e c o n o m ic in Oregon.”
Instead, Dibble was presented
development, or commerce,
A tiyeh referred to Ih e with a headdress, which he
and as the years passed our economic successes the Tribe’s wore throughout the day.
economic development on the have had over thè years. “No
D ib b le w as o b v io u sly
re se rv a tio n , th ro u g h the one should be suprised, then, touched by the gift and was
patience and understanding of that the Confederated Tribes unable to deliver his prepared
our elders and ancestors, has are today adding one more speech. However, Dibble did
been methodical and well extraordinary achievement to a commend the Tribe’s wise
planned with a deep-rooted history rich with successes.” leadership over the years and
philosophy of maintaining a n d . saicl- Atiyeh. He continued, said that the “Tribe always
preserving this reservation’s “We who have watched—and makes oportunities available”
resources for now and future we who have had the privelege to its members.”
generations. This, then, can be of helping—are absolutely
He continued, saying that
the legacy for our generation convinced that nothing is the councils he’s worked with
and generations yet unborn.”
beyond your capabilities.”
over the past years have always
Following Minnick’s speech,
Atiyeh said he was proud of looked to the future. “They
tr ib a l c o u n c il c h a irm a n the project. “I have special always say,” said Dibble, “we
D elb e rt F ra n k officially pride in this project because it want to do what’s best for us,
dedicated the project by typifies Oregon’s commitment our children and our children’s
releasing the rope that lowered to renewable energy resources., children.”
the tarp Which was coyering the a project such as this protects
During his speech, Assistant
three-tepee logo.
the fragile beauty of scenic Secretary of the Interior Ken
Oregon governor Victor revers such as the Deschutes Smith read a telegram from
A t i y e h m a d e a b r i e f and at the same time conserves President Ronald Reagan. In
See pages
6 and 7
for related
photos and text