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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1982)
SPILYAY TYMOO Page 2, August 6,1982 Smith retires'after 35 years Ta|bot speaks on Indian sovereignty by Donna Behrend Not many of us can say we’ve held the same job for the past 35 years. But Claude Smith Sr., who recently retired from the BIA R o a d s m ain ten an ce department, can. Smith’s last day with the Roads department was July 16. Retirement for Smith has been busy, he says. “I do more work at home than I did at work.” Smith started work with the Bureau in 1946 after spending 414 years in the Army during World War II. Smith speaks proudly of his years in the service where he guarded a 36 field hospital and served as a combat medic with the 306th Infantry. The hospital was close to the combat zone, says Smith. “I was overseas 42 months and was on 11 different islands. I received 11 different battle stars.” Since 1946, with beginning pay of $.87 per hour, Smith has worked under seven different engineers. The best crew, he says, was while Lee Travis was here. “There were no paved roads when he came, and after he left, the roads were paved.” The highlight of his career was when Travis recommended the Roads crew for commenda tion. Smith and seven other Roads employees received o u ts ta n d in g a c h ie v e m e n t awards for work of excellence. “Travis thought we were the best crew in the whole United Claude Smith, Sr. States.” The 60-year-old retiree sees roads are difficult to repair. during hell or high water.” no difference in the mainte Smith is unsure of his plans Smith has six children, the nance equipment of present voungest of whom is 21 years for the future but, he says, “I and that of past years. “Today’s old. Smith gives credit to his would like to work for my equipment has more power.” wife, Victoria for helping him. tribal people...I miss my work, The roads are easier? to make it to work regularly and I can say that. But enough’s maintain, says Smith, because on time. “She stuck with me enough.” they’re paved, but some gravel Superintendents past and present Among the dignitaries who attended the Hydro Project dedication ceremonies on J u ly 16, 1982, were some of the past and the present Superintendent of Warm Springs. Allen W. Gailbraith who took office here on June 30, 1957. and served here until May 15, 1965, left Warm Springs to accept the position as the Portland Area Director. At the present time he is retired. Doyce “Speck” Waldrip replaced Galbraith, coming r here on May 23, 1965 and served until June 25, 1971. W aldrip also left W arm Springs to take the position as the Assistant Area Director in Portland. He has held several other high level positions since and is now retired. Jam es Cornett came to Warm Springs August 22, 1971, rep la cin g W ald rip . C o r n e t t se rv e d as th e S u p e rin te n d e n t u n til his retirement on January 16, 1981, and presently resides in Albany, Oregon. M erritt Youngdeer took office here on June 19, 1981 and is the present Superinten dent. Youngdeer who was born in M cA llister, O klahom a, came here from the Albuquer que, Area Office where his position was as the Administra tive Officer. Noted author, lecturer and professor Steve Talbot was the- speaker in the second event sponsored in the Warm Springs Speaker Series which has been co-sponsored by the Central Oregon Community College and the Lewis Pitt,' Sr. Memorial Fund on August 2 at the Agency Longhouse. T a lb o t’s topic fo r the presentation was “The Fight for Indian Sovereignty: 200- plus Years of Struggle and Resistence.” He gave a history of the settling of the colonies and their effect upon thé Native Americans. He explained the effects which were started over 200 years ago are still producing results. size of Indian lands. T alb o t stated th at the relocation program and the term ination program were additional acts which were destructive to Indians. He emphasized that the programs are a product of a capitalistic system which strives to increase its profits. An exam ple he used to illustrate his point was the Kennicott Mining Company which entered into a deal to do strip mining on Indian rand. The royalties for Kennicott were approximately 55% with percentages for Indians being between 12-15 percent. He s ta te d t h a t a t p r e s e n t negotiations are improving for a new contract in which the Indians would get, a higher percentage. The whole idea of settling this country for capital gains is an idea which still persists. As the East coast was the starting Talbot added water rights point of settlement the push of natives was to the West. It is and energy rights as other this push to remove Indians areas of natural resources which led to the idea of which large corporations show an interest. He expressed that reservations. the large corporations show an The resistence of the native interest. He expressed that the people led to the Indian large corporations have the Wars. It has been a struggle power and resources to control throughout the years to keep what little land has been given the U.S. government and as to the Indian and Talbot long as Indian nations have predicts it will continue to be a resources the Indians will have dealings with these giant struggle as long as the Indians c o r p o r a t i o n s . T h e o n e hold title to any land which redeeming factor in the entire has natural resources. He affair is that today non-Indians warns Indian people to be are banding together with the aware, that any laws passed by Indian to fight exploitation the government to change thè from corporations. . status of their land, resources Accompanying Talbot’s talk a n d th e I n d ia n p e o p le was a showing of a video tape themsleves can be an attempt entitled “Facing the Wind, A by the government to take from Song for Yellow Thunder.” the Indians. He cited the The tape was a brief story Dawes-Allotment Act as just, about the spiritual camp one such of these acts. The act started in the Black Hills by the L a k o ta people and the was an attempt to make struggles the have faced. The farmers of the Indians by giving Lakota people are attempting allotments of land to each to gain back the Black Hills as Indian. Any land that was left Indian Country. The showing after each individual Indian at Warm S prings was one of the had been given land would be first public showing of the opened for settlement to non- video tape. Indians. This act reduced the Spilyay Tymoo Staff (Coyote News Staff) Sid Miller Donna Behrend Marsha Shewczyk Pat Leno Priscilla Squiemphen Managing Editor Assistant Editor Darkroom/Writan Reporter Typesetter FOUNDED IN MARCH OF 1976 Published bi-weekly by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Warm Springs, Oregon 97761. Located in the Old Administration Building. Any written material to Spilyay Tymoo should be addressed to: To: Spilyay Tymoo P.O. Box 735 Warm Springs, Oregon 97761 Phone Office 553-1644 or Tribal Office 553-1161, Ext 274, 285, 321 Subscription Rate: $6.00 per year During the Hydro Project dedication ceremonies some o f the past and the pres&tt Superintendents took time out to pose with Ken Smith after a hardy meal. Pictured froin left to right are; Allen W. Galbraith, Ken Smith, Dovce “Speck” Waldrip, James Cornett and Merritt Youngdeer.
