Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1983)
SPILYAY TYMOO JUNE 3, 1983 PAGE 3 Stolen artifacts recovered in Portland SpUyny Tymoo photo by Behrend ARTIFACTS RETURNED—Chief Nelson Wallulatum, above, looked over his ceremonial suit recovered in Portland recently. A t right, are just some o f the items returned in the same investigation. The Wasco ceremonial suit departments in all cities such as more than 20 burglaries were reported stolen by Wasco Chief Portland and Eugene that have b e in g i n v e s t i g a t e d by N e ls o n W a llu la tu m o n large Indian populations. The authorities. The rise in the F e b ru a ry 28, 1983 an d Portland Police Bureau got the num ber of thefts can be numerous other items reported le a d a n d cam e a c r o s s , attributed to the ease of fencing stolen from Lilly Heath, Velma the biggest an<f “most major the stolen articles and value of Frank and Ellen Squiemphen breaks” in the investigation. the artifacts. “The risks are last year were recovered at an Portland is very interested and small and thé profits are great,” “unknown source” in Portland concerned about the artifacts says Main. The artifact-fencing, business is very lucrative. by BI A criminal investigator thefts. Bill Elliott. The recovery came If a thief finds the right fence, Sergeant of tribal investiga while Elliott was working with tions Rick Souers said that he one a rtifa c t, such as a the Portland Police Bureau on and Elliott have been attending huckleberry basket, can bring another artifact theft. The suit, state law enforcement meetings up to $2,000. In addition, which is valued between $8,000 to inform them of the cultural foreign countries are extremely a n d $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 , is a lm o s t importance of Indian artifacts. interested in Indian artifacts. c o m p le te ly in ta c t an d Souers said that they are People from four primary undamaged. The only item trying to establish a program in countries, West Germany, missing is the ceremonial staff which to photo and inventory Japan, Saudia Arabia and that was stolen in an August all articles of bead work and Italy, are involved in the b urglary. All item s were other items belonging to tribal purchase of artifacts. recovered at the same place and members that are either located Main said in order to lessen th e sa m e s u s p e c ts a re in “treasure houses” or homes. considered to be allegedly The number of artifact thefts the number of artifact thefts responsible for all the thefts. o n th e W a rm S p r in g s on reservations, the bureau is The investigation depart reservation are up, says Jerome seriously considering develop ment has been working on the Main, agency special officer. ing a program to identify all artifacts burglaries for about From late July through mid- artifacts in the Northwest. The six m o n th s. T hey have August 1982, eight burglaries FBI currently uses a system, the c o o rd in a te d w ith jjo lic e were reported. By October, National Crime Information Spilyoy Tymoo photo by Bthrend Center (NCIC), which locates s to le n ite m s t h a t a re identifiable through serial nunibers th a t have been recovered. H ow ever, this system is not equipped to handle unmarked items such as artifacts. Because there are no bureau funds for this new system, the bureau will be asking the tribes in the four Northwest states if they are interested in funding the program. Main estimates the system will cost approxi mately $20,000. If everything goes as planned all tribes will have access to this theft prevention program within six months. W allulatum was grateful that the outfit was recovered, he sa id th e “ re lig io u s significance of the outfit is beyond expression. It’s like a part of my soul. The staff is still missing—I feel naked without it.” Wallulatum has been using another outfit for ceremonies. The stolen outfit will be returned to Wallulatum when the investigation is completed. Main said there are suspects, but would not release the names nor the identification of the fence in Portland. There are many people, says Plume, who are unfamiliar with museums. “ Many people have not been to museums. I wasn’t interested until 1 ran a traveling a rt display. All museums are concerned with preservation and protection of a culture.” The museum’s story will be the story of the Warm Springs tribe, as related by tribal members. It is the members who will select the story , and how it will be depicted. “An interpretive plan is like a blueprint of a building. It establishes the basic structure, then it is up to the planning committee to make the final display decisions,” says Plume. The Warm Springs museum will be a useful tool, a teaching mechanism, with which the Tribe will be able to relate to ithose who are unfamiliar with 'the Tribe’s history, culture and heritage. And with Plume’s apparent expert advice on how best to display those articles significant to Warm Springs’ past, present and future, the m useum will tru ly be a showcase and something that tribal members will be proud of. Museum to depict Warm Springs story Continued from page 1 it be through audio/visual, murals or computers. I t’s important to get the accurate story across to the visitor, member or non-member. Plume says the story line, so far, centers around the three tribes. “I see three different roads that are coming together in a major highway.” It’s important that each tribe keeps its own identity. “I try very hard to work closely with people so they know what they’re doing and why,” she says. Developing such a plan carries big responsibilities, says Plume, who is of Sioux descent. “You always want to tell their story in the best way possible.” Plume is always concerned with accuracy of a story line because she leaves the area, the tribes have to live with it. Plume feels thatReservations a re c u ltu r a l c e n te rs in themselves and that Indian people are fortunate that they have history. “Their history began with Lewis and Clark.” In a d d i t i o n , c u l t u r e preservation is exciting work and should open an entire new employment field for tribal m e m b e rs. “ T h is sh o u ld encourage young people with their career planning,” says Plume. Plume is actively working with MOIHS and Liz Tewee, Who is currently employed with the Tribe as museum intern. “I work closely with Liz so that she understands what’s going on,” says Plume. “She’s getting paid to train me,” replied Tewee. Plume’s only regret is that she doesn’t have more time to interview people but there are deadlines to be met. As Plume is conducting interviews, Jim B urke is c o n d u c tin g an economic feasibility study and Dave Waldron is working on the design of the museum. The time frame includes 26 steps, beginning with Plume’s work and ending with the museum construction. Grand opening is p la n n e d fo r M ay 1986. Between those two steps are m any a c tiv itie s such as c o n d u c tin g a fu n d in g campaign because the museum won’t be totally financed with tribal funds, establishing a budget, complete the final d e sig n a n d e n g in e e rin g specifications of the building and groundbreaking. The proposed location for the museum is Kah-Nee-Ta but because some people have voiced disagreement on this site, community meetings are planned for further discussion. Many people feel that a museum would be a drawing card for Kah-Nee-Ta and that it should be located there. Others feel the musaum would be located too far from the Warm Springs community . avlf—out of reach of tribal numbers. Plume worked with th e . Yatkima Indian Nation in developing the story line for their museum and cultural center and also worked with the N a t i o n a l P a r k S e rv ic e with Indian tribes in cultural resource development for 12 y e a rs. She is c u rre n tly attending the Oglala Com munity College, located on her reservation, studying for her degree in Lakota studies. She works part time as a consultant and is currently involved with her tribe in developing their museum-. Garage raffle results The Tribal garage grand opening ce ;mony attracted over 185 people on May 20. Besides refreshments raffle prizes were offered. Ninty-five people received prizes. Larger prizes winners included: Colleen Arthur, disc c a m e ra ; G w en S p in o , silverw are; A ustin Sm ith, suitcase; Leta Smith, electric knife; C raig T ailfeath ers, picnic jug; Amelia Colwash, General Electric mixer; Teeney Miller, jacket; Tony Howtopat, p o p c o rn p o p p e r; C assie Katchia, Ray-o-vac carryboy; William Napyer, toaster; and Estelle Lawson, Frybaby.
