Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1986)
Oregon Colltctkm Warm S primes News VOL.11 NO. 9 Referendum issues discussed at meeting The second of two general council meetings called to discuss the April 29 referendum issues was held April 22 at the Agency Longhouse. Tribal members had numerous questions concerning the proposed western wear appa rel factory and basically agreed that the $6 million scholarship trust fund and the $5 million senior citizen's trust funds were something that should have been done sooner. Tribal voters will be asked in the April 29 referendum to decide whether the Tribe can "appro priate the sum of $400,000 and "borrow not to exceed $750,000 for the purpose of buying, con structing, equipping and ope rating a garment manufacturing facility to be located in the former Tektronix building. Total cost of the facility is $ 1 . 1 million. Part of those expenses are ex pected to be offset by a $250,000 HUD Community Development Block Grant. The Western Wear Factory could eventually employ 57 peo ple, 55 of whom would be tribal members or married into the tribe. The plant manager and ', . , ., , , , u- m Changes in tribal scholarship program proposed Proposed changes in the cur rent tribal scholarship program were recently presented to Tribal Council by Education, Training and Employment Manager Charles "Jody" Calica. The changes are intended to "stretch our money to meet as many needs of our people as possible," said Calica. Through research it was disco vered that there are currently 1,002 tribal members between the ages of 19 and 37. Seventy of those are currently enrolled in either college or vocational education programs. The stu dents' average age is 26.5. The average scholarship award is approximately $2,000. per student per term. The tribal education commit tee, said Calica, has, for a number of years, tried "to resolve issues concerning the scholarship pro gram." One issue in particular is that of determining if higher education is a "privilege" and that "students are expected to contribute funds to their educa tion." Currently, the Tribes cover all books, tuition and fees for each student. The Tribes cover 60 percent of each student's living costs after grants and other need-based awards are received. Students are required to pay 40 percent of their living WEATHER APRIL HI LOW 11 55 31 12 52 31 13 58 30 14 62 30 15 59 45 16 57 38 17 59 31 18 65 32 19 20 21 80 49 22 50 48 23 52 30 cNLiuuiuKnKV MA f 5 1986 mechanic, from Denver Manu facturing, would train two tribal members to take their jobs after two years. Most of the jobs would entail sewing and would offer full-time, year' round em ployment. After a six-month training period, the base hourly piece-rate would be between $3.60 and $4.00 which would be based on a productivity percentage. People producing at a higher rate than the base productivity rate would be paid accordingly. The proposed agreement between the Tribe and Denver Manufacturing states that the Tribe would provide the labor force, building and equipment. Denver Manufacturing would provide the management, training, sales, design and adver tising. The profits would be shared among the Tribe, Denver Manufacturing and the emplo yees. The profit sharing is pro posed as a way to increase pro ductivity among the employees and increase the plant's profits. The reservation unemployment rate ranges between 20 percent in the summer to 40 percent Continued on page 3 costs, earned scholarships or awards will be counted towards the students contribution. Calica said that very little has been done to assess students' capabilities to determine their interests, aptitude or academic skills. As a result, it (higher education program) has been a very high risk, high cost opera tion." An assessment center has been developed through Central Oregon Community College and is now being used to screen students and help plan their academic programs. To reduce those costs, it has been proposed to "incorporate higher academic standards for automatic eligibility." A student will be required to have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA). The current average GPA among Warm Springs students is below 1.80. If a student is not able to meet this requirement and shows that basic skills are deficient, the student will be referred to the Basic Skills Development Program arranged through Central Oregon Community College. Students will have the choice of completing this program in Warm Springs or on the COCC campus in Bend. "This will get the student on a college entry level so thay are able to succeed in a college program,"said Calica. He added in the past 80 percent to 85 percent of college students get into academic difficulties in the first year of study. Another change proposed for the program is the way in which scholarships are awarded. If the proposal is adopted by Tribal Council, the Tribes wil not subsi dize a students choice of out-of-state or private school. The Tribes will base the amount of scholar ship awards on the average cost of public, in-state schools. The student will be required to pay for the difference. One-half of the current stu dents attend private or out-of-state schools, and these schools, says Calica, cost two or three times more than public or in state schools. By reducing the WARM SPRINGS, OREGON 97761 pucn ORE ,;l I f ' 'J I T . 4 w. I 1 , Madras ' 75 th anniversary parade out-of-state and private school appropriations, the Tribes will be able to save money and will eventually be able to return to the system of the Tribes paying 80 percent of the living costs and the students paying 20 per cent Through these savings, the Tribes will be able to create a reserve to initiate a fellowship program which will be aimed at trying to encourage students to go into fields of "high tribal needs,"such as forestry, natural resources management areas, law and medicine. This program would allow students to go to private or out-of-state schools to "secure the highest and best training possible," said Calica. Of major concern said Calica, is the reduction in federal appro priations education. The Bureau of Indian Affairs no longer pro Be sure to April 29 Special run-off election. simnasho District. Educational meeting for the 7 community on the issue of SiS Weaf APPORTIONMENT May 15 Secretarial election on April 24, 1986 .. apportion1 Dinner at 6:00 p.m. May 20 -Adopt.on referendum Meetjng begjns g, QQ p m Burning permits required AgencLonghouse All burning permits will be issued at the BIA Fire TArM By invitation of Tribal Council Te?rnbi?sSimustbeobta,ned24hourspnortoburning.ThiS AttOmey ChaNQS WilkinSOn Will gives Fire Management a chance ,to ''0krir" DTOVide legal background OH assistorgiveadviceonmethodstousetodothejobsafeiy. f --jl . . ..r-t-r- Burning permits can be obtained during regular working PPORTIONMENT hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For further information contact Fire Management Office. 553-1121. ext. 413 or 553-1146. 1 I . ' ' mmJ F s t ... ... A, . i.yj brought back memories from years gone by. L ooking back Eliza vides Warm Springs with college and vocational education funding. "Education has dropped too low on their list of priorities," said Calica. In 1980, the Tribes appropriated $35,000 for higher education. In 1986, $385,000 was allocated. The increase is due to the lack of federal funds, more students and escalating costs. Also, the Tribes are interested in returning to the original concept of ordinance 26 which outlines and gives specific guide lines as to how financial assistance is handled should a student not successfully complete school. "All monies are considered loans until successful completion, of a course of study," said Calica. A final draft of the recom mended program changes is ex pected to be presented to Tribal Council by the end of April. vote -.vex. ..4-" ... ..,.4 i. Hi' W '"v. x .ZN ; 1 ) Letters of protest received Warm Springs Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Bernard Topash received three letters of protest and objection from tribal members April 9 concerning the validity of the April 3 Tribal Council elections. One tribal member stated that an elected Tribal Council member must live on the reservation in order to serve. In the same letter, the tribal member ques tioned the eligibility of a person(s) due to a "conviction of a major crime." Another tribal member stated that one candidate was "ineligi ble" to run for office because of residency. In yet another letter, tribal Kindergarten registration May 19 Kindergarten registration will take place May 19 at Warm Springs Elementary in the gym nasium. Incoming students must U.S. Pottage Bulk Rate Permit No. 2 Warm Springs, OR 97761 APRIL 25, 1986 Greene pulls a travois. members stated that the "territory of. the Tribe includes just the reservation, not ceded lands," and that it is the "prevailing custom to have elected officials living in their own district." There were 20 signatures on the letter. Topash ruled that because the Constitution does not clearly state that an elected official must live on the reservation, the protests objections were disal lowed. As for the "alleged crimi nals, "Topash stated that he had not received documented evidence that the candidates(s) were in fact felons, thus invalidating that claim also. be five years of age on or before September 1 , 1 986. A birth certi ficate and updated immuniza tions are required for registration. !