Snlyay Tymoo
Warm Spiungs, Oregon
July 31, 1987 PAGE 7
Students can study
with scientists
Leaf fossil named after local geologists
The opportunity for young peo
ple to study with scientists through
the Oregon Museum of Science
and Industry is available each sum
mer at Camp Hancock and othei
locations throughout the slate. These
science camps and adventures expose
children to the natural science world
including botany, zoology, geology,
fossil study, astronomy and cultu
ral history.
Camp Hancock located ncarClar
no in the John Day River valley is
only one of OMSI's camp facilities.
Owned and operated by OMSI for
over 30 years the field station is
rich in fossils. It has living facilities
with laboratories, darkroom, library
and lapidary workshop.
Their camp locations include
Magncss Memorial Tree I arm offer
ing a forest environment in the
Pacific Coast range. Camp Kciwa-
nilong on the northern Oregon
coast. Camp Kamblewood near
Scquim, Washington having access
to Pugct Sound and the University
of Portland.
Children from 6 to 18 may attend
any number of classes ranging from
one day workshops to three (3)
week travel adventures. Classes
include spaceflight academy, marine
science camp, ghost town mining
adventure, high cascade adventure,
trip to ancient ruins and southwest
pueblos, paleontology research,
Kenya safari, astronomy workshop,
wildlife management, avian and
arid lands ecology and many others.
For more information regarding
OMSI science maps and adven
tures contact Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry. 4015 South
west Canyon Road. Portland. Ore
gon 97221.
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Twenty years ago a rock was just
a rock to warm Springs Flemcn
tary music teacher Mel Ashwill.
I oday, however, the retired teacher
looks at each rock carefully and
with deep appreciation for its history.
What began as a hobby for Ashwill
has turned into a full-time project.
After much reading and studying
he has achieved the status of a
geologist in his own right. More
specifically Ashwill is an amateur
paleobotonist studying ancient plant
species of Central Oregon.
His many hours of research has
been recently rewarded with the
naming of a maple species of his
honor. Ashwill submitted 65 spe
cies of maple leaf impressions to
Dr. Jack Wolfe of the U.S. Geolog
ical Survey and Dr. Toshimasa
Tanai of Hokkaido University. Of
these five of the species were
unnamed. One of these five now
has t he na me "Acer (Manic) Ashwill."
A Portland mountaineering club,
the Maamas, recently awarded a
$600 grant to Ashwill for his work
with Oregon fossils.
Ashwill limits his fossil collect
ing to the area around Madras.
"1 his area is rich in that resource, M
he explains. It has only been ten
years, though, since Ashwill has
been able to make sense out of his
many findings. Before, he says, he
would go fishing, look around at
rocks and not know what he was
looking at. "I missed a lot at first."
An increased number of con
tacts with geologists has helped
Ashwill increase his knowledge of
geology and now he can easily
identify rocks which might contain
fossils and impressions.
The maple leaf which is named
after the geologist existed in this
area 34-40 million years ago. The
climate was warm and temperature
having just changed from tropical.
Avacado and fig trees were being
replaced by maples and more mod
erate climate trees.
It is unknown why the tempera
ture changed at that time, says
Ashwill. One theory points to the
earth's axis tilting and changing
the earth's exposure to the sun.
1 cmpcr aturechanges have occurred
over and over in earth's history,
Ashwill adds.
The leaf specimens that Ashwill
finds are probably from leaves that
have fallen into water and then
were covered with mud. later har
dening to rock.
A museum behind Ashwill's house
provides more geologic history of
the area. Ashwill has leaf and fish
impressions along with fossilized
bones from animals dating back
370 million years when this area
was submerged under water. Over
time erosion has exposed the fos
sils enabling geologists to unravel
some of the earth's history.
It was only six million years ago
that camels, rhinoscroscs and mam
moths roamed this country. Only
fossils dating back five million years,
though, have been found, says Ash
will, Rivers may have uplifted since
that time and washed many of the
remains from the area.
An educator still Ashwill passes
his knowledge on to students, both
young and old. He takes time to
teach children at the annual ele
mentary school visits to Bear Springs
and He He. His museum is open to
anyone interested in the geologic
history of the area where he enthu
siastically relates history about the
earth on which we live.
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Spilyty Tymoo photo by Shrwttyt
Leaf imprint is that of "A cer A sh
willi", named after Mel Ashwill
who has devoted much time to the
study of plant fossils.
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Former Warm Springs Elementary teacher and amateur geologist Mel
Ashwill displays one of the fossil imprints he has exhibited in his
museum.
Many species in decline Governor signs bill
June 16, the dusky seaside spar
row became extinct. The bird had
occupied areas in Florida which
became urbanized. Air quality and
deterioration of the ecosystem iiy
that small area resulted in fewer
and fewer of the species.
The destruction of forests and
wetlands may eventually mean the
mass extinction of many forms of
plant and animal life by the end of
the century. If effort is not made to
preserve natural ecosystems and
restore those that are degraded the
earth will face a large loss of plant
and animal species.
Most species expected to be lost
are from tropical forests says Edward
Wolf of the WorldWatch Institute
Spilyay Tymoo photo by Shewnyk
Fossil searches are part of classes and workshops conducted at Camp
Hancock. Assistant director and geologist Brad Jarvis explores the pos
sibilities. The camp, owned and operated by Oregon Museum of Science
and Industry, is open to students ages six to 18.
Insurance department's latest news
in Washington, D.C. Many species
have not even been named of stu
died so their value to humanity
remains unassessed.
In the next 20-30 years up to
one-fifth of the world's estimated
five million species could be lost,
that is a hundred a day.
If present trends continue two
thirds of the bird and plant species
in Latin America could be lost.
Those that would survive are those
that reproduce quickly, eat indis
criminantly and tolerate a wide
range of conditions.
Causes of extinction says Wolf
are a growing world population
and the cutting of forests for farm
land, pasture and roads.
Continued from page 1
recreational significance to the
Tribes and its members, the Tribes
are very interested in preserving its
natural value.
The Tribes believe that with increa
sing usage of the river by boaters,
we have reached a point where
some restrictions on the number of
boaters floating the river in section
adjacent to Warm Springs is neces
sary to protect the river and enhance
the recreational experience of those
using the river.
Although capital improvements
and hardening activities can make
the river capable of handling an
almost unlimited number of peo
ple, the Tribes believe that such an
approach will ultimately degrade
the overall recreational experience
because it fails to take into account
the social problems that are caused,
by overcrowding on the river.,., 1
The Tribes don't believe that it is
necessary or feasible to turn the
river into a wilderness area. How
ever, they do believe that some
reasonable restrictions on usage
are wise.
They believe that the Oregon
State study supports that conclu
sion and hope that recreationists
using the river will work with the
Tribes and other governmental enti
ties to develop a coherent man
agement plan that will protect this
irreplaceable resource for future
generations.
Local teams vie, for national title
Effective July 1, 1987, The Tribes
have a new insurance carrier for its
Worker's Compensation coverage.
The new insurer is Liberty Northwest
Insurance Corporation: therefore,
any injury to an employee begin
ningJuly 1st must be reported ona
report form that has Liberty North
west printed at the top of the form
(form no. 801). The Tribal Insu
rance Office has distributed new
forms to some of the larger depart
ments. If you need one of the new
forms, please call the Tribal Insu
rance Office at extensions No. 327
and 328.
Also effective July I, 1987, the
Warm Springs Forest Products In
dustry will be insured by Liberty
Northwest Insurance Corporation
on their own Worker's Compensa-
I'V 'I ""- -HP
tion Policy.
Please note that prior to July 1,
1987, any injuries on the job must
be reported on Industrial Indemn
ity Insurance Company for all Tri
bal Offices and departments includ
ing Kah-Nee-Ta but excluding the
Warm Springs Forest Products In
dustry. If you have any questions on
these insurance matters, please call
the Tribal Insurance office.
Due to lower insurance losses,
the Tribes Excess Insurance Policy
coverage, effective June I, 1987,
was $20,000.00 lower than last years
coverage. The Tribal Insurance
Offices hopes that it will continue
to lower insurance costs, which is
also evidenced by the changing of
the Worker's Compensation cov
erages from Industrial Indeminity
to Liberty Northwest. The Tribal
Insurance Office believes this will
also save the Tribes many thou
sands of dollars.
We are happy to announce that
Serena Raboin, a tribal member,
was recently hired in our office as
Insurance Claims Clerk.
The Tribal Insurance office
received a complaint from a con
cerned employee about the confi
dentiality of our out going mail to
other tribal departments. Thank
you for your comment, as we will
endeavor to comply with your com
plaint in our interest to improve
our services to the insured employees.
Any other concerns will be
appreciated.
The National Indian Slo-Pitch
Softball tournament in Richland,
Washington started July 30 and
will continue through August 1.
The tournament will consist of
36 mens teams, and 24 womens
teams. There is also boys 12 and
under baseball, girls 12 and under
fastpitch softball and girls 13-15
fastpitch softball. Awards given
out will be for places, best glove,
best hitter, and also sportsmanship.
Three local womens teams will
be traveling to the tri-cities in
Washington.
Macy's and coach Dawn Smith
played Agape from Bremerton, Wash
ingtonat5:00p.m. July 30. Results
were unavailable at press time.
Bravettes and coach Ramona
"Teddy" Tancwasha played Pen
dleton at 5:00 p.m. on July 30. No
results available.
The Lady Wildcats and coach
Louise Jackson played Nisqually,
Washington at 3:30 p.m. during
the afternoon on July 30. No results
were available.
One local mens team are the
Springers with coach Darryl Smith
who played Milk River, Montana
at 7:30 on July 30. No results were
available.
If you have the chance to come
to the Slo-pitch Nationals, come,
and cheer on the locals and have
yourself a good time.
Indian language to be taught
Are you lacking confidence when
you attempt to make a speech in
Indian? Are you afraid people will
laugh at you? I am going to open
my home to help young people
overcome these fears through prac
ticing and helping each other.
We will work with Sahaptin only.
Our goals are to give encourage
ment and confidence to those who
understand the language and speak
it limitedly.
I will be accepting names until
August 7th if you are interested. It
will be limited to a certain number
of people. You may contact me at
553-1626 after 5. There will be no
charge. Neda Wesley, 4440 Upper
Dry Creek.
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Just strolling along
Sptroy fiM ftmf by Sbrmrwy.
Canadian geese are frequent itors to the H arm Springs XationalFish ft atchery located on the H arm Springs
Rher.
TOTAL NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD 12
DATE June, IW j
MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS RSENT TOTAL
NAMt ATTENDED ABSENT DUE TO DELEGATE DELEGATIONS
Jackson, Zane - Chairman U' d 0 3
Frank. Delbert Sr. - 1st Vice-Chairman 10 0 2 I?
Brunoe. Bruce, Sr. - 2nd Vice-Chairman 6", 3 ?'. ),
Wallulatum, Nelson, Wasco Chief 0 i: 0 3
Heath, Delvls, Sr., Warm Springs Chief ' 0 13
Henry, Vernon, Palute Chief 11 1 0 6
Wallulatuo. Karen 0 6
Clements, Janice a 1 2 9
Squlewphen, Rita 9 3 2 6
Johnson. Ellen 7. 4- n '
Patt. Olney 0 0
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