Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1988)
25e UK COLL 4 li Spilyay Tymoo t 191B xL Q c c A y News from the -$ y j ' Warm Springs Indian Reservation m VOL. 13 NO. 1 Coyote News In brief Miss W.S. Interviewed Bridget Kalama was selected Miss Warm Springs at December 29 ceremonies at the Agency Longhouse. The 19-year-old is attending Central Oregon Com munity College. Page 2 Amendments introduced Amendments to the Indian Child Welfare Act are designed to acc6mp lish several objectives, two or which are keeping families together and increasing tribal invol vement and control. Page 3 IHS power Increases IHS will become an agent of the Public Health Service. The move increases IHS decision-making power. Page 3 Annual report published The Warm Springs Extension Service 1987 Annual Report focuses on goals, objectives and accomplishments. Page 5 S. Dak. wins tourney The Ironwood, South Dakota team took first place in the 29th Annual Holiday Tournament held in Warm Springs. Warm Springs teams faced tough competition. Page 6 and 7 Homes being built Apprenticeship crews are working on two homes in the Dry Creek subdivision. Houses are scheduled for comple tion March 1. Page 8 Weather JAN. HIGH LOW I 40 30 I 44 28 52 39 I 46 28 5 36 27 i 40 30 J 36 27 I 35 20 t 34 18 10 39 18 II 45 21 i - 4 (though snow can produce hazardous driving conditions, a scenic view Suicide: by Donna Behrend The death of a loved one, no matter what the age, is hard to accept. The younger the victim, the more difficult it is to understand. And, when a person takes his own life, people are sometimes confused, angry and unsure of what to do or say. Some may just shake their heads and walk away. Others, hopefully, reach out in search of an answer and offer help wherever it is needed. Suicide is a community problem that must be addressed with an open mind and heart. Nine local tribal members have committed suicide sinced 1 985. Three of those deaths have occurred within the last three to four weeks. Of the nine deaths, eight were males. Eight died by hanging, one died of gun shot wound. All were unemployed and all were unmarried. Seven were intoxicated, one was not and one has not yet been determined. Two committed suicide in the Jefferson County jail, one died at the old tribal jail, the rest died at or around home. Seven of the deaths occurred in January, February or March, two died in August. In 1985, 37 people attempted suicide, four were completed. There were 21 attempts made by 20 peo ple in 1986; one was completed. Of the 20 attempts made by 18 people in 1987, two were completed. So far in 1988, four have attempted suicide; two were completed. According to community coun seling center director Jim Quaid, there is "usually a percipitating event" involving emotional or physi cal trauma that attacks a person's sense of self-worth or threatens their self-esteem causing a person to consider suicide. However. Quaid stresses, most suicide attempts are impulsive. The person is angry and wants to "get back" or hurt some one who they perceive as hurting them. "Most people dont want to kill themselves," said Quaid. Sui cide attempts are true calls for help and attention. That help is avail able on the reservation. Public Health Service physician Dr. Tom Creelman stated that there are a lot of "resources available," whether it be through crisis inter vention, the police depart mcnt. coun seling center or fire and safety. "If PO BOX 870, WARM - -" - - -, 4 ;( t V.I. u , ...v..- , f :n-.;0.: A Scenic Warm Sometimes a fact someone wants to make contact, there are many places they can enter the program." Tribal assist ance, said Creelman, is "as good, if not better, than other programs." Local programs are "in tune" with the community. As individuals, said Creelman, we need to recognize a family mem ber's needs. It's okay to report cir cumstances to the authorities. "Even Swimmer questioned about Ross Swimmer, the Interior Department's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, took over as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1985. Since taking office, he has built a reputation both within the Administration and in Congress as an effective and oftentimes contro versial assistant secretary. After returning from an official trip to East and West Germany in Novem ber, Mr. Swimmer discussed a num ber of the issues he faces during the remainder of this Administration. Q. You have just returned from a trip to East and West Germany, where you lectured and represented the United States on Indian Affairs issues. What are your impressions from that trip? A. The German people are very familiar with Indian people in the United States. However, there is a stereotypical view of Indians that was caused by the writing of Karl May, a German who wrote about the American Indian. His writings used to be studied by many Ger man school children. The point of my trip was not necessarily to dispel images but to provide the facts on what the issues are with Indians today in the Uni ted States and what current things are happening within the Adminis tration. I particularly emphasized that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is in a position w here it needs to look at a different mission than what it had when it was in the Wardcpart ment I50ycarsago. I recommended that there be more self-determination for Indian tribes to assume a greater role in determining what happens on the reservation. There seemed to be a very good acceptance of that. 001025 SERIALS SECTION U OF 0 LIBRARY EUGENE, OR 97403 SPRINGS, OREGON 97761 ,r ... , -4 - r i 1 Springs, Oregon of snow-covered hills is breath-taking. if you don't know what to do, there are people available who can help. " Creelman stressed that invol vement, either in a job or commun ity project, is very important. It restores a person's sense of self worth and reduces the amount of time spent alone. The more active an individual is, the more in con trol he is of his situation. The lack of self-esteem, direction and invol Overall, the led ure and questions answer sessions went very well. I did approximately 14 lectures and round table discussions with journa lists both East and West German as well as professors and students. I did get a favorable reac tion to the President's Indian pol icy and our implementation of it. My general impression of Germany was very favorable. Q. The Senate is expected to approve $750,000 to conduct an investigation into alleged abuses and mismanagement in the BIA. What do you think the investigat ing committee will find? A. Well, I think what they will find is that the Bureau of Indian Affairs operates with some very antiquated systems, and that over the years attempts have been made to improve those systems, but there has been a lot of reluctance from Congress and from previous Admi nistrations to improve systems. This reluctance has resulted in failures. The reason for the investigation stems from a series on Indian affairs published in the Arizona Republic. The thing that is distressing to me is that the committee did not bother to check into cither the truthful ness of the allegations, and more importantly the context in which the allegations were made. I will not take issue with those things in the article that were facts. The "Austin Walker Case"did happen. Why it happened, though, is not entirely reported and certainly the remedies that were taken are not reported. Most of what was reported in the articles was the result of pre vious investigations that have alrea dy been concluded and people have already been held accountable for the mistakes. ". vv"" Spifyay Tymoo photo by ihewexyk of death vement "makes for a very worri som situation that leads to more suicides." Creelman added that "not just one person or agency" can solve the suicide problem. Overall aware ness is necessary. We need to make people less "at risk" by identifying and dealing with the underlying problems. Crisis counseling services are avail BIA policies, As far as liability for collection of royalties, I'm not sure if they're going to come to the conclusion that the BIA or the Minerals Man agement Service or Bureau of Land Management failed to collect, or if they will come to conclusion that the energy companies failed to pay those royalties. In any event, I think they will come to the conclu sion that there was no intent on either side to do wrong. The $5 billion figure that was quoted in the Republic article as being poten tially lost is ludicrous. It has no foundation of fact. At least one Senator has apologized for his own staff using that number because it had no foundation. And yet. the Tribes planning celebration of self-government A three-day gala event will begin February 12 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tribe's constitu tion and By-Laws. Activities will begin Fridav. at the Simnasho Longhouse and con tinue through Sunday, February 14. The main functions will occur on Saturday at the Agency Long house and will include breakfast, veteran's recognition. Washut ser vices, luncheon, awards presenta tions and special entertainment by Wasco dancers. Other activities include a tour of Warm Springs facilities, additional breakfasts and dinners, historical prescntationsand attending the Lincoln's Birthday powwow. The Tribal Constituiion and By Laws were approved by the Sccre tarv of the Interior February 14. I93H and formed the Confederated Tribes that were present on the I'.S. Postage Hulk Kale Permit No. 2 W arm Springs, OR 97761 ddress Correction Requested JANUARY 15,1988 FDA recalls Myfed Syrup The Food and Drug Adminis tration has recalled the drug Myfcd Syrupduetoa manufacturererror. Myfed syrup is a decongestant, found in a white four-ounce bottle (generic actifed), that has been dis tributed by the Indian Health Ser vice since September, 1987. The manufacturer placed a tran quilizer (haloperidol) in some of the bottles by mistake. This could cause serious injury or death to a child if they should receive it. The Warm Springs Pharmacy is asking everyone to check their medi cine cabinets for this drug and return if to the pharmacy. Posters can be found at Macy's store, the Post office and the clinic which have an example of what the bot tles look like. Please call the phar macists at the Warm Springs clinic if you ha ve any questions or concerns. Calendars available A touch- of yesterday; a 'glimpse of the past and a reminder of tradi tion and culture are yours for only $2.00, the price of a 1988 Spilyay Tymoo calendar. Calendars are on sale at the Spilyay office and the main office at the front desk. As in past years, photographs from the past are featured in the calendar. able at Warm Springs after hours by calling 553-1 17l,andaskingfor a mental health counselor. You must leave your name and tele phone and a counselor will return your call as soon as possible. Dur ing regular business hours, call 553-1 161, ext. 205 or walk into the community counseling center located n the old girl's dorm. future figure is repeated by the newspaper. I hope that the Senate will not base an investigation on things like that without checking into them, but would, instead, concentrate on exa mining ways to fix the basic sys tems which govern BIA operations. Q. During a recent hearing before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, there seemed to be some agreement among the Inte rior Department and several of the tribes that direct funding of dem onstration projects for tribally-de-signed budgets would be a good idea. In fact, The New York Times in a recent editorial supported the Continued on page 2 reservation. The celebration will commemorate "50 years of success under this form of self-government." said tribal attorney Jim Notcboom. Prior to ratification of the Con stitution, "each tribe had a govern ing method, but there wasn't an organized confederacy to work with Bureau of Indian Affairs and state agencies." said Notcboom. From 1933 to 1938, the tribes operated under a seven-member business com mittee that operated similarily to the present-day Tribal Council. Representatives from all three tribes served on the committee. Many commnity members and former BIA and tribal employees have been engaged to organize the upcoming affair. The agenda will be finalized within the next few weeks. W atch for further informa tion in future editions of Spilyay.