Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1989)
Spilyay Tymoo Warm Springs, Oregon October 20, 1989 PACE 3 by Donna Bthrrnd Over 46 percent of Ihc enrolled membership of the Confederated Tribes of warm Springs is 1 8 years of age or younger. Of those 1,447 youths, 204, or 14 percent, have entered the court system so far this year because they have been neg lected or have suffered abuse of one form or another. As tribal juvenile coordinator, Daisy Ike is worried and frustrated. In the two weeks since the intro ductory article concerning child abuse appeared in Spilyay, 34 additional cases were referred to Ike. Of those 34 cases, said Ike, 99 percent were substance abuse related. "Most of the children were removed from the home because of alcohol andor drug problems," said Ike. The 204 cases represent individ ual cases, not repeat cases. Once a child is issued a case number, that number remains with him until age 18. One-third to one-half of the open juvenile cases on the court books have been through the sys tem previously for nomcrous refer rals, said Ike. Crimes against children are handled in two distinct ways: vic tim vs accused; civil vs criminal. The protection of a child is impera tive and quick action is required. Initial steps are taken within 24 hours after a case has been reported to authorities. Once Ike receives a report of alleged abuse or neglect, she Hies a motion with tribal court to take the child or children into protective custody and remove them from the home. An emergency pre liminary hearing is held at which the judge decides if there is suffi cient evidence for the child to remain in protective custody. If the judge determines there is sufficient evidence, the child re mains in toster care until which time it is considered safe to return the child to his parent or guardian. It is at this point where the accused becomes deeply involved with the court system. The judge orders an assessment of the accused. If alco hol or drug abuse are involved, treatment is ordered. If determined necessary by authorities, the case is referred to the tribal prosecutor's office. (Details on the prosecutor's role in handling these cases will be Gorge workshops to be held throughout October The Columbia River Gorge Com mission, the Forest Service and the six Gorge counties will be spon soring open house workshops on preliminary land use designations. Four maps, 20 feet wide and six feet high, will be displayed at each meeting, as well as county zoning and assessor's maps. Land use designations provide the framework for the final reg ulations and eventual county or dinances in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Other maps that may also be viewed at the open house workshops are proposed recreation intensity zones, potential recreation trails and potential recreation sites, all in a preliminary draft stage. After the workshops are finished October 30, the large maps will remain standing at the Forest Service office in Hood River for public viewing through mid-November. An information package includ ing miniature maps will be mailed to everyone on this newsletter mail list, to residences in the Gorge, and to anyone who calls and requests them. Benefits of Enhance Your Well -Being By: Relieving Stress Having More Energy Having Higher Productivity Being More Relaxed Boosting Self-Confidence Strengthen Your Heart By Lowering The Risk Of: Heart Attacks Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Remember People Exercise! Classes now being offered free of charge each day of the week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tribal Wellness 553-3205-Eva and Lucinda 7A (7 f neglect leave life-long scars discussed in the next issue of Spilyay) Ike says that many times, the criminal side of the cases never get filed with the prosecutor. And if they do, sometimes it's up to 90 days after the initial report. It's within 10 day's time that the accused must make a commitment to changing their behavior through alcohol or drug treatment, parent ing classes, family counseling or all three. Some accused, says Ike, make a sincere effort at improving their lifestyles. They're doing what the system orders. However, says Ike, about half way through the pro cess, the accused is often hit with the criminal side of the case. "Par ents are frustrated and angrv because they don't understand the two parts of lhecasc."said Ike. The criminal charges often shake the self-confidence of those who are striving to improve their home situations. Often times, parents are not skilled at being parents. "We're dealing with third generation alco holics. "says Ike. "They often dont know or care about the consequen ces of breaking the law. The child ren are the same way. They have no comprehension of wrong-doing." This continuing cycle confuses the child because he is receiving mixed messages from his parents and the authorities. Ike has found that third genera tion alcoholics are "not strong enough to be elfective disciplinar ians. If the parents don't get help, the children will be in control," says Ike. Kids get caught in a "catch-22", says Ike, and they find that there is no one there for them. "Some families try, but alcohol syndrome parents don't have natu ral parenting skills because they've never been taught. It's very painful to watch someone sit here and cry and not know what to do for their children. Parents are at the end of their ropes." Unfortunately, this lack of basic parenting skills throws the court into the role of the "sane" parent and is forced to make families face reality. "Even the schools have to take parental responsibility of children.. .Courts and the schools shouldn't have to force parents to be parents, Ike added Written comments need to be received no later than mid-November in order to be most useful in the analysis for future changes. Preliminary land use designation open house workshops will be held from 4-9:00 p.m.: October 16, Hood River County, United Telephone Waucoma Auditorium, 902 Wasco Avenue, Hood River, Oregon; Oct ober 17, Klickitat County, Lyle High School Auditorium, 7th and Keasey, Lyle, Washington; October 19, Multnomah County, Corbett Christian Church, Corbett, Oregon; October 23, Clark County, Public Utility Division Building 89C Street, Washougal, Washington; October 25, Wasco County, The Dalles Jr. High Gym, 1401 I Street, The Dalles, Oregon; October 26, Skam ania County, Rock Creek Center, 2nd Street Extension, Stevenson, Washington; . October 30, Mult nomah County, World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Oregon. For more information call the Forest Service at (503) 386-2333 or the Gorge Commission at (509) 493-3323. Aerobics ii V ft Ike became juvenile coordinator in 1986. "I coulndt believe what was huppening to some of our children. I used to cry a lot. I still feel our kids should n"t be subjected to this type of behavior. But now, I want to do whatever I can to help protect our children. This protec tion takes precedence over any per sonal terror I felt when I first started." Ike continues to gain strength from numerous sources to help her through rough times. "If it weren't for the Feather religion, the Shakers, my traditional teach ings and the Reverends Rick Ribciroand Allen Elston, I wouldn't have been able to survive." Continued on page 4 Community Center sponsors Halloween activities Oct. 31 Halloween activities for the Warm Springs community begins at 7:00 p.m. October 31, I989. In the gym, costume judging and a carniv al will provide fun for both children and adults alike. Ten to 12 booths including a cake walk, dart toss and many other exciting games will be locat ed in the gym. The basement will be the site of a haunted house sponsored by the Community Action Group. Child Teachers prepare to instruct Indian The Indian language allows Indian children to view the world in the context of their own culture. Children can learn their history through their language. They can gain an understanding of right and wrong. They can learn that they hold a special place in this world of diverse people. : I ' rs ; . f ; - h ' T W t : - 1 - " ' ' , ' ; , 1 ' X . ' t. , . , , ull ffijfitfrr - 'V f ji'iit-rtaMfciT" "riif .vit -ftft 'ffffj -.ft'"'.';,, . .. , n ftJriu. -" Educational resource specialist Sharon Pereeoy presents WarmSprines legends to teachers during workshop preparing teachers to instruct students in Indian language. 1 Wi 'm,nm'nmm4'',"wm" u m nn n iwii',W miuummiiwiimi n mm iimi ii. i hi 1 1) mh. it if ' f iKvipv r ' '" ' . I I W ' ,.,1,1 p. ..-P -!'" ' (Left to right) Cheryl Sorrelhorse, Reona Trimble and Julie Mitchell participate in Indian language curriculum acthity during teacher in service training October IJatH arm Springs Community Center. Proposed operating budget jobs available and government and non-government jobs, Also in cluded in the standards is the reduc tion of the incidence of crime, inci dence of illness and disease, de pendence on tribal government, financial performance of tribal businesses, community involvement and voluntecrism, cost of tribal government, governing capability and governmcnt-to-govcrnmcnt re lations. Council goals and priorities are outlined as: I) Maintain political governmental support for the inter ests of the Tribes; 2) Increase and maintain tribal government self sufficiency; 3) Develop and enhance and well-being of individual mem bers of the Tribes; and, 4) Provide a strong sense of identity for mem bers of the Tribes. All branch and department goals ren 10 years of age and younger will be permitted to enter the haunted house. Older children ac companying younger children will also be allowed to enter. For adults, a casino featuring penny-ante games including black jack, dice, roulette and Indian poker will provide entertainment from 7 10:00 p.m. Proceeds from the casino will go towards the purchase of a large screen TV and satellite dish for the Community Center. Teachers in Warm Springs Head Start classrooms recognize the im portance of incorporating the native language into the educational sys tem. Last year they began learning to write and pronounce Indian words to enable them to teach voung students. , and priorities correlate with the Tribal Council goals. By doing so, a united front will be presented and the entire organization will be working toward common goals. Included in the budget, among other things, is $450,000 for salary administration. "We want to reward employees for their productivity," said Smith. Ncwinitiativesarealso included. Initiatives are changes in the budget for new programs and positions as well as the expansion of existing programs. Proposed initiatives include about 10 new positions as well as funding for studies, staff development, person nel policy revision, a tribal govern ment course for community mem bers, workshops and books. Total cost of the proposed initiatives is approximately $700,000. The budget packet is color-coded for easier reading and is separated by branch. Each branch unit in cludes an organizational chart, summaries which include the mis ion, goals, priorities, what drives the cost of operation, selected sta tistics, base budget, increases, ini tiatives, if any, and the total pro posed budget. Also included is in formation on the general fund appropriation proposals for areas other than the operating branch costs. Included is community assist ance, capital projects, enterprises and debt service. Receiving emphasis next year Teachers are learning words in Wasco, Sahaptin and Piaute. They are able to tell students that the number "lO" is Sumu Mano Yoo(Paiute) and that "fast" is pronounced OaAu in Sahaptin. Recently, teachers were intro duced to a newly developed curric ulum guide organized by the Bea verton, Oregon based Interface Net work, Inc. The bilingual resource center uses legends and ideas from Warm Springs people, collected by the Warm Springs Culture and Heritage Department, to prepare a guide for teachers. The six-volume curriculum utilizes Wasco and Sahaptin legends in Indian and. English to teach language arts, math and science concepts to Heac Start children. - : - "The legends can stand by them selves,"explains Interface Network, Inc. educational resource specialist Sharon Peregoy, but they can also be used as a "springboard" for other activities. She emphasizes that, "So much can be done with this. Each legend has a lot to offer." Head Start teachers have the opportunity to "impact" students, says Peregoy. Through the Indian language curriculum they can help students improve their self image by enabling students to relate to their experiences on the reserva tion, their home. These children can see the value of their culture, their tribe and their family and in doing so, see value in themselves. The teaching of the native lan guage in the early educational years does not detract from the standard school curriculum, Peregoy ex plains. Knowledge of a second lan guage and the native language "enhances white education." Stu dents are given a "base of expe rience" they can relate to. This Continued from page 1 will be treatment programs while prevention services will be in creased, l aw enforcement will in crease in the area of substance abuse and drug trafficking. Efforts will be concentrated in the area of economic development. Upgrading the organization in the area of computer technology is felt to be important and additional training funds will be made available. For the first time since the Senior Citizen and Scholarship trust funds were established in 1987, the pro grams will be funded by investment interest monies. Smith added that "we're looking to the future and planning for the future. Our financial forecast is looking good. We want to be sure that we have adequate cash in the bank to carry us through." District meetings have been set for late this month and in early November. The Agency District meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Octbocr 26 at the Agency Long house. The Seckscequa District meeting will beheld Monday, Octo ber 30 at the Agency Longhouse. The Simnasho District meeting is set for Thursday, November 2 at the Simnasho Longhouse. The General Council meeting will be held Tuesday. November 7 at the Agency Longhouse. Dinner, which will be served at 6 p.m., will pre cede all meetings. language helps them in their relationships wun omer students and helps them understand other cultures as well as their own. Some children are not exposed to the Indian language in their homes. Its use in the classroom is particularly beneficial to these children. Warm Springs Head Start, education coordinator Normandie Phelps relates, "A culture is built on language-Through language we gam a reverence for our culture. But, she says, "Some children don't have the privilege of having their native language spoken in the home." muve language instruction is not restricted to Head Start stu dents. According to Peregoy, curH riculum has been developed at othen reservations lor students in kin dcrgarten through twelfth grade. The 509-J School District Board of Directors has recently approved an Indian language program for kindergarten students at Warm Springs Elementary. Tribal lingu- lst Hani Morrison says a plan is being developed to put Language into all the grades. Legends and Indian words that! have been collected by the Culture and Heritage Department over the years will eventually be made available to adults also. The Department is continuing to collect and document the language in dictionaries and on tape. But creating an opportunity for young people to learn the language will preserve the language to greater degree than will documents with words. The Indian language, the Wasco, Sahaptin and Paiute languages continue to be alive and are now being used as an educa tional tool as well as a means of expression for Indian children I-