Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
AprilS, 1991 PAGE 3
Support group shares news, photographs The old days-
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Wtyw Airr, currently In Saudi, shows an M-16 assault rifle.
When Tuesday nights roll around
in Warm Springs, one can almost
hear a collective sigh of relief from
members of the Desert Storm Sup
port group. Members continue to
meet weekly at the Community
Counseling Center to discuss con
cerns, share letters from those still
overseas and to make plans for
upcoming events. The brief respite
from their common everyday rou
tines seems to ease the emotional
tensions common among the mem
bers. When the support group began
in early January, members freely
expressed their anger tears of fear
and frustration flowed freely. Now
that the Gulf situation has calmed
down a bit, meetings are less
emotional the tears are of relief
rather than anger.
Early in February, the support
group was made visually evident as
"Gremlins I and II" tied yellow
plastic ribbons around nearly every
standing weed, tree and bush from
the Agency area to the Deschutes
Crossing. The Gremlins wish to
remain anonymous, but want to
thank Les Schwab Tires in Madras
and The Dalles for donating the
bright yellow bags for the bows
and ribbons.
According to Gremlin I, the idea
of using the yellow Schwab bags
came when she was walking along
and noticed a discarded bag on the
ground. Since regular yellow rib
bon was virtually impossible to
find, Gremlin I took it upon herself
to approach Schwabs and ask if
she could buy some bags for the
ribbon project. Schwabs refused to
sell the bags, but instead, the two
stores collectively donated 75 bags
to Gremlin I. She solicited the help
of Gremlin II, and the pair went
out late at night to do their decorat
ing. One support group member is so
loyal, that for a time, she was rid
ing her daughter's horse to meet
ings. Marcia Macy's car broke
down, leaving her afoot. Instead of
bumming rides from neighbors and
friends, Marcia opted to brush up
on her riding abilities, dust off the
horse, and ride to the meetings in
"old-fashioned" style. Marcia put
Miller with a couple ojhls buddies In their makeshift barracks.
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Miller standing alongside the Gulf before the oil spill. Miller sent undeveloped film home to his family, and
they were generous enough to share the photos with Spilyay.
the 23-year-old horse out to pas
ture again last month and now
either hoofs herself to meetings or
catches a ride from someone.
Support group members gave a
unified startled gasp at their most
recent meeting when Shauna
Queahpama-Craig walked in with
her mother Madeline. Shauna has
been stationed in Germany and
will return to her base in about
three weeks.
Members inundated Shauna with
questions and were obviously
pleased and proud to have her
home. The Patriot's Parade will be
dedicated to Shauna Saturday (par
ade starts at 10 a.m. at Warm
Springs Elementary) and the
CRITFE dispute settled
Captain John Johnson of the
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish
eries Enforcement (CRITFE) an
nounced March 8 that disputes with
two barge companies to cover
damages done to tribal fishing
equipment and property have been
settled. The incidents occured in
the Zone 6 fishery (from Bonne
ville to McNary Dam) where tribal
fishers from the Warm Springs,
Nez Perce, Umatilla and Yakima
tribes have the right to fish.
"This is what it is all about,"said
Capt. Johnson. "The responsible
parties could be held criminally or
civily liable for damage done to
tribal fisher's equipment or prop
erty. CRITFE, in the course ot
their investigation contacted the
companies and provided them with
the investigative reports. "We went
through the proper channels to pre
pare good cases on behalf of the
tribal fisherman,"said Capt. John
son. CRITFE investigations were in
strumental in tribal fishers receiv
ing settlements. Although the in
vestigation took place late last
year, the cases were settled re
cently. One tribal member wit
nessed a tour boat run over two
nets belonging to him. The nets
were valued at $750.00 apiece and
the tribal fisher received damages
in the amount of $2,250.00. The
tour boat is registered out of
Seattle, WA.
The other incident occurred last
November when a park ranger ob
served a barge drifting upstream
from where it should have been
moored above Eagle Creek on the
Oregon shore. The barge was un
attended and being pushed up
stream by strong West w inds. "The
barge drifted to just right under the
Bridge of the Gods and then the
wind pushed the barge towards the
Oregon shore and right into at least
two Indian scaffolds located al
most right under the bridge said
Rebecca Miner, Park Ranger.
CRITFE's Corporal Adam Villa
vicencio went to the area to survey
the damage. "The construction of
the scafflod had a lot of detailing
with large posts, thick wire cables
and cement used in its construc
tion," said Corp. Villavicencio.
"Ranger Miner said she saw the
entire incident and watched the
barge actually run into the scaffold
and bridge," said Capt. Johnson.
"I could actually hear the wood on
the platform cracking upon im
pact," said Ranger Miner. Dam
ages done to the fishing scaffold
amounted to $5,790.00.
"We want to educate the public
to be ever mindful of the presence
of fishing gear and related equip
ment such as scaffolds," said Capt.
Johnson. Incident of damaged or
stolen tribal fishing property will
be investigated thoroughly by
CRITFE. "Our efforts will be con
centrated on pursuing investiga
tions to a point of settlement."
Such efforts by CRITFE have
proven to be effective.
Capt. Johnson's enforcement
group has testified in civil matters
on behalf of tribal fishers and given
court testimony in other cases as
they arise. "We're here to protect
the tribal fishers." CRITFE in
vestigations also netted restitution
for tribal fishers from some of the
sports fishers who have damaged
tribal fishing equipment. Last year
there were 39 reports of damaged
tribal fishing property and 50 re
ports of lost or stolen property.
"Because of the high numbers of
damaged and stolen property last
year, we are making the investiga
tions a priority for our department.
Northwest Traditional Travelers
Powwow will feature an honor
dance for her Saturday evening in
Simnasho.
Letters, notes and valentines sent
to Shauna have pleased the young
soldier. She told of receiving valen
tines from a class at WSE she
reciprocated by sending them a
photo of herself in "full military
regalia." A brief visit to the school
this week by Shauna may have
confused some students as they did
not recognize her without her M
16 and other Army garb.
Some support group members
continue to have their mental ups
and downs. Those highs and lows
are often coupled with tough finan
cial situations. To help alleviate
some of those problems, the sup
port group is scheduling fund rais
ing events in future. Watch for
signs and announcements. Money
raised will also be used for a wel
come home dinner when all Warm
Springs military personnel return
stateside.
Some local soldiers have been
reassigned and have new addresses.
Gary Smith, in Saudi for a time, is
now in Germany, about an hour
from where Shauna is stationed.
His mailing address is:
Pvt. Gary M. M. Smith
C. Co. 312 INF. BAT.
APO N.Y., NY 09034
Wayne Miller, currently stationed
in Saudi, also has a new address. It
is:
E-2 Wayne R. Miller
544-80-2632
HHC 1st IDG 30PS
APO N.Y., NY 09310
Candidates wanted
The Yakima Indian Rodeo
Association is seeking queen can
didates for the 34th annual Treaty I
Day Celebration All Indian Rodeo
to be held June 7, 8 and 9, 1991.
Candidates must be of Indian des
cent, aged 1 6 to 24, single and have
no dependents. Contact Devra
Lewis at (509) 874-2782 or Janine
Herrera at (509) 874-2184 for
further information.
First annual rtport Irom Agtnt John Smith on Iht condition of tht
Indian affairs at Iht Warm Springs Agency continues.
vo new improvements in the way of farming and
cultivating lands, but considerable has been done towards
repairing and rendering more secure old fences, rebuilding and
renewing those on old neglected fields, and the acreage
cultivated Is thought to be larger than for some past seasons. The
early spring gave promise of a favorable season but the months
of April and May were very dry, and the few light showers that
June brought were entirely Insufficient to repair the damage.
Crickets also destroyed several fields and gardens, reducing what
was at best a light yield. Crops generally In eastern Oregon are
reported at but from one third to one half of last year, and the
reservation Is no exception. One third of the Department crop
was destroyed by crickets another third so Injured by drouth as to
be only fit for hay, and the balance only medium not aggregating
more than one third of the amount realized last year. The Indian
crops have not as yet been threshed, and can only, with the
garden stuffs be estimated. Stock of all kinds has done well. The
Winter being light there were no unusual losses except a very few
cattle polsend (sic) by a weed In the early spring. The statistics
are very difficult to obtain, the Indians either not knowing or not
caring to tell the exact numbers owned by them, and the date tor
an estimate are so purely conjectural In their nature as to afford
no assurance of being even approximately correct, but are the
best that can be given at present. As has been already presented
to the attention of ffto Department, both generally and specifically,
the location of the saw mill Is not such as to secure the best
results. It was doubtless necessary when first built to be at the
Agency but that necessity exists no longer. The timber Is too far
away, hauling logs being much more difficult and Inconvenient
than lumber, and many are thereby deterred from making
Improvements, still a fair years work has been done, arid the
material for a number of houses Is on the ground, waiting till It
can be worked up.
It has been my custom to personally superintend and
assist the building of houses, but have not on account of my
health been able to do so this season and therefore cannot report
the amount accomplished that should be. There are probably not
less than twenty five houses waiting to be built but the services of
all the labor I can command Is otherwise engaged, and various
considerations have prevented my hiring help for this purpose to
any great extent. The mills although kept running and having so
far proved adequate to the actual requirements, are not In a
condition to Insure It for the future without extensive repairs,
amounting In the case of the saw mill to almost entire
reconstruction of the running parts, forebay &c, but as has been
mentioned, It Is desirable that It be removed and therefore nothing
has been done except what was actually necessary to keep It
running.
The Grist mill although not in such condition as Individuals
would deem It profitable to keep one, is more capable for the
work It has to do, and can be got along with for some time with
only the repairs required by the usual wear and tear of machinery,
and expenditures for other things are more pressing It may
perhaps be well not to Incur any unnecessary expense upon It.
The amount of roots, berries fish, game &c obtained by the
Indians can scarcely even be approximately estimated, owing as
before mentioned to the almost entire absence of reliable data.
I am conscious that my statistics are not as full or reliable as they
might or could be but there are always so many other things
pressing which seem to more essentially demand attention that
the time and pains have not been taken to gather them.
In regard to any suggestions of change in policies or
methods of treatment I have to say that my experience goes to
show that those at present pursued have been productive of
Important results and as long as Improvement continues It Is not
best to change more than possible. The prime need is that
Agents and employees be always men who are more devoted to
the best interests of those placed under their charge than to
schemes for personal aggrandisement (sic), men who are not
ashamed to take an Indian by the hand and commend him for a
good deed or too indifferent and time serving to reprove and
punish a bad one, always bearing in mind that the end to be
gained Is not merely to stop bad practices but to bring about the
adoption of good ones. A few years of such administration would
produce wonderful results and give an effectual quietus to those
who are so fond of disparaging all efforts for the improvement of
the Indians, and put a stop to all further complaints of Indian
depredations and failure on the part of the government to repress
and control them.
Information for this column Is researched and provided by Warm
Springs tribal attorney Jim Noteboom.
NIPC developing research, analysis institution
The planning office of the
National Indian Policy Center
(NIPC), located in Washington,
DC, has named seven Task Forces
to facilitate consultation with In
dian affairs experts and selected
two co-chairs for the Planning
Committee. The George Washing
ton University-based Center, estab
lished by Congressional initiative
during the 101st Congress (Public
Law 101-301), has undertaken a
year-long feasibility study and
consultation process with Ameri
can Indian and Alaska Native
tribal governments and members,
and associated national organiza
tions to develop a permanent
national policy analysis and re
search institution.
Serving as co-chairs of the Cen
ter's Planning Committee are The
Honorable W. Ron Allen, chair
man of the Jamestown Klallam
Tribe, and Roderick S. French,
GW vice president for academic
affairs. Allen and French were
selected on December 17, 1990, by
the Planning Committee com
prised of tribal officials and repre
sentatives of national American
Indian and Alaska Native organi
zations. The presiding chairs of the seven
Task Forces and their tribal affi
liations are: Education, co-chairs
Donna Rhodes (Muscogee) and
Lois Risling (Hoopa); Economic
Development, chair David Lester
(Creek); Health and Human Serv
ices, co-chairs Nora Garcia (Mo
jave)and Wilma Mankiller (Chero
kee); Natural Resource Manage
ment and Environmental Protec
tion, co-chairs Ron Trosper (Sa-lish-Kootenai)
and LaDonna Har
ris (Comanche); Law and the Ad
ministration of Justice, chair Su
san Williams (Sisseton Lakota);
Tribal Governance - International
and External, chair W. Ron Allen
(Jamestown Klallam); and Cul
tural Rights and Resources, chair
Regis Pecos (Cochiti Pueblo).
According to the Center Direc
tor Alan Parker (Chippewa-Cree),
U of O Powwow scheduled
The University of Oregon's Na
tive American Student Union is
sponsoring their 23rd annual Spring
Powwow May 18 and !9atMacAr
thur Court. Host drums will be
Southern Medicine of Window
Rock, Arizona and Indian Nation
of Satus, Washington. There will
be contest dancing, arts and crafts,
along with a raffle.
Planning Committee and Task
Force meetings will be open to the
public. To facilitate participation
by tribal representives, meetings
have been arranged, whenever possi
ble, to coincide with previously
scheduled regional and national
Indian meetings and conferences.
The Task Force meetings sched
uled to date are: Natural Resour
ces, February 25, NIPC office at
GW, Washington, DC, to coincide
with the United South and Eastern
Tribes Impact Week, and April 3,
Spokane Sheraton Hotel, Spo
kane, Washington, Intertribal
Timber Council Meeting; Govern
ance, March 5, Crown Plaza Holi
day Inn, Arlington, Va., National
Congress of American Indians
Executive Council Meeting; Econo
mic Development, March 6, Crown
Plaza Holiday Inn, Arlington, Va.,
National Congress of American
Indians Executive Council Meet
ing, and May 7, Seattle, Washing
ton, RES '91 Indian Economic
Summit; Cultural Rights and Re
sources, April 9, Santa Fe Indian
School Campus, Santa Fe, NM;
Law and Administration of Jus
tice, April 5, Albuquerque Mar
riott Hotel, Albuquerque, NM,
Federal Bar Association Indian
Law Conference; Health and
Human Resources, April 22-24,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Com
munity Health Representative con
ference; and Education, early
June, Albuquerque, NM, National
Indian Education Association
Board meeting.
The December Planning Commit
tee meeting also addressed the
distribution of several options for
the structure of the Center, these
options will be presented to tribal
leaders for consideration. It has
been suggested, for example, that
the Center may function not only
as a public policy research institute
devoted to American Indian and
Alaska Native affairs, but also as
an information clearinghouse, a
continuing education center and a
resource for the Tribally Con-
trolled Community Colleges.
The GW-based planning office '
for the Center will continue to keep "
Indian country informed of the '
Center's feasibility study progress
and future meetings. The office '
also encourages individual partici- '
pation in the process thro.igh re-
gional meeting attendance and by
writing the National Indian Policy
Center. ;
Those individuals interested in
contributing to this effort should
contact the National Indian Policy
Center, The George Washington
University, 606 21st Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20052, for more ;
information. The telephone num- :
ber is (202) 994-5462. FAX is (202) :
994-5465.