Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2000)
4 September 7, 2000 Warm Springs, Oregon Spilyaytymoo E Coosh EE WA: The way it is Years ago Warm Springs purchased and began operations of Warm Springs Forest Products Industries for the purpose of creating employment for Tribal Members and producing wood products to put on the market. To hear all the concerned people of Warm Springs at the recent General Council meeting it seems that the employees of Warm Springs Forest Products are afraid for their jobs and wood . production is not quality production. The Tribal member employees are afraid to speak up about what they see going on the mill for fear that a week from now or a month from now their jobs are no longer there for them. Just like the jobs of former, long-time employees that were terminated for no apparent reason. No reasons were given at the meeting when the former employee asked, "Why?" Now these were employees that have given many years of their time to this mill. These are employees with the experience and knowledge within themselves to possibly become management. Why not train them? Why let them go with all their knowledge? Were these employees replaced with "outsiders"? Employees at the meeting also brought up nepotism, is this a part of it all? Are these families moving up the ladder fast? With all these problems going on at the mill is the production of lumber getting better or staying the same? Can it be improved? Listening to the employees it is apparent that the quality of lumber production has gone down. With computer systems in place and new equipment in place to increase the speed of the production numbers the quality is not there. I gathered that there is a lot of finger pointing at the mill about what is wrong, but why not get to the bottom of it all and fix it? . Is this what the employees are not allowed to speak about? Are the people to blame being protected? "Problems here, stay here, or you'll get terminated." Are these threats for real? Before all this new machinery was put into the production line there were more employees. The machinery replaced the laborers, some of them. This was to speed up the production of the lumber products. Remember the Mill was supposed to provide employment for Tribal Members. The Timber resources are said to be dwindling down. Does it make sense to speed up the production if our timber resources are going down? Why not slow down and produce a quality product providing employment at the same time? Why not listen to some of the tribal members who have worked their for many years with ideas that may be what the mill needs? The Tribal Members who work there see the mill as their livelihood, their source of income to provide for their families transportation, homes, food, clothing, education. These employees are there because this is their company, this is their reservation, they lived here all their lives and care about what happens to this company. Many of them have been there for years and know what's going on with their mill but are not allowed to speak about it. There was talk at the meeting about scheduling another meeting and including the General Manager, Larry Potts, and other Management of WSFPI so that they could hear these concerns and answer questions? Are the employees willing to put their jobs on the line to speak up about what they see wrong at the mill? Will they be heard and dealt with when they return for their next shift? The concerns would be heard by all who are in attendance including non-employees with concerns of their own about their company. All tribal members are part owners in this company. There is concern about this company because there was a large turnout at the meeting on August 31 . If there is another meeting scheduled encouragement goes out to all to be concerned about this mill, because it is owned by the Warm Springs Tribes. Warm Springs Forest Products Industries used to provide a large income for the tribes in bonuses and was of great assistance when it was time for budgets. But in the present day all offices in the organization are taking budget cuts every year. There is cause to be concerned. There is something wrong. Open house set for 20th The Vocational Rehabilitation Prosram is havina an "Open House" Wednesday, September 20, 2000 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and everyone is invited to drop by and meet the staff, meet some successful clients who came through the program, tour the offices, read some hand-outs about Editor's Note Spilyay Tymoo welcomes articles and letters from its readers. All letters, preferably 300 words or less, must be signed by the author. Letters will not be printed unless signed. Thank you letters and poetry will be published at the editor's discretion. All letters are the opinion of the author and do not reflect in any way the opinion of Spilyay Tymoo. Spilyay Tymoo reserves the right to edit all copy or refuse publication of any material that may contain libelous or malicious statements. I ? 0 G the program, and ask questions. Half-hour Orientations will be con ducted at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Refreshments and some Give-Away things will be distributed while they last. Please come and support the VR program. While doing so, you will be showing your support to People with Disabilities and Employment. Member asks"ls our drinking To the editor, To our people of Warm Springs, OR. Cancer is a growing killer in our community. Do you ever think about water treatment plants location (our drinking water)Our water treatcment plant is located below our lumber mills, below our poop pond, below our trash dumpsite, below Bend, Redmond, Culver, Metolious and Sisters poop ponds. Industrial wastcmills etc., animal waste, farm ing waste DDT and many more car cinogens carer causing waste! That we all drink! Then we wonder why too many of our Indian people are getting cancer. No other town draws their drink ing water from the Deschutes except Warm Springs rez! Think about this, why do we draw our drinking water from the filthiest source of water on our rez? I worked at the senior center last year and this year with fellows from Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Prineville, etc. and they use to laugh about how they would joke that "the Indian in Warm Spirngs are thirsty, so I'll go the the restroom leave a number 1 & 2, flush my toilet and let the Warm Springs Indians drink it." Ha, Ha, Ha, Real funny huh. Think about where our water is coming from and why this is connected to too many of our people getting cancer and other diseases. White society is well known for poisoning us indigenous people and they're still doing it with the blind help of our so-called leaders. Our Tribal Council approved an other water treatment plant to be built in the same location, Dry Creek, which is very stupit. Why place all our Warm Springs people's health, life at risk. We use to draw our drink- ing water from the Shitike Creek, so Thanks to all To the editor: "Rez Fest 2000 turned out to be a success and I'd like to thank all of you who showed up to check us out on August 12. Thanks for your sup port and I hope you all enjoyed the show. I'd like to thank all the bands that traveled far just for the show Dying Tribe and EDG from Arizona and WarCry from Montana. Also thanks to our local drum group Eagle Thunder, for opening up the show with their sacred drum songs as well as William, Hollywood, and Chips for dancing. Oh yeah, a big thanks to you guys for pulling through last minute with your P.A. Thanks to all who helped with security including Rusty "Top Secret" Marcum, Charlie Strong, Merlin Tom, and Marvin Stahi Jr.,, Also Nicole Hudson for working the door all night-Thanks Babe! Everyone who helped with the Bar-B-Que, thanks: Greg Arquette, Sole and Martha Stewart, Marva 'Bob' Lawrence, Jay 'Burgers' Scott, Jaimie What does it mean To the editor, Hello from Pastor Rick. What does it mean to be hopeful? The dictionary says-a desire accompanied by ex pectation. What are you hopeful about? What do you think a com munity should be hopeful about? From the Bible comes the message that the Creator is the giver of all hope. The desire of God and HIS expectation is fellowship with us. The difference between God and us is that there is no doubt that the desire of God will happen. Well, that's from the Lord, what about you? What are you hopeful about? Do you really expect it to happen? If your heart's desire honorable? is it some thing that will build up life? My letter this week is full of questions that must be answered before a per son, family or community move forward into the future. As for me, my hope is in the love of God that wraps around me and my family, and all believers from the God who give hope. We have our fall program happening at the Warm Springs why don't we build our water treat ment plant on teh Shilike or Warm Springs River insstead of the filthy Deschutes waste dump? If we don't change the site of our water plant the we will have to live with literally killing our people through our drinking water. Every morning when you drink a cup of water, coffee, you are at risk of get ting cancer from our drinking water. Every time you wash your face, care or the children playing in the sprin kler, you're at risk of contracting carcinogens cancer causing man made industrial waste, farming waste, cattle waste, human waste etc. Let's all come together and put a stop to drinking this poisoned water and pace our water treatment plan on the Shitike like we use to do. Think about this. It is time we Warm Springs .Confederated tribes, Warm Sprins, Wasco, Paiute come together as never before. In these times of change it is very, very stupid and dangerous for "our Warm Springs people, tribes to act like three little spoiled brats. "Always fighting arguing, putting each other down. Try putting somebody up once in awhile, you might like it. I think this was one of the major reasons white society payed of our so called leaders (sell-outs!!) to try and place our casino off our Rez. Because they don' t want us to use our precious water resources and othe resources. ' If we do not sacrifice and build a infastructure now, I waid now, then all our opportunities will continue to be funneled in to Madras, while most our people continue to ive in poverty. For you Uncle Tomahawk, sellout so called leaders that wanted our casino in Madras. Why don't you withdraw your membership from our tribes and po live with your white brothers who helped ,and Bernadine Watlament, hopefull I haven't forgotten anyone! I'd also like to thank all wh helped financially as well as thos who supported our ideas and helpe . organize the 'Rez Fest'. That include all names already mentioned as wel as the Ikes-Daisy, Leena ,Tasha James Teeman Jr., Lois Knight Ramona Starr, Harvey and Floren Scott, my son Zane Ray for energ and inspiration, all friends, relatives fans, anyone I missed-Thank you! ' y ' Remember that Native Prid means supporting and opening our selves to ideas of peace and hope fo our community and restoring our an cestors way of harmony. It's not abou greed, ignorance and those who hav no faith in their own people. It's tim to stand up for ourselves and for fu ture generations-Let's keep this Re ALIVE! DW Hudson Drummer for D.O. Questions, comments, or book ings. Please contact: PO Box 204 Warm Springs, Oregon 97761 to be hopeful? Presbyterian Church. Christian Education begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Worship begins at 11 a.m. We provide baby-sitting for worship. On the first Sunday of the month e have a com munion service, a part of worship and a potluck lunch. On Tuesdays we have a youth program. Seventh grade and up from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednes days we have a Women's program. They meet at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and be involved. Well, hug someone you love. Hug someone you dislike. No . alcohol or tobacco for children. One day at a time. Buckle up the kids and yourselves. Don't hit or beat on yourself. Pay your bills before gam bling then stay home. Read the bible for it's effect on your heart. Pray to God to the point of hearing Him. Honor someone. Love yourself. Like yourself. See you in church. Pastor Rick R. Ribeiro WS Presbyterian Church On the campus Happy birthday Seven James September 13th From Vernon Winishut Happy 4th Birthday to our lil big sonny Brent Thomas on August 30th, and wish you many, many, more Love you Lots!! Mom & Dad water safe?" Our Warm Springs people would benefit by getting rid of you crooks! Warm Springs Rez. 3000, 4000, 5000, etc. It is time to fight for what little time we have left. Money is a whitcmans thing. White Society worships money. We, Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes and all Indig enous Native people think and worry about more important issues. We have this piece of land, home, Warm Springs, Rez Forever and each other.. .most of our people live in poverty but we are very fortunate to nave what we have.. ..each other and this peice of land, Mother Earth, Home. White Society wants our souls... .Damn, they already took 99.99 of wht our elders fought and died for. Now they want our home. ..Think about this, we or at least our so called leaders are ssclling us out..Think about our Klamath Modoc Wahoos Kin Bros, that got sold out by their sick selfich leaders back in the 1950's. Lost their land base and to this day they are scattered and lost, try to regroup. Strong, strong Native Indigounous peoples. All of us! We are all related like it or not. We must take care, watch out for each other for generations to come. Instill this in our own people, the young ones, offer them pride in their own heritage instead of getting all caught up with White Society values of whose got the most Kah-Chignk.... Is that as far as you see? Petty ! What do you think our elders were sacri ficing, suffering, dying for....They had the opportunity to sell us out but their insight, and love for us, Warm Springs tribes, was more real. Thank you for your time and con sideration. Bobby Eagleheart Please return my chainsaw To the editor, While working at my mom's field (Maxine Switzler's) on August 10, 2000, 1 was down in the ravine out of sight of the road. I left my chain saw, a Husky 266 XP close to the road. I went back to get it and it was gone. I'm thinking someone might have picked it up by accident thinking it fell off a pickup or got left by mistake. If you have it, please return it. No questions asked. This is part of my livelihood for my family and need to have it returned. Thank you. Victor Switzler, Sr. Parents proud To the editor, As a mother of two tribal member children who have graduated from High School, I would like to say a bit about our youth. Shawnrae Gabriel and Elizabeth (Earl) Kalama have accomplished a task and are moving into the world with positive hearts. I feel proud to say that Shawnrae was a great basketball player from grade school to his senior year. He practiced his father's teaching when he was down, and he maintained a strong academic attitude. As he en ters the men's level in traditional dance, he will have the strength of a young man, the power of prayer and ability to make fair decisions. Elizabeth had made us all happy when we witnessed her dream come true, she went to Scotland to perform God Spell one of eleven USA school invited. We had been able to watch Thankful for grandson To the editor, Former Warm Springs Elemen tary student graduates with high honors. Matthew Kent Chamema, First Grandson of Shirley Chamema Smith, graduated with honors from Alta Vista High School in Vista, CA July 27, 2000. Matthew received awards in Math, Citizenship and Computer repairs. Matt is currently working at Compusource and builds computers. He was acting student representative for the Vista Unified School Board attending all board meetings, voting in behalf of all students in Vista. Matthew attended Warm Springs Elementary in 1987-88 while living with his family in the community. Father William O. Chamema Jr. w as employed with the Warm Springs Police Dept. for several years. Matthew received a full scholar ship and will attend California State Parents proud of accomplishments To the editor, As a mother of two tribal member children who have graduated from High School, I would like to say a bit about our youth. Shawnrac Gabriel and Elizabeth (Earl) Kalama have accomplished a task and are moving into the world with positive hearts. I feel proud to say that Shawrae was a great basketball player from grade school to his senior year. He practiced his father's teaching when he was down, and he maintained a strong academic attitude. As he en ters teh men's level in traditional dance, he will have the strength of a young man, the power of prayer and ability to make fair decisions. Elizabeth had made us all happy when we witnessed her dream come true, she went to Schotland to perform God Spell one of eleven USA school invited. We had been able to watch her perform and she was perfect on stage. Elizabeth had been recognized at her graducation by the staff of the school administration for her assis tance, she was awarded $300 that went into the Scotland trip fund. I was proud that she never lost her dream and I am certain hse has more dreams to fill. My letter is to let all my relations know of their family because both Shawnrae and Elizabeth have re turned to the Warm Springs com munity and begin again. They will join the forty-four other graduates that accomplished the first level of development tht is set-up to prepare them for more choices in their life. We shall support and protect the fu ture together. Sincerely, Ivan Gabriel & Marjorie M. Kalama-Gabriel Video Closeout Sale Indian Trail Restaurant All movies must go!!! of children her perform and she was perfect on stage. Elizabeth had been recognized at her graduation by the staff of the school administration for her assis tance, she was awarded $300 that went into the Scotland trip fund. I was proud that she never lost her dream and I am certain she has more dreams to fill. My letter is to let all my relations know of their family because both Shawnrae and Elizabeth have re turned to the Warm Springs com munity and begin again. They will join the forty-four other graduates that accomplished the first level of development that is set-up to prepare them for more choices in their life. We shall support and protect the fu ture together. Sincerely, Ivan Gabriel & Marjorie M. Kalama-Gabriel University. He has plans to go on a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints which he and his family has been members for 3 generations. He will be the first grandson on his fathers side to server (the 3rd generation). His uncles & father on dads side are all returned missionaries. He has set an excellent example for his younger siblings and other family members. Grandmother Shirley & cousin Calea flew down for his graduation. His parents rented a limo to escort him around the city for 4 hours with his friends & cousin. A huge dinner followed his graduations with family and friends. Sincerely, ' -: Shirley Smith, Grandmother.