Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 2000)
Warm Springs, Oregon Spilyay Tymoo E Coosh EEWA: The way it is 4 November 30, 2000 Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to pause and give thanks for what they have today. It may not be much but just the same a person is thankful for what he has. To celebrate this day we bring out the best we have to show appreciation of what we have. There are so many stories of Thanksgiving today, of the years past with the Indians and Pil grims. Many years ago when I was just a, "Cute Little Tyke," in school we used to have plays of the Indians and pilgrims. All the versions of Thanks giving vary from time to time, sometimes I wonder just what really went on during the first Thanks giving dinner the Pilgrims and the Indian had. Was it as simple as they make it sound where everyone gathered and had the big dinner? Today there are some Indian tribes who hold a grudge against Thanksgiving, they say since the first Thanksgiving dinner the White Race started to take everything from the Indians, right down through the years the Indians have been mistreated in every respect. There is a cartoon that shows the first welfare dinner where the Pilgrims were all lined up for the food. Today it's just the other way around, now the Indians are in the welfare line for food. Like I said, the Indians have been on the short end of the stick every since the Pilgrims got on their feet and were able to make a living. Thanksgiving is the time of the year when you spill your horn of plenty and share with everyone your yearly wealth. It must have been quite a sight during the first Thanksgiving dinner, with everyone sitting around discussing the weather and what the outcome would be for the coming year. Just think of the communi cation they must have had back in them days. In reality, for us Indians we've always had Thanksgiving, and the first one for the year was held in the Spring, when all the vegetation came out, we celebrated what is now known as, Root Feast, where we go through rituals at the longhouse giving thanks to the, "Great Cre ator "for the bountiful crop of vegetation for the year., , y . j The next Thanksgiving is in the spring also, as the first Salmon run come up the river, and again we gather in the longhouse going through our rituals with the Seven Drum religion, as we pray and give Thanks for the good, fish runs. During the summer months we have another, thanksgiving, known as the Huckleberry Feast, where we go through our rituals once again ' thanking the great creator for all the fruits that is provided for our use. We have always honored our creator for all the foods he has given us for our livelihood. When we are going through our rituals with the ceremonies in the longhouse, it is customary that no one should go out into the fields to gather roots or berries, or catch salmon until all the ceremonies have been completed. After all this has been done than people are free to go out take what they need for their use. After all the ceremonies have been completed and the dinner has been completed than there usually is a pow-wow, where everyone gets out to do their dance. The fancy dance, the grass dance and the tradi tional dancing, and for the ladies there is the fancy dancing, the jingle dance and also the traditional. Yep! Some really kick up the dust doing hisher dance. Many years ago at the pow-wows there used to be three war dances and than three RabbitOwl dances, where all the men and women would get out and dance together. Today you never see any of those dances any more. That was the best part of the pow-wow, getting with a girl and dancing... Yikes. Well, those good days are probably gone forever. They called that social dancing, and it was really great to see everyone getting into the mood and having a good time. Today those powwows get boring where they have contests after contest. Oh! Back to Thanksgiving, which is a nice to have family gather ings once a year for a good meal. Sometimes relatives come for miles just for the day and a visit. Toe Ness Employment Manager: "It looks to me as if you've been fired from every job you ever had. Applicant: Well, you've got to admit I'm no quiter. YIKES! SS SS Employee: Say, boss, your assistant just died, and I was wondering if I could take his place? Boss: It's all right with me if you can arrange it with the undertaker! SS SS Spilyay Tymoo welcomes articles 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. AH letters are the opinion of the author and do not reflect ain 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. IT 0 G SS SS Editor's Note and letters from its readers. All The season of Christmas is here To the editor, It is mixed bag time.... I have been watching the Tribal Construc tion guys do a great job working on the old HIS clinic. They really are working hard to meet their deadline. Keep it up. A pessimist is a person who is seasick during the entire voy age of life. The police and medics have been seeing a lot of alcohol re lated events. I lome violence, alcohol related sickness, alcohol poisoning. I pray for people to stop, but if you will not, try slowing down. Instead of three six-packs for Saturday night how about two beers and buying two books for the kids to read. Then let your kids read to you, then see if you need to open the beers that night. A prime function of the leader is to keep hope alive. I have read information about the future money issues for the Tribal Government. It sounds like it will take wisdom, truth, character, and love to see it through. I thank God that God has a lot of wisdom, truth, character, and love to give to each of us. I was going around in a circle un, til Jesus gave me a compass. Here at the Presbyterian Church we have begun the season of Christ1 Encouragement To the editor, Hi, I'm a single parent. Even though I'm working, it seems like I "just get by" payday-to-payday. I am proud and honored to share that my oldest is off at Job Corps, and trying to earn his G.E.D. We heard from him last night and he needs things Phone cards, envelopes, cards or letters from home. Happy holidays sent To the editor, Happy Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving to the Frank Family, The Bobb Family, The Payne Fam ilyj'The Williams, The Parte Parnily, The Arce"s,; Lillian Frank & kids, Marlene Bacarra & kids, Charles & family, brother Delbert, Grandpa Delbert, to Monster, Ben Fama, Ty R., all the Yakama relatives, Alma' Fama & family in Guam, Frank' Tovis, Freddy, Preston. . . ; Have a happy Thanksgiving and Christmas and Happy 200 1 to everyone. t Sincerely, My ma Frank & Family1 Selena Payne & kids, Happy 1" Birthday to my Sonny Chad Rack Love Auntie Sherri Congratulations to Wolfman Suppah for getting Hotshot of the year. From Farrel & kids Happy 4th Birthday Jericho . From Mom, Jaden, Grandma Tracey Happy 4th Birthday Son Wolf Jericho James Suppah Love you lots From, Dad, Mom, Lil Sis Jaden November 22, 2000 letters, preferably 300 words . r V ,v.: h.-.V mas. We call it Advent. That means the "coming". Christmas is not the time of Santa Claus. It is the time of the coming of God in flesh and bone to grow up to be the man on the Cross at Easter. The coming is the baby born. Our King is coming, our King is here.... This December 3'd, will be our communion and potluck. Christian 4 Education is at 10 a.m., Worship at k s 1 1 a.m. Bring a dish of food to share at potluck after worship. You are . welcome to come to the service. God calls us not to solitary sainthood but to fellowship in a company of com mitted people. Hug someone you love. Hug someone you dislike. No alcohol or . tobacco for children. One day at a time. Buckle up the kids and your selves. Don't hit or beat on yourself. Pay your bills before gambling then stay home. Read the Bible for its ef fect on your life. Pray to God to the point of hearing Him. Honor some one. Love yourself. Like yourself. See you in church. Pastor Rick R. Ribeiro WS Presbyterian Church On the campus needed Here Is his address: Rocky Hoptowit Timber Lake Job Corps 59868 E. Hwy224 Estacada, OR 97023 Being his mother, I'll do what I can but I'd appreciate you dropping a line or two of encouragement to "Hang in there" and finish his education. Thanks so much. Tamara J. Kahuna and children pond shares the Roscoe Pond is a former gradu ate of Blue Mountain Community College and Portland State University in the state of Oregon. He lives in Roscoe Pond Happy 2"" Birthday to our precious lil girl and sister, Torey Thomas on the 28th. We love you lots!! Mom, Dad, and your favorite ya-ya Brent. We'd like to wish all the following friends and relatives a Happy and very greatful Thanksgiving this year. We hope and pray it's a fun, good and fulfilling one for you. To: Grandpa Leslie and Starr family Mom (Sandra) & Torey Thomas Gina Brito & Lanell Rowe Martha Heath & family Gina Suppah & Marcus Michelle & Lalo & family "Nik" Wolfe & family Sandy & Orlando Perez & family And everyone else Love, Angie, Jarod and Brent Thomas To our Baby Brother, Chad Victor Thurby, Happy 1 Birthday. We love you very much Sonny. Love your Nana Dot & Yaya Bobby Happy lfl Birthday to my sweet little grandson, Chad Victor Thurby, With all my love, Grandma Norma Happy l9 Birthday to my little Punkin, Chad Thurby, from Big Punkin (Auntie Roni). Len, Curly Sue and Bubs. Happy 1 9 Birthday to Chad Victor Thurby Love Uncle Clint Happy 1" Birthday to my Sonny boy Chad Victor thurby, I love you very much with all my heart. Love Nannv Peters .... i j, jv '"V , L,. ..:,... TII1 ; i. .. .:. . .rJ Thank VOU for To the editor, On behalf of my family, I would like to thank everyone that joined us in sharing the healing process time for our father, Reuben "Shortbones" Johnson, Sr. A very special thank you goes out to Beulah Tsumpti for her knowl edge and spiritual guidance, without you we may not have gotten through this. Thank you also to the Greene family for allowing us to share the day as one big family. As was said "it is good to have families come together and share the healing together' . Thank you for the wonderful and good food cooked by Agnes and crew. To all my friends, and family for being there for encouragement and strength. And, to everyone that Whipple says "thanks" to all To the editor, I would like to take this time to thank the Culture & Heritage Com mittee, Dr. Mary Ellen Conaway, Director of the Museum at Warm Spring and Emily Waheneka. Emily and I attended the Annual American Folklore Society Conference in Co lumbus, Ohio where I was honored and awarded for my work in Oral History for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Of 786 attendees, I was one of five recipients to receive the Davis Memorial Fund Award, with close to 500 persons applying. I was very honored to have Emily attend this prestigious meeting with me. Emily and I spent 6 days in strugge of being Hollywood, California and works as an Executive Assistant to a Televi sion Director. He is also in a multi media-training program consisting of only American Indians under Red Crow Creations that was created by actor Floyd Red Crow Westerman. An editorial by Roscoe Pond The Hollywood Struggle It is said that Hollywood is the dream of millions. People from all corners of the world descend upon Los Angeles, California to seek out fame and fortune. Some carve out a career while others never get their foot in the show business door. It is a rugged path of much hardship and struggle. As an actor and an Ameri can Indian I live and breathe that hardship and struggle. I don't think I would want it any other way. In the beginning, I remember going on my first audition for a film called "The last of the Mohicans". The year was 1 99 1 . 1 received no act ing part nor did I get a chance to be a background Extra. Looking back at that time it really was my start in the business. That same year my stage career had already begun. It is a decade later and the struggle is still the same. Yet, all along the way rejection has become a way of life. Hollywood has always been a place of catch 22 and it has its' perks too. I recently received my Screen High Five, Happy 1" Birthday to my nephew, Chad Thurby Love, Auntie Lorena & Jake Wise Happy 1" Birthday to our nephew Chad Thurby, Love Auntie Bernie, Unce Jamie & family Happy 1st Birthday to a sweet little girl, Ellise David. We love you Baby Girl. Love Dena, Bobby, Dot, Jr. & Chad Thurby Happy Belated 1" Birthday to Tyrece on November 25. We love you and I'm glad you had a good first birthday. Love Dena, Bobby, Dot, Jr. & Chad Thurby. To Kevin Ruiz Happy Birthday November 15, 2000 From TjTone, Maureen & Carol To NetVa October 25, Happy I" Birthday From TjTone, Maureen & Carol VOUr support couldn't be there, I know you were with us in spirit and heart. My family is very grateful for everything that was needed to prepare for this tradi tional ceremony. This was also a learning experi ence for all of us, we are never too old or young to learn things. We have had a hard year, but doing this needed ceremony is part of what happens to you and your family. Now, my fam ily can start healing and improving their lives. Thank you Mother and Daddy-step and Randy, just be being there for support, we love you. Respectfully, Natalie Johnson & family Reuben U. Johnson, Jr. &. family Heather Schut & family Columbus meeting new people who work with the oral history in their communities. We listened to new ideas on how to work towards docu menting effectively for the commu nities. Again I would like to thank the Culture & Heritage Committee for funding the trip for Emily and I to attend the Folklore Society Confer ence. I would like to thank Dr. Mary Ellen Conaway for giving me the en couragement to apply. Most of all I would like to thank Emily Waheneka for accompanying me and giving me the words of encouragement to keep working with in the field of Cultural Anthropology. Thanh you, BrigetteM. Whipple a star Roscoe is of Umatilla and Nez mce Indian heritage from Pendleton, Or egon. He has just completed his first motion picture called "Slackers" wjhsre he has a walk on role as a col ' lege student. He will sing in his first cabaret performance in Los Angeles in December of 2000. Actor's Guild eligibility Voucher's on a Film called "Slackers". Actress Cameron Diaz has a cameo appear ance. When I first started out in the business. I was stereotyped as just an American Indian. Now with experi ence behind me I have come to ex plore other areas of choice in ethnic roles. I recently have gone on audi tions for Hispanic, Korean, and Japa nese parts. My agent even went as far as categorizing me as a dark Italian. After years of relying on my long flowing black hair for just Indian roles I cut it all off to get rid of a stereo type and to explore more range as an actor. It is said that Hollywood is the dream of millions. People from all corners of the world descent upon Los Angeles, California to seek out fame and fortune. Some carve out a career while others never get their foot in the show business door. Well, I think I got my foot in the door and I am stepping forward. The Hollywood struggle continues. Happy 1st Birthday to my favorite little nephew, Chad Victor. We all love you with all our hearts and hope you have a good first birthday. We look forward to being with you for the rest of your life. Love Auntie Pat & Uncle Bob Speakthunder Lin tt Happy Is Birthday to our gift from God, Chad Victor Thurby. We love you with all our hearts. We hope your first birthday (December 8) is very special like you. Love Mom & Dad. m