4 January 25, 2001
Warm Springs, Oregon
Spilyay Tymoo
E Coosh EEWA: The way it is
Spilyay speaks
Crazy cowboys
and racing horses
UNION, Oregon, June 1983 - Charles
Sampson, one of the greatest rough stock riders in
rodeo history, has just pulled off one of the great
est rides in Eastern Oregon Livestock Show his
tory - an 81 -point ride aboard a mean and spec
tacular bull named Grey Ghost.
The 5-foot-4 black man from the Watts sec
tion of Los Angeles glows as he talks with a re
porter. The give-and-take of interviewer and inter
viewee fits like our boots and our jeans, comfort
able but glovelike in the restriction. Questions and
answers give way to storytelling as we walk
across the dirt between the backstretch and the
homestretch of the quarterhorse track. The young
cowboy wears his shiny, jewel-colored shirt like a
New York model and his attitude like the celeb
rity that he is, a black city boy in a world domi
nated by white country boys.
We pause at the rail as the next race is about
to begin.
Soon, a dozen horses and jockeys are bearing
down on us, the sound thundering not past us but
through us like an out-of-control train pourMiflg"
through our chest walls and out our backs, leaving
our hearts dazed.
Silence settles again on the infield and we
stand a bit, no words. Sampson, a growing smile
on his face, speaks first. Slipping into a slightly
exaggerated ghetto accent, he lets slide these
words:
"Man . . . them guys are crazy."
Hello, from Pastor Rick
To the editor, !
Hello from Pustor Rick. My
family and I have now lived in Warm
Springs now for 15 years. I am lead
to now share a great issue of the com
munity. Fifteen years as pastor and
counselor there has been a common .
theme that has been shared with me
by women and even some men. The .
theme is the slavery of life. The sla
very given to people by way of sexual ,
abuse. The number of folks in the
community affected by this crime is
unknown to me. But I have lost count
of the people who have shared their
story with me. '
It usually begins with a call
seeking help about a troubled rela
tionship. They want to make it bet
ter, a marriage, boygirl relationship,
or a family relationship. Then in a
short time the revelation of sexual
abuse from the time of their youth.
The way of abuse seems to flow in
two paths. One, the family member
or constant housegucst who is sober,
who hunts and trains a child for their
needs of sex power and control. The
second is the adult who is out of it in
some way. Alcohol, weed, crank etc.
The home becomes V home and Va
way station of people who come and
go from the home, depending on their
needs and wants. Including the chil
dren in their bedrooms.
Now before me is an adult
who's view of life and people has
been given a terrible twist that makes
them see people and people structures
(school systems, governments etc.)
with suspicion and with an unfocused
anger simmering under the surface.
Their view of themselves is a mix
ture of self-anger, confusion and
shame. It is a miracle to me to see
many who with such stories maintain
a life of family and work with con
sistence. Their focus and concentra
tion is tremendous.
But you know, the birds, insects
and animals maintain life. We are
called by our God t live life. The liv
ing of Life is in the words of Jesus
who tells the young man to go and do
the two great commandments; Love
God, Love others, and yourself. To
discover what that four-letter verb
means is the great advantage of liv
ing life one day at a time. There for
me is an answer for someone who was
raised as a slave of abuse, living as a
victim, and wanting to be a human
being. A gift that has been given to
you. To remove the shame and anger
that was put upon you. Take an ac
tive spirituality look into a mirror and
begin to love the person you see. To
forgive yourself, too let go. To take
the gift of love from Jesus to help you
love yourself. To begin this gift is to
climb one small hill. You must be
lieve that the Creator is there to love
you. And not add to your pain. To put
down one part of your anger, the an
ger against God is to begin the path
of healing. Let Go, let God.
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 heart. Pray to God to the
point of hearing Him. Honor some
one. Love yourself. Like yourself. See
you in church. Worship at 1 1 a.m.
Pastor Rick R. Ribviro
WS Presbyterian Church
On the Campus
Thank you from proud parents
To the Editor:
We are very proud of :our
daughter's accomplishments and
wanted to share this with the rest of
the family and friends that have seen '
Charlee grow up. She has always
been a very independent girl and has
gone after anything she wanted. There
was no challenge too great. 1
I want to thank all of the people 1
that have been closely involved in her '
life -that supported, encouraged, and
prayed for her. Thank you also to the
Tribes for the financial assistance to 1
send her to school. I never realized
how much money was needed for
enough to cover all the expenses. She
had to borrow from both the Tribe
i and the school as well as search out
scholarships. One book could cost up
to $100 and only be used one term.
So I am supporting and pray
ing for each higher education student
that is working hard to accomplish
and reach her goals, for I know how
much work and stress it is to go to
school.
I am planning to have a special
time set up to recognize my
daughter's honors and I invite family
and friends to celebrate with us.
Very proud parents,
Apologies expressed to local
artists who gave their time
To the editor,
I address this letter to my elder
friends who gave their time and
knowledge to the 1997 Traditional
Treasures employment project. Both
Maxine Switzler and Barbara Bobb
completed beautiful clutch purses for
the project.
These items: a yellow clutch
purse with eagle feature design cir
cling the border with a center set of
feathers in the center and the other
clutch purse with a bear next to a
stream fishing are lost to the tribal
organization.
Our tribal members and the
beautiful work of Maxine and Bar
bara due to my inability to convince
the holders to display the items in the
Warm Springs Museum.
I want you to know I tried to
loosen the grip by talking to Program
Managers, Tribal Council members,
Federal and legal authorities. They
could not help bring your beadwork
to the Museum for display. My ver
bal word to you to display your items
at the Museum is impossible. The
Tribal protocol is not structured to
help the Indian people in this instance.
Sorry.
Marjorie K-Gabriel
now mucn money was neeueu ior wry jjiuuu purcuia, uur inoai memoers ana mc iviarjwrie
school. There never seemed to be Sterling and Lucinda Green families of the makers will not see the
Member expresses thanks to all who supported him
To the Editor: , the chance to attend, encourage many of our youth and Who knows? Somedaj
f " k I am thankful to the following other natives to feel pood about what finish writine at least one
I wish to thank all the people
who supported my efforts to attend
this year s 6 Annual Poets Conven
tion whicflfwas held at the Reno
Hilton-: (Although limited by being in
t i . i t j .1 rr .if..
a wiiceiuiau, i uiaue uie ciiuihu at
tend this enormous gathering of
people from across the United States
and Canada. There were close! to
1,350 poets gathered. This i was my
first time attending such a wonder
ful convention and I was recognized
with several prizes. I met other no
table Native writers and many non
native writers who have inspired me
to continue to write and who have
themselves written many beautiful
pieces of poetry. i
I give my utmost congratula
tions to the staff which created this
exciting, elaborate and festive occa
sion. Their time-consuming work
provided incentives for all who had
an
I am thankful to the following
who made my attendance possible
wjth their heartfelt donations: The
Warm Springs Education Committee;
yhff rflall, Business EjeyelOpment;
Center; the Warm, Sprjrigs. Forest
J?roducts, Inc.; the many friends, stu
dents and staff of The Northwest In
dian College of Bellingham, Wash
ington; friends throughout the Ameri
can Indian Business Student Chapters
Organization nationwide; Dr. Jeffery
Holmboe of Bend, Oregon and staff;
St. Charles Memorial Center of Bend,
Oregon (Nurses); the Nurses of the
Madras Mt. View Hospital-Nursing
Home; my sister Jo Ann Moses; my
brothers, Victor, Joe, George Oliver,
and Todd; and all my nieces and
nephews and other friends of Warm
Springs for their support.
Although this letter may be late,
these congratulations are better ex
tended now than never. And, I do
other natives to feel good about what
you have to write. When we all con
tinue to write our thoughts and inter
pretations of life, we will each gam
better' writing skills: Please always
remember there are many personal
friends, families, and newer friends
whom you may someday meet that
will believe in what you have to say.
There are ways of expression that
make a positive perspective in your
future. I encourage one and all to
write to your heart's content!
Who knows? Someday I may
finish writing at least one or two
books of what I have learned from
experiences or other special inten
tions of life. I look forward to sub
mitting more of my writings to other
upcoming poetry writing contests and
do hope that in the future, our paths
may cross and we may find long-lost
friends whom we may have forgot
ten. Thank you.
Moses WC Kalama
Tribal Member
Thanks for nothing
To the editor,
Hello rez! First of all, thank you
to the people who helped us find
Willie's car. Thank you to the one's
who broke all the windows out, tore
Another pause. "Who're you calling crazy?!"
the reporter asks the man who's just jumped off
an animal the size of the Chicago Bears' offensive
line.
The cowboy laughs and explains: He'd rather
risk being stomped by one bull than a dozen
horses and besides, he'd done the jockey thing at
Santa Anita and cowboying was a lot more fun.
Doing what you love sometimes wins out over
common sense.
Nearly 18 years later, it seems in hindsight
that maybe we're all a little crazy to be doing
whatever it is that we're doing. And, perhaps,
when all's said and done, that's the least crazy
thing of all.
Birth Announcements
TOE NESS: "They say more guacamole is con
sumed on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of
the year. As if we need an excuse to eat guacamole?"
Matthew and Billie Smith of
Warm Springs are the proud parents
of a baby girl Darrien Elexis Smith,,
born' January 11, 2001 at'7:2 1 at ty
Mountain view Hospital in Madras,
Oregon. Darrien weighed 8 lbs 4 oz
and was 21 Vi inches long. She joins
one brother Brennon Smith, age 2
years old and one sister Rhyan Smith
age 9 years old.
Grandparents on the mothers ,
side are Sharon Smith of Warm
Springs and Lex McPherson of South
Dakota; and grandparents on the
father's side are Warren and Mary
Smith of Warm Springs, Oregon. .
Great-grandparents are Iris Smith and 1
the late Woodrow Smith and Earl
Miller all of Warm Springs.
Corbett Isacc Tom Sr. a'ni
Sharon Tara Katchia welcomed their
son Corbett Isacc Tom Jr. on January
15, 2001 at 9:11 a.m. at the Moun
tain View Hospital in Madras, Or
egon. Corbett weighed 7 lbs 14 oz.
and was 20 Vi inches long. He joins
sister Shania Lee Tom. Grandparents
are Elizabeth M. Tom and the late
Elmer Tom Jr. and Lyle Katchia and
the late Marilyn Meanus. Great:
Grandparents are Cyrus Katchia and
the late ProsannaWilliams, Evelyn
Sam and Amelia Colwash all of
Warm Springs, Oregon.
Trey and Monica Leonard of
Warm Springs are the proud parents
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 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.
of a baby boy, Jeston Wade Leonard,
born January 12, 2001 at 12:21 p.m.
at Mountain View Hospital in Ma
dras, pregon. He weighed 9 lbs 10
oz and was 22 inches long. Jeston
joins a brother Jordan Taylor 3 years
old.
Grandparents are Gwen
Leonard of Warm Springs, Uren
Leonard Jr. of Vancouver BC, and
Valerie Squiemphen of Warm
Springs, Oregon. Great-Grandparents
are Earl and Rita Squiemphen of
Warm Springs, Oregon and Ella June
of Washington.
' Dempsena Polk and Angel
Ruiz welcomed their new born
daughter Audrey Rose Polk-Ruiz
January 11. 2001 at 12:52 p.m. at
the Mountain View Hospital in Ma
dras, Oregon. Audrey weighed 8 lbs
and was 21 inches long. She joins 1
brother Ozzie Polk age 1 1, and 3 sis
ters Sallie Polk-Adams age 13, An
gela Polk-Ruiz age 7 and Victoria
Polk-Ruiz age 4. Grandparents are
Audelia and Angel Ruiz of Mexico
and Audelia Reyes and Angel
Auania-Soto; and Victoria Muldrow
of Warm Springs, Oregon.
Bub,
Happy 19th
Love, Mom
Happy Birthday
to
Reese
A
R.T.
Hope you had a good one
From, Tony, Selena, A
kids
Don Augustine Howtopat Jr
and Emmaline Helen Crooked Arm
of Warm Springs are proud parents
of a baby girl Helen Augustine
Howtopat born January 10, 2001 at
7:46 a.m. at the Mountain View Hos
pital in Madras, Oregon. She was 8
lbs. 5. 1 oz and was 20 Vi inches long.
Helen joins 2 sisters Kris E. Howtopat
2 years and Blanche Howtopat 17
months at home.
Family & Friends,
Oopsl Did Franny Claus forget you
this season. I'm getting all dried out
of Happy water, you know forgetful.
I probably didn't mean any harm.
But before I forget "Happy New
Year" everybody back on the Rez of
Big Daddy.
Franny
Well Gosh Darn NaNa Jonsey
Another Year older
Happy Birthday
January 31"
Bro Franny
Happy Belated New Years to my
family, Jarod, Brent and Torey. I
love you all, with all my heart and
hope to bring out the best for the
year 2001. With lots of hugs &
kisses,
Love Angie Thomas
Happy Belated New Years to all the
following families and people: (best
wishes for the New Year)
Sandra Noroyoqui (mom)
Gina Brito
Johnson & LaDonna Heath
Martha Heath & family
Roberta Heath
Maria & Duncan Brunoe & son
Andrea Roy & Jordan Noroyoqui
Love, Angie, Jarod, Brent & Torey
Thomas
the seats and busted all the headlights!
To the fella who stole my sister's car,
thanks for trying to sell the engine, if
you didn't pull that move, we would
have never known you had it, good
job.
Next time you decide to steal a
car from someone, make sure it's not
a person with 3 kids! By the way, we
did everything on our own with the
help of friends. Way to protect and
serve Warm Springs PD. I feel safe
knowing you're out there.
I wrote this so if theres a prob
lem, speak to me. We called every day
on that car and it wasn't even in the
system!
Pamela Saunders
P.S. Thank you Mr. Whittenburg
Oh Yeah, almost forgot
you Lil neice Becky
Happy Birthday & New Year
Lil Neice
Unk Franny
To Grama Ella Rose
January 21" is your special day!
We want to wish you a Happy
Birthday and May the Lord bless
you each and every day.
We love you so very very much!
Becky A family
Happy Birthday Jonathon
January 21
From
Jasmine, Aaron, Anthony, Kendall,
Leslie, Becky and Nathan
Happy Birthday
Justine Greene
January 21"
Jasmine, Aaron, Anthony, Kendall,
Leslie, Becky and Nathan
Happy B-day to my bro, George
Who really turned '38" but says
he is going to turn 25" again.
Have a goof one.
Becky 4 family
Happy Birthday Tracey
January 22
From
Kendall & Leslie