Spilygy Tymoo, VMirm Springs, Oregon August 23, 2001
Petition 'seeks chief vote
Spiy.iy Staff
A number of tribal members of
the Seekseequa District have signed
a statement saying that district mem
bers next year will decide who should
serve as the district chief. Approxi
mately 40 people have signed the
statement, said Myra Shawaway, a
main supporter of the suggestion to
wait a year on the chieftainship is
sue. There arc 160 voters in the
Seekscequa District.
Other district members say that
Joe Moses already has assumed the
l'aiute chieftainship, representing the
Seekscequa District.
The statement denying that
Moses is the new chief has the sup
port of a number of ciders of the
district, said Shawaway.
She and other supporters say that
Moses had no authority last month
in assuming the chieftainship.
On the other hand Moses says
that the district decided the question
of succession to the chieftainship
several years ago, around the time
when the district chose the late Chief
Vernon I lenry as successor to Chief
Nick Kalama.
In deciding last month to assume
the chieftainship, Moses cited the
discussion and vote that happened
during a Seekscequa District meet
ing of December 1986.
Shawaway disagrees with Moses
as to the meaning of the 1986 dis
trict resolution regarding the future
of the chieftainship succession.
In support of their differing po
sitions, people on both sides of the
debate cite to the minutes of the
1986 meeting.
During that meeting, district
mcmlcrs were cluxwing nominees to
succeed Chief Kalama, who had
passed away about a year earlier.
Also during the meeting, the
members discussed the idea of nam
ing a "sub-chief" or "running mate"
for the nominees to the chieftainship.
The purpose this discussion, Moses
said, was to avoid future controversy
over the succession to the chieftain
ship. In the mid 1990s, about a decade
after being chosen as chief, Vernon
I lenry named Moses as his sub-chief.
Moses and his supporters say that
when Chief I lenry passed away last
month, the chieftainship passed to
Moses, as decided by the district in
1986.
Shawaway and other district mem
bers disagree, saying that the minutes
of the 1986 meeting are at best am
biguous. For instance, Shawaway
said, the minutes indicate that dis
trict members authorized the nam
ing of a running mate for the nomi
nees to the chieftainship.
At the end of the 1986 meeting,
no running mates were named; so
future succession is to be determined
as it had been in the past, such as
through agreement of a majority of
the district voting members, said
Shawaway.
She also said that if Chief Henry
did name Moses as sub-chief, this
action was not known to many mem
bers of the district
Moses and his supporters, includ
ing many family members of Chief
: x
3f
I lenry, say that Chief I lenry named
Moses as sub-chief during a public
ceremony.
Shawaway says that at least one
close family member of the late
Chief 1 lenry supports the statement
calling for the district to wait a year
before deciding the chieftainship suc
cession issue.
Moses says the statement is being
advocated by a small group of
people, some of whom in the past
had sought but failed to win election
to the Tribal Council. 'They're sore
losers," Moses said.
Shawaway said that Moses quite
likely would win a district vote next
year on who should be chief. For this
reason, Shawaway said, she has a hard
time understanding why Moses
would not wish to allow the district
members to decide the issue.
Asked for his response, Moses
said, "I'm not in favor of that be
cause the district already decided this
15 years ago. They should have done
something then. They had a vote on
this," he said of those who deny his
right to chieftainship.
Moses also questioned why some
people want to wait a year before
deciding the succession issue. "They
say it's out of respect for Vernon, but
I know how they treated him while
he was on the council," said Moses.
Shawaway said that in Indian
Country it is customary to observe a
year of mourning.
Wewa
takes seat
on council
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Photo by Selena Boise
Participants in the water aerobics class at Kah-Nee-Ta benefit from a full-body workout.
Exercise message proclaimed
By Selena Boise
Spilyqy Staff
Wellness Coordinator for Dia
betic Program and Senior Citizens,
Tour Guide, Culture and Heritage
Speaker, Water Aerobics Instruc
tor these are the many hats that are
worn by Lucinda Green.
Green is a diabetic herself, so her
concentration on wellness is for the
diabetic patient.
"Diabetes is all over the reserva
tion," Green says. "We have ampu
tees, blurred vision, nerve damage. I
have nerve damage myself."
Green feels that the water is the
best prescription for diabetes, "all
you need is a pair of trunks and a
shirt"
It has proven for the diabetic per
son that exercise can reduce blood
sugar content "I have tested it on
myself because I'm diabetic and it
reduces my blood sugar," says Green.
Any exercise is good for people.
"There isn't any excuse for people
to not exercise." There is a walking
program at the Community Wellness
Center held regularly. There is water
aerobics held at Kah-Nee-Ta three
times a week during normal sched
uling. Green is taking a break from wa
ter aerobics until the second week of
September. Her Wednesday morning
classes will continue under the direc
tion of a substitute. The classes will
continue into the winter and next
spring.
Water aerobics is paid for by the
Diabetic Program, which includes
entrance into the pool and the classes
themselves.
Being in the water is safe and it
reduces the impact on your joints.
While walking or jogging there is six
times your weight impacting your
joints.
While exercising in the water a
person works with the resistance of
the water and it benefits more of
your body muscle that walking or
jogging-
"VChat I would like to focus on is
to get people out to exercise. There
are people that exercise all the rime,
which is great, but I would like to
see the people don't exercise get out
and exercise."
Residents of the High Lookee
Lodge and dedicated senior citizens
are getting in the pool and exercis
ing. They also get the chance to so
cialize with each other after a good
workout.
Green feels that many young
people take their bodies and their
health for granted. "Here I am, I'm
old, my body aches, and I'm not in
shape. It hurts to stand, it hurts to
bend over, and I would do things
different if I had the chance to be
young again," she says.
Green wants people to at least go
out and try water aerobics. She is a
good teacher and she uses a variety
of music to make it fun.
Exercise will raise your energy
level to continue your daily routines,
help you sleep better, become relaxed
and less stressed.
Green encourages entire families
to come out to the Kah-Nee-Ta pool
- children get in the pool, jump, play,
and they're exercising just as hard as
parents are.
By Pait McSUchiin
Spi)ny Staff
The newest member of the Tribal
Council is Carolyn Wewa, who was
sworn into office in late July as coun
cilwoman representing the
Seeksecqua District.
Wewa works as a community
health education specialist with the
Community I lealth F-ducation Team,
located at the Family Resources
Building.
'' In late July and early this month
she began winding down some of
the projects she had been working
on with the Community I lealth Edu
cation Team. This was necessary be
cause, as a councilwoman, much of
her time, like that of the other coun
cil members, is dedicated to Tribal
Council business.
VC'ewa said that one of her main
goals as a councilwoman will be to
remain close to members of the dis
trict, so that she can represent their
views on the council.
Wewa joined the Tribal Council
last month, filling a vacancy created
when Joe Moses assumed the Paiute
chieftainship.
In the Tribal Council election ear
lier this year, Wewa received the
third-most votes in the Seekscequa
District, which has two representa
, rives and a chief on the council.
On July 23, when Moses assumed
, the vacant chieftainship position,
' VCcwa was asked by Moses and coun
cilwoman Brenda Scott, representing
" the Seekseequa District, to fill Moses'
former council position.
Wewa initially indicated that she
i would wait until after the district
i meeting that was held July 25.
); Following that meeting, during
... which several people suggested that
j the district wait a year before filling
thqiieftainshipppsitiori, Wea de-j
cided that she would fill Moses'
... council position.
She made this decision with in
put from others at the meeting. A
determining factor was that Moses,
also with support from some people
at the meeting, indicated that he al
ready had assumed the chieftainship
position.
Carolyn Wewa was among those
who suggested that the district wait
one year. At her swearing in as new
councilwoman on July 26, Wewa
made the following statement:
' : "I am accepting the position as
representative of the Seekseequa
District at the will of the people.
During the meeting on July 25, it was
voiced that our district would lose
vital representation, one vote, in re
gard to tribal business, if the posi
tion were not temporarily filled."
. She continued: "In respect to the
families of the late Vernon Henry, I
will accept the duties of the position
on council throughout the period of
mourning and until the time when a
' replacement is announced or until
the term is ended."
Wewa concluded, "My acceptance
to fill this vacancy is not to be con-
1 strued as an acceptance of the un
timely appointment of Joe Moses as
district chief. This matter has not
been resolved to the satisfaction of
' the-people of the Seekseequa Dis
trict." Moses said that Wewa in joining
the council swore to uphold the Con
stitution and Bylaws of the Confed
erated Tribes. Wewa's statement,
Moses said, was contrary to a Con
stitutional provision, because the
statement indicated that Moses was
serving as chief only temporarily.
The Constitution says the district
can choose its chief in a customary
manner. This was done in 1986,
Moses said, when the district voted
to have a sub-chief.
Wewa said that her statement was
in full compliance with the Constitution.
-,sJ. -
Photo by Dave McMechan
A helicopter lifts water from Trout Lake to fight Olallie Fire Complex.
Hit-and-run claims
life of local woman
Tribal member Lorraine
Hoptowit, 40, was killed Saturday
evening, Aug. 11, in a hit-and-run
incident on East Tenino Road, near
the intersection with Highway 26.
Police have few leads as to who
might be the driver of the hit-and-run
vehicle. Anyone with informa
tion should call the Warm Springs
Police Department at 553-3273.
The incident that claimed the life
of Ms. Hoptowit happened at ap
proximately 9:25 p.m., Aug. 11. This
was a vehicle versus pedestrian inci-
,.u h, , .
The suspect vehicle was described
by witnesses as a small light-colored
truck or SUV, possibly a Chevrolet
S-10 pickup or Blazer.
The vehicle was towing a 10-12
foot long flatbed trailer. The truck
was last seen heading westbound on
Highway 26.
Ms. Hoptowit died at the scene.
It is possible that the driver of the
vehicle was unaware that he or she
struck Hoptowit, said Jim Cole, chief
detective of the Warm Springs Po
lice Department.
According to witnesses, the driver
did not speed away from the scene,
or make other elusive maneuvers,
Cole said.
Fatal crash closes
highway for two hours
A single-vehicle accident on
Highway 26 west of Warm Springs
recently claimed the life of a Tuc
son, Ariz. man.
David Gaston was pronounced
dead at the scene, which was mile
post 75 on Highway 26. The wreck
happened at 3:20 p.m., Friday, Aug.
10.
Gaston was the driver of the ve
hicle, in which other family members
were riding. Two young family mem
bers were transported by ambulance
to Mountain View Hospital.
Witnesses said that Gaston was
traveling westbound at 55 to 65 mph,
when his vehicle left the roadway. He
may have fallen asleep, as he made
no attempt to brake before the ve
hicle struck a tree.
Following the wreck, Highway 26
was closed to through traffic for
about two hours, as emergency crews
were responding to the incident.
Traffic was directed onto alternative
routes around the scene.
nil i .piraira. .
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- i - i i ii i an fc in i i immi i
Grant buys museum tractor
Meyer Memorial Trust awarded
The Museum At Warm Springs a
grant for $3,800 to purchase a new
lawn tractor for grounds mainte
nance. The John Deere Lawn Tractor
was purchased and delivered by Cas
cade Ranchers, Inc. of Madras.
Meyer Memorial Trust's grant helped
to replace the old lawn tractor which
had been taken to its limit and con
tinually needed repair.
Meyer Memorial Trust was cre
ated by the personal philanthropy of
Fred G. Meyer and is in no way con
nected with Fred Meyer, Inc. The
Museum At Warm Springs greatly
appreciates the support and partner
ship of Meyer Memorial Trust in this
venture.
The Museum At Warm Springs is
located at 2189 Highway 26, and is
open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
For more information, please call
541553-3331