Spilyqy Tyrnoo, Wgrro Springs, Oregon December 27, 2001
Sid Miller: newsman was once a rodeo rider, gifted athlete
Miller ritalili!hrJ an
other Spilyay tradition with
the hiring of Cynthia
Stowi-ll. Over the year his
naif seemed to include
mainly women, including
Sandra Kangila, the laic
Martha Shcwcyk, the late
Donna Kchraiul, Saphronia
Katchia, the late Pat Ixno
Hakcr, I'risnlla Stuiomphcn
Yazzie, ami presently Selena
Boise, Tina Aguilar and
Trudec Qucahpama
Clcnunt. There arc many stories
about Miller and the early
years of the Spilyay.
Sandra Rangila rccounicd
some of these recently, dur
ing a Tribal Council dinner
in honor of Miller. The sto
ries sometimes have to do
with darkroom duties, or
the high-speed trips to
Prinevillc, where the paper was
and still is printed.
Buy times for Spilyay
After the Spilyay became an
established part of reservation
life, Miller and his staff were
kept very busy.
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There was always a lot go
ing on, and everybmly wanted
news coverage of the many
events.
"We put in long hours,
sometimes working late at
night," said Miller.
The Spilyay over the years
won many newspaper awards
for writing,
ph otography
and page de
sign. Miller,
meanwhile, be
came the first
president of the
N o r t h w c a t
News Associa
tion. He would
also serve as
president of the
Native Ameri
can Journalists
Association.
At 72, he
now feels it is
time to slow
down some.
Renowned
rodeo rider
Sid Miller is
known these
days for his
work at the Spilyay. Hut in his
earlier years he was a well
known rodeo riilcr, and before
that he was an outstanding
high school football and bas
ketball player.
There arc many funny sto
ries about his time on the ro
deo circuit.
Chief Dclvis
Heath and Rudy
Clements recounted
some of these at the
Council dinner last
week.
At the dinner
Miller received retire
ment gifts including
a blanket, a Stetson
hat, a vest, and a
plaque from Tribal
Council stating
Miller's new title as
Publisher F.meritus.
The title F.meri
tus is given to a per
son who has many
years of experience
in a certain field, and
has gained invaluable
'knowledge, said
Rudy Clements. The
person is needed as
an advisor to help
through difficult
situations.
At the Spilyay,
Sid Miller has a gift
for editorial writing, which he
will continue in his retirement.
He also has the great gift of
working well with the readers.
Newspapers at times will
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Above, at the Council appreciation dinner for Miller, Rudy Clements
presents the guest of honor with a Pendleton blanket, and at left, Miller
shows off his new Stetson hat.
have a reader come to the of
fice upset at something that
had been printed in the publi
cation. No matter how mad the
person might be, Miller had a
way of listening and making
the person feel better. This is
one of his many gifts that will
be missed at the Spilyay.
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Tyra Devontre at the holiday powwow.
A happy holiday
The days leading and seniors. Indian Christmas play. The
up to the Christmas Santa was a special play was followed by
holiday were a busy guest at this event. a holiday feast for
time around the The following day, the many guests,
reservation. The a grouP of tribal The events took
activities included a members performed place at the Agency
powwow for children n Indian style Longhouse.
Youngsters from the Early
Childhood Education Center
were having a great time at
the powwow.
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Rosebud Whipple
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Photos by Tina Aguilar
and Dave McMechan
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The photograph above and the one at right are of the
Indian style Christmas play that was performed at the
Agency Longhouse.
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f ( j Indian Santa was a guest at the
II I , powwow.
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